|
 In
1642, Abel Janszoon Tasman was
sailing his Dutch ship in the South Pacific, when
he came across a pretty island. Instead of
baptizing it Tasmania or Abelmania, he decided to
name it Van Diemen's Land in honor to the Governor
of the Batavia. Anyway, the island was never
colonized by its proprietors due to being very far
from Holland. Later with the English
colonization and with the settling of Australia,
Van Diemen's Land became a maximum security prison
for English criminals. The most dangerous
assassins and outlaws were sent there. In 1803
Hobart was established (the second oldest city of
Australia), and one year later Launceston city was
created. In 1856, the name was changed to
Tasmania, in honor of Abel who discovered it. In
1901, during the Federation of Australia it became
the State
of Tasmania, or Tassie, as it is
affectionately called by the Australians. Tasmania
is one of the most beautiful places in Australia,
offering tourists and international students, an
enormous variety of interesting things to do and
see.
Tasmania
characteristics
are unique and different from the other Australian
States. It offers fantastic sceneries and great
historic places to visit. There are high mountains
covered with snow in the winter, crystalline lakes
, spectacular scarps, hills along the coast, and
many beautiful beaches with great surf and
gorgeous coves.
The City of Hobart (photo), which is the
capital of Tasmania, is located
at the bottom of Mount Wellington, Mount Nelson,
and by the estuary of the Derwent River. The city
presents a modern and vibrant life style with lots
of fun and entertainment for all ages.
Restaurants, nightclubs, shopping centers and a
world of other facilities make this city, which
has less than 200 thousand inhabitants, one of the most safe
and extraordinary places to visit or live. Only 20
minutes by car from Hobart , there is a piece of
history that you cannot miss. It is the village of
Richmond, where old ruins of penitentiary time are well preserved. Another
breathtaking place in Hobart, is to go up to the
Lookout on Mt.Wellington or Mt. Nelson. From
there, it is possible to see the entire bay with
the view of the city really unforgettable.
| . |
 |
Other
cities in Tasmania
are also very interesting, each one with a
different attraction that enchants the tourists.
Launceston (population of 100
thousand), Devonport (25 thousand) and
Burnie (19 thousand) offers great landscapes
and beautiful constructions as Launceston with its
bright red roofs. Actually each small city or
village in Tasmania has something special to offer
making them captivating and safe. Beyond the
hospitality, the population has pride to show the
visitors where
they live, and always treats them with affection
and friendship. In Port Arthur, 1 hour by car from
Hobart, there are ruins of the most brutal
criminal colony in Tasmania. The city was created
exclusively for this purpose, and only prisoners
who had recommitted previous crimes were sent
there. Surrounding these cities, farms which have
both products
and animals, offering the best of
Tasmanian. The Wines of Tasmania, as well
as the meat of Sheep and Pig, are considered one
of the best quality in Australia. The Tasmania
Apples have a world-wide reputation, such as
"Granny Smith" (green apple) first
produced in Tasmania, and than
exported to the world. Trout and Salmon
were introduced in 1864 with excellent results,
adding to the list of the most famous produces of
Tasmania. These tasteful fishes together with
wines, meat, and apples, made Tasmanian products
appreciated and respected in any part of Australia
and the world.
| . |
 |
For
the Adventurous,
Tasmania offers more excitement than you can
imagine. There are 18 National Parks, with
exuberant Flora and Fauna, impressive landscapes
and lots of tours full of adrenaline. Tasmania has
great Bush Walking tracks as well as all types of
Radical Sports.
Despite the cold water (but nothing too
cold that a good wet suits can't resolve), there
are an enormous number of
spectacular Surfing beaches with fantastic
point breaks for any level of Surfers. Most of
these beaches are unspoiled, uncrowded, and many
of them rarely been explored. There are good waves
all year round, from small to perfect monsters
ride. Places such as Bruny Island's, Cloudy Bay,
and South Cape Bay, receive enormous swells from
the Southern Ocean and Antarctica. Close to
Hobart, Clifton Beach and Park Beach are the
favourites. The truth is that all over the coast
of Tasmania, there are always empty peaks waiting
for you. You only need to drive your car along the
coast to find them. Most parts of the Tasmanian
territory is considered as National Park, and some
are considered Patrimony of the Humanity.
4x4
vehicles are an excellent choice to explore the Island and you will not be
tired of seeing so many
natural beauties in a pristine stage. In
Tasmania, you will be able to practice all types
of radical sports, from Kayaking, Hang Gliding,
River Rafting, Gliders, Jumps Falls, Jet Boating,
Climbing, besides cruise activities such as
Sailing, Golf, Fishing and many others. Your good
time in Tasmania will be only limited by your
will, or your wallet. Tasmania has a little bit of
everything, It is truly
a playground for adults of all ages.
Without
a doubt, to visit
Australia without visiting Tasmania, is like going
to Rome and not seeing the Pope. Except in the
winter months, when can be too cold for outdoor
activities (although not as frozen as in Northern
Europe or Canada), in the remaining portion of the
year any time is a good time to explore Tasmania.
Beyond spectacular traveling, Tasmania also is an
excellent place to study, having the most
appraised schools of Australia. Room is very easy
to find from Backpacker Hostels to luxurious
Hotels. Daily flights from Melbourne and Sydney
are available, but also you can cross the
Bass Strait by the ferryboat Spirit of Tasmania.
More
about Tasmania...
|
Come
to Visit or Study in Tasmania! |
|
|
Curiosities
about Tasmania:
-
Distance
for the Continent: 240 km · Area: 68000 Km²
·
-
Ferry
Boat Spirit of Tasmania I and II leaves
Melbourne the 9PM arrives at the 7AM ·
-
Spirit
of Tasmania III leaves Sydney 3 times per week
-
Total
Population: Approx. 500.000 inhabitants ·
-
Average
of maximum temperatures: Summer 22º - Winter
14º Celsius. ·
-
Ticket
Pass of AU$ 33 gives to right to enter in all
National Parks ·
-
Tasmania
has more Golf fields per head that any State
of Australia
-
Visitor
Information Centers gives tips of strolls and
reserves lodging ·
-
The
last pure Tasmania Aborigine died in 1876.
-
More
than 10,000 prisoners had been sent to
Tasmania. ·
-
Last
importation of prisoners was made in 1852.
-
The
Tasman Devil is a carnivorous marsupial
animal with nocturnal habits.
 |
| Ruins
of the prision in Port Arthur |
|
- www.portaloceania.com - All rights reserved - Terms
of use -
Privacy
