Tasmania: Landsat satellite photo

The geography of Tasmania is rugged and varied. Tasmania is an island of temperate climate, so similar in some ways to pre-industrial England that it was referred to by some English colonists as "a Southern England". The bigger settlements are however located in regions where the rainfall is much lower than that of England.

Geographically, Tasmania is similar to New Zealand to the east. As Tasmania has been volcanically inactive in recent geological times, Tasmania has 'rounded smooth' mountain ranges similar to mainland Australia, unlike most of New Zealand. The most mountainous region is the Central Highlands area, which cover most of the central west parts of the state. The central east area (the Midlands) is fairly flat, and is predominantly used for agriculture, although farming activity is also scattered around the state.

Cataract Gorge, near Launceston

The South-West region, in particular, is densely forested, the National Park holding some of the last temperate rainforests in the Southern Hemisphere. Management of such an isolated and inaccessible area has been made easier and more reliable with the advent of satellite imaging.

Most of the population lives on and around the coastal rivers – the Derwent and Huon Rivers in the south, the Tamar and Mersey Rivers in the north.

The temperate climate (it is the only Australian state with any land below the 40th parallel) and rustic environment and numerous historic features (for example, Richmond Bridge in south-eastern Tasmania, the oldest bridge in Australia) has made Tasmania a popular choice for retirees who prefer a temperate climate over a tropical one such as Queensland.