Introduction
Tasmania’s capital is Australia’s second-oldest city after Sydney and is situated on the south side of the island. The city has strong links with the sea, typified by the wharves, jetties and warehouses – some dating back to the 19th century – which cluster around the waterfront. Examples of the island’s history can be seen in the Maritime Museum of Tasmania, the convict-era buildings of Battery Point and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. The sweet-toothed will enjoy touring the Cadbury Chocolate Factory. Mount Wellington, towering 1270m (4170ft) to the west of the city, provides the backdrop to Hobart. From the lookout at the top (about 20km/12 miles by road) the clear air offers a spectacular view of Hobart, its suburbs, the Derwent Estuary and Storm Bay. Apart from the view, the area has picnic facilities and walking trails. The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens offer a long walk through beautiful scenery.
The popular Tahune AirWalk is a one-and-a-half hour’s drive from Hobart, offering a suspended 45m-high walkway above spectacular forest canopies. It is part of the Huon Trail which includes the Hastings thermal pool, caves and sheltered bays of the D’Entrecasteaux Channel. AirWalk admission fees are A$9 for adults and A$6 for children. Launceston, Tasmania’s second city on the north of the island, retains much of its colonial Georgian/Edwardian flavour. It is the natural gateway for the rural beauty of the island, including the Cataract Gorge and the Launceston Lake Wildlife Sanctuary. City Park is frequented for its Botanical Conservatory and Monkey Island featuring Japanese mecaque monkeys. The new Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery at Inveresk near Launceston features original Tasmanian and Aboriginal art as well as various temporary exhibitions; entry fee is A$10. Port Arthur, 100km (82 miles) east of Hobart, is the site of a penal colony built in the early 19th century. Guided tours are available including a popular ghost tour. There is a new one-and-a-half hour trail along the cliffs and beaches. Not far away is Eaglehawk Neck, noted for its bizarre rock formations and the highest sea cliffs in the southern hemisphere.
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