Adventure Island: Think wilderness adventure holidays in Tasmania and immediately visions of mud-encrusted gaiters, heavy backpacks and extreme exertions spring to mind. Tassie offers plenty of that for the tough and intrepid, but there are ways you can get into the heart of the wilderness where few others dare to go, without the fuss and bother or the wet feet.  Story by Lee Atkinson

Woolmers Estate: The story of six generations of one Tasmanian family, starting with pioneer Thomas Archer, is told at Woolmers Estate, at Longford, just outside Launceston. Members of the Archer family lived here from 1817 until 1994 and the house is now open to visitors. Next door is the National Rose Garden, a showpiece of 4000 roses which traces the history of this popular bloom. There are also cottages where you can stay overnight. Story by Lee Mylne

Treetops adventure : Strap yourself in for the latest high-flying adventure to open in Tasmania. A whopping 700 metre-long flying fox 50 metres above the tops of the trees in the Hollybank Forest near Launceston. It's the latest adventure tourism venture from Forestry Tasmania, which also has a 110-metre adventure slide into a giant 40-metre-deep sinkhole called Dismal Swamp (it’s actually quite magical), filled with ancient rainforest trees and some quite bizarre art near Stanley on the north coast, and the Tahune Airwalk above the forest canopy south of Hobart. Story by Lee Atkinson

Linger in Launceston: Three rivers meet in Launceston – the Tamar and the North and South Esk. The Tamar River flows north from Launceston for nearly 60km before meeting Bass Strait. It is Australia's longest navigable tidal estuary, varying in width from 250 metres to 4km, and river cruises glide up it daily. Tasmania's northern-most provincial city, established about 1806, Launceston sits at the head of the Tamar Valley and provides an excellent base or exploring the valley that has become a place for wine lovers and foodies to indulge themselves. Story by Lee Mylne

Maria Island Walk: Within only a few hours on Maria Island, I've seen my first echidna in the wild. "Wow" becomes the catch-phrase for our small band of walkers, until even we are tired of hearing it. Wombats, wallabies, kookaburras, little penguins in their burrows...it's an extravaganza that takes away the pain of unaccustomed hiking. Add to that a preserved convict-built settlement and stories of enterprise and hardship for a uniquely Tasmanian trek of a lifetime.
Story by Lee Mylne

North to the Nut: Tasmania’ northern coastline is one of its best kept secrets.  It is a place of rugged beauty, where fertile farmlands spill into the wild waters of Bass Strait.  The spectacular Bass Highway follows the coast from Ulverstone in the east to Stanley in the west, Tasmania’s own version of the Great Ocean Road. Story by Lee Atkinson

The Islington: The Islington is one of those hotels where you wish you could stay "just one more night". With only 11 rooms, Hobart 's newest luxury boutique hotel is intimate and welcoming, effortlessly giving you the feeling of staying in someone's home. Someone wealthy. And when a place charges $600 a night and boasts a former footman to the Queen as its “houseman”, you might expect some snobbery…but there is none at all. Story by Lee Mylne

The Perfect Beach: Wouldn’t it be nice if you could build your ideal beach, made to order: “I want a perfect crescent of fine white sand, please, lapped by crystal clear, azure waters. And drop in a backdrop of wild bushland, remove all traces of human habitation, oh and can I have the place all to myself, thanks.”  Wishful thinking?  Not on Tasmania’s wild and rugged east coast. As unlikely as it sounds, this too-good-to-be-true description fits Wineglass Bay in Freycinet National Park like a glove.  Beaches just don’t come much better than this one! Story by Lee Atkinson

Finding the Art in Hobart: Tasmania 's temptations are many, even if you don't stray too far from Hobart . The historic sandstone warehouses and factory buildings along the Hobart waterfront on Hunter Street are now home to some of Hobart 's best art “finds”.
Story by Lee Mylne

Esk-ceptional Launceston: Wherever you are in Launceston, you’re never far from the river.  Situated 50km from the north coast at the junction of the North Esk, South Esk, and Tamar Rivers, Launceston is Tasmania’s second largest city, and the third oldest city in Australia (after Sydney and Hobart).  Its mix of Victorian and Georgian architecture and abundance of parks and gardens make it one of the country’s prettiest cities. Story by Lee Atkinson

Peppermint Bay: Architecturally stunning, with breathtaking views across the magnificent D'Entrecasteaux Channel and islands, Peppermint Bay is Tasmania 's newest dining experience, set in gardens dominated by a massive 150-year-old oak tree. To get there, cruise down the River Derwent to Woodbridge, or take a 40 minute drive from Hobart.
Story by Lee Mylne

The Convict Trail: In Tasmania the past is never very far away – particularly its convict past and the grand bridges, colonial buildings and haunting ruins that were built by their labour.  The best place to explore convict history and its legacy is on the Tasman Peninsula, home to Port Arthur penal settlement, a mixture of intact buildings and atmospheric ruins and one of Australia’s most significant historical sites. It’s an easy day-drive from Hobart, but there is so much to see and do, as well as some very good evening tours, that it’s worth spending the night. Story by Lee Atkinson

Peppermint tea: Dining with a view doesn’t get much better than at Peppermint Bay, a stunning new cruise-in-and- away waterfront provedore and restaurant on the shores of D’Entrecasteaux Channel in the Huon Valley, 40km south of Hobart. Story by Lee Atkinson

The Tamar Tipple: The Tamar Valley Wine Route is a triangular loop drive from Launceston along the banks of the wide Tamar River and across to George Town and back via Pipers River.  There are 21 wineries along the way, producing some of the state’s best cool climate wines, and several places that offer long views and great food, all within an easy day-drive from Launceston.  Story by Lee Atkinson

Moorilla Estate: Tasmania's oldest winery, founded in the 1950s, Moorilla Estate has evolved into a destination in itself. Cruise down the Derwent to dine in The Source restaurant, try out the boutique beers brewed on-site and stay in the five-star chalets overlooking the river, which are decorated with pieces from the Moorilla Museum of Antiquities collection. The museum, which holds one of Australia 's largest private collections of Egyptian, pre-Colombian and African artefacts is currently undergoing a major redevelopment. Story by Lee Mylne