Wildlife of Tasmania. Tasmanian wilderness Western Tasmanian wilderness unesco

Willandra Lake District
Willandra Lake District - object World heritage UNESCO No. 167. The area covers an area of ​​2,400 square kilometers, in the southwestern part of New South Wales in Australia. Part of the region (about 10%) is occupied by the Mungo National Park.

The Willandra Lake District covers an area of ​​2,400 km2 in southwest New South Wales, 582 km west of Sydney. There are five large and fourteen small lakes, formed more than two million years ago.


All lakes (5 large and 14 small) are dry, formed more than 2 million years ago, and are covered with saline vegetation. The region also features unique lunar semi-desert landscapes. There are eucalyptus woodlands.
The region is unique for its paleontological finds from the Pleistocene period, as well as for the finds of evidence of human civilization dating from 45000-60,000 BC. e. In 1968, the remains of a cremated woman were found in the dunes of Lake Mungo. In 1974, a male burial was found near the find. They are considered the oldest remnants of human activity on the planet.
The nature in these places, unlike other regions of Australia, is not rich - a semi-desert landscape, a lot sand dunes, fields with sparse shrubs and grass, in places small islets of woodland with eucalyptus and conifers (such as white pine and Australian blue cypress) trees. Of the living creatures in the region, about 20 species of mammals have been recorded, including kangaroos and echidnas, as well as emu ostriches, several species of bats and many reptiles.


Mungo National Park, located in the Willandra Lake District and named after a large ancient lake Mungo, is world famous for paleontological discoveries proving the habitability of this region about 60 thousand years ago. In the vicinity of Lake Mungo in 1968 and 1974, archaeologists discovered the remains of cremated ancient people - this is a unique, oldest cremation in the world.

In total, there are 19 lakes in the Willandra Lake District, and their uniqueness is given by the fact that they were all formed more than 2 million years ago! The photo shows the largest of Willandra's lakes: 1 - Mulurulu, 2 - Willandra, 3 - Garnpung, 4 - Lehur, 5 - Mungo, 6 - Arumpo, 7 - Chibnalwood


In addition to the ancient dry lakes, Willandra boasts interesting semi-desert landscapes, somewhat reminiscent of the moon, among which there are occasionally small eucalyptus groves

The territory of the lake district turned out to be a storehouse of traces of human activity dating back to 45-60 millennia BC, and the human remains found here in 1968 and 1974 are the most ancient burials of our ancestors today!


Wildlife of Western Tasmania


In a region that was once severely glaciated, parks and reserves with steep gorges cover more than 1 million hectares, making Western Tasmania's forests one of the last in the world with temperate climates. The remains found in limestone caves indicate that people appeared here more than 20 thousand years ago.

The island of Tasmania, discovered in 1642 by the Dutch navigator Abel Tasman, is located off the southeast coast of Australia. It is cut off from the mainland by the Bass Strait, from its western side Indian Ocean, from the east - the Tasman Sea.

The nature of Tasmania amazes with its pristine fabulous beauty, the splendor and uniqueness of landscapes - these are mountain peaks and centuries-old, in places impassable rainforests, quiet green valleys and fast rivers with crystal clear water and ice waterfalls, picturesque gorges and volcanoes, colorful meadows with marvelous flowers and mirror-like surface of many narrow bays and white beaches. Surprisingly, the nature of Tasmania still keeps vast spaces where no human has ever set foot.

Parrot with an orange belly, southwestern Tasmania. There are about 150 of them left in the wild. A huge number of plants, eucalyptus forests, tree ferns - the wild nature of western Tasmania is in many ways very similar to that of Australia. The mild, humid climate here has both evergreen and deciduous trees.


Many of them reach incredible sizes. Globular eucalyptus, for example, can be up to one hundred and twenty meters in height. There are also southern beeches and Franklin pines with very valuable red wood, spinous atrotaxis (some representatives of the species have lived for more than two centuries), cypress antrotaxis, rare species of mosses and lichens.

The wildlife of western Tasmania is teeming with exotic animals. This paradise is home to the Tasmanian devil, red wallaby, Tasmanian bettong, marsupial wolf, dingo, platypus, koalas, kangaroos, echidnas, possums, as well as about 150 species of birds.


The cultural heritage of this region, which was the southernmost area of ​​human habitation on our planet, is also of colossal interest. There are more than 40 sacred places of local aborigines, which are still of exceptional importance for the modern aboriginal population. Archaeological finds from this region have formed invaluable art collections.
It is known, however, that the modern cultural history of Tasmania is full of drama and even tragic. During the colonization of the island by Europeans local population the island was almost completely destroyed. According to the 1961 census, there is one (!) Aboriginal in Tasmania. Now there are officially many more of them, but does this mean that the connection of times has been restored? The noted specificity of the region can also be traced in its toponymy.

Here are the names of the rivers in the World Heritage Region: Gordon, Franklin, Andrew, Denison, Maxwell, etc. etc. Needless to say, historically, quite recently, all these rivers had completely different names, reflecting, as elsewhere in the world, their characteristic features in the languages ​​of those people who lived on their banks. Fortunately, many of the mainland areas of Australia still retain their natural place names, which are also part of the heritage - natural and cultural.

Tasmania Island is a World Wildlife Heritage of 1.38 million hectares. It is a citadel of rainforest, alpine nature and untouched habitats for animals (rare and endangered) and plants.

The island of Tasmania is interesting for its extraordinary nature - it is the only place in the region where a temperate type of climate prevails; in the Southern Hemisphere, this is found only in the south of Chile and Argentina. Tasmania is the smallest state in Australia.


Almost the entire territory of the island is a large nature reserve. Almost a quarter of its territory has not yet been influenced by humans. Impenetrable forests and jungles, mysterious and strange forest animals, a huge number of rare species of birds, a large number of fish in mountain lakes and rivers have been preserved here. One of the legendary inhabitants of the forests of Tasmania is the Tasmanian devil, however, recently the number of this unusual wild animal has significantly decreased.


The nature of Tasmania is exceptional and has no analogues in the world. The heart of wild Tasmanian nature - National park Wild Rivers of Franklin-Gordon. Here you can see amazing mountain peaks, tropical forests, deep river valleys, picturesque gorges. And among all this splendor, reserved rivers meander.


The Mount Cradle Lake St. Clair National Park cannot be ignored. This national park is one of the most famous natural monuments, it is included in the lists of monuments of the cultural heritage of mankind.


Local lakes - popular place trout fishing and bushwoking, and the local restaurants offer authentic Tasmanian cuisine and excellent Tasmanian wine. Icy rivers cascade from jagged peaks and flow into transparent lakes. It offers stunning views of age-old rainforests and alpine moors
. East Coast rainforests
The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the east coast of mainland Australia, on the border between Queensland and New South Wales.





Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1986 (expanded in 1994) under the name Temperate and Subtropical Forest Parks of the Australian East Coast. East Coast Temperate and Subtropical Rainforest Parks). Then it included 16 tracts of rainforest in New South Wales (an area of ​​about 203,500 hectares). In 1994, the facility was expanded to include 40 more properties, most of which were located in the state of Queensland. Between 1994-2007, it was called the Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves.






Currently, there are about 50 separate nature reserves on its territory, located between the Australian cities of Newcastle and Brisbane. They all stretch for 500 km along the Great Dividing Range in eastern New South Wales and southern Queensland, and the site itself is a collection of numerous tracts of rainforest that are surrounded by eucalyptus forests and agricultural land. The rainforests of the east coast of Australia are the largest subtropical rainforests in the world. The total area of ​​the facility is about 370 thousand hectares.




Scientifically, they are important, as they represent a huge accumulation of ancient Australian vegetation, formed during the time when the modern mainland was still part of the supercontinent of Gondwana. The relief of the area where the forests are located is diverse. It includes numerous gorges, prehistoric volcanoes, waterfalls and rivers.




The world of flora and fauna is extremely rich: about half of all Australian plant families and about a third of Australian species of mammals and birds are registered in forests (despite the fact that forests occupy only 0.3% of the total area of ​​the Australian mainland).
Wet tropics of Queensland

Wet Tropics of Queensland is a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the northeast coast of mainland Australia, in the state of Queensland. The site is a wilderness area covered with tropical rain forests and characterized by a wide variety of relief (rivers, gorges, waterfalls, mountains). Located in the valley of the Daintree River, covering an area of ​​8940 km². Included in the World Heritage List in 1988.




Great Dividing Range
On the territory of the object, there are three main geographic regions: plateau of the Great Dividing Range, the region of the Great Cliffs in the east and coastal plains. The plateau has a highly eroded topography resulting from both erosion and past volcanic activity.

Separate lava cones and crater lakes have been preserved. The Great Cliffs Region is a highly rugged terrain that has experienced catastrophic erosion. There are numerous gorges and waterfalls. The northern part of the World Heritage Site contains vast areas of coral reefs.

Coral reefs
The climate ranges from humid to very humid. There are two seasons in the year: a relatively dry winter and a rainy summer. Average annual precipitation ranges from 4000 mm near the coast to 1200 mm in the western part. The average maximum temperature in summer near the coast is 31 ° C, in winter months it is 5 ° C lower. On the plateau and in the area of ​​cliffs, the temperature in summer ranges from 28 to 17 ° C, in winter - from 22 to 9 ° C.

The world of flora and fauna is extremely rich: about 380 species of plants and 102 species of animals are registered in the forests, which are endangered or considered rare. Forests are home to 30% of all species of marsupials recorded in Australia, 58% of bats, 29% of frogs, 20% of reptiles, 58% of butterflies and 40% of bird species. From a scientific point of view, local rainforests are important because represent a huge accumulation of ancient vegetation in Australia, formed during the time when the modern mainland was still part of the supercontinent of Gondwana. There are extensive mangrove forests with an area of ​​about 136 km².

The local forests are the traditional habitat of the Australian aborigines, who settled in the region more than 50 thousand years ago.
Shark Bay, Western Australia


Snapshot from space
Shark Bay is a bay in the northwestern part of the Australian state of Western Australia, located about 650 km north of the city of Perth.





On old English and Dutch maps it was called "Shark Bay". The bay is a bay with an average depth of 10 meters, which is cut by two peninsulas jutting out into the Indian Ocean. Today Shark Bay attracts about 120,000 tourists annually. In 1991 it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.




In 1629, the Dutch explorer Francois Pelsart described the Gulf Coast as a lifeless and dismal place. Its first name - Shark Bay, the bay received at the end of the 17th century, when an English ship under the command of Captain William Dampier reached the coast of Western Australia and stopped in the bay.






It was around this time that Dampier mapped the coastline of the bay. According to one version, the name Shark Bay got its name from the fact that a giant shark was caught by the sailors of the ship under the command of Dampir, which went to eat the hungry crew. According to another, the most widespread version, the bay got this name due to the habitation in its waters of more than ten species of sharks, including a tiger shark.


Stromatolites in Khamelin-Pool Bay


In 1991, the bay was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as a unique ecosystem. The basis of the ecosystem is algae, which covers more than 4000 km² of the bottom of the bay. Plankton, consisting of shrimps and small fish, find shelter in them. Algae are also the main food for the dugongs, of which there are about 10 thousand.


Shark Bay is one of the world's largest dugong habitats. Bottlenose dolphins are found in the bay, attracting biologists from all over the world to the bay. In the southernmost part of the bay is a shallow bay called Hamelin Pool, the world's largest stromatolite formation, which is almost 3 billion years old.
Fossil remains of Australian mammals (Riversleigh and Naracourt)

Having world significance the most important fossil sites in Australia are Riversley (in the northeast of the mainland) and Naracourt (in the southeast). In Queensland's Riversley, the fossilized bones are very well preserved, thanks to the ideal environment (the limestone plain is rich in near-surface waters), which, unfortunately, is not so favorable for plant remains.

Paleontologists have discovered animal fossils that date back to the Cenozoic era (65 million years). These are fossil remains of bison, frogs, kangaroos. In 2001, the remains of a marsupial lion, a distant relative of koalas, were found here.

Scientists have found that herbivorous marsupial mammals - wallabies and rat kangaroos, huge diprotodonts and "odd-toothed" yalkaparidonts lived in the Riversley forests in the Miocene. And the last representative of the carnivorous striped marsupial wolf (tilacin, "marsupial tiger", "Tasmanian wolf") died relatively recently - in 1933, in captivity.

Of the discovered fossil birds, the most noteworthy are the "birds of thunder", which resemble ostriches outwardly and are the ancestors of modern flightless species.

It is one of the largest preserved areas of temperate rain pole rainforest in the world. The wildlife of Tasmania includes the peaks, mountain gorges, rivers, numerous caves, endemic species of flora and fauna, wild forests and deserts of the island of Tasmania. Forests and other features cover an area of ​​13,800 km2, which is about 20% of the area of ​​the entire island of Tasmania. The Wildlife of Tasmania has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982. In 1989, the original site was expanded.

National parks of Tasmania

Geographically, the Wildlife of Tasmania is divided into several national parks - Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, Hartz Mountains National Park, Southwest National Park, Mole Creek Karst National Park, Walls of Jerusalem National Park , Central Plateau Conservation and Protected Areas, Devils Gullet State Reserve, and South East Mutton Bird Islet. The most accessible and popular are Mount Cradle National Park and Lake St Clair. The second most popular is the Jerusalem Walls National Park located in the desert area.

According to archaeological excavations in limestone caves, human settlements appeared in this area about 20 thousand years ago.

Fauna of Tasmania

Tasmania has a rich fauna. Of the 32 species of protected animals, 27 are found in Tasmania. The most famous of the island's marsupials is the Tasmanian devil. The island is home to over 150 species of birds, including a rare species of rosella - the green rosella.

Adventure on land and water in Tasmania

Tasmania is great for river rafting. The most suitable for this is the Franklin River. For lovers of long journeys, it is possible to sail on the rivers Overland (five days), Frenchmans Cap (three days) or South Coast (seven days).

Access to most of caves of Tasmania limited and requires prior authorization, due to fragility and the possibility of collapse. The general public is open to the Marakoopa Cave, located south of Mole Creek, which is visited by about 25,000 tourists annually.

Fishing is the second most popular type of holiday on the island. The Central Plateau area is known as the "Land of a Thousand Lakes" and is especially famous for the best place for trout fishing. Popular fishing areas include Pedder Lake in the south of Southwest National Park, Lake St Clair Lakes, Macquarie Harbor, and the Gordon River.

Many of Wild Tasmania's tracks are pedestrianized and prohibited from bicycles. Cycling is possible only on the road intended for vehicles. A popular cycling route is the Lyell Lake area.

Horse riding is possible in the Central Plateau Conservation Area and Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park. However, for cross-country horse riding, you should be an experienced rider.

Basic moments

As a rule, there are five historical landmarks of Tasmania. Most recently, they were listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Port Arthur Prison Fort, Coal Mines, Cascades Women's Factory, Darlington Probation Station and Brickendon Woolmers Estate. But still, the main attraction of the island, which attracts tourists every year, is unique nature Tasmania.

The island is preparing many surprises for travelers. Here you can spend the night in the bush and meet the Tasmanian devil. The Australians themselves call Tasmania “the island of inspiration”. And deservedly so.

The island of Tasmania is divided into 5 regions:

• Capital, city of Hobart, and its surroundings
• East Coast (including Flinders Island)
• Launceston, Tamar and northern Tasmania
• Northwest Coast ( main city- Devonport and Bass Strait Islands)
• Western territories

sights

Hobart and its surroundings

Hobart was founded in 1804. It is the second oldest city in Australia. The capital of Tasmania is important seaport... Australian and French ships leave from it to Antarctica.

The city has become interesting too tourist center... Most of the buildings in the city, even the port warehouses, are built in the neo-Gothic style. Combined with the beautiful mountainous landscape of the areas surrounding the city, they create a unique scenic landscape.

Here you can sail or kayak on the Derwent River, have a cup of coffee under an umbrella in Salamanca Square and immerse yourself in the surfing atmosphere in Hobart's first suburb, Battery Point. To the southeast are Cole Valley wineries with a cold climate, as well as the ancient cities of Huonville and Richmond. From the coastal village of Kettering, you can take a car ferry to the island of Bruni. From the crescent-shaped settlement of Cockle Creek, you can experience the breath of the desert of Southwest National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On the historical site of Port Arthur, located on the Tasmanian Peninsula, you can learn about the life of the prisoners of the mid-19th century. If you are staying in Woodbridge, take a stroll along the expansive beaches of Tasman National Park and then dine at Peppermint Bay for a delicious meal. In Outlands, anyone can see 200-year-old oak trees and sandstone cottages and hike the Heritage Highway pioneers' route from Launceston to Hobart. On the Clyde River, the old town of New Norfolk and the pretty town of Hamilton deserve attention. For a taste of the highlands and malt whiskey, visit Bothwell, located on the southern edge of the Central Plateau.

These territories prepare many discoveries for travelers, but wild nature remains its main decoration.

East Coast

From Triabunna, you can take a ferry to the historic island of Maria, where there are no cars at all, but you can walk or go kayaking. We recommend staying in the Coles Bay paradise overlooking the crystal-clear Oyster Bay and at the entrance to Freycinet National Park. At nearby Mount William National Park, you can follow the Bay of Fire Trail, which takes you past forest kangaroos, Aboriginal dwellings, wooded areas and white beaches. Then you can go fishing and diving at the picturesque Port of Saint Helena on the shores of George Bay. In nearby Payengan, you can try farm cheese or visit vineyards and berry farms around the seaside towns of Bicheno and Swansea. In Douglas Apsley National Park, you can not only walk, but also camp among quiet rivers, waterfalls, rainforests and tall eucalyptus and pine trees. To the north of the coast is Flinders Island, a place to dive to inspect wrecks, climb the pink and gray cliffs of Mount Streletsky and look for diamonds in Killikranky.

Launceston, Tamar and North Tasmania

Launceston is home to elegant Edwardian buildings and the magical desert of the Cataract Gorge. Here you can walk through the thickets of ferns or descend on a rope, climb to the top or descend on a hang-glider from the enormous height of the gorge. You can also take the lift and cross the gorge. Nearby, you can watch birds in their natural setting in the swampy terrain of Tamar Island, or meet kangaroos, wallabies and wombats at Narawntapu National Park. To the northeast are manicured fields and the Scottsdale Forest Conservation Center. Nearby in Bridgeport, you can go fishing, play golf with Bass Sound on the Barnbugle dunes and wander around the cozy lavender fields in Naboula. Penguins can be seen in Low Head and adorable fur seals on Tent Island. In Ben Lomond National Park, tourists are invited to ski and climb the rugged mountain peaks. You can also visit the Beaconsfield Gold Museum and try some sapphires along the way near the Derby Tin Mine. And this list of the most interesting places in Tasmania can be continued for a very long time, so it is better to see everything with your own eyes.

Northwest coast

Devonport is one of the largest cities on the northwest coast. The ships Spirit of Tasmania arrive to him, which have become the landmark of this pretty port. From here you can make walk or cycle along the Devonport coastline, view the murals in Sheffield, and visit the antique shops in La Trobe. From the floating pontoon in Port Sorrel, you can go water skiing, kayaking or fishing. You can also walk around the busy markets and picturesque beach Penguin. You should definitely include in the excursion program a visit to the limestone caves in the National Park karst caves Mole Creek, which lie below the surface of the Great Western Tiers, known to the indigenous people as Cuparuna Niara. In the old town of Stanley you can see a steep volcanic cork called "The Nut". King Island is nearby, where you can taste cheese from famous local dairy farms and view more than 70 shipwrecks under water.

Western territories

Here you should pay attention to the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, go kayaking to Macquarie Harbor, stroll along Ocean Beach and go around pine and myrtle forests by jeep. From the windows of the seaplane you can see the rare thousand-year-old Huong pine. Then you can ride along the picturesque rack and railroad to the ancient city of Queenstown, which once had the richest deposits of gold and copper in the world. True explorers will love exploring the reckless mining past of Zihan, which was once a wealthy silver mining town. From the quiet town of Rosebury, you can take a day trip to the Pasminco Mine or walk to Montezuma Falls, the highest waterfall in Tasmania. Admire the rugged peaks and mirror-like lakes of Cradle Mountain Lake St. Clair National Park. Mount Ossa, the highest in Tasmania, is also located in the western territory.

Tasmanian nature

Without a doubt, the biggest and main attraction of the island of Tasmania is its nature. Many kilometers of beaches with the purest white sand attract a large number of tourists. The Tasmanian rainforest was recognized in 1982 natural heritage humanity, "the lungs of the planet." It includes two state reserves, four national parks, state forests, and two protected areas. The island is considered one of the last centers of virgin nature in the Southern Hemisphere. Due to the excellent preservation of natural complexes, Tasmania is rightfully considered one of the standards of natural nature on the planet.

The nature of the island is unique, and it has no analogues in the whole world. Rivers National Park is the heart of Tasmania's wildlife. Here you can see deep river valleys, tropical forests, picturesque gorges, mountain peaks that amaze the imagination. And among all this beauty, a large number of protected rivers meander.

Animal and vegetable world Tasmania is very original - a large number of representatives are endemic.

In Tasmania, 44% of the territory is covered with rainforest, and 21% is National parks... Such relationships are rare. Trout-infested lakes, rivers and waterfalls, replenished with rain and melt water, feed the forests where euphoria tirucalli, eucalyptus regal and Hannah, myrtle trees, Cunningham's notofagus, black-wood acacia, sassafras, brilliant eucryphia, phyllocladus aspleniferous, dixacrydihidium antarctic and antarctic dixacrythia and antarctic dixacrythia. Today, environmentalists are fighting miners, papermakers and hydropower builders. The bare desert of Queenstown, a mining and industrial city, sternly reminds of the consequences of a thoughtless waste of natural resources.

The fauna of these places also suffered, especially the thylacin, or the marsupial wolf, a gray-yellow animal resembling a dog. For the dark stripes on the back and rump, he was nicknamed the tiger. This lean, shy carnivore is in the habit of carrying poultry and sheep. The killed thylacins were rewarded, and by 1936 they had disappeared.

Another unique Tasmanian marsupial, the Tasmanian devil, could be threatened with extinction due to a unique cancer - a facial tumor. Currently, scientists in Australia are working intensively to prevent the spread of this disease among Tasmanian devils. Tasmania is also famous for its small-billed petrel. Starting flight in the Tasman Sea, and practically flying around the Pacific Ocean, the petrel returns to its sandy nesting sites from year to year.

Not far from the nests of thin-billed petrels, where they arrive only at night, there is another bird that “flies” under water, a small penguin - with a short beak and weighing no more than a cat.

For tourists

The island will appeal to all fans mountain tourism and aquatic species sports. Lovers of travel and wildlife will also appreciate this land, because the island is home to many amazing animals that are found only here. Tasmania is also known for its nature reserves, which are located between mountain peaks and crystal clear lakes.

Luxurious hotels and luxurious resort areas where you can spend an unforgettable vacation.

How to get there

The island is only served by local airlines, so to get to Tasmania you must first arrive on the mainland. To fly to the island will not be there, because flights to Tasmania airports located in the cities of Hobart, Launceston and Devonport are carried out from many mainland cities - Sydney, Canberra, Perth and Melbourne. For example, a flight from Melbourne will take less than an hour. The service is provided by local airlines Qantas, Virgin Blue, Jetstar, Regional Express and Tiger Airways.

Further from the airports of Tasmania you can reach the hotel by shuttle buses. The distance between cities is not great at all, so the bus drops off tourists right at the door of the hotel. The fare will cost from $ 10 to $ 22. For the return journey from the hotel to the airport, you need to book a seat on the bus in advance and agree on the pick-up time by phone.

Melbourne and Devonport are also connected by ferry services of the marine transport company Spirit of Tasmania, making the journey to the destination itself quite exciting. Travel time takes from 9 to 11 hours, and the fare is from $ 120 to $ 180 for a seat, $ 170 - $ 280 for a berth in the cabin. Prices fluctuate depending on the season. If you want to take a car on the ferry, it will cost an additional $ 65. Tourists should keep in mind that rental cars are often banned from moving between the mainland and the island. This point should be checked with the rental agency.

Moving around the island

There are many ways to get around Tasmania: by car, bus, plane, rail or bike.

One of the most convenient ways to get around Tasmania is by car, which can be easily rented from one of the many car rental agencies. You will need to present an international driver's license and cash, or credit card for bail. Traffic in Australia is left-hand, so travelers should be careful and wear seat belts. Vigilance is especially useful at night - exotic animals of different sizes are constantly trying to cross the road.

Tasmania's roads are very winding, turning into steep serpentines, so the speed limit of 100 km / h should not upset you. As a rule, it is unnecessary.

There is also a network on the island bus routes... It is served by the major transport companies Redline Tasmania and Tassielink. It is obligatory to reserve seats in advance online or by phone.

Tasmanian carriers Tasair, Airlines of Tasmania and Sharp Airlines offer domestic flights between major cities Islands: Hobart, Devonport, Launceston and the King, Flinders and Cape Barren Islands.

There is one West Coast Wilderness Railway on the island, which runs along West coast between Strahen and Queenstown. Travel time is 3 hours, and passengers are even offered lunch.

Another popular and useful way to get around Tasmania is by bike. You can ride it either independently or by joining a group tour lasting from 1 to 25 days.

Top 5 National parks Tasmania:

• Freycinet National Park and Wingglass Bay
• Mount Cradle National Park - Lake Saint-Clair
• Southwestern national park
• Mount Field National Park
• Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park

Local delicacies and shops

Due to historical events, in local restaurants for a long time mainly English cuisine was presented. But today, on the island of Tasmania, you can find a cafe with any cuisine in the world. From the traditional delicacies of the island, we recommend trying the freshest and most delicious seafood: lobster, salmon, Atlantic bighead - exotic deep-sea fish, which is raised on local marine farms, and a variety of shellfish: mussels, oysters and abalone.

Tasmania, like Australia, is famous for its soft, aromatic and weak wine. Let's tell you a secret that the best wineries are located in the Tamar Valley. Sparkling drinks and local beers also keep the mark. Cascade and Boag's brands are popular throughout the country.

King Island, Tasmania, is famous for its cheese mills and Hobart is home to the Cadbury Chocolate Factory.

Tasmanian honey is also noteworthy. It is obtained from the pollen of the leatherwood shrub - brilliant eucryphia. Honey has an indescribable aroma and contains a full range of vitamins.

If you are traveling with a group, we recommend purchasing the Tassie Dining Card. The card provides discounts from 15 to 50% at restaurants, bars and cafes in more than 40 cities in Tasmania. Discounts are also available in some grocery stores, wine shops and culinary offerings. The map includes a 32-page guide to Tasmanian restaurants, which will help you make the right choice. The card costs $ 39 and is valid for 30 days for a group of up to six people.

The shops also have something to see. Tasmania has long been isolated from civilized life, and its colonial past and passion for preserving antiques have contributed to the local flavor. In the shops you can find unique antiques such as furniture, home furnishings, silver, books, coins and china. They will decorate your home interior, giving it comfort, or become a godsend for collectors. Furniture items made of exotic wood species - myrtle and cowrie - are in great demand. You don’t have to worry about having a chic couch delivered as most antique stores offer international shipping services. We also suggest that the largest antiques market is located in Hobart. It's called The Antiques Market.

Precious merino goats roam the island, making Tasmania famous for its wool products. Anyone can purchase woolen yarn or ready-made products.

The island is also home to many art galleries, arts and crafts and handicrafts. It seems that here you can draw inspiration endlessly.

In a region that was once severely glaciated, parks and reserves with steep gorges cover more than 1 million hectares, making Western Tasmania's forests one of the last in the world with temperate climates. The remains found in limestone caves indicate that people appeared here more than 20 thousand years ago.

Covering an area of ​​over 1 million hectares, the Tasmanian Wilderness constitutes one of the last expanses of temperate rainforest in the world. This includes a contiguous network of conserved lands that stretches across much of southwestern Tasmania including several coastal islands.

Unlike the mainland, Tasmania is a rugged area with fold structures in the western half and fault structures in the east, both of which are owned. The fold structure area in the southwest is an extremely rugged and densely vegetated area with north-south oriented mountain ranges and valley systems. Changing climates also influenced landscape development, most recently highlighted by the Cenozoic and Pleistocene glacial and periglacial events. Glacial erosion has contributed to spectacular landform features including horns, sharp mountain ridges, amphitheaters, U-shaped valleys and mountain basins (tarn lakes). The coastline was subjected to many sea level changes during the freeze and now provides a classic example of a sunken landscape, as shown by the contradictory coastline on South. The special landforms associated with karst development have formed through the solution of carbonate rocks such as (Precambrian) dolomite and (Ordovician) limestone. Features include cave systems, natural arches, clints and grikes, sinkholes, karren, peaks and blind valleys.

Vegetation has so much in common with cool, temperate areas South America and New Zealand as with the rest of Australia. In addition to climatic and edaphic factors, vegetation has evolved in response to fire. Aboriginal occupation over the past 30,000 years has constituted a major source of fire; later, a lot of fire can be attributed to the interests of fishermen, filing problems and scouts. Fauna is of global importance because it includes an unusually high percentage of native species and relict groups of ancient origin. Due to the diverse topography, geology, soils and vegetation in association with harsh and variable climatic conditions, combining to create a huge number of animal habitats, the fauna is correspondingly diverse.

The isolation of Tasmania, and the Tasmanian Wilderness in particular, has contributed to its uniqueness and helped protect it from the impact of rare species that severely affected the mainland fauna. Tasmania was cut off from mainland Australia by flooding of the Bass Strait at least 8000 years ago, thus isolating the original inhabitants. The Tasmanian Aborigines were, before the emergence of European explorer Abel Tesman, the longest isolated human group in world history, surviving approximately 500 generations without outside influence.

Surveys and excavations of the inner river valleys have located 37 cave sites, all believed to have been occupied between 30,000 and 11,500 years ago based on finds. Recent discoveries of rock art at three cave sites have shown that the painting had ceremonial significance; hand over the prevailing stencils. The artifact's stone scattering and quarries and mountain retreats in the Tasmanian highlands indicate a distinctive adaptation to this subalpine environment in later Holocin. The south coast contains a range of shell dung heaps; the data available so far indicate that the patterns of mollusc exploitation had changed over several thousand years prior to the arrival of Europeans in the early 19th century.