It’s also great to see how visitors react to Tasmania. Ten years ago, the
island was an unknown quantity as far as tourism was concerned. If you went
to Australia, you did the Sydney Opera House , the Great Barrier Reef and
Uluru . But the reactions of people I’ve brought to Tasmania recently have
been incredible. “Man, it was just awesome!” is fairly typical. I think it’s
because, if you live in a crowded European or North American city, the
contrast couldn’t be more profound. It is the sort of place that just
nurtures you. The air and water are so pure; the wilderness is so vast; the
sea is so clean. When I see photographs of myself, I think: how does my skin
look so clear? It’s because I’ve been outside all day, breathing that pure
Tassie air, and eating well.
Tasmania’s Gordon River
You are also surrounded, day after day, by intense beauty and the chance to
engage with nature properly. You get to see all kinds of animals, from
wallabies outside your bedroom to black cockatoos flying through the forest
canopy. When you’re out canoeing, you might pass offshore islands that are
havens for wildlife, and birds soaring above fluted cliffs that tower nearly
a thousand feet above the sea.
I’m making Tasmania sound pretty rugged – and it is – but there are plenty of
places for self-indulgence. I love The
Henry Jones Art Hotel in Hobart, the capital, and I’ve been lucky enough
to stay at the Saffire
Freycinet luxury resort, which combines wilderness with modern
architecture and has amazing food and wine. In fact, the food on most of the
island is wonderful. After decades in the shadow of Sydney and Melbourne,
Hobart has come into its own and now has a successful Taste
Festival. Talented young chefs are using fresh, locally sourced produce
such as abalone, oysters, ocean trout, berries and organic vegetables to
create a distinctive “Taswegian” cuisine. Friends rave about Monty’s on
Montpelier , Me Wah, Smolt and the new gourmet sensation, Garagistes , which
serves unusual things such as smoked eels and fried pig’s ears. You can even
get a good English-style pint at Preachers , which is just up the hill from
Salamanca Place .
Saffire Freycinet
The main attraction of Tasmania is its wilderness, but it has its fair share
of culture and sport as well. Among the highlights are MONA , a world-class
private art gallery in Hobart, and a magical golf links called Barnbougle
Dunes , near Bridport . Also worth seeing are some of the oldest convict
ruins, at Port Arthur . Everyone loves Hobart, particularly Salamanca Place
with its cobbles, pavement cafes, and old harbour. I know the West Coast,
Cradle Mountain and Freycinet better than I do Hobart, but I joke that I’ve
spent more time at the Royal Hobart Hospital than anywhere else [Webber
broke a leg when he was hit by a car during the 2008 challenge].
Ultimately, what Tasmania offers is an antidote to my life on the motor-racing
circuit. Usually, I’m performing against the clock from the moment I get out
of bed in the morning. Here, I can be totally alone and surrounded by
nature. I have the time and mental space to take it all in, whether I’m
doing the Overland Track or hiking to Wineglass Bay . This year, our
challenge will coincide with the 30th anniversary of the Western Wilderness
Area being included on the World Heritage List. We’ll be celebrating the joy
of having protected one of the last great temperate rainforests in the
southern hemisphere, containing some of the world’s oldest trees and many of
its most endangered animals.
We’re proud of playing a role in a project like that, as well as having
contributed more than $1 million (£645,000) to charities including Save the
Tasmanian Devil – a creature whose numbers have been depleted by disease –
as well as TLC for Kids , Brainwave and the White Lion Foundation. In
support of these causes, we’ve had all kinds of people taking part in the
Suisse Mark Webber Challenge, from sportsmen Pat Rafter , Steve Waugh and
James Cracknell to the Hollywood star Anthony Edwards .
The Tasmanian Devil. Image: Alamy
I’m really looking forward to going back and competing in this year’s
challenge. Some of my friends are keen to come with me and have a proper
look around. I’ve already piloted my plane around Tasmania, and I want to do
far more of that, landing at places such as Flinders Island . I also fly
helicopters, and Tasmania has some of the best terrain in the world for that
– which is yet another challenge. Luckily, my partner Ann is also mad about
the place, so there are plenty of options for us, and so many more things to
see.
I want other people to fall in love with Tasmania the way I have, and to
understand its simple but life-enhancing pleasures. Once you’ve been, it’s a
hard place to forget. My best memories are of a group of lads sitting around
a fire at night. We haven’t showered for four days, we’re tired and hungry,
and we need to collect firewood so we can cook a meal. Somehow, none of that
matters, because we’re surrounded by nature and are totally absorbed by it.
To me, that’s what Tasmania is all about. It takes your life to a new level.
WEXAS Travel is
offering a 10-day self-drive luxury holiday to Tasmania from £3,214 per
person, based on two people sharing. The price includes return international
flights, accommodation in Hobart, Strahan, Cradle Mountain, Launceston, and
the Freycinet and Tasman peninsulas, plus car hire, tours and some meals.
The best time to visit Tasmania is from October to March. More information: discovertasmania.co.uk;
australia.com