Marcie Gauntlet, Victoria Times Colonist
As a youngster I learned that the island of Tasmania was once called Van Diemen's Land. My father would mention this from time to time, saying that he hoped one of us might some day visit there because we were Van Demans -- even though the spelling had been changed somewhere around the 18th century.
The island was originally found by Abel Tasman in 1642. This Dutch explorer, searching for trading ports, named it after his patron, Anthony Van Diemen, who was the governor-general of the Netherlands East Indies and director of the VOC (the United East India Company). Our line appears to descend from this gentleman's brother, who chose to immigrate to the United States and landed in "New Amsterdam," which we now know as New York. And that's why this Dutch-descendant was determined to see Tasmania when my adventurous husband suggested we visit Australia.
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A scene at the Sydney to Hobart yacht race in Tasmania.
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We managed to get around about half of New South Wales by car and loved it (sitting on the right, and driving on the left notwithstanding) There is nothing like the Aussies for hospitality! However, we had no idea that Tasmania would lure us into her far corners and have us yearning to be 30 again so we could move there.
The island has become a Shangri-la only in the past five years or so. There is verdant and lush growth everywhere and combined with the clearest of atmospheres, the headiness that hits us is enthralling -- not to mention the trendy and upscale shops and cafes.
For history buffs, Robert Hughes's The Fatal Shore is a must-read and is the primary epic in understanding how Australia began. What these courageous and inventive people went through to turn it into the brilliant place and culture it is today is beyond amazing.
After a windy flight and arrival in the capital city of Hobart (from Sydney) excitedly gawking at the brilliant turquoise water and white caps on descent, we settled comfortably into a local motel, which proved to have a fantastic chef and a menu that included quail a l'orange.
Intrigued by the convict history (the early Tasmanian settlers were mostly convicts), we started our investigation at Port Arthur at the southeastern tip of Tasmania.
This is the most significant convict site with large, yellow sandstone penitentiary ruins where the hardest of the convicts were sent from 1787 through 1840. Here, through innovative illustrations and verbal shows, we see the way these convicts, officials, soldiers and their families all lived and died more than 150 years ago. The entry fee also includes a fascinating harbour cruise, which was on a lovely, breezy fall day -- actually warmer than our own B.C. in the spring.
Leaving Port Arthur early the next morning, we started our drive toward the the farthest northwest tip of the island, where the Van Dieman's Land Company is located in Woolnorth.
The Van Diemen's Land Company is one of the oldest and largest pastoral properties in Tasmania, covering an area of 22,200 hectares. They offer farm tours as well as accommodations at the original "Homestead" in the Director's Lodge built in 1970 by manager Blith Richie, whose father was the major shareholder of the Van Diemen's Land Company at the time.

Tasmania is the Australian island state, located south east of Australia being separated from Australia by the Bass Strait, Tasmania is the 26th largest island in the world.
Tasmania is home to the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race held on boxing day, as an annual event, known as the Natural State Tasmania is 37% reserves and world heritage sites.
he domestic sea route is serviced by Bass Strait passenger and vehicle ferries crossings between Devonport and Melbourne.
The Tasmanian Devil is a carnivorous marsupial found exclusively on the island of Tasmania. Tasmania was also once home to the now extinct Thylacine better known as the Tasmanian Tiger, you can learn about the extinct Tasmanian Tiger at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.
Many flora species are unique to Tasmania, with its diverse vegetation ranging from heavily grazed grassland to eucalypt forest, heath lands and cool temperate rain forest.
The early settlers were mostly convicts and military guards, tasked with developing agriculture and other industries. Numerous convict settlements were made in Van Demon's Land, including secondary prisons, such as the harsh penal colonies at Port Arthur, now a tourist attraction in the south of Tasmania.
Laying at the foot of Mount Wellington near the mouth of the Derwent River, the state capital of Tasmania and the largest city is Hobart.
Australia's second oldest city, Hobart was named after named after Lord Hobart, and was visited by Charles Darwin as part of his Beagle expedition.
Hobart was established on the back of the whaling and seal trade. Anglesea Barracks is the oldest military establishment in Australia.
Eating out is an integral part of experiencing Hobart and the Queens Domain and Hobart Royal Botanical Gardens, are excellent for a quiet stroll on the waterfront.
Noted for its spectacular coastal scenery, Coles Bay located on the edge of Freycinet national park, 200 km north east of Hobart.
Other Tourist destinations in Tasmania include Burnie, Devonport, Launceston, St Helens, Srahan Wynyard and more.
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Tasmania Australia, travel deals and tourism information provided by DISCOVER AUSTRALIA HOLIDAYS.

Enter an ancient landscape of dense forests and majestic deep blue lakes as you travel through Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park towards Strahan. Along the way discover a rich history and remains of gold and copper mines at Queenstown. Take a tour on the historic West Coast Wilderness Railway from Queenstown to Strahan, and observe the region’s pristine wilderness.
One of the best places to explore World Heritage Area wilderness is Strahan, the major harbour town on the West Coast. Experience the spectacular Gordon River on a cruise across Macquarie Harbour and discover the ancient rainforest.
Learn of the region’s mining past at the West Coast Pioneers memorial Museum in Zeehan and see Tasmania’s highest waterfall, Montezuma Falls, near Rosebery. Take the three hour return walk passing beautiful rainforest to the base of the 104 metre falls.
Travel the winding road into Cradle Country and discover the craggy profile of Cradle Mountain, surrounded by native beech, rainforest and alpine of the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, and clear glacial lakes including Dove Lake. Enjoy one of the short walks or more challenging treks.

From Visiting Bicheno and the Fairy Penguins by The Ryans
Bicheno is a beach resort town on east coast coast of Tasmania, Australia that is blessed with many natural attractions, including its spectacular beaches. Travelers can enjoy swimming, diving, snorkeling, and fishing here, as well as seeing the local wildlife.
The Ryans, a family traveling through Oceania, visited the fairy penguins along the Tasmanian coast:
“The little penguin (Eudyptula minor) is the smallest species of penguin. It breeds along the entire coastline of Tasmania, Southern Australia, New Zealand and the Chatham Islands. In Australia, they are often referred to as Fairy Penguins because of their tiny size…They grow to about 16 inches weighing 2.2 pounds. They live year-round in large colonies, with each individual breeding pair forming a burrow in which to raise their chicks. They feed by hunting fish, squid, and other small sea animals, for which they travel and dive quite extensively throughout each day. They return to their colonies to feed their chicks at dusk; the birds will tend to come ashore in small groups to provide some defense against predators which might pick off individuals one by one.” (more…)
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