Pristine Wilderness. Tasmania

Close encounters with Tasmania's unique wildlife

Does the Tasmanian tiger still exist? No one knows for sure but you are guaranteed to see its closest relatives, the Tasmanian devil and the Quoll at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary just outside of Hobart, where injured and orphaned animals are rescued and released.

Venture further afield to Mount Field or Freycinet National Park, or into the highlands of Cradle Mountain and you will be rewarded with prolific sightings of Forester kangaroos, Bennett’s wallabies, Tasmanian pademelons, wombats, echidnas and even platypus playing in the streams and rivers. Here animals roam freely with no fear of man. The more adventurous will still see devils in the wild on the west coast.

Marine life is no less extraordinary as the highest cliffs in Australia plunge into oceans rich with marine life. Join Pennicott Wilderness Journeys and venture into the Southern Ocean to spot whales, dolphins, huge fur seal colonies, albatross and sea eagles.

Pearl Business Class and Coral Economy Class with Etihad Airways

Choose the World's Leading Airline and enjoy

• 600 hours of on-demand entertainment on large personal screens, MP3 player connectivity, and power sockets
• Dining that's regularly voted among the best in the industry by review website Skytrax
• Specially designed child friendly services, with activity packs and their own dedicated in-flight entertainment

Choose Coral Economy Class to enjoy

• Spacious cradle seats, with adjustable head and footrests
• One of the largest economy class touchscreens in the sky
• Choice of three meals, with hot deserts and café service

Choose Pearl Business Class to enjoy

• Fully flat beds in an innovative 1-2-1 layout - all seats have aisle access and are forward facing
• 15 inch touch screen, inbuilt massage and Korres valise

Delve into Tasmania's notorious convict past

Are you related to a convict? Between 1830 and 1880 thousands of men, women and children were transported from the British Isles to Van Diemen's Land, to face hardship and punishment on the edge of the world. Follow the life of an inmate at the World Heritage Port Arthur Historic Site, a beautiful setting for one of the most feared penal colonies on earth .

Take a drive to the wild west where the fishing village of Strahan overlooks Macquarie Harbour, six times the size of Sydney Harbour. Now renowned as the catalyst for Australia's green movement, tiny Sarah Island was the prison for thousands of men who chose to endure their brutal conditions rather than risk escape into shark infested waters and impenetrable rainforest. Today it is gateway to the world's temperate rainforest and home to colonies of fairy penguins and muttonbirds but its dark history remains.

Experience Tasmana's remotest frontiers

Accessible, true wilderness on an island the size of Scotland is hard to imagine but in Tasmania a relatively short journey will take you to the Edge of the World - literally. The West Coast, with a natural harbour six times the size of Sydney’s, is the last landmass until South America. The winds blow in across thousands of miles, bringing the cleanest air in the world.

Take a scenic flight over the world’s last significant temperate rainforest or raft the Franklin River, a ten day journey deep into wilderness. A trip up the Gordon River reveals 10,000 year old Huon pines. The South West National Park is as the world existed millions of years ago. Home to the critically endangered orange bellied parrot, it can be explored by a short flight from Hobart and a cruise along the waterways that lead to the Great Southern Ocean.

Tasmania, Australia's adventure playground

With almost half of Tasmania’s landmass protected and more coastline than any other Australian state, the island is unsurprisingly blessed with some of the most varied, beautiful and even some of the most challenging treks in Australia and New Zealand, yet most remain largely undiscovered. Although The Overland Track through the Cradle mountain- Lake St Clair National Park is at the top of most serious hikers’ wish list there are many more stunning short walks throughout the state. Tasmania’s east coast offers four lodge and bush camp based multi-day options such as The Maria Island Walk and the Bay of Fires Trek. Kayaking, fishing and cycling can be enjoyed by those seeking soft adventure whereas thrill seekers can try spectacular descents by mountain bike, skydiving and even diving in oceans filled with giant sea kelp forests, sea dragons and underwater caves waiting to be explored.

A waterfront city alive with art and gastronomy

The maritime city of Hobart might be the gateway to the Antarctic but it's one of the hottest places to hang out in Australia. The opening of Mona - The Museum of Old and New Art - in January 2011 has been described as the most exciting addition to Australia's cultural landscape since the Sydney Opera House and 300,000 visitors in its first year can't be wrong.

Hobart's buzzing and historic waterfront is an eclectic mix of bars, restaurants, cafes and art galleries, and the Saturday morning Salamanca market is legendary. As the gourmet capital of Australia, Tasmania's superb food and wine is most notable here. Have a drink in the Henry Jones – a restored jam factory, dine on the freshest seafood imaginable and work off the excess with a kayak in the harbour, a hike on Mount Wellington, Hobart's 1300 metre playground, or take a bicycle descent from its summit.