This Week >> 6/12/2008
What is the Tasmanian Devil? Where is Tasmania and why was it settled? Join Susan and Michael and travel to Australia's "Apple Isle", the smallest state in its territory, first settled in 1804 as a British penal colony. We'll explore the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area home to the Tasmanian Devil, the Tasmanian Tiger and other exotic animals found only on this island. And we'll discover why Tasmania is called "Australia's Gourmet Island", and find out about the annual Great Tasmanian Bike Ride, a world-class venue that takes place every year in early February from the capital city, Hobart.
To view a detailed tourism site on Tasmania, click here
Where we'll be exploring
TasmaniaTasmania is an Australian island and state of the same name. It is located 240 kilometres (150 mi) south of the eastern side of the continent, being separated from it by Bass Strait. The state of Tasmania includes the island of Tasmania, and other surrounding islands. Tasmania has an estimated population of 493,300 as of June 2007 and an area of 68,401 square kilometres (26,410 sq mi).
Australia's southernmost state, Tasmania is just an hour's flight from Melbourne and two hours from Sydney, offering a wilderness getaway of luxury, fine wine and fresh island produce. Within hours of arriving visitors can experience the world's last temperate wilderness, ancient rainforest, glacial tarns, tall waterfalls, secluded ocean beaches and towering sea cliffs. More than a third of Tasmania is protected in national parks, World Heritage Area, forest and marine reserves. Most of Tasmania's natural places are stunningly beautiful and within easy reach.
10 Things You Didn't Know About Tasmania
1. Tasmania has the cleanest air in the world, measured at Cape Grim on the north-west coast.
2. The island is one of the world's best walking destinations. It has more than 1800 miles of world-class walking tracks, thousands of highland lakes, hundreds of clean beaches, extensive underground caverns, large and small islands both remote and accessible, and mountain peaks and crags.
3. The island's iconic animal, the Tasmanian Devil, faces a real risk of extinction as a contagious cancer devastates the species. The first signs of the Devil Facial Tumor Disease (DFTD) were observed in 1996. This fatal condition is characterized by cancers around the mouth and head, and is restricted to Tasmanian Devils. Concerned individuals can make a donation at www.wildlifewarriors.org.au and designate 'Tasmanian devil'.
4. Tasmania has become an island of whisky producers. The clean and fresh produce available helps craft whiskies of distinction. Tasmania grows some of the world's best brewing barley, its highlands abound in rich peat, its water is soft, clean and pure, and the temperature and humidity create a climate well suited to the maturation of fine malt whisky. Hellyers Road Distillery, Lark Distillery, Nant Estate and Tasmania Distillery are now getting the attention of whiskey connoisseurs from around the world.
5. Australia's first round of golf was played near Hobart in the 1820s on Ratho Course in Bothwell, perhaps the oldest course in the Southern Hemisphere. Tasmania has now become a leading golf destination with Barnbougle Dunes Links its signature course.
6. The world's smallest marsupial, the pygmy possum, is native to Tasmania.
7. An environmentally conscious island, the Tasmanian town of Coles Bay, on the Freycinet Peninsula, was the first town in Australia to ban plastic bags in April 2003.
8. Tasmania has become known internationally as Australia's gourmet isle. It has established a reputation for producing high-quality gourmet food and beverages. Visitors can take part in their own food festival, from smoked salmon and abalone, to cheeses, honey ice cream, and some of Australia's finest pinots.
9. Tasmania is comparable in size to West Virginia or Scotland. Australia's only island state, it is approximately 189 miles west to east and 175 miles north to south. Its compact size makes it ideal for a touring vacation.
10. For more information on Tasmania, visit www.discovertasmania.com
The Tasmanian Devil
The Tasmanian Devil became extirpated on the Australian mainland about 400 years before European settlement in 1788. Because they were seen as a threat to livestock in Tasmania, devils were hunted until 1941, when they became officially protected. Since the late 1990s devil facial tumour disease has reduced the devil population significantly and now threatens the survival of the species, which in May of 2008 was finally declared to be endangered. Programs are currently being undertaken by the Tasmanian government to reduce the impact of the disease.
Naturalist George Harris wrote the first published description of the Tasmanian Devil in 1807, naming it Didelphis ursina. In 1838 the devil was renamed Dasyurus laniarius by Richard Owen, before being moved to the genus Sarcophilus in 1841 and named Sarcophilus harrisii, or "Harris's meat-lover", by Pierre Boitard. A later revision of the devil's taxonomy, published in 1987, attempted to change the species name to Sarcophilus laniarius based on mainland fossil records of only a few animals. However, this was not accepted by the taxonomic community at large and the name S. harrisii has been retained and S. laniarius relegated to fossil species. Phylogenetic analysis shows that the devil is most closely related to quolls, and more distantly to the extinct Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger).
Guests
Daryl Hudson, North American Director of Tasmania Tourism
Tourism Australia
Tourism Australia
6100 Center Drive, Suite 1150
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Tel: (310) 695-3200
tourism.australia.com
Daryl Hudson, born in Cairns Australia, has been talking about vacations in Australia for over 24 years from Japan to the UK but mostly to Americans and Canadians. Much of this work was with Australia's national tourism agency, Tourism Australia. Since 1997, he has been dedicated to getting traveler's excited about a little island at the edge of the world, Tasmania, Australia's island state. Although his home town is in the beautiful tropical north of Australia, he has been captivated by the island culture, rich colonial history and uncomplicated beauty of Tasmania.
Hudson runs his own destination marketing company, Great Southern Inc., based in Toronto Canada.
American Estates Wines
American Estates Wines
19 Hillside Ave
Summit, NJ 07901-1904
Tel: (908) 273-5060
www.eamericanestates.com
George Galey, founder and owner of American Estates Wines, is a native of suburban Philadelphia, PA. He graduated from Villanova University with a BS in Applied Economics, then an MBA from Pennsylvania State University. He worked for Fortune 500 companies until 1983, when he was professionally bitten by the wine bug, and changed his life. He worked first for a wine wholesaler in Indiana before opening American Estates Wines in 1986.
American Estates Wines selects, imports and markets single vineyard and small estate wines from California, Australia, New Zealand, and now Spain. It regionally markets such diverse California brands as Sean Thackrey and Mount Eden Vineyard. George was a pioneer in importing wines from Australia's Tasmania, and is the US' longest continuously operating importer of wines from New Zealand. American Estates is listed by The Wine Advocate as one of the US' top specialty importers. American Estates' wines are distributed in 42 states, as well as Puerto Rico and some Caribbean Islands.
Commenting on AEW's new Spanish portfolio, George said: "I traveled throughout Spain to see the vineyards and taste with the vintners to bring a personal approach to my selections. I selected just one winery from each region. Foremost was the preservation of each D.O.'s terroir, which I ensured by selecting old vine vineyards planted in indigenous grapes. Then, that vineyard expression had to be preserved by minimalist but clean winemaking, with only judicious use of oak." American Estates Wines now imports 5 Spanish brands, and will expand its portfolio to 9 by the Fall selling season.
About Australian Wine
Australia has over 200 years of winemaking history, and has some of then oldest producing vines in the world, such as the Turkey Flat vineyard in the renown Barossa region. Diverse soils and climates produce wines of distinct character, yet all very consumer friendly. One of the most distinct regions is Tasmania, known for its cool climate and long, slow ripening seasons. The wines have both focus and finesse, and lend themselves to memorable food pairings. Pinot Noirs and aromatic whites are particular favorites, such as from Pirie Estate, namesake winery of Australia's Andrew Pirie, Australia's first Ph. D. in Viticulture.
All good. Enjoy!
The Australian Bar and Restaurant
20 West 38 Street
New York, NY 10017
Tel: (212) 869-8601
www.theaustraliannyc.com
From Matt:
The Australian Bar and Restaurant is located in midtown Manhattan (38th btwn 5th and 6th). We aim at giving an authentic Australian experience with our food and drink. We have Aussie style "pub food" including meat pies and sausage rolls as well as Kangaroo Filet Mignon and Barramundi. We also have a fully Australian and New Zealand wine list.
We use an array of authentic Aussie herbs and spices, including Tasmanian bush pepper which is sprinkled on the pastry of our sausage rolls for extra flavour. This is a unique spice which adds o the authenticity of our food. Tasmania also has a reputaion for freshness ad we showcase that specically in two of our beverages - James Boags beer and Pipers Brook Pinot Gris. These are both beverages which are renowned for their quality and consistency, both of these are big selling boutique brands.
Ray Peyton, Director of Sales
Qantas Vacations & Jetabout Vacations
Qantas Vacations & Jetabout Vacations
300 Continental Blvd., Suite 350
El Segundo, CA 90245
Tel: (866) 914-4359
www.qantasvacations.com
From Ray:
I was for 25 years the Managing Partner of the TR Group, a travel consulting company offering travel rewards to major American companies. We specialized in group movements for a companies top performers. It was always a challenge to deliver a new and exciting destination for so often we were dealing with repeat winners.
I retired after many years but the wander lust was still their so I began to offer escorted golf outings to Ireland and Scotland. After a few years I came upon an opportunity to promote destinations in the South Pacific for Qantas Vacations. I have spent the last year traveling to wonderful destinations like Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Fiji. On the top of my list is Australia which is the larger than the United States and needs a good amount of time cover it all.
Off the Southeast Coast of Australia is the wonderful Island of Tasmania. Tasmania is more than you could imagine with wilderness that you can touch, as well as unique wildlife -many rare and vulnerable such as the Tasmania Devil. Travel along country roads, spend the night in a quaint cottages or venture to Port Arthur one of Australia leading historic sites.
The Port Arthur site is one the best known of Australia penal settlements on the Tasman Peninsula Convict Trail. Connected to mainland Tasmania by one narrow strip of land, it was many, years ago some peoples first introduction to Australia. The Port Arthur region also includes spectacular land formations along the coastline of the Tasman National Park, from the Tasman Blowhole to the Cliffs of Waterfall Bay.
On the east coast of Tasmania visit Wineglass Bay with white sand and crystal al clear water, Freycinet Lodge is a tranquil setting with waterfront restaurants and activities that include wildlife watching, star-gazing and wine tasting.
On the west coast of Tasmania, self drive vacations for the independent traveler. Visit Voyages Cradle Mountain Lodge, set in a World Heritage wildness.
At Qantas Vacations we offer Individual travel, group travel, escorted trips from 5 days/4 nights. We offer a 4 night self drive programs that you can start with flying into Launceston, visiting Cradle Rock and other key sites and finishing up in the capitol city of Tasmania, Hobart.
I trust the above will give you some general background on myself and Qantas Vacations.
You can email Ray at rpeyton@qantasvacations.com or call him at (732) 671-0030