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ABOUT TASMANIA
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The purpose of this website is to give Tasmanian photographers a place to show their photos. If you would like to add your own photos, then contact me by clicking the above box.
I, Tony Van Tongeren, really began this website way back in the early 1980s, when I stayed for many long holidays with an old friend in Huonville. We could see Mt Sleeping Beauty and other mountains covered in snow from the balcony and I fell in love with Tasmania at this time.
I had a great time then and I found the people of Tasmania to be very friendly. On weekends we visited many beautiful places. Even then, I noticed that the colors were softer than the harsh sunny colors that you see on the Australian mainland.
I dreamed of one day moving to Tasmania. But for many years I had to support my young family, as a teacher of photography and video. When I retired in 2007, I was at last able to move to Tasmania and start to explore her.
For the next 4 years I toured all over Tasmania, photographing its many wonders. I wished to share my work and it was then that I noticed that a good inclusive, photographic site for Tasmania was lacking, so I decided to set up this site.
The TasPhotoAlbum started as a purely photographic site, but I then realized that visitors needed more information, as to how to get to the sites, plus the other information needed to have a great holiday. So I expanded it to include some access, accommodation and survival information. I did this, because I noticed that the tourist sites included too much extraneous information and did not tell visitors some negative things.
Thus, my site has three aims: firstly to show you what the attractions look like and secondly to tell you how to get there and lastly to tell you what to expect. You are now looking at the result.
I have visited many countries and I have stayed in many parts of Australia, but I really think that Tasmania is unique. This island has more heritage sites and unspoiled temperate forests than the rest of Australia combined. In Tasmania you can really see the World as it was at the Dawn of Time.
In contrast the temperate forests of most continents are located in densely populated countries and have been abused by humans for centuries. In contrast about 30% of Tasmania is virtually virgin forest and some places may not have ever been visited by any people in historic time.
Tasmania is also tourist friendly and a great place to relax. In terms of its landscape and climate, Tasmania is more like New Zealand than the Australian mainland. This is because of her latitude and proximity to large bodies of water.
Tasmania has some of the best fishing in Australia and even attracts international trout fishing tourists. Amateur fishing is extremely popular, while Hobart is the venue for a number of famous yacht races.
Many people also know that Tasmania is the home to a number of unique animals, like the Tasmanian Devil. You can see them in a number of wildlife and national parks. Best of all these parks are within easy reach by car.
You just need to choose the right places to seek your accommodation. You can cross Tasmania in five hours, so if you pick the right place, you should be able to do what ever you like in Tasmania without driving for more than one hour.
Perhaps I am biased, but I think that Tasmania has the friendliest people. The pace of life here is slower, so people really do seem to care more for each other. If you get into difficulties in Tasmania, you can be confident of assistance.
My high opinion of Tasmania is shared by the over 200,000 visitors who come here every year to see her. I welcome feedback both from Tasmanians and visitors, as I am trying to give to Tasmania the most user friendly website, she deserves.
