Off the Beaten Path: Tasmania, Australia

Tasmania is a truly unique and beautiful Australian experience. It  is known as the natural state with pristine wilderness areas to explore, overland tracks to hike and some of best fresh produce in Australia to enjoy along the way.

Hobart, Australia’s second oldest city, retains so much of its historical and heritage buildings and atmosphere and has the stunning backdrop of Mt Wellington.

The Port Arthur Historic Site on the Tasman Peninsula is Australia’s most intact and evocative convict site and one of Australia's great tourist destinations. The Site has more than 30 buildings, ruins and restored period homes, dating from the prison’s establishment in 1830 until its closure in 1877. During this time around 12,500 convicts served sentences and for many it was a living hell. Today, the site sits in 98 acres of landscaped grounds and you'll need plenty of time to fully experience all that it has to offer.

Cataract Gorge Reserve, known locally as the Gorge, is a unique natural formation within a two-minute drive of central Launceston - a rare natural phenomenon in any city. In an easy 15 minutes, you can walk from central Launceston along the banks of the Tamar River into the Gorge and from here follow a pathway originally built in the 1890s along the cliff face looking down onto the South Esk River. The First Basin on the southern side has a cafe and a swimming pool surrounded by bushland knows to locals as Launceston’s beach. In contrast, the shady northern side, named the Cliff Grounds, is a Victorian garden created with ferns and exotic plants. The beautiful Kings Bridge over the Gorge was floated into place in 1867. With a kiosk, restaurant and swimming pool, rolling lawns and a rotunda, a footbridge and chairlift across the river, peacocks, and wallabies at dusk, this may be Australia's most alluring urban reserve.

Mount Wellington is a wilderness experience just a 20-minute drive from Hobart and is much loved by locals. The 13 mile drive to the summit passes through temperate rainforest to sub-alpine flora and glacial rock formations, ending in panoramic views of Hobart, Bruny Island, South Arm and the Tasman Peninsula. No other city in Australia has a vista like this one. The interpretation centre at the top protects you from the blustering winds while an open viewing platform on the western side of the car park looks out to the southern World Heritage Area beyond. There are bushwalking trails suited to all fitness levels and barbecue and picnic facilities are provided. Mountain activities also include trail biking and abseiling.

Tasmania is a natural haven for Australian wildlife. Bennetts wallabies, seals, penguins and wedge-tailed eagles can be found without venturing too far from the state’s capital, Hobart, and encounters with friendly wildlife are an almost inevitable feature of travels around the state. 

About the size of a small dog, the Tasmanian devil is the world’s largest surviving carnivorous marsupial and is found only in Tasmania. The discordant snarls, screeches and growls they make are believed to have contributed to the naming of the devil and they are often heard fighting over food and during mating.

Looking for that uniquely different vacation destination. Call Rawhide Travel and Tours today 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com. We can help!

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