Weekends are for the trips!

My friends and I tried to see how many times we could get into one panoramic photo at Bay of Fires...our record is 4 so far.

Before I get into the places I have explored in Tasmania thus far, I want to give you all some geography facts of this beautiful state:

• About 240 kilometers south of Australia’s mainland

• Tasmania is roughly the size of West Virginia

• 10% of the land area is temperate rain forests

• There are 15 mountain ranges

• Twenty national parks cover around 40% of Tasmania

• Total length of Coastline is over 2,500 kilometers

• Tasmania has a main land and then over 300 other islands around it!

Every weekend, I want to explore Tasmania and experience all it has to offer. The map to the left shows where I have gone thus far, but I am continuing to add locations every week (check out my pictures to see amazing photos from myself and friends on these trips).

The first weekend that I traveled, I went to an iconic Tasmania location, Wineglass Bay. Located in Freycinet National Park (my first national park here!!!!), this picturesque beach was a perfect spot to set of camp. We hiked, danced, and shared a beautiful sunset over the water. Check out this amazing video by Nikolaj that captures how awesome our trip was. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTdUMSlXaao

The weekend after Wineglass I went to visit my Iowa State friend Cristina at Deakin University in Warrnambool. Erika, University of Newcastle and fellow Iowa State Cyclone, flew in as well and we stayed in Melbourne for a day to enjoy its Olympic Park, Flinders Station, and botanical garden. After renting a car, we picked up Cristina and drove the Great Ocean Road, which featured a beautiful coastline. I wasn’t able to go to every location spot, so for our Easter break I am bringing along six friends from Tasmania to explore even more!

My favorite camping weekend a couple weekends after Melbourne. My friends and I went to Bay of Fire and Little Blue Lake. At Bay of Fires, we climbed the massive rocks that were coated in some sort of orange lichen. We set up camp and woke up to rain, so we decided to move out and go to Little Blue Lake. This natural phenomenon was originally a mining hole and gets its vivid blue color from the minerals in its soil.

My weekends are made for travel and I am excited to continue my wonderful trips with amazing friends here at University of Tasmania.