I’m packing my bag (a big one) and flying to Tasmania tomorrow for two weeks of outdoor adventure, wine and seafood. My journey thru OZ starts in Sydney, staying the weekend with foodie friends who will show me around town - stopping into their favourite wine bars and restaurants. Another pal will take me kayaking on the Sydney Harbor.
Then it’s off to Launceston, Tassie’s wine country in the Tamar Valley, where I’ll zipline through the treetops, meet and greet winemakers at Goaty Hill and Strathalynn wineries - and I’m sure swirl, sniff and sip their flinty, minerally Riesling and rustic, cherry Pinot Noirs.
The remainder of my Tassie tour will be spent hiking, kayaking, Mt. biking and running through the pristine wilderness. An island, roughly the size of West Virginia - off the southeast corner of mainland Australia - Tasmania has over a third of its land protected in national parks and the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Making it a wild wonderland peppered with ancient forests, brilliant white sand coastlines, craggy mountains, gushing rivers and offering endless outdoor activities.
One day I’ll hike Cradle Mountain with swift-trekking and technically tricky trails weaving through stunning glacial carved rock, which at its peak (5069 ft) overlooks most of northwest Tasmania. On an overnight kayaking trip in Freycinet National Park, we’ll splash along the northeast coast, past Wineglass Bay’s white granite sand beaches, overhanging pink granite mountains and dock boats to explore the terrific hiking trails. It will be an amazing adventure hopefully filled with wallabies, penguins and eek! Tasmanian Devils!