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The Taste of Tasmania The Tasmanian Pepperberry or Tasmannia lanceolota is a native shrub that thrives on the slopes and gullies of cool, temperate forested areas. It can be found in the highlands of Victoria, NSW and all across Tasmania at altitudes of 300-1400m. When colonial botanist Robert Brown named the plant in 1804 it was the first time the name “Tasmania” had been used. The next occasion was on a map in 1808. Side Note: By the 1820’s the name Tasmania was in common use however, it was not until 1856 that the state was officially renamed Tasmania. This...

Spotting the Tasmanian Fairy Penguin  Did you know that Fairy Penguin poo sparkles? This is due to small undigested fish scales and is just one of the many fascinating characteristics of this delightful little creature. On our tours up the east coast of Tasmania we stay overnight in the small coastal town of Bicheno. Just on dark, with a red filtered light, we take our guests down to the beach to spot the procession of Penguins coming ashore for a night of rest. We generally expect to see at least one and often several coming home to the safety of...

Renowned Tasmanian Bushrangers Tasmania has had its fair share of interesting characters, from the utterly detestable and infamous to the resourceful and visionary. Matthew Brady could probably be best described as unique. Born in Manchester in 1799 he was only 21 when sentenced to 7 years transportation to Van Diemens Land. Little is known about his early life but it is thought he was a gentlemen’s servant or groom on account of his obvious education. Brady was convicted of stealing a basket along with butter, bacon, sugar and rice. Some reports suggest he was convicted of being a forger as...

See the Southern Lights in Tasmania   Unless you live in Antarctica, Tasmania is the arguably the best place in the Southern Hemisphere to witness this elusive and ethereal light show. All you need for a sighting is a broad horizon, away from artificial light and good timing. The suns behaviour dictates the timing of the Aurora. Space weather maps, long range forecasts and other prediction tools can help, but we can only be relatively certain of a display 3 days out. Even then you need the right climatic and atmospheric conditions, low cloud cover and the moon to be in...