Tasmania Introduction

If you're new to Tasmania, here's a few pointers to get you started.

First, the seasons. There are distinctly four of them, and they're all beautiful. The locals hibernate in winter, but for visitors it's a great time to explore, with crisp clear days and lots of open fires to snuggle up to in the evenings. The weather is changeable no matter what time of year, so dress for the unexpected.

Second, getting around. There's not much public transport infrastructure but there are fleets of small private operators who can take you to most destinations if you don't want to drive. But for most people it will be simplest to hire a car. Note, though: car hire excess limits are set very high (it'll cost around $30 a day to reduce your excess from $3,200 to $320) so it's best to get travel insurance with car-hire excess coverage before you leave home. The roads are mostly, narrow, windy and bumpy, which is why the state speed limit for rural areas is 90 kph.

Third, culture. Things are pretty relaxed on the island, so don't expect snappy levels of service. Just focus on the fact that they still make pots of tea here using tea leaves and they still have time for a yarn. Being friendly is more important here than being speedy. Adjust to this pace and you'll have plenty of satisfying experiences.