Indulge your inner nomad from early October 2008 to early May 2009 as you enjoy Tasmania’s unspoiled landscape. Go on the Bay of Fires Walk taking place on the edge of Mt William National Park and overlooking a stunning coastline. From white-granite beaches lapped by the Bass Strait’s blue waters to temperate woodland that’s home to wallabies and wombats, the four-day walk (covering distances of nine to 14km per day) will also bring you to sites of significance for the Australian Aborigines – huge heaps of discarded shells bear historical testament to hungry tribes who used to migrate to the coast during the winter in search of shellfish, birds and seals.
Call +61 3 6391 9339 or go to www.bayoffires.com.au for bookings.

What to see: The city of Launceston is closer to the Bay of Fires, but it is the larger state capital of Hobart that hogs the Tasmanian limelight with the beautiful silhouette of Mount Wellington in the background, and the city centre filled with beautiful Georgian and Victorian buildings. Visit Salamanca Place (a fine architectural example), a series of sandstone warehouses dating back to the whaling days of the 1930s that’s now home to art galleries. Spend Saturdays at the famed Salamanca market, where you’ll find anything from rare books to baked potatoes, while buskers serenade passers-by. One hundred kilometres southeast, the former convict settlement of Port Arthur stands on the Tasman Peninsula, its darkly haunting history in stark contrast to Hobart’s. It housed the most hardened British and Irish criminals, and specialised in psychological punishment. Once considered inescapable, it is now accessible by car, ferry and seaplane.
Where to eat and drink: Along the waterfront, at Mures Upper Deck (between Victoria and Constitution docks, +61 3 6231 1999), watch the day’s catch being unloaded over gourmet wine and seafood. Down below, the battered fish and chips is a healthy favourite, but if you like it raw, then the sushi bar is perfect. Machine Laundry Café (12 Salamanca Sq, +61 3 6224 9922) is the breakfast joint for indulging in ricotta and banana hotcakes drizzled in caramel as you watch your (and others’) laundry gently spin its way to cleanliness. Just don’t mistake the washing powder for sugar.
Where to stay: For an expensive taste of Hobart’s renaissance, stay at the Henry Jones Art Hotel, an old jam factory transformed into a sleek steel-and-glass structure with opulent suites embellished with work by local artists. From AU$185 (S$242) per night. 25 Hunter St (+61 3 6210 7700, www.thehenryjones.com). But if you’re the no-frills, laidback type, then The Pickled Frog is sure to tickle your fancy (and pickle your liver) with its central location and cheap offering of South Tassie’s finest – Cascade beer. From AU$60 (S$78) for a single. 281 Liverpool St (+61 3 6234 7977, www.thepickledfrog.com).
How to get there: Fly to Melbourne from Singapore on Singapore Airlines or British Airways. Then fly domestic to Hobart (and/or Launceston) on Tiger Airways. Alternatively, rent a car from Hobart International Airport – we recommend Hertz, located onsite at HBA. The drive to Launceston takes approximately two and a half hours.