Come face to face with the Devil

Tasmania may appear a little remote but the island is naturally stunning, unique and, best of all, is home to the endangered Tasmanian devil

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]asmania has it all – vast, uninhabited expanses of wilderness, an abundance of flora and fauna, gourmet food and wine, as well as a thriving arts scene.

Most interestingly, almost 45 per cent of Tasmania lies in natural reserves, national parks and even World Heritage sites! Though located a good 240km South of the Australian mainland and separated by the Bass Strait, Tasmania has been attracting a good number of visitors who flock to experience first-hand Tasmania’s breathtaking wonders and to come face to face with the ‘devil’.

Tasmania’s unique animal treasures

The natural wonderland of Tasmania supports a large population of mammals, many of which are ancient in origin and endemic to Tasmania, including the Tasmanian devil and other marsupials such as the eastern quoll, pademelon and bettong. The Tasmanian devil, as the name may suggest, is now found in the wild only here in Tasmania.

As the world’s largest surviving carnivorous marsupial (after the extinction of the Thylacine or Tasmanian tiger in 1936), the devil has a thickset, squat build, with a relatively large, broad head and short, thick tail. The devil is a Tasmanian icon and has even been seen in popular media such as in the Looney Tunes cartoon but, unfortunately, it is also highly-endangered.

Come and see these unique creatures roam the wild in Tasmania, or visit any one of the many parks and sanctuaries in Tasmania dedicated to protecting the species, like the Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park, the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary and the Trowunna Wildlife Park.

[quote]The Tasmanian devil, as the name may suggest, is now found in the wild only here in Tasmania.[/quote]

Activities aplenty

For every adrenaline-junkie, the island’s natural treasures live up to their hype – bushwalking, cycling, rafting and kayaking opportunities abound. Don’t miss the curvaceous Wineglass Bay, the craggy Cradle Mountain and the heavenly Huon Valley.

Wild, imposing settings such as these are the essence of Tasmania and are what draw numerous visitors to the quaint island.

Getting there

There are regular flights to the capital of Hobart. Within Tasmania, travelling is easy. The island is compact – at least by Australian standards – so it makes travelling easy with a rented car, bus or van.

With good roads and scenic views wherever you go, going around Tasmania is part of the fun.

By Eu Shuqi