Hobart, Tasmania's capital city, offers a blend of heritage and lifestyle with world class activities and attractions nearby.
In Hobart, explore the converted colonial warehouses of Salamanca and on Saturdays there's Salamanca Market, Tasmania's most visited attraction.
From here it's a short walk to the Tasmania Museum and Art Gallery or a short ferry ride takes you to Mona, one of the world's largest private collections of art and antiquities.
South of Hobart are the clear waters and stunning coastline of Bruny Island and the beauty of the D'Entrecasteaux Channel. An alternative route passes through the Huon Valley alongside the tranquil Huon River and on to the rugged Hartz Mountains National Park.
Tasmania's East Coast, with its natural beauty, spectacular landscapes and long beautiful beaches, offers a completely different Australian coastal experience. Here you'll discover the beaches of the beautiful Bay of Fires, one of Lonely Planet's top 10 regions in the world, along with historic townships, fresh seafood and friendly locals - all on one of the best scenic coastal drives in the country.
Five national parks spread along the coast including the stunning Freycinet National Park with its pink granite mountains, white beaches and crystal clear sea.
The two largest towns on the East Coast are Bicheno and St Helens - both busy fishing ports, so expect some of the freshest seafood around. There's also some of the best game fishing in Australia.
And for those interested in diving, there are sheer rock walls, deep fissures, caves, sponges and sea whips, not to mention world-famous kelp forests.
Inland from the coast you'll find temperate rainforests, fresh grown produce and the rich heritage of the boom days of tin mining as well as fruits and berries from orchards and gardens and full-flavoured beef and lamb raised on seaside pastures.
With this range of activities and adventures to choose from, it's no wonder the East Coast attracts visitors from around the world.
