While Tasmania is not as well known as many other locations around the world, it has its own unique offerings.
Where is Tasmania?
Tasmania is situated on the southeast of Australia and it’s not actually part of mainland Australia. Instead, it’s a tiny island right off the lower coast – or 150 miles – south of mainland Australia. It’s not very big – only 26,410 square miles – and there are only 500,000 people living there (compared to the 350 or so million living in the United States).
However, Tasmania is the 26th largest island in the entire world.
There are lots of National Parks on Tasmania and its capital city is Hobart.
What plants and animals can be found there?
Tasmania has many different kinds of plants and animals living and growing there. There is a type of tree that only grows in Tasmania called the Huon pine tree. This tree has a special gold texture and has a smell that is very pleasant. It’s one of the oldest plants on Earth. There are also the Tasmanian Blue Gums, the flower symbol of Tasmania. They grow almost everywhere in Tasmania and there are over 600 species of them.
Probably the most famous animal living in Tasmania is the Tasmanian Devil. Like kangaroos, Tasmanian Devils are marsupials, but they are much smaller, only about the size of a small dog. They are very muscular and naturally very mean. Tasmanian Devils are scavengers like hyenas, meaning they usually find things that are already dead to eat. There are also animals like the echidna. Echidnas are like spiny anteaters that use their very long snout to sniff out ants and termites. They also have large claws that can help them dig the bugs up. Tasmania also has kangaroos, sea dragons and kookaburras.
What are the regions of Tasmania?
Tasmania has many regions. The north-west coast is home to many farming towns because its soil is perfect for growing crops. They also raise many animals there. The North and North-East regions have good farming land which is perfect for raising sheep. They also have a lot of timber. The East coast is a popular tourist destination because it has nearly perfect weather – it’s even called “Tasmania’s Suncoast.”
The Tasmanian Peninsula is one of the oldest regions and it’s a top tourist attraction because of its rich history. It’s still a very “natural” area where development is kept at a minimum. Southern Tasmania is where most of Tasmania’s population lives and it’s where the capital city is found. Interestingly, there is still a lot of untouched nature in the region. The West Coast is mostly wilderness and is largely unpopulated by people. The Central and Midlands region also has a lot of history tied into it, and it’s a great region to go to if you’re seeking natural beauty.
What is the weather like?
Tasmania is a typically cool region that has four seasons just like the United States. However, the seasons are in reverse since it is located in the Southern hemisphere. Their summer lasts from December to February when the average temperature is around 70 degrees in the outer areas. Autumn lasts between March and May and winter falls between June and July, with lots of rain. Spring lasts until October. Rain is very common in some areas of Tasmania.
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