Tasmania

Visitor Information Centres in Tasmania are authorised centres across the island which specialise in assisting travellers with local information and booking various tours and activities. Tourists can also find maps and booklets at these centres.

These information centres are identified by little blue and yellow “i” signs. They are open seven days a week.

The services tourists can avail of are -

• 24-hour access to information
• Itinerary planning
• Road conditions and transport options
• Maps and directions
• Booking services for accommodation and tours
• Attractions, events, retail outlets and local services
• Public toilets on site or nearby
• Emergency contact numbers and accommodation options
• Local knowledge and insights

• The Australian Dollar is the only currency accepted in Tasmania.
• Most major cards are accepted like MasterCard, Visa, and American Express.
• Currency can be exchanged at most banks and some ATMs which accept foreign cards.
• Travellers' cheques can also be exchanged at bigger hotels and banks.

1. Wildlife is abundant in Tasmania. Tourists are likely to come across wildlife on the open roads while driving and, thus, are advised to drive carefully and responsibly.
2. Tasmania has excellent hiking and trekking trails. It is best to carry comfortable and sturdy shoes for a great experience.
3. Carry water bottles to carry along on hikes and treks.
4. Tours are pretty popular in Tasmania. These tours have limited slots and can get filled quickly during the peak season. It is advisable to book slots well in advance before a trip.
5. It is easy to get sunburnt in Tasmania. Sunglasses, hats and protective lotions should be packed as precautionary measures.

During the ice age, Tasmania was part of mainland Australia. But as soon as the ice age ended, water levels rose, and it became an island. The small indigenous population of Tasmania mainly were hunters and gatherers.

At the very end of the 18th century, the first European settlement began. The 19th century saw several clashes between foreign settlers and native people, including the infamous Black War of the 1820s. The Europeans killed thousands of the local population through warfare or disease, and European expansion rapidly began on the island.

The name Tasmania was officially given in 1856, and it joined with the rest of Australia in a referendum in 1898. Then towards the end of the 20th century, tourism boomed in Tasmania and also being an environmental haven, it was given supreme importance in the endeavour to help it grow sustainably.