Launceston

This island state sitting at the foot of vast Australia has a charm and mood all of its own – at times familiar to this Briton who took a road trip there recently. We took in main cities Hobart and Launceston, the stunning east coast and the changing character of its north side and interior.

If you’re tempted to go to Tasmania armed with your camera, here are a few reasons to go south…

Its coastal landscape is second to none, including gold and orange rocks
If you’re lucky with the weather, the sky is an amazing azure, thanks to a lack of European pollution
The towns and cities have a beguiling mix of colonial and contemporary architecture – and unique charm
Its clarity is great for night photography – and a chance to catch the Southern Lights

Click first image for full gallery experience

Swansea

Launceston

Freers Beach

Launceston

Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart

Freers Beach

Penguin

Burnie

Bicheno

Hobart

Launceston

Bicheno

Swansea

Penguin – the town where they make numerous appearances

Ross

Bicheno

Swansea

Hobart

Ross

Oatlands

There were beautiful beaches and stunning blue skies, but Tasmania fuelled my great love for architecture and capturing it in photographs.

Now many people claim that Australia is a new nation and has little history to speak of. Judging by the buildings around the island, there is a decent timeline which can be easily detected today.

Second city Launceston noticeably oozes with facades from the colonial era, which have been preserved and often sit happily over modern shops and offices.

But hurtle to the present day and there are plenty of stark, impressive and contemporary lines gracing Aussie’s smallest state alongside its past. Here are just a few I collected on my travels…