It’s a world apart. A hidden paradise for geologists, children and nature lovers. Goat Island, in the Bass Strait is a mere 10 minutes’ drive from the charming little coastal town of Penguin, in the northwest of Tasmania.

Tasmania is known for its unique and diverse wildlife. The isolation and relatively unspoiled natural environment have allowed many species to thrive in our "small-island" state that are not found on the Australian mainland. Some of the notable wildlife in Tasmania includes:

I've lived in Tasmania for 5+ years though I moved to Hobart back in October 2021 (in the middle of the dreaded pandemic). Since I've moved to "the big smoke", I've hardly gone back to visit a place that I associate with so many wonderful memories – Freycinet and the beautiful coast line stretching all the way to "The Gardens".

One of the most frequent drive journeys that I undertake is the Southern Edge drive. Starting in my hometown of Taroona, which is located 15 minutes south of Hobart and is home to the Shot Tower Historic Site and the Tower Tearoom. The Shot Tower is one of Tasmania’s most distinctive heritage landmarks and is one of the tallest shot towers in Australia at 59 metres tall. It offers fantastic views over the Derwent River and looks out to Opossum Bay and the South Arm Peninsula. There is a fantastic walk that starts from the Shot Tower called the Alum Cliffs Track which is 6 kilometres long (2 hours return walk) offering great coastal views and allows dogs on a lead.

Tasmania’s Overland Track is an iconic 65km multi-day hiking track which runs from Cradle Mountain to Lake St-Clair. This trail takes you through world-class temperate rainforests and rugged mountains. Hearing about this epic trail and the amazing experiences people have had, I finally booked it in and hiked the trail with my family.

Tasmania is surrounded by a remarkably diverse coastline. Beautiful ocean-swept sandy beaches can be found alongside impassable rocky headlands, boulder-strewn shores, sheltered coves and towering sea cliffs.