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The island state of Tasmania is a place of wild beauty. There are dense rainforests, dramatic mountain peaks, alpine lakes and meadows, wild rivers, rugged coastline, and scenic farmland.
Historic convict-built buildings are common in Tasmania, while the wildlife is often easier to spot than elsewhere particularly in the evening, when the marsupials come out to play.
Tasmanians are gay friendly welcoming, and the state has a reputation for producing some of Australia’s finest food - from abalone to apples, from truffles to wines.
You can cover quite a lot of territory in a week, but it calls out for a longer stay too. Or many repeat visits and staycations.
Day 1 Hobart
Tasmania’s state capital is Hobart. It’s a cosy, attractive town set on the Derwent River estuary.
Head first to Salamanca Place, Hobart’s cultural hub. Here you’ll find historic sandstone buildings featuring a range of art and craft stores, galleries, cafes and bars.
Each Saturday, Salamanca Place hosts the bustling weekly market, where stallholders sell fresh, locally grown produce, and handmade crafts.
From here it’s a short stroll to Battery Point, an area of pretty colonial cottages and more imposing historic buildings. Stop in at the Maritime Museum of Tasmania and learn about early explorers, the local whaling history, shipwrecks, and Aboriginal bark canoes.
After a wander around the calm, yacht-filled waterfront and the compact town centre, make your way to Mount Wellington, which stands on Hobart’s doorstep. On a clear day you can see one third of the island from its summit. v
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