Population: Over 500,000
Size: 68,300 sq km
Major Cities: Hobart
One of the world's last true wildernesses, nearly 40 per cent of the island of Tasmania is preserved as a World Heritage Area, national or state park. Once thought of as charmingly old-fashioned, Tasmania is changing rapidly with the rise of it's cool-climate wine industry and a booming cafe and restaurant scene. Now almost as renowned for its gourmet food and wine as for its incredible natural beauty, Tasmania's landscape and unique lifestyle attracts creative people - artists, scientists, musicians and writers - making for a vibrant, modern and cosmopolitan community.