CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS LITTLE SWANPORT

Wind Song Bed and Breakfast offers luxurious cottage accommodation on Tasmania's east coast. It is located on a 220-hectare farm at Little Swanport, a 90-minute drive from Hobart airport. Wind Song has a choice of two cottages. The Lodge is a spacious, one-bedroom unit with a fully-equipped kitchen, bathroom and large sitting room with an open fire. The queen-size bedroom has views of the Freycinet Peninsula and Little Swanport River estuary. The smaller Garden Suite has a double bedroom, separate bathroom, a small sitting room and tea and coffee making facilities. Continental breakfast provisions are included in both cottages and evening meals can be provided by prior arrangement. A fold out sofa bed is also included in both the Lodge and Garden Suite. You can also take self-guided walks in the private forest reserve; guided walks can also be arranged on request. Nearby attractions include the Freycinet and Maria Island national parks, Wielangta Forest and east coast beaches. Wind Song Bed and Breakfast also hosts artist-in-residence programs and a variety of workshops throughout the year. These include felt making, paper making, fencing and land management, and basket making with native fibre....

Maria Island is a natural wildlife sanctuary with historic convict ruins, a dramatic coastline and fantastic walks. The entire island is a national park with ferry access only, and with no cars allowed on the island it provides the perfect safe haven for Tasmanian wildlife. Maria is one of the best places in Tasmania to observe wildlife in its natural habitat. Wombats are often seen around the island along with abundant Forester kangaroos, pademelons and Bennetts wallabies. It's also one of Tasmania's great bird watching hot spots. You'll find 11 of the state's 12 endemic species here, including the endangered forty-spotted pardalote and the rare Cape Barren goose. Once used as convict prison, Maria Island has a rich colonial heritage and has the most intact example of a convict probation station in Australia. The stone Commissariat Store, 150 metres from the jetty, is the island's oldest building on the island and is now a visitor centre with displays and information about the island's fascinating past. There's also excellent walking and cycling with short walks that explore the island's buildings and ruins or a longer walk to the summit of Bishop and Clerk, the island's towering peak. Basic bunk accommodation is available as well as free camping at several sites around the island. Ferry bookings are essential. Maria Island is a 30-minute ferry ride from Triabunna - 1.5-hr from Hobart and 2.5-hr from Launceston....