North West Tasmania
The North West Tasmania region covers a vast area including the towns of Devonport, Burnie, Strahan and Queenstown as well as Cradle Mountain National Park. The gateway to this region is Devonport, with an airport and the Spirit of Tasmania (ferry between Victoria and Tasmania) terminus. The port handles much of the export produce from the rich agricultural areas around Devonport. The town itself is used as an arrival or departure port for most travellers rather than a destination itself.
A major farming area stretches from Devonport along the coast to Stanley. Many of Australia's finest vegetable and dairy produce come from this region. Stanley is an historic fishing village with a large volcanic headland - The Nut - accessible by chairlift. Far out to the north-west in the stormy waters of Bass Strait, King Island consists very much of uninhabited bushland teeming with wildlife. The island produces some of the best dairy products, for which it is famous.
Cradle Mountain - Lake St Clair National Park, in Tasmania's World Heritage Wilderness Area, offers a rugged environment with many wilderness retreats and walking tracks. Icy streams, ancient pines, glacial lakes and wildlife surround the jagged contours of Cradle Mountain. The area is one of the most glaciated in Australia and includes Tasmania's highest mountain, Mt Ossa (1617 metres) and Lake St Clair, Australia's deepest natural freshwater lake, the source of the River Derwent.
The West Coast area of Tasmania is made up of rugged coast, mountain ranges, flowing rivers, steep gorges, rainforest wilderness and ghost towns. Strahan is situated on Macquarie Harbour and is the starting point for Gordon River cruises and air tours over the South West Wilderness. Strahan is the only town on the rugged and dangerous coast.
Oz Travel information: Description | Fact Summary | Weather | Attractions | Special Events | Distances | Getting Around | Getting There
Weather
| Month | Temperature | Rain Fall | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum | Minimum | # of days | mm of rain | |
| Jan | 20.9 | 12.5 | 11 | 43 |
| Feb | 21.2 | 13.0 | 10 | 46 |
| Mar | 19.8 | 12.1 | 13 | 50 |
| Apr | 17.5 | 10.2 | 16 | 75 |
| May | 14.9 | 8.2 | 20 | 93 |
| Jun | 13.3 | 7.0 | 20 | 106 |
| Jul | 12.5 | 6.2 | 22 | 118 |
| Aug | 13.9 | 6.2 | 22 | 104 |
| Sep | 14.2 | 7.0 | 19 | 86 |
| Oct | 15.8 | 8.2 | 18 | 88 |
| Nov | 17.7 | 9.6 | 15 | 66 |
| Dec | 19.2 | 11.0 | 14 | 62 |
Tasmania, an Australian state, is located 200 kilometres (125 mi) south of the eastern side of the continent, being separated from it by Bass Strait. The state of Tasmania includes the island of Tasmania, and other surrounding islands. Tasmania has a population of 484,700 (March 2005, ABS) and an area of 68,332 square kilometres (26,383 sq mi).
The distance from the northernmost point (Woolnorth Pt) to the southernmost one (South East Cape) is 364 kilometres (226 miles), the distance from the westernmost (West Pt) to the easternmost one (Eddystone Pt) is 306 kilometres (190 miles).
Tasmania promotes itself as the Natural State and the "Island of Rejuvenation"[1] owing to its large, and relatively unspoiled natural environment. Formally, almost 37% of Tasmania is in reserves, National Parks and World Heritage Sites. [2]
The state capital and largest city is Hobart, which encompasses the local government areas of City of Hobart, City of Glenorchy and City of Clarence. Other major population centres include Launceston in the north, and Devonport and Burnie in the northwest.
The subantarctic Macquarie Island is also under the administration of the state, as part of the Huon Valley Council local government area.