Planning a trip to Tasmania

When to Go

The best time to visit Tasmania is between October and April, when the weather is at its best. By May, nights are getting cold, days are getting shorter, and the deciduous trees are starting to turn golden. Winters (June-Aug), especially in the high country, can be quite harsh -- though that's the best time to curl up in front of a blazing fire. The east coast is generally milder than the west coast, which is buffeted by the "Roaring 40s" -- the winds that blow across the ocean and the 40-degree meridian from as far away as Argentina.

The busy season for tourism runs December through February, as well as during public- and school-holiday periods. Unlike the rest of Australia, Tasmanian schools have three terms. Term dates are from the second week in February to the last week in May, the third week in June to the first week in September, and the fourth week in September to the first or second week in December.

Getting There

The quickest way to get to Tasmania is by air. Qantas (tel. 13 13 13 in Australia; www.qantas.com) flies from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne to Hobart, and from Melbourne to Launceston and Devonport. Virgin Blue (tel. 13 67 89 in Australia; www.virginblue.com.au) flies from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Adelaide to Hobart and from Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney to Launceston. Jetstar (tel. 13 15 38 in Australia; www.jetstar.com.au) flies to Hobart from Sydney and Melbourne, and to Launceston from Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Tiger Airways (tel. 03/9335 3033; www.tigerairways.com.au) flies to Hobart from Melbourne. Regional Express (tel. 13 17 13 in Australia or 02/6393 5550; www.regionalexpress.com.au) flies from Melbourne to Burnie in the state's north.

Two high-speed ships connect Melbourne and Tasmania. Spirit of Tasmania I and II can each carry up to 1,400 passengers and up to 500 vehicles. They make the crossing from Melbourne's Station Pier to Tasmania's Devonport (on the north coast) in between 9 and 11 hours. The twin ships leave both Melbourne and Devonport at 7:30pm and arrive at around 6am the next day. During busy times, there's also day service leaving both ports at 9am and arriving at 6pm. Accommodation ranges from reclining seats to comfortable air-conditioned cabins with Queen-size beds and ensuite bathrooms, and four-berth cabins suited to families. Reclining seats cost from A$126 adults, or you can upgrade to an inside (no porthole) twin cabin from A$178 per adults. Fares for an inside four-berth cabin start from A$158 adults and A$76 children aged 3 to 15. Prices depend on the season and whether you have a porthole or not. Transporting a standard car costs A$79 to A$89, depending on size, year-round. Facilities on the ships include a la carte and buffet restaurants, a cinema, gaming lounge, and four bars.

For reservations tel. 13 20 10 in Australia or 03/6421 7209 or book online at www.spiritoftasmania.com.au. Special offers are regularly available. Tasmanian Redline Coaches connect with each ferry and transfer passengers to Launceston and Hobart.

Getting Around

The regional airline Tasair (tel. 03/6427 9777; www.tasair.com.au) flies between Hobart and Devonport and operates services to King Island from Devonport. It also operates a range of aerial sightseeing tours, as does Par Avion (tel. 03/6248 5490; www.paravion.com.au), which concentrates on the southwest World Heritage areas of the state.

Tasmania's Own Redline (tel. 1300/360 000 in Australia, or 03/6336 1446; www.redlinecoaches.com.au) and Tassielink (tel. 1300/300 520 in Australia, or 03/6230 8900; www.tigerline.com.au) operate coach service statewide and offer a series of coach tours to major places of interest. Metro Tas (tel. 13 22 01 in Australia or 03/6233 4232; www.metrotas.com.au) runs bus services in and around Hobart, Launceston, and Burnie.

The cheapest way to get around by coach is to buy a travel pass. The Tassielink Explorer Pass, which covers all Tassielink routes, comes in four categories: A 7-day pass good for travel within 10 days is A$208; a 10-day pass for travel in 15 days is A$248; a 14-day pass for travel in 20 days is A$286; a 21-day pass for travel in 30 days is A$329. Kids' passes are half-price. Redline Coaches has a Tassie Pass which allows unlimited travel on main route services for A$135 for 7 days, A$160 for 10 days, A$185 for 14 days or A$219 for 21 days.

Driving a car from Devonport on the north coast to Hobart on the south coast takes less than 4 hours. From Hobart to Strahan on the west coast also takes around 4 hours, while the journey from Launceston to Hobart takes about 2 hours. The Royal Automobile Club of Tasmania, Murray and Patrick streets, Hobart (tel. 13 27 22 in Australia or 03/6232 6300), can supply maps.

Tasmania's Tricky Roads -- Driving in Tasmania can be dangerous; there are more accidents involving tourists on Tasmania's roads than anywhere else in Australia. Many roads are narrow, and bends can be tight, especially in the mountainous inland regions, where you may also come across black ice early in the morning or at anytime in winter. Marsupials are also common around dusk, and swerving to avoid them has caused countless crashes. In fact, you may be shocked by the amount of roadkill you will see here.