I had to escape from Sydney a few days, perhaps to get away from the sadness of the fires and the potential dangers of them so I went to Tasmania a few days, where I have a close friend.
Tasmania takes its name from the Dutch navigator Abel Tasman who was the first to discover it in the 17th century. Only in the following century, however, was the island circumnavigated thus demonstrating that it is an island in all respects.
Famous all over the world for two unique animals, the Tasmanian Devil and the Thylacine (a carnivore marsupial similar to a hyena and now extinct), millions of tourists a year visit this island to spot the Tasmanian Devil in the wild, which has become a symbol of this territory.
But I don’t think it's not the only attraction. What fascinated me about this place lies in its unspoiled landscape and how people there are managing to live it without ruining it.
I would venture to say that it is a clear example of how man and nature can live together respecting each other.
Tasmania is mostly made up of natural parks, paradisiacal beaches and headlands with spectacular views. An alternation of colors given by farms of various kinds and by free spaces that often leave you speechless.
For me it was a leap into the void: accustomed to the convenience of having everything handy in Sydney, finding myself having to travel on dirt roads surrounded by the Bush (so are called the dense forests here) surrounded only by wild animals and nothing else was such a unique experience.
The island is in fact the great primary resource of Australia. Here you can get to know and have a close relationship with everything related to cultivation, production and love for the territory, mostly organic, and many are the fruits and veggies sold in Sydney and other OZ big cities which come from Tasmania.
From the Southern part of Tasmania, an area with the greatest production of fruit products, to the Northern part, known for its numerous farms and passing through the center, full of wineries, Tasmania is a true foodie paradise. On the east coast you can taste local products and learn new techniques ranging from crafts to cooking to cultivation.
Starting from the South we find Hobart, the capital of Tasmania and also its main port. Full of shops, bars and tourist attractions such as museums, including the most famous, the MONA Museum of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal art, Hobart has that old city charm with a pinch of modernity dictated by the remarkable presence of young foreigners and locals.
From here in just over two and a half hours you can reach the other large city in northern Launceston, more modern and bizarre where clubs, good food and fun are not lacking (where I stayed).
Between these two cities there are many colonial beaches and places that make the trip more fun thanks to their historical curiosities.
Tasmania is easily accessible both by sea and by plane. Flights from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne are frequent.
As in the entire Australia continent, Tasmania also has dangerous animals like snakes therefore it is always recommendable to wear boots and long trousers when hiking or going off the beaten track. Tasmanian forests are also famous for being the house of the platypus and, if you are good and silent, you will be lucky enough to see one, although, unfortunately, it is very rare.
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