I have no idea why I didn't take more pictures in Tasmania (or for that matter on the entire trip to Australia in either 1999-2000 or in 2001. Worrying about too much slide film. Who the heck knows...
Here's my unsolicited 2c on Tasmania. 1. It is very different from Australia in landscape-- much more like New Zealand, with mountains and glacial topography. The scenery is very very nice, but is somewhat similar (in a purely relative sense) to the western U.S. so... 2. If you have only a limited time in Australia, visit the most unique parts of Australia first-- Queensland, Northern Territory, Kangaroo Island and so on.
But, if you have the time Tasmania has a lot to offer...
What I did in Tassie in 10 days...
1. Hobart to Port Arthur. I must have lost my slides of visiting the prison complex at Port Arthur because it is amazing. Right on the water, full of crim buildings. By all means do a ghost tour at night.
2. Went to Freycinet N.P. and Wineglass Bay (pictures below). Damn nice.
3. Diving in Bicheno. Cold but clear water and lots of excellent colors
4. Went to Mt. William National Park. Don't miss it!!! It is deserted and spectacular. Drive through the open plains near the water around sunset and it teems with wildlife-- roos, wallabies, wombats and more. Like an Australian Serengeti
5. Launceston to see a stuffed Tassie Tiger (if you don't have time to look at my leg).
6. Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair N.P. Impressive mountain scenery. Don't miss walking out to Platypus Bay on Lake St. Clair at dusk to watch the platypus feed. A life highlight.
7. Boat trip in Strahan. Kind of cool. What I should have done is take more time and spend a night or two on a wilderness trip into the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers NP.
8. Mt. Field NP. Very nice alpine vegetation.
One of the finest white sand beaches I have ever seen (and I spend a lot of time looking for nice ones). Cold water though
My Welsh buddy from the hostel. Explained to my the finer points of Rugby League and Rugby Union.
Platypus Bay, Lake St. Clair
Since childhood, I have always wanted to see a platypus. Up to this point, I'd seen a few in a zoo, a miniscule glimpse of one in Strahan and then the jackpot.
Two nights in a row, I came out here at dusk and watched dozens (that's right dozens!!!) of plats swimming around and foraging. I had tears in my eyes.
Got very lost with my new friend Vicki Myers here. Also, the only person I could convince to go out at night with me and watch road kill to see a Tasmanian Devil. No luck, which is hard to believe given the number of devils that die every night on the road coming out to eat road kill roo. Sad...