Separated from mainland Australia by the 240 km stretch of Bass Strait, Tasmania, the southernmost State of Australia, has the world’s cleanest air and a clear light that draws painters and photographers from around the world.
From night-time penguin spotting to sea kayaking, fishing for wild brown trout to cliff-side abseiling, Tasmania offers adventure with over 3,000 kilometres of world-class walking tracks, ancient rainforest mountain peaks & highland lakes.
Tasmania also has a delicate underwater environment, with thousands of kilometres of coastline and hundreds of offshore reefs and islands offering a range of temperate diving experiences and a rich variety of marine habitats. These include the 30 metre giant kelp forests off the Tasman Peninsula and at Bicheno’s Governor Island Marine Park.
Tasmania is a haven for maritime activities, from sailing, cruising and fishing to festivals that celebrate the island’s long-standing maritime traditions and links with the sea. The annual Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is one of the world’s great ocean racing classics and culminates in a summer festival that includes a weeklong dockside indulgence in fine food and wines, the Taste of Tasmania. Savour exquisite boutique wine, beer and fresh produce, dine at one of the stunning winery restaurants and select award-winning sparkling wine, riesling and pinot noir to match Tasmania’s freshest oysters, rock lobster and venison.
There is no greater haven than the Northern Territory for those looking to make a connection with nature - the World Heritage National Parks of Kakadu and Uluru-Kata Tjuta (Ayers Rock), flora and fauna as diverse as desert blooms are to lotus lilies, fearsome saltwater crocodiles & the Brolga, the elegant dancing bird that is the Northern Territory’s emblem. Set on a harbour twice the size of Sydney’s, Darwin, capital of the Northern Territory, is a modern, tropical city with great restaurants, fresh seafood and fine shopping including croc-leather products and the renowned Paspaley pearls.
Australia’s most culturally diverse city. Darwin is the gateway to the Northern Territory’s Top End, infused with Aboriginal spirituality, encompassing Litchfield National Park and the Tiwi Islands. Kakadu, with Jabiru mining township at its centre, with its wetlands, plunging gorges and waterfalls, has one of the highest concentrated areas of accessible Aboriginal rock art sites in the world. Arnhem Land bounded by Kakadu National Park, the Arafura Sea and the Gulf of Carpentaria, has wild coastlines, deserted islands, rivers teeming with fish, rainforests, soaring escarpments and savanna woodland. The population is predominantly Aboriginal people whose traditional culture remains largely intact.
The outback town of Katherine, about 320 kilometres south of Darwin, is the home to the majestic Katherine Gorge (Nitmiluk) in the Nitmiluk National Park.
Tennant Creek, with its gold mining heritage, is situated 1,000 kilometres south of Darwin. Tennant Creek is the main service centre for cattle stations in the surrounding Barkly Tablelands.
The rugged MacDonnell Ranges stretch like a spine for 400km to the east and west of Alice Springs. Beyond the Ranges is the remote desert wilderness of the Simpson Desert.