My family and I traveled to Tasmania for 7 days on a road trip all the way around the island. It was a wonderful trip with gorgeous, varied scenery, wild animal encounters, scenic hikes, and friendly people. Every 20 - 30 minutes the landscape would change from forest to vineyards to river to ocean to rolling hills to small towns to white sandy beaches to farm land. Parts of the state reminded us of Oregon, Napa Valley, Modesto, Heppner, the Loire Valley, and the East Bay, whereas other parts were like nothing we've ever seen!
We visited the Tasmanian Devil Sanctuary at Cradle Mountain, and we actually got to pet a Devil! They are really shy, timid little things that make a scary face and squeal to scare their enemy (or their sibling who has more meat than he/she), but who really don't want to fuss with anyone. We met one who loved getting her back scratched and would begin to lovingly nibble on the keeper's knee as he knelt to pet her. They are about the size of a large cat and trot with a lopsided wiggle. They are darling! They are also endangered and suffer from a contagious form of cancer. The sanctuary is a place where they are protected from the disease and they are successfully bred.
Tasmania is untouched, unspoiled, and unbelieveably beautiful. It is also filled with history of the first settlers to Australia, the second-offender conficts from England. Prison ruins were ominous on the hillsides and small islands of the state.
We had Wallabies wandering all through the campground where we stayed one night. The road signs warn drivers of Kangaroos, Wombats, and Devils that might be crossing the road!
We returned "home" in time for Back to School!
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