Sometimes described as “Australia’s little New Zealand”, Tasmania is a unique little pocket of mild weather and wildly varied landscapes.

North West Tasmania has the cleanest air in the world, largely thanks to the cleaning effect of air travelling thousands of kilometres over the Indian Ocean before reaching our western shores. And Cape Grim, in the far northwestern tip of the state, has the cleanest air in Tasmania. So pure, in fact, that Cape Grim has an air quality monitoring station that provides a baseline for our air pollution measurements.

People seeking a cool change from places further north in Australia often relocate to Tasmania because of our climate. And, unlike the tropical north of our country, Tasmania experiences all four very distinct seasons every year (sometimes all in one day).

This is a place where the summers are warm enough to make you want to enjoy the beautiful beaches, spring brings cool, crisp months with snow-capped mountains, winters are ideal for perfecting your winter fashion look (tip for beginners: layer your clothes), and in the autumn, be sure to make the pilgrimage to visit the fagus (Tasmania’s only winter deciduous tree) as it turns the alpine forests into a sea of red and gold.

In the colder months, a short drive will usually get you to one of our snowy peaks. And if it’s hot, nowhere in Tasmania is too far from a beach. And even inland Launceston has the Basin, which has no sand but is arguably one of the most picturesque swimming pools in the country.

Our weather has a reputation for being varied and, at times, unpredictable. But we think that’s part of our charm. Despite its rainy reputation interstate, Hobart is actually the second driest capital city in Australia. However, on the wild West Coast, it can often rain for 300 days of the year.

So, get yourself a Tassie Tuxedo (the colloquial term for our unofficial uniform, the black puffer jacket) and make the most of it.

With a growing population of over half a million, Tasmania might seem like a small place, considering we are the same size as Ireland and slightly bigger than Sri Lanka in land mass.

We often joke that everyone knows everyone here and it’s not too far from the truth. But this is part of what makes us such a close-knit and interconnected community, providing our students with unique opportunities.

The original land custodians of lutruwita/Tasmania are the palawa peoples. Their language and culture continue to this day and their language, palawa kani, is increasingly being used in dual-naming of places in the state, including kunanyi/Mt Wellington, nipaluna/Hobart and kanamaluka/Tamar River.

Living on an island, so close to nature and surrounded by wild places, there is a strong current of environmental awareness running through our community and a powerful sense of ownership of our natural assets.

Tasmania is one of the few places on Earth that has already reached net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. Our vast forests and other natural landscapes absorb and store more carbon each year than the state produces. And in 2019, Tasmania became fully powered by renewable electricity, thanks to our wind and hydroelectricity projects.

We take great pride in the diversity of our community, as well. Generations of migration from all parts of the world have created a richly varied multicultural society in Tasmania. In addition to our post-World War 2 migrant communities from places like Italy, Greece and Poland, more recent waves of immigration have created vibrant communities from places like Afghanistan, Nepal, and numerous African nations as well.

In 1997, Tasmania became the last Australian state to decriminalise homosexuality. To quote Tassie comedian Hannah Gadsby: “Not long enough ago.” However, in the 25 years since decriminalisation, Tasmania has become a world leader in progressive reforms protecting the rights of those in the LGBTIQ+ community. For example, Tasmania became the first state in Australia to make gender optional on birth certificates.

For those times when you just need to put your head down and study, Tasmania is the perfect place for concentration and contemplation.

We are known for our relaxed, slower pace of life. Even our biggest cities are small by interstate standards and rarely feel crowded.

Even in peak hour, there is rarely any such thing as a traffic jam and, given our small geographic area, even the longest commutes to the city are pretty short. Tasmanians are infamous for being reluctant to go anywhere that will take longer than a ten-minute drive!

So, when you study in Tasmania, you get close access to the people and producers that are shaping our island. That means learning alongside the very best, so you can hone the skills for a successful career. Plus, our class sizes and committed staff mean you’re always more than a number.

Even when you’re studying in the heart of Hobart, Launceston or Burnie, you’re never more than a few minutes away from a peaceful park, a relaxing river or beach, or even each city’s bush fringe, so you’re spoiled for places to go for a little peace and quiet to decompress or study.