Choosing an Australian destination, or even several, is never easy — this vast country spans nearly three million square miles, eight climates, and three time zones. Sydney is always a great pick, with beautiful parks, beaches, and architecture. Melbourne oozes vibrant energy, with world-class dining and access to the Great Ocean Road, a 150-mile blockbuster of coastal vistas and koalas in gum trees. However, if you really want to get Down Under, then the island state of Tasmania is the pearl of Australia.
The city of Hobart is the perfect base, with markets and art at the foot of Mount Wellington, whence you can explore several “foodie trails” or cruise a wine valley. Renowned for hiking, Tasmania offers an impressive list of “60 Great Short (day) Walks,” a collective launched by the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service. You can always treat yourself afterward to a scallop pie washed down with a local beer or whiskey. Don’t miss historic Port Arthur, Australia’s most intact and best-known former convict settlement, established in the 1830s. It’s a reminder of the Indigenous Aboriginals whose unceded land was used to build one of the most famous penal colonies of the British Empire. There’s also the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary to get up close and personal with a Tasmanian Devil, the famously screeching scavenger.
Tassie hospitality is second to none, which is why Tasmania is often a vacation destination of choice for many mainland Australians, as well as visitors from afar.
-- Tabitha McQuade is a travel enthusiast based on the North Fork