Tasmania is a island state in SE Australia. It is 240 km from mainland Australia. As of June 2010, its population is 507,626, of which almost half live in Hobart, its biggest city. Its other main city is Launceston. Tasmania was colonized in 1825 and became a state in 1901. Website: www.discovertasmania.com.au |  |
| The Sydney to Hobart Race is from Sydney to Hobart annually on Boxing day. The 1170 km race is across the Bass straights, which is stormy and has high winds which in one race, sunk 5 yachts and killed 6 people.. It is internationally recognized as one of the hardest yacht races in the world. The record is 1-day, 18 h, 40mins and 10 s by Wild Oats XI in 2005.  |
National Parks
Tasmania's national parks are popular venues for rafting, canoeing, camping and hiking. The Franklin river is a great place for rafting. Some main national parks are the Mole Creek Karst National Park, the Douglas-Apsley National Park and the Southwest National Park. Website: http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/  |   |
Tasmania Zoo
  | The Tasmania Zoo is located in Launceston on 360 ha of native bush land. It has the state's largest of native and exotic animals. The zoo specialises in a Tasmanian devil breeding program. Some animals are: Tasmanian Devils, wombats, quolls, emus, koalas, kangaroos, deer, reptiles and monkeys, and 80 bird species. Website: http://www.tasmaniazoo.com.au/ |
