Explorer Series: Destination Tasmania

Monday, 29 June 2026

Tasmania may be the smallest state in Australia, but it certainly packs a punch when it comes to education and adventure. Steeped in natural beauty and historical treasures, this diverse island state has so much to offer at every corner. Want to know more about this wondrous destination? Here are some interesting facts about Tasmania that will make you want to pack your bags ASAP!

Tasmanian Devil

Found only in Tasmania, this species is the largest living carnivorous marsupial. If you’re lucky you may spot one in the wild.

Tasmania’s size

Although its Australia’s smallest state, Tasmania is the world’s 26th‑largest island at 68,332 square kilometres—similar in size to Ireland or Switzerland. Driving from Hobart in the south to Launceston in the north takes just two and a half hours, leaving more time to explore.

 

Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area

Covering 1.5 million hectares (24% of the state), this region protects one of the planet’s last cool‑temperate rainforests. It is also among Australia’s richest archaeological landscapes, with evidence of human presence dating back at least 20,000 years.

 

Ancient and giant trees

Tasmania is home to some of the world’s oldest and tallest trees. The tallest, the Centurion (a Mountain Ash) was measured at 100.5 metres in 2018 by Yoav Daniel Bar‑Ness of Giant Tree Expeditions. You can see this towering icon and others near the Tahune Airwalk in southern Tasmania.

 

Tasmania’s mountains

Tasmania is Australia’s most mountainous state. Its highest peak, Mount Ossa, rises 1,617 metres within Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park.

 

Ancient land connection

Tasmania was once linked to mainland Australia. Before sea levels rose after the last ice age, the Bass Strait was a vast plain inhabited and traversed by Indigenous peoples. When the waters returned, communities in Tasmania became isolated for around 500 generations.

 

Convict heritage

Of Australia’s 11 UNESCO‑listed convict sites, five are in Tasmania, highlighting its importance in colonial history. Between 1804 and 1853, around 76,000 convicts were transported there after reoffending on the mainland. The Port Arthur Historic Site offers an immersive look into this sombre chapter.

 

Left off the map

Tasmania was once so overlooked that it was accidentally omitted from the map displayed at the 1982 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in Brisbane.

 

Apple Isle

Known as the Apple Isle thanks to its once‑thriving apple industry, Tasmania’s first apple tree was planted by William Bligh in the 1700s. The industry boomed through the 1800s before declining in the 1970s. Today, Tasmania produces only about 8% of Australia’s apple exports.

 

Tasmanian seafood

Renowned for outstanding seafood, Tasmania is a haven for food lovers. A favourite local specialty is the iconic Tassie scallop pie, available in bakeries across the state.

 

Ready to start planning a Tassie adventure? Explore our Tasmania tours or contact us to start planning.