SSoP Podcast Episode 36 — Tasmania: The Heart-Shaped Island at the Edge of the World

This might be a bit too cheesy, but we’re going to say it anyway: This small-ish, heart-shaped island in the Southern Hemisphere has stolen our hearts. There’s so much to love.

Sure, Tasmania may have started with the sinister-sounding name Van Diemen’s Land. And yes, it was founded as an inescapable penal colony for the most hardened criminals in Britain.

But now, Tasmania is an epic playground for anyone who loves outdoor adventures. There are soft sand beaches for swimming, snorkeling, surfing, and lazing around in the sun — perhaps at the poetically-named Bay of Fires or Wineglass Bay. The island’s network of rivers means lots (and lots) of waterfalls, along with kayaking and rafting. Foodies can enjoy a leisurely drive along the Tamar Valley Wine Route dotted with inviting wineries and an exciting food scene.

But if (when!) we visit Tasmania, it will be for the animals. It’s home to ridiculously cute animals like wombats, wallabies, and, yes, the Tasmanian Devil. If we’re being honest, these adorable creatures might also kill you — or at least cause grave bodily harm. But truly: Cuddling up to a furry, tank-like wombat or seeing a Tasmanian Devil IRL might be worth it.

In this episode, we briefly dip into Tasmania’s dark history, learn about a truly unusual museum, talk about the Roaring Forties, and mourn the loss of the Tasmanian Tiger. Then we recommend five great books that took us there on the page, including true accounts of a rip-roaring sea adventure and the search for the lost Thylacine, a murder mystery set on the craggy coast, a family story set in a lonely lighthouse, and a coming-of-age novel that’s also a magical realism road trip.

transcript

Read the full transcript of Tasmania: The Heart-Shaped Island at the Edge of the World.

recommended books

Wildlight

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Carnivorous Nights

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The Survivors

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Ten Rogues

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Flames

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other books we mentioned

• English Passengers by Matthew Kneal
• A Long Way Home: A Memoir by Saroo Brierly
• The Dry by Jane Harper
• Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

other cool stuff we talked about

A few snaps to get you oriented…

Hobart:

Port Arthur:

Wineglass Bay:

Bay of Fires:

tasmania 101

• The Port Arthur Historic Site is a UNESCO World Heritage site and open-air museum with guided tours through building ruins and beautiful gardens.

• Here are tips for viewing the Southern Lights.

• Everything you need to know about visiting Wineglass Bay.

• And the Tamar Valley Wine Route.

• You might also take a day trip to Bruny Island near Hobart.

• If you need to know more about Tasmanian Devils, we’ve got you: Fun facts about Tasmanian Devils (with a cute video of them romping in the grass) — and the Tasmanian Devil Unzoo.

• If you need to know more about Wombats, we’ve got you: Fun facts about wombats and more wombat facts — plus the four best places to see wombats in Tasmania, and the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. Yes, wombats’ poop is cube-shaped.

• Here’s the scoop on the Diprotodon, the rhino-sized wombat of the Ice Age.

• How Tasmania Became the Food World’s Newest Culinary Odyssey. You might also want to visit the Agrarian Kitchen, a beautiful restaurant and cooking school.

two truths and a lie

• Statement 1: Wallabies have been known to make crop circles. They get high on opium and bounce around in circles. The International Business Times reported on the issue. And here’s the link to our podcast episode about Afghanistan.

• Statement 2: One of the weirdest and most remarkable museums in the world is in Hobart, Tasmania. This is a can’t-miss place if you’re a certain kind of person — it’s the Mona Museum just outside Hobart. Read more about it.

• Statement 3: A 5-year-old boy got lost in Tasmania in 1986. He found his way home 25 years later. Read Saroo Brierly’s memoir A Long Way Home or watch the movie adaptation Lion.

book-related info

• Robyn Mundy is the author of Wildlight. Here’s her website and Instagram.

• Wildlight is set on Maatsuyker Island, and here’s a blog published by volunteers tending the lighthouse. The photos on that blog are amazing. Should you want to be a lighthouse caretaker, here’s the info and application.

• The Roaring Forties are strong winds in the southern hemisphere. Surfer Today explains what they’re like here and introduces the idea that there are other famous winds. Who knew?!

• Carnivorous Nights is by Margaret Mittlebach and Michael Crewdson. Margaret founded the Secret Science Club, which meets every month at the Bell House in Brooklyn, NY.

• The website for artist Alexis Rockman (who did the illustrations for Carnivorous Nights) is a treasure trove of nature illustration.

• Here’s a colorized video of the last Tasmanian Tiger (Thylacine) in captivity — and the process for coloring the footage:

• Jane Harper is the author of The Survivors. Here’s her website and an insightful interview with her about her book.

• Peter Grose is the author of Ten Rogues — and here he is in an interview with Carpool Book Review:

• Robbie Arnott is the author of Flames. Here’s his author page and a really excellent video in which he shares behind-the-scenes info about his (fantastic) book. This is one of the best ‘author talking about his book’ videos we’ve ever seen.

• Bonus for you, since you read to the end: According to a study, Tasmania is among the best places to survive a global societal collapse.

finally…

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