Tassie

Whereas all the other places I have been to in Australia were crowded with young backpackers from all over the world, Tasmania (or Tassie how the locals call it) is very popular with Australian pensioners, who flee the hot summer on the mainland. And in fact, the first two days here were quite chilly: around 15 degrees and drizzle.

On the first day, we strolled through Hobart, had fish and chips at the docks, and toured an old prison. Tasmania shamelessly cannibalises its convict past (Tasmania was the place where they sent all convicts, who had reoffended in other parts of the Australian colony, hence the really bad guys), and brochures try to lure tourists to the "cruelest" and most "degrading" gaols. So, next day, after having toured the Cascade brewery (one of the best Australian beers), we went to Port Arthur, which used to be the largest prison on Tasmania during colonial times.


We spent days three and four driving around the island. The landscape is quite amazing. One minute you feel like you are driving through the dry plains of Spain, then you drive over a mountain and it looks like Worcestershire. As to wildlife, we saw wombats (believe it or not, they are quick, hence no pictures), the typical stuff (kangaroos and co.), and a (dead) Tasmanian devil (poor thing) sticking to the road.

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