Page 471 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

T ASM ANIA  469

Heritage buildings in central Launceston
Queen Victoria Museum and Environs which once spanned the strait
Art Gallery has the country’s In the 1830s, the Norfolk Plains to the continental mainland
largest provincial display of was a farmland district owned (see pp26–7).
colonial art, along with an mainly by wealthy settlers who Flinders Island was also the
impressive modern collection. had been enticed to the area destination for 133 Tasmanian
It also shows Aboriginal and by land grants. The small town Aborigines. With the consent
convict relics, and has displays of Longford, with its historic of the British administration,
on minerals, flora and fauna inns and churches, is still the the Reverend George Augustus
of the region. centre of a rich agricultural Robinson brought them here
Cataract Gorge Reserve is district. It also has the greatest in the 1830s. His aim was to
alive with birds, wallabies, concentration of colonial “save” Tasmania’s Aboriginal
pademelons, potoroos and mansions in the state. Many, population from extinction
bandicoots, only a 15-minute such as Woolmers and by civilizing them according
walk from the city centre. A Brickendon, are open for to European traditions and
chairlift, believed to have the public tours. converting them to Christianity.
longest central span in the In 1847, however, greatly
world, provides a striking diminished by disease and
aerial overview. despair, the 47 survivors
In nearby Underwood is were transferred to Oyster
the award-winning Treetops Cove, a sacred Aboriginal
Adventure, which combines site south of Hobart, and
the tranquillity of the forest the plan was deemed a failure.
with adrenalin-fueled canopy Within a few decades, all
tours. These take place in all full-blooded Tasmanian
weathers, and there is also a Aborigines had died.
night-time ride. Visitors enjoy Much of Flinders is now
a unique view of the beautiful preserved as a natural reserve,
forest environment from above. Cape Barren geese in the Patriarch including Strezelecki National
Sanctuary on Cape Barren Island Park, which is a particularly
P Queen Victoria Museum and popular area with hikers.
Art Gallery qFlinders Island Off the island’s south coast is
Museum: 2 Wellington St, Royal Pk, Cape Barren Island, home to
Launceston; Gallery: 2 Invermay Rd, ~ from Launceston, Melbourne. the Patriarch Sanctuary, a
Inveresk. Tel (03) 6323 3777. Open g from Bridport. n Flinders Island protected geese reserve.
10am–4pm daily. Closed Good Fri, Tourism (03) 6359 5002. Flinders Island can be
25 Dec. 7 & ∑ qvmag.tas.gov.au
On the northeastern tip of reached by air from Launceston
Y Treetops Adventure Tasmania, in the waters of the and Melbourne. Alternatively,
66 Hollybank Road, off the Bass Strait, Flinders Island is there is also a leisurely ferry
Launceston–Lilydale Rd, Underwood. the largest within the Furneaux trip aboard the Matthew
Tel (03) 6395 1390. Open 9am–5pm Island Group. These 50 or so Flinders, which sets sail from
daily. & ∑ treetopsadventure. dots in the ocean are all that the small coastal town
com.au remains of the land bridge of Bridport.