Tasmania may be the smallest state in Australia, but it certainly packs a punch when it comes to education and adventure. Steeped in natural beauty and historical treasures, this diverse island state has so much to offer at every corner. Want to know more about this wondrous destination? Here are 10 interesting facts about Tasmania that will make you want to pack your bags ASAP!
- The Tasmanian Devil is only found in Tasmania and is the world’s largest surviving carnivorous marsupial. If you’re really lucky, you might spot them in the wild or you can head to Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary and get up close and personal with these cheeky little devils.
- Tasmania may be Australia’s smallest state but it’s the world’s 26th largest island. It measures 68,332 square kilometres and is about the same size as Ireland or Switzerland. It takes just two and a half hours to drive from Hobart (south) to Launceston (north), providing more time for exploration and less time transiting!
- The Tasmanian Wilderness is a World Heritage Site that covers one and half million hectares, making up 24% of Tasmania’s total land mass. It was listed as a World Heritage area as it is one of the last areas of cool-temperature rainforests in the world. It’s also one of the richest archaeological sites in Australia with evidence that humans occupied the area at least 20,000 years ago.
- Amongst the wonderful wilderness found in Tasmania, you’ll find some of the most ancient and tallest trees in the world. The tallest tree in Tasmania is called the Centurian and is a Mountain Ash tree. In 2018 it was measured by Yoav Daniel Bar-Ness, of Giant Tree Expeditions, at 100.5m in height. See this forest giant and many others near the Tahune Airwalk in southern Tasmania.
- Tasmania is also the most mountainous state in Australia. You’ll find the highest mountain in Tasmania, Mount Ossa, located in the heart of Cradle Mountain and Lake St Claire National Park. Mount Ossa stands at 1617 metres tall.
- Tasmania was once connected to mainland Australia over 12,000 years ago. What is now known as the Bass Strait used to be a giant plain where Indigenous people lived and travelled until the ice age occurred around 30,000 years ago which caused the sea level to drop, creating a continuous land mass between Papua New Guinea and Tasmania. The ice eventually melted, and sea levels rose once again creating the Bass Strait, separating Tasmania from the mainland. Unfortunately, First Nations were no longer able to move between Victoria and Tasmania and were alone for 500 generations, knowing no other people in the world.
- Out of the 11 UNESCO World Heritage Listed convict sites in Australia, five are found in Tasmania, making it a significant place to discover Australian Colonial History. Between 1804 and 1853 the British government transported about 76,000 convicts to Tasmania for further punishment when they reoffended in mainland Australia. Visit Port Arthur Historic Site and explore the open-air museum to learn about this grim period of Australian history and the stories of those affected.
- In the past, Tasmania was often overlooked by the rest of Australia. So much so that in 1982, Tasmania was left off the map at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in Brisbane.
- Tasmania is also known as the Apple Isle due to the commercial success of the state’s apple industry. William Bligh planted the first apple tree in the 1700’s during early colonial settlement and by the 1800’s the industry was thriving up until it started to decline in the 1970’s. Today, the state only exports around 8% of Australia’s apples.
- A seafood lover’s paradise, Tasmania is famous for its exceptional seafood. A very popular foodie choice is the famous Tassie Scallop pie, found in bakeries all over the state.
Ready to start planning a Tassie adventure? Explore our Tasmania tours or contact us to start planning. Call 1800 331 050 or email info@worldstrides.com.au
