Visiting Hobart, Tasmania

A visit to Hobart, Tasmania is far from a bushwalk! This small city is the capitol of Tasmania, the southernmost island state of Australia. Once a convict settlement, Hobart today surrounds a stunning harbor whose fleet ranges from yachts to icebreakers. Antarctic research craft mingles with tugs and fishing boats. The city is ringed with rolling hills, divided by the lovely and broad River Derwent. Snowcapped Mt. Wellington is visible to the North. With its colonial architecture, historic sites, and natural surroundings it is the perfect base for a week’s vacation.

I escaped the late-summer doldrums and took advantage of the Tasmanian Spring, staying at a modern apartment hotel created by remodeling the old Elizabeth Pier in the midst of the harbor. Cutters, ferries, trawlers chug past the window, with the mountain view beyond. Seafood restaurants and nightclubs abound along the harbor's edge, beautifully lit at night.

Exploring the first day, I asked the proprietor of a small used book shop whether he had any great novels on Australia. He said, “Well, you're asking a Scotsman!” In fact, the Tasmanian countryside viewed from a plane looks much like Scotland; very green and lush, with rolling hills. The climate is also similar, cooler than the rest of Australia, and the architecture and gardens are English in style.