Australia is not all raw outback landscapes. Australia has a secret paradise of green, wild forests, exhilerating escarpments and magical mountains. And the sea! The sea is as explosive or as soft as you would like it to be.

Tasmania is an island offering many alternative experiences and lifestyles. Tourist brochures tag Tasmania as an Island of Discovery, an Island of Inspiration or an Island of Rejuvenation. Car numberplates advertise Tasmania as "your natural state". Tasmania is a great place to refresh body and soul.

Tasmania is Australia's only island state. 240km of Bass Strait separates Tasmania from the mainland. 67,800 square kilometers house 474,000 people. And packed into this tiny land is a host of stunning, natural scenery, beautiful colonial architecture, adventure opportunities and gourmet food trails. But best of all, travel from one place to the next is a relaxing delight.

If you seek beautiful scenery, Tasmania has much to offer. From the haunting beauty of Cradle Mountain and Lake St Clair in the north, to the peaceful, clean beaches on the east coast or the wild ones on the west. Some beach areas on the west coast have signs warning the dangers of high tide. After all, waters here have travelled all the way from Africa, and have gathered amazing power! Wineglass Bay on the Freycinet Peninsula, has "picture postcard" views of the bluest waters encircled by lush, pristine forests. And then there is the special beauty of the closing stages of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. This is an annual event round Boxing Day. The sight of a glamorous fleet of yachts sailing into the Derwent River in Hobart is quite awesome!

If you seek the lure of old, well-preserved architecture, Hobart is the heart of all things colonial. Streets in Hobart offer a walk through colonial times. Deloraine and Hagley in the north offer the beauty of urban and rural Georgian architecture. Many buildings, such as the quaint Bonney's Inn at Deloraine are now guesthouses. In the south, many villages along the Midland Highway, such as the antique hub of Ross, offer the lure of historical buildings from older worlds.

If you seek sporting adventure activities in the great outdoors, try salmon fishing in the majestic Great Lake, high in the Western Tiers. Or try the "trekkers heaven" of the Overland Trail in the Western Tiers through enigmatic "other world" places such as Jupiters Moon and the Walls of Jerusalem. Bicheno, the quaint seaside town on the east coast, is a mecca for divers who seek the colourful wonders of fish and reefs. White water rafting can be experienced in the north of Tasmania on the Mersey River or, for the more experienced, in the south west on the wild Franklin River. In the north, caving is available at Caveside or in the Karst National Park near the charming valley of Liena. For walkers, there is the thrill of the Tahune Forest Airwalk. This 597m walk, crossing the junction of the Huon and Picton Rivers, is 20m above the ground, right in the tree tops, and includes crossing two swinging bridges. And Tasmania is a bikerider's paradise, especially the road through the mountain forests and rural panoramas from Launceston to Scottsdale to St Helens on the east coast.

If you seek the quiet thrill of driving through contrasting countrysides, Tasmania has many choices. Try the drive through the breath-taking landscapes of Scottsdale to St Helens on the east coast. (This is the favoured route for cyclists, but there's room for all!) Or drive from the Midland Highway to the east coast through Elephant Pass. Glorious rural scenery encircled by mountains yields to the winding cliff road of Elephant Pass down to the opening vista of the east coast. Try the beautiful, mountain drive to the stunning, three tiered Liffey Falls. Or dare to drive the steep and winding Jacob's Ladder, the road to the top of the skiing wonderland of Ben Lomond. From a distance, this road looks little more than a piece of string winding round an icecream cone.

If you seek the unusual, Tasmania has them. Tasmania is the only state in Australia with no train service! Trains ceased running throughout the state in the 1970's. Now there is just the Don River Railway; a tourist train pulled by an old locomotive. The journey lasts 30minutes. At Bicheno is Rocking Rock. This is a massive 80 tonne hunk of granite that rocks with tidal movements. And nearby is a blowhole; a stunning spout of water exploding from the secret hollows of rocks. At low tide, walk across to a tiny island and view the home of the cute fairy penguins. Sheffield is a country town coloured with extensive murals; it is known as the Town of Murals. Tazmazia, outside Sheffield, is a huge maze (actually 8 different kinds of mazes) set on a lavender farm beneath the beauty of Mount Roland. Here too is the whimsical - built to 1/5th scale - Village of Lower Crackpot! The village motto is: "Fractis sed utilis", meaning "broken but still useful". Lots of quirky sights to be had! Or, in the heart of Launceston in the north, be entertained by the adorable Japanese macaque monkeys in the park. This park was first established in the 1820's and covers 13 hectares of Victorian gardens. Or walk the romantic trail of Launceston Gorge. (Summer concerts in the Gorge are a special highlight!) Peacocks wander freely at the outdoor café in the Gorge; they love to share scones with you! All this within walking distance of the main city area!

Boutique wines, cheeses and fruits are a Tasmanian specialty. Try the cool climate pinot noirs at the cellar doors on the east coast. Most are sited with glorious views of the ocean. Ashgrove Farm cheeses, in the north, is a family business offering a unique tasting experience. Tasmanian wines and pates are combined with English style cheeses, all set in the picturesque countryside of Elizabeth Town. And at Christmas Hills is a special raspberry farm with a delightful country café offering berry jams, desserts, wines and liquers and gourmet coffees. Hobart annually hosts a Gourmet Food and Wine Festival.

If there really is "God's Country" on earth, Tasmania must be a top contender. Somehow, stress is not a factor in the Tasmanian lifestyle. There is too much exciting living to do here. Be enchanted by real places called Moon Valley Rim and Goblin Forest Walk, Eden River, Paradise, Devil's Gate, Fingal Valley, Promised Land, Ghost Rock Vineyard, No-Where-Else...

And if you like a good mystery, there is always the secretive thylacine, or Tasmanian Tiger as it is more commonly called. It looked like a large, long dog with stripes. With the arrival of Europeans came sheep. And the obvious problem with the thylacine began. Even a reward was offered for killing one. But times changed. The tiger became extinct. Or is it? Many claim to find evidence of this elusive animal. Many believe it still exists.

For more information see:

* The Parks and Wildlife Service of Tasmania - general background information

* Tasmanian Tiger .com - website explores the possibility this large, carnivorous marsupial still lives in the rugged, less accessible parts of Tasmania.