Indeed there is no dearth of people who actually came to Tasmania for a holiday, but were charmed by its beauty to such an extent, that they decided to move permanently to Australia! If you one of those who are enamored by Tasmania’s beauty, that you are contemplating moving to Australia, then you will find the information on this page very helpful. Read on…
Tasmania is the one and only island state in Australia. It is also the smallest of all states of Australia and has a population of around 500,000 people. Tasmania is separated from the rest of the mainland of Australia by the Bass Strait, a water body. The island state has gorgeous landscapes and its people enjoy a unique and great lifestyle. Tasmania, also known as the “Island of Inspiration” within Australia and internationally, has been promoted as “Australia’s Natural State”. The above are good reasons behind many people moving to Tasmania.
The British first established Tasmania in 1804 as a penal colony. The convicts were transported to the place that was then known as Van Diemen’s Land. Such penal settlements were then settled at Maria Island, Port Arthur, Sarah Island and Sullivan’s Cove. The remains of those convict jails can be viewed even now at these places. At Port Arthur, they have been particularly preserved for tourism purposes.
Tasmania can be described mainly in 2 different regions. They are namely Southern Tasmania and North West Coast.
Hobart is the capital of Tasmania. It is a small city when compared with the other cities in the rest of the Australian mainland. It is an intimate city and has a population of nearly 250,000. The urban area stretches along the Derwent River in the north and south. It has four seasons and is notable to be one of the coldest cities in Australia. The climate in Hobart is oceanic and mild.
Port Arthur is a small town located 100kms south east of Hobart in the Tasman Peninsula and is about one and half hours’ drive away from Hobart. The Port Arthur Historic Site, which is a former colony of convicts, is the main attraction of this small town.
Richmond is a historic village located in the south west of Tasmania. It is a 30-minute drive away from the capital city of Hobart. This small town is made of handmade brick, mellow stones and cobbles on the banks of the Coal River.
The Huon trail is a touring and scenic route that incorporates the Channel and the Huon valley regions. It falls to the south of Hobart city.
Launceston is situated on the Tamar River in the north of Tasmania. It is the second largest city with a population of around 70,000 in the state. It is 50 minutes away from Melbourne, in the mainland of Australia and is connected to Melbourne by daily flights. It is also connected to Sydney with daily flights and Brisbane has flights on selected days.
Devonport is the third largest city of Tasmania. It is also known as the Gateway to Tasmania as it is the arrival port for the daily service of Bass Strait Ferry from the mainland.
The North west Coast mainly covers the cities of Stanley, Wynyard and Burnie.
The Bass Strait Islands contain two groups of islands lying between Tasmania and Victoria. Politically the Bass Strait Islands belong to the state of Tasmania. The Hunter Island, Cape Barren Island, Finders Island, Furnaux Islands and King Island are all part of the Bass Strait Islands.
Tasmania enjoys four distinct seasons and a cool temperate climate. Summer is observed from December through February. The average maximum summer temperature at sea is 21C (70F) and that at the inland areas is 24C (75F). March to May is autumn in Tasmania. These months experience a transition of weather from summer to winter. The winter months are generally from June to August and are known to be the coldest and wettest months. Most of the high-rise areas receive snowfall during these months. The maximum temperature in winter along the coast area is 12C (54F) and at the central plateau it is 3C (37F). Spring is the windiest in the state. Snowfall is common until the month of October.
Tasmania is an island surrounded by the Pacific and Indian Oceans and is separated from Australian mainland by the Bass Strait Pass. It has been inactive volcanically in recent times but has sharp peaks, a result of recent glaciations. Tasmania is the rockiest state of Australia with many mountains. The hilliest is the Central Highlands area. The Midlands is located in the central east and is mainly used for agriculture, as it is somewhat flat. Mount Ossa, that lies in the world famous Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, is the tallest mountain in Tasmania. Most of the state is densely forested too. The state has lot of rivers that have been dammed to provide hydroelectricity. The combination of the mountains, forestation and rivers makes Tasmania a natural beauty drawing the attention of many and many are moving to Tasmania to enjoy these natural resources.
The state government encourages many annual events for tourists in and around the state. The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is the best known among such events. It starts on Boxing Day in Sydney and usually arrives three or four days later in Hobart at the Constitution Dock. The “Taste of Tasmania” is an annual wine and food festival. Regional and Rural festivals include Royal Hobart Show and the Royal Launceston Show, which are held annually in October, and Agfest which is an agricultural show of three days held in early May at Carrick. Falls Festival at Marion Bay held on New Year’s Eve and MS Fest, a charity event are the well-known Musical events that are held in Tasmania. The state has a great literary culture also. Tasmania has to its credit varied musical and performance arts. The best among them are The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.
The vibrant lifestyle, pleasant climate and amazing scenic natural beauty are Tasmania’s attractions for tourists from all over the world.
If you are looking for more on information on moving to Tasmania you can visit http://wikitravel.org/en/Tasmania, which includes information on the Tasmania regions, cities, towns, villages and other destinations, getting into Tasmania, getting around, what to see, do, eat, drink, sleep, getting out and staying safe in Tasmania.
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Hi… I’m JJ Smith.
I’m the creator and editor of Moving to Australia and have been for 10 years! I know everything there is to know about New Zealanders moving their families and life to Australia. Either from first hand experiences and research or through the questions from visitors to this website… and I’m here to help!
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