Midi - And the band played "Waltzing Matilda" Tasmania To quote our great Country Singer, John Williamson ... "We are drifting in the ocean alone now, Like a beautiful ship at sea, I can't feel those chains any longer, I love this big country"   MY HOME STATE Population approx. 480,000 INTRODUCTION! During our travels we met so many people who had been to our island, they spoke so highly about the beauty of our home state. This praise was so surprising to us yet genuine. After seeing all the "Wonders" Australia had to offer it really puzzled us. UNTIL After sailing across Bass Strait on an overnight ferry trip, we docked at Devonport, and discovered the first inkling of what the Mainlanders meant, the air was so fresh and clear! On our drive home to Launceston we began to see Tassie through new eyes. Here we have our own unique beauty, a beauty we had always taken for granted. I hope I can now show some of this beauty to you!  ABOUT MY ISLAND HOME! Tasmania - a land apart - separated by the 240 K's of the most treacherous waters of Bass Strait!   July 2005 Basslink have completed laying the longest submarine cable from the Mainland to Tasmania. This cable is reported as being the longest such cable in the world approx. 300 kilometres. It will be used to carry electricity power - Tasmania uses Hydro power and Victoria is powered with Coal.  The people of Tasmania are hospitable and friendly and they welcome all visitors to their shores. Most visitors are surprised to find it takes so long to travel from one populated area to another - by looking at the map they think they can go round the island in one day. Wrong! What they do not realise is - there are very few straight or flat roads.  Visitors will experience rainforests, mountains, the Great Lakes, caves and farmland - all easily accessible.  More than 40% of the island has been declared "A World Heritage" Nearly a third of the island is protected within its fourteen national parks. Our State is also considered to be the "greenest" State in the world.  History is a major draw card to the visitor - Aborigine people lived here for tens of thousands of years, and many rock paintings can be seen depicting the spirit of these wonderful people. Flinders Island & King Island are also a part of Tasmania surrounded by the waters of Bass Strait. These waters around King Island have the wrecks of many ships lying on the bottom of the sea. Bass Strait was formed as a result of the melting of ice after the last Ice Age, and consequently Flinders and Cape Barren became islands, and the Aborigines of Tasmania were cut off from their mainland counterparts. These islands are different - Flinders Island being Rural with a close knit indigenous community - whereas King Island is mainly farmland, with the production of the famous King Island Dairy Products. These Islanders refer to Tassie as their "Mainland" We also have a small island off the coastline further south than Hobart, called Bruny Island. *Grins* Interesting Tasmanian Firsts Visit Here SITE MAP Come follow me now and enjoy the trip! Pages are divided into ... North ... South ... East ... West Heritage Highway ... Central Highlands & Islands of Tasmania  Special Historic Village - Richmond Said to be the best kept village in Australia. Richmond is home for many Tasmanian people living their normal lives ... Just like you & me! Come & see for yourself ... Visit    Site Map   links to guide you on your way.    I do hope you have a pleasant journey around my Island State!    Return to Traveller's Tales - Index Return to Tangled Tales - Main Index  Thank you for visiting. Email Midi - And the band played "Waltzing Matilda"  Laurie - 2003