While the rest of the world may think of Australia as a wild, untamed place full of beautiful creatures and deadly spiders, it is all too easy for the Aussie city dweller to forget there is more to the country than the sophistication that it has been cultivating in recent years. Our increasingly multicultural society enjoys all that the 21st century has to offer, but the old Australia, what some would call the real Australia, has faded somewhat.
That is not so in Tasmania, which makes it such a fulfilling place to visit and transport yourself back in time in the presence of that wonderful wildlife. A great place to start, particularly if you flew into Hobart, is Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary.
The natural animal to start with, ironically made famous by Americans in the shape of a Warner Bros. Looney Tunes character, is the Tasmanian Devil. Perhaps the coolest of all cartoon characters, Daffy Duck, had many a run-in with Taz, and while the real-life animal should not be mistaken for the fictional version, it can be a great way to sell a youngster on the idea of a visit to a sanctuary. It works with many adults, too.
But Taz is not the only character. There are wombats and kangaroos, sugar gliders and cockatoos, tawny frogmouths and quolls, possums and… the list goes on, and even for an educated adult, this is a goldmine of natural history.
Part of the joy of a campervan holiday is being able to get out into the wild and, if you’re lucky, see the creatures in their natural habitat. National parks present great opportunities for this, as they are unspoilt and real, just managed and therefore with an extra element of safety.
Cradle Mountain/Lake St Clair is one of the best, with Tasmanian devils around the place along with what is described as the “highly inquisitive” black currawong bird.
If you park up and take a guided tour on foot, you can be out there as long as you like, because this is a big place. Spend all day in the presence of the kings and queens of Australian nature, the heroes and the potential villains. Soak up the sounds as the animals go about their business. Humans, of course, should follow the established guidelines epitomised by the advice, “leave only footprints”. They’ve got Dove Lake up there too, and the temperature can drop quite low, so to enjoy the experience, it pays to dress appropriately.
Maria Island, off the east coast of Tasmania, is 115 square kilometres of old Australia that has visitors wishing they had been born centuries earlier when mankind and the natural world existed in tandem, rather than in carefully managed environments of their own. The island has seen its share of civilisation, with industry and farming before being rededicated to nature.
Up on the north coast of Tasmania is Narawntapu National Park, where there are some excellent camping facilities with nature all around. Kangaroos, wallabies and little pademelons live there, so it’s a great place to reconnect with the creatures that are so much a part of our national identity.
The Whole Island is a Feast for the Nature Lover
It is fair to say that Tasmania as a whole is a pretty natural place. Although there is loads going on when you’re not on nature-watching duty, it is the ideal place to switch off and make like it’s hundreds of years ago – but with a comfortable vehicle to travel around in and some of the best food and wine in the world to enjoy.
So, if you’re planning your visit to this natural wonder, we have an awesome fleet of cars, campervans, and motorhomes for hire ready to serve you. Simply contact LeisureRent today!
