These screeching Tasmanian devils, once a scourge to farmers but now an endangered species, live at the private Trowunna Wildlife Park in Tasmania.         Photo by Gene Korte

Tassie, as the locals call it, is Australia’s smallest state. Blessed with four seasons, unlike the mainland, it also has hundreds of miles of dramatic coastline. This island is home to wombats and koalas, among other unusual creatures. Perhaps the most unusual of all is the small-dog-sized Tasmanian devils, because of the screaming meemies shriek they make.

Tasmania is also the last bit of land, if you’re heading south, before you reach Antarctica, 1,500 miles away.

Cradle Mountain is one of the most popular tourist destinations here, especially for what the Tasmanians call bushwalking and Northern Hemisphere residents might label hiking or a walk in the woods. As fully one-third of the island is protected temperate rainforest, there’s lots of bushwalking to go around. Perhaps Tassie’s most famous trail is the 50-mile Overland Track near Cradle Mountain.

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