Tasmania
A ‘little island’ as far as Australia is concerned, Tasmania covers some 90,000 square km – larger than Ireland, Scotland, The Netherlands or Belgium. There’s the real sense of identity here that comes with being an island state; the distinctive outline is proudly displayed everywhere from beer bottles to builders vans. People describe themselves as Tasmanians rather than Australians, and love their natural environment in a similar way to New Zealanders.
Tasmania describes itself as ‘The Natural State’; big beautiful mountains, lakes and waterfalls are densely populated with unique species like the strong-jawed Tasmanian Devil (although only the size of a small pig, it can sever your leg with one bite) and the Tasmanian Beetong joining the more familiar Kangaroos, Wallabies and Wombats common on the mainland. I have some amazing photographs waiting for upload.
Before I left Melbourne I managed a trip up the Great Ocean Road, home of the Twelve Apostles rock formation, and out to Melbourne’s best-known fictional suburb, Erinsborough, where I met fictional characters Dr Karl Kennedy and Toadfish. Pictures of these are also on the way.
