Tasmania may not be the end of the earth, but it does feel very far away considering you are adding on an hour to the already mammoth flight to Australia. Irish people are very familiar with holidaying and backpacking in Australia, however Tasmania (or Tassie as it’s more commonly known) can very often be left off the itinerary due to the extra flight to the island.

However, it is worth the trek and any traveller who yearns for clean, fresh air, genuine wilderness, wild beaches, great food and wine, exciting activities, historic sites and museums will certainly find all that here.

Geographically, Tasmania is roughly the same size as Ireland but much more sparsely populated. With a population of approximately 500,000 living mainly in the southern state capital Hobart and the bigger city of Launceston in the north of the island. More than half the island is untouched virgin forest, scrubland and mountains.

Having spent four and a half years in Tasmania, I loved the rocky, harsh and remote character of the island. It is also famous for its remarkable ecological diversity. Approximately 40% of Tasmania is protected in national parks and other reserves, over half of this being the World Heritage-listed temperate wilderness in the west of the island.

If you are a fan of untamed rainforest and craggy granite peaks, then this is the place for you! There are numerous national parks right across the island and all hold some fantastic walks through beautiful scenery.
One of my favourites was Freycinet National Park on the west coast which is home to the stunningly beautiful Wineglass Bay. Freycinet National Park is easily accessible from the pretty village of Coles Bay, renowned for its tasty, fresh seafood.

A curving, secluded, white sandy beach– absolutely the stuff of dreams! A brisk one hour climb up Mount Amos will give you a world-class view of this pristine beach. Afterwards, back to Coles Bay for a tasty lunch and a well deserved beer.

Since Tasmania has been cut off from the Australian continent since sea levels rose at the end of the last ice age, the wildlife here is unique. Tasmania supports a rich variety and abundance of animals, although many are nocturnal and elusive.

A quiet walk at dawn or dusk will reward a patient observer. Encountering a platypus, echidna, quoll, wallaby or Tasmanian devil in the wild is an exciting experience.

Visitors can’t help but be reminded of Tasmania’s troubled past. Originally called Van Diemen’s Land, its name was changed to Tasmania in 1856 in an attempt to erase the grim reputation associated with the transportation of convicts from Great Britain and Ireland.

The largest and most notorious penal colony on the island was Port Arthur, near Hobart. The prison was built on a peninsula which is connected to the mainland by a 100-foot wide isthmus called Eaglehawk Neck. The prison was regarded as totally secure, as the waters surrounding it were shark-infested and the land bridge was guarded by soldiers and wild dogs.

Port Arthur was used as a penal colony for both secondary offenders and the most hardened of criminals. The prison buildings have been restored by the Tasmanian Authorities and the colony is now a popular tourist destination. Port Arthur has a genuinely foreboding air about it; you can get a real feel for the horror and hardship of its convict history.

John Mitchell, one of the leaders of the 1848 Fenian rebellion, served part of his sentence at Port Arthur.
The capital city of Hobart has a buzzing cultural scene, but with a very laid-back feeling that is unusual in big cities. Hobart is also famous for its café/ restaurant culture and you will be sure to find some great places to eat around Salamanca Square, which is the epicentre of Hobart.

Salamanca also hosts the largest outdoor market in Australia which is open every Saturday morning between 8am and 3pm.

Tasmania has some of the freshest and tastiest food I have eaten anywhere. It is a fine example of modern Australian cuisine and there is something for everyone. Don’t miss out on the local beer either. Cascade Brewery in Hobart is a good place to start the sampling.

So, if you are heading to Australia, make the time to go to Tassie. You will be pleasantly surprised.

Above: The (very small) Tasmanian devil; a quoll and a beautiful beach.