Destination: Tasmania
General Things to Do Weather Time Health Education
Welcome
Our Hobart team extend a warm greeting to you and welcome you to our great nation and in particular, Tasmania.
If you intend to relocate to Australia and have not yet arranged for a home visit and customised moving quotation, please complete our online Contact Request Form. Once we receive your completed form, one of Wridgways experienced moving consultants will contact you, and arrange for a representative to visit you in your home, anywhere in the world. You will then receive a firm, customised moving quotation.
Wridgways is uniquely placed to assist you. We have been moving people's treasured household effects since 1892 and are well acquainted with all the challenges of moving house. What's more, we have built a reliable, global network of partners in other countries, tested by time. This means you can be sure you'll receive the same high levels of service throughout all stages of your move.
Wridgways offer comprehensive moving and relocation solutions. Not only can we provide moving, storage, insurance and packing services, we can also help you find a new home, temporary accommodation, deliver cultural transition programs, find suitable schools for your children and introduce you to your new city with our orientation service.. just to name a few. Contact our Hobart office or our Relocation division to find out more about our extensive services.
General
Tasmania is an intriguing blend of heritage, wilderness, breath-taking scenery and vibrant culture. Enjoy clean crisp air, bright spinnakers on the water, deep sea fishing, great coffee under the sun umbrellas of Salamanca, an occasional sprinkling of snow on Mt Wellington, bush tracks and beautiful Georgian buildings. Tasmania has truly been blessed by Mother Nature.
Hobart, Tasmania's capital city, is Australia's southernmost capital city. It is the country's second oldest and is also the smallest. A riverside city with a busy harbour, its mountain backdrop offers fine views over the compact suburbs below.
For further information visit these related sites:
» Discover Tasmania
» About Tasmania
Things to do... Places to visit
Port Arthur, Tasmania's infamous Convict settlement is a popular Tasmanian destination situated on the Tasman Peninsula at Eaglehawk Neck. It covers 98 hectares around picturesque Mason Cove and is dotted with many ruined and complete buildings set amidst beautiful gardens and rolling lawns. The location was chosen because it could be easily guarded and the surrounding waters were believed to host sharks which were intended to deter the prisoners from escaping. The coastline has some of the most dramatic scenery in Australia. Today, people who visit Port Arthur can view the records and preserved evidence in the buildings, which reflect the harsh lifestyles experienced by the inmates and prison guards. Contact Port Arthur via email: portarth@tasvisinfo.com.au
Visit the most famous facade in Hobart, the Cascade Brewery. The brewery was established by Peter Degraves in 1824 and is the oldest in Australia. The brewery continues to produce premium beers today and is fully operational. Why not take a tour and sample some of the produce for yourself. Tours of the brewery are conducted every weekday and bookings are essential. The tours are two hours in duration and involve considerable walking and some climbing. Contact the brewery for bookings on +61 (0) 3 6221 8300.
Rising from Bass Strait, Flinders and its surrounding islands are all that remain of the land bridge that once connected Tasmania to mainland Australia. This island is a dramatic landscape, from the pink and grey granite cliffs of Strzelecki and Killiecrankie to the gentle, green farmland that rolls through the northern part of the island. Flinders houses various bird and wildlife. The island's dense coastal scrub shelters wallabies and wombats. It's an island of friendly locals - take a stroll through the towns of Whitemark and Lady Barron, visit the cheerful pubs and warm B&B's, here you'll meet people with time to stop and chat.
Salamanca Place is one of Hobart's important historical regions. The streetscape is famous for its historic Georgian warehouses, dating back to the 1830s. Many of these warehouses have been converted into galleries, theatres, cafes, craft shops and restaurants. The market highlights the creative skills of the local craftspeople in a atmosphere that is inspiring, innovative and entertaining. Stroll through the Salamanca Market. It began with humble beginnings in 1972 with just 10 stalls occupying a small section of historic Salamanca Place, today it is something of an institution in Hobart. Salamanca Market is held every Saturday from 8.30am - 3pm.
Weather & Climate
Hobart enjoys mild summers, beautiful springs, crisp autumns and relatively cool winters.
The average daily temperature in Hobart during the summer months, is 21 degrees celcius and 10 degrees celcius during the winter months.
Hobart's summer extends from December to February and is warm to hot. Autumn is mild and extends from March to May, winter is cold and extends from June to August and spring is usually variable but mostly mild and extends from September to November.
The warmest Hobart months are generally January and February, which are often dry and can sometimes rise up to the mid 30 degree Celsius range. As compared to the other extreme, June and July are the coldest months and October is the wettest.
Time
Tasmania is on Australian Eastern Standard Time (GMT +10 hours). Daylight Savings Time is in effect in Tasmania from early spring to early autumn, during which time clocks are set forward one hour (GMT +11). Australian states and territories have varying policies on Daylight Savings so double-check bookings and so forth when you're crossing state lines.
Health
Australia offers a high standard of medical care and facilities. All cities offer privately funded doctors surgeries, hospitals and clinics as well as Government funded facilities. Most Australians are covered by private health insurance to avoid the long waiting periods associated with certain treatments, but many also enjoy the government funded public health system referred to as Medicare.
Medicare is Australia's universal health insurance scheme and provides access to free treatment in a public hospital and free or subsidised treatment by practitioners such as doctors, including specialists. Australia's public hospital system is funded jointly by the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments and is administered by State or Territory health departments. Contribution to the health care system is made through taxes and a Medicare levy which is based on taxable income.
Are you eligible for Medicare?
People who reside in Australia are eligible if they meet any of the following four criteria:
- they hold Australian citizenship
- they have been issued with a permanent visa
- they hold New Zealand citizenship, or
- they have applied for a permanent visa, restrictions apply to persons who have applied for a parent visa (other requirements apply).
However, for new arrivals to Australia it is interesting to know that The Commonwealth Government has signed Reciprocal Health Care Agreements with some countries. Under these arrangements, residents of these countries are entitled to restricted access to health cover while visiting Australia. For further information,
» visit the Medicare website
Ambulance services are offered Australia-wide and provide emergency services, clinical care, paramedic training and non-emergency transport. It is among the best in the world in providing state-of-the-art emergency care.
The state government provides free services to some pensioners and Senior Card holders, however, this service is generally not free of charge in Australia. It is suggested you contact your state ambulance authority and discuss the option of membership subscription with them as soon as possible. You can find out more at
» Ambulance Tasmania
Dental services are extensive in Australia and dentists operate within private practices in most communities throughout the country. Dental services are not free, but can be partly or completely covered within a private health fund membership or dental protection plan.
To obtain details of your closest dentist, visit:
» www.dentist.com.au or
» Dental Services Australia.
Further information about Health in Australia, is available on the Internet at the following related links:
» Public Health System in Australia
» Medicare public health system
» Private Health Insurance Administration Council of Australia
Education
The school system in Australia is divided into two sectors; government-run or "free-of-charge" public, education system and the independent or "private" education system.
Tasmanian state schools are coeducational. Children may begin their education with kindergarten and/or preschool, in preparation for primary school. Preschool provides a year of non-compulsory education, for four and five year olds.
By law, children must attend school between the ages of 6 and 15. Primary school is the first compulsory stage and covers Years 1 to 7. Children usually commence Primary school in the year of their sixth birthday and continue this level of education for seven years.
After completing Primary school, most children attend secondary or commonly referred to as High school. High school offers years from Years 8 through to 10, children often commence their High school education aged between 12 and 13 years. On completing Year 10, students have the option of continuing to Years 11 and 12 or leaving school.
The school year usually runs from late January to mid-December. It is divided into two semesters, with two terms in each and vacation breaks for Easter, winter, spring and summer.
Secondary Schools
Choosing a secondary school for your child can be a daunting task, particularly if you are moving from an overseas country. For parents who are new to Australia, it may be difficult to know what questions to ask to make an informed decision.
If you require assistance with school searches, please contact our Hobart office or our Relocation Division. We also suggest you visit the numerous education websites available for further details, please see links provided below. We hope it will help you as parents, make the important decision your child's secondary education.
We suggest that before you begin your school search, you clearly establish what your educational priorities and educational requirements, for your child are. Consider the individual personality, strengths, weaknesses, skills, likes, dislikes and needs of your child. This will enable you to create a clear picture of the kind of school that will reflect your educational values and will best suit your son or daughter.
The Tasmania secondary school year is broken into two semesters and four terms. Semester 1 commences in January and concludes in June and Semester 2 commences in July and concludes in December.
If you are planning to transfer to Tasmania from interstate or overseas you, or your school, will be required to provide the school principal with all school reports and certificates, as evidence of your child's previous schooling and level achieved.
Further information about the full range of Tasmania's education services, is available on the Internet at the following related links:
» Department of Education Tasmania
» Catholic Education Tasmania
What does education cost?
Tasmanian State schools generally do not charge annual tuition fees. The parents and citizens' associations of most schools, however, do request that parents/caregivers donate a financial contribution. The amount varies from school to school.
In most schools, parents are responsible for providing such items as stationery and uniforms. Parents also bear the costs of sending their children on school excursions and to camps and for participating in extracurricular activities.
Private school fees vary from approximately AUD$1,000-$6,000 per year for Catholic and smaller private schools and up to AUD$5,000-12,000 for the larger private schools.
