Tasmania

Tasmania is Australia's cool climate island state, although the capital city Hobart has more sunny days in summer than any other Australian capital city. Many non-Tasmanians mispronounce Tasmania's second city Launceston as Lawn-ceston. Locals pronouce it like Lonn-ceston. Tasmania is about the same size as Switzerland, Ireland and West Virginia. Indeed bearded Tasmanian "hillbillies" can be seen driving pick up (utility) trucks with gun racks, and the driver may be wearing a large hat. You may be forgiven for thinking that you are in West Virginia. The Roaring 40's wind pattern dominates the state's climate producing higher rainfall in the west and a milder climate in the east. Tasmania has some of the world's purest air and contains some of the planet's most pristine national parks and unspoiled scenery. The southwest is a confederation of heritage wilderness parks, in many places still impenetrable and unexplored. The southern lights or Aurora Australis is visible from most places in Tasmania. Tasmania is also known for the possibly extinct Tasmanian Tiger, the Tasmanian Devil, Erol Flynn and Princess Mary of Denmark.