Tasmania offers an enviable lifestyle. A short hop from Melbourne or Sydney, Tasmania offers great contrast with the mainland or 'big island'.
The superfast Spirit of Tasmania I and II have more than 700 births (220 cabins) and make nightly crossings to both Devonport and Melbourne. This service provides easy access for you and your vehicles to Tasmania.
Tasmania's North West Coast consists of two vibrant cities, and a number of towns. Devonport and Burnie are the major centres, with towns of Smithton, Stanley, Penguin, Ulverstone, Turners Beach, Latrobe and the beachside destination of Port Sorell/Shearwater/Hawley.
Tasmania is a diverse state, with geography ranging from temperate rainforest and mountains on the west coast to sandy beaches on the east coast. The North West Coast has the Arthur River, Narawntapu National Park, Cradle Mountain National Park, The Nut at Stanley and the Rocky Cape National Park. Hobart is the capital city.
Tasmania is the smallest Australian state, but has all the services and facilities needed to make it a safe and relaxing home. Tasmanians enjoy the benefits of a city lifestyle, combined with easy access to beaches, rivers and lakes and national parks.
Tasmania's colonial heritage is evident in the gracious Georgian and Victorian architecture throughout the state. It is one of the first things which visitors to Tasmania notice.
Tasmania has a strong sporting tradition, with facilities to match, and a dynamic arts culture, extending from live theatre and music to movies, museums and commercial galleries.
The State has four distinct seasons, with long summer days, a sunny autumn, fresh Spring and brisk winter. Tasmanians breathe the world's cleanest air and enjoy fresh water and wine and food that are acclaimed around the world.
Tasmanian housing prices, whether renting or buying, are the most affordable in Australia. Houses in Tasmania can be less than half the price of a home in Sydney, NSW.
Tasmania offers diverse lifestyle options - inner-city, suburban, beachside or rural. The State's housing styles range from classic colonial Georgian to award-winning contemporary architecture.
Tasmania's comprehensive road system links all of its major cities and towns. The short distances between major centres and rural areas allow commuting without traffic congestion.
Tasmania's public bus system services the urban areas of Hobart, Launceston, Burnie and some surrounding municipalities. A private bus company offers passenger services between Hobart, Launceston, Devonport and Burnie, with links to the North-East. Private taxi companies operate in the major cities.
Cyclists are welcome on the State's roads, and there are purpose-built cycling paths in some areas of the State.
There is sea and air access to Tasmania. Airports are located near Hobart, Launceston, Burnie and Devonport. The Spirit of Tasmania I and II, are passenger and vehicle ships, and dock in Devonport, on the North West coast, and offer daily voyages to Melbourne. There is also air and sea access to King Island and Flinders Island and other Tasmanian islands.
Tasmania's education system offers academic, personal development and social instruction for all ages.
Schooling is compulsory from age six to 16. The State has 218 public schools and colleges, offering primary and secondary education and schooling for students with disabilities. The Tasmanian Open Learning Service caters for students who live in rural and remote areas of the State or are educated at home for other reasons. The public system is complemented by a long-standing private school system.
The University of Tasmania has campuses in Hobart, in the south, Launceston, in the north, and Burnie, in the north west. Its student population of more than 13,000 has the option of studying traditional courses or those matched to Tasmania's characteristics, such as Antarctic and Southern Ocean studies, agriculture, aquaculture, fisheries, mining, forestry and environment and wilderness studies.
The Australian Maritime College, in Launceston, is the nation's leading specialist in study relating to the shipping and fisheries industries. The college is a national centre for research and development and attracts students from throughout the Asia Pacific region.
TAFE Tasmania is part of a national system that provides technical and further education and training. The institute has campuses in the north, south and north west.
Tasmania's health services are both accessible and high quality.
The State has three major public hospitals - the Royal Hobart Hospital, the Launceston General Hospital and the North West Regional Hospital, in Burnie. There are also private health facilities in the three main regions.
Specialist care in areas such as neurosurgery, cardiac surgery, neo-natal intensive care, vascular surgery, specialised paediatric surgery and a severe burns unit are available in limited locations. General medicine and general surgery, orthopaedic, gynaecological, ear, nose and throat surgery, obstetrics and paediatric services are available Statewide.
Tasmania has a positive business environment due to political and economic stability, low establishment and operating costs, a skilled and reliable labour force and excellent support and infrastructure.
Business costs, such as taxes, labour costs, and wage inflation, are significantly lower in Tasmania than other areas of Australia.
A Statewide hydro electricity grid provides a clean, reliable source of energy. A wind farm is planned for the north west coast and a major global energy business is being built to bring natural gas to the State via a 300km undersea pipeline.
Primary industry plays a major role in Tasmania's economy, alongside fisheries, forestry and manufacturing. The economy has expanded to include new industries focused on value-adding, services, innovation and knowledge-based activities.
Tasmanian firms have access to the latest technology. A fibre-optic cable between Tasmanian and continental Australia provides state-of-the-art, high-speed voice and data links between Tasmania and the rest of the world. Telecommunications costs are globally competitive.