I’ll confess that the first thing I thought of when we started researching our Tasmania episode was the Tasmanian devil — and I mean the one in the Bugs Bunny cartoons. Wikipedia notes that the cartoon creator based this “dimwitted carnivore with the notoriously short temper” on the real Tasmanian devil,  insofar as its voracious appetite and hostile demeanor.

This Tasmanian devil shows his stuff (iStockphoto/Thinkstock)

Unfortunately, a cancer called devil facial tumor disease causes tumors to form around their mouths to the point where the poor devils cannot feed and eventually starve to death.  As a result, the devil, which is found only in Tasmania, is in danger of extinction. The Tasmanian government has started breeding them in captivity in hopes of staving this off.

Postage stamp showing the Tasmanian tiger (iStockphoto/Thinkstock).

Let’s hope the Tasmanian devil doesn’t go the way of the Tasmanian tiger. This marsupial (like the devil) looked like a large dog and got its moniker from the stripes across its back.  This animal died out in the 1930s, a victim of disease and hunting by sheep farmers.  Occasional sightings are still reported but none have been confirmed.

But Tasmania is, of course, far more than unusual marsupials.  As we talked about on the podcast, its air quality is some of the most pristine in the world.  It also has beaches and mountains, fields of lavender, and the richest collection of convict heritage sites in the world.

Practical Info

Getting there:  Tasmania is an hour’s flight from Melbourne, the nearest large city in Australia.  Several airlines, including Virgin Australia and Qantas will get you to the main cities of Hobart, Launceston and Devonport.

Visa Requirements:  Tasmania is part of Australia.  Visitors from certain countries may apply for an online visa called an ETA, which eliminates the need to get a stamp in your passport from an embassy.

When to go:  Tasmania is blessed with a mild climate year-round.  Peak travel time is summer (December to March).  You can save money going in August or November.

Upcoming events:  Too many to mention!  Check this calendar.

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