13 Natural Wonders, Decoding Tasmania's Wildness and Purity - Part 1
When the Southern Lights dance gracefully in the night sky, when fierce waves crash against jagged reefs, when the primeval rainforest is filled with ancient fragrances, you will understand that words can hardly capture the grandeur of nature. Welcome to Tasmania, let's capture these breathtaking moments together.
01 Nighttime Secrets
When night falls, everything in Tasmania becomes wild. This is one of the best places in the world to witness the mysterious Southern Lights, especially in winter, when the aurora paints a colorful curtain across the sky, dreamlike and magical. Near the coastline, blue bioluminescent creatures light up the sea surface, and looking up, the night sky, almost free of light pollution, is filled with stars. You can also join nighttime tours at places like Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, and East Coast Natureworld, which are great opportunities to watch Tasmanian devils feeding.
02 Natural Sanctuary: Maria Island
Maria Island once bore the marks of convict and industrial history, but now only pure nature remains. The entire island is protected as a national park, where the "traffic" consists of abundant wildlife—herds of wombats, pademelons, Cape Barren geese, and Tasmanian devils. The Fossil Cliffs on the island are, without exaggeration, made up of millions of prehistoric fossils, while the Painted Cliffs are a masterpiece of sandstone. A narrow sandy isthmus connects these wonders.
03 Rock Wonders
Tasmania is full of geological marvels, many of which are located in Tasman National Park, just over an hour’s drive from Hobart. You can stroll along the geometrically patterned Tessellated Pavement at Eaglehawk Neck, then walk a few kilometers further to the fissure of Tasman Arch. Another rock arch, Mars Bluff, rises from the beach on Bruny Island. Along the Three Capes Track, you can see Australia’s highest sea cliffs, and from the top of Cape Hauy, overlook the Totem Pole, a slender sea stack famous among climbers.
04 Cool Temperate Rainforest
Temperate rainforests are found only in a few places worldwide, and cool temperate rainforests with high altitude and rainfall are even rarer. Australia’s largest (and one of the world’s top two) cool temperate rainforests are located in the takayna/Tarkine wilderness in northwest Tasmania. Take a walk in Corinna beneath giant myrtle beeches, pass ancient Huon pines, cruise along the Pieman and Arthur Rivers, floating amidst forest reflections like a painting. The forest’s tranquility turns to roar at the coast, where you can feel the thunder of the Southern Ocean at the Edge of the World or in small towns like Marrawah and Couta Rocks.
05 Wildlife Encounters
When you think of Tasmania, do you think of the little devils? They are just one of many fascinating species here. At Adventure Bay on Bruny Island, you might encounter the rare white pademelon; at campsites along the South Coast Track, spotted-tailed quolls often appear. Giant freshwater lobsters inhabit northern rivers; if you take a light plane to remote Melaleuca, you can spot the world’s rare Orange-bellied Parrot, making for an unforgettable pilgrimage. For wild Tasmanian devils, head to Maria Island. Other endemic species include the Forty-spotted Pardalote, dusky antechinus, and Tasmanian pademelon.
06 Rainbow Magic
The fleeting and brilliant rainbow often decorates Tasmania’s skies. Here you’ll find the “magical formula” for rainbows: clear skies, suitable clouds, a low sun, and ideal latitude. Even more magical, you can witness not only ordinary single rainbows but also the rare double and triple rainbow phenomena.
07 Take a Deep Breath
When you arrive in Tasmania, be sure to pause and take a deep breath. If the air feels exceptionally fresh, it’s no illusion. Scientists at the Kannaook/Cape Grim Baseline Air Pollution Station have analyzed the air at Tasmania’s northwest tip for over 40 years and consider it the cleanest air in the world. It nourishes tropical rainforests, mountains, and farms, which in turn produce goods as fresh as the air itself.
📷 Photos / © Tourism Tasmania, Andrew Chisholm, Simon Kruit, Stu Gibson, Flow Mountain Bike, Jess Bonde, Stu Gibson, Tourism Australia, Rob Burnett, Stu Gibson, Luke Tscharke, Kraig Carlstrom