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Published: December 30th 2008
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The Ross Bridge
A better use of a convicts time then making license plates. I returned to Tasmania with my dad and Maria a couple of days ago. Tasmania is one of the few places that truly feel like home to me. I just like the feel and lifestyle of the place; laid back, unassuming yet fully aware and natural. Tasmania takes things at face value and enjoys the ride.
More often than not, countries and places go to great lengths to cover up the less than glorious parts of their world. Slavery, blood ravaged wars, the disabled, and hopefully in a few years American pop music. Sure countries will acknowledge their past faults with a small display in the dank recesses of a museum, or their will be honorary tributes acknowledging past indiscretions in hopes of pushing the horror stories to the back of the newspaper. All the past is swept under the rug in hopes of showing off one's finer points. These actions are to be expected, even encouraged if one is proud of where they are from. Rarely does a place take a different approach to their unmentionables like Tasmania and Australia.
When your country is founded and established by convicts, there is nothing one can do but embrace it's
Fishing Fleet
Note the Drunken Admiral in the background. historically rebellious and unctuous nature. As the British were looking to build up the new "Southland," they decided that it would be doubly effective to send convicts to the island. Not only would this rid England of their less desirable population, it would afford the convicts an opportunity to earn their freedom. Convicts readily accepted the punishment to Australia even though it was a long and arduous sea voyage that many would not survive. Those that did survive, not only earned their freedom, but many went on to become leaders of Australia.
Tasmania is a place rich in history. Few people realize that Hobart is Australia's second oldest city (Sydney being the first). The history is steeped in tales of convicts overcoming the odds and performing amazing feats in human achievement. In towns such as Richmond, Ross and Campbell Town you have towns that have been unmolested over time. They are intimately preserved in thier buildings and traditions. And of course they were built by the hands of convicts. While in Campbell Town you can wonder the main thoroughfare and view in the sidewalks bricks dedicated to every convict who built the town. It was pretty impressive to see
Rock Lobster Traps
Sullivan's Cove Hobart such a small town undertake such a large project.
Tasmania is Australia's Natural State. Over 40% of the land is preserved in the form of natural parks and land reserves. This is clearly evident in their capital, Hobart. Sullivan's Cove, lying at the base of the hills, is filled with a variety of fishing and research vessels. From Barramundi and Flake to Rock Lobster and Abalone - Hobart is a seafood delight.
After consuming a small reefs worth of fish in Hobart, we slowly made our way to Freycinet National Park. In the tiny town of Brighton we turned off on a dirt road to explore the Bonorong Wildlife Center. It was here that we learned of the plight of the Tasmanian Devil. The devil is currently under threat of extinction due to a cancerous virus that is spread by mouth amongst the devils. Scientists do not think they can stop it and are currently working on creating a population of virus free devils through captive breeding. Once the devils are wiped out and the virus gone, they will introduce them back to the wild.
Eventually we made it to Freycinet National Park on the Northeastern part
of the island. While staying in the appropriately named sea side town, Swansea, we spent our days hiking in Freycinet National Park and exploring the fairy penguins of Bicheno. In Freycinet NP, we hiked up the mountain to catch a view of Wineglass Bay - apparently a top ten ranked beach in the world. Even though it was an overcast day, you still got a glimpse of how pristine and unpopulated the beach was. They even had wallabies on the beach (unfortunately due to the fact that people were feeding them). I really like the idea of having a beach that you have to work to get to. To capture the mood of a great hike in pristine land, what better than a bottle of Tasmania's Pinot Noir. Apparently Tasmania is on the up and coming list of winery regions in the world Judging from the samples I had, it won't be long before the this island becomes a household wine region.
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