​Many visitors to Australia never set foot on Tasmania, an island about the size of West Virginia, located 150 miles south of the mainland. What they’re missing is a dazzling destination with dramatic scenery, superb food and wine, and wildlife that you can’t find anywhere else on earth. This 12-day itinerary will take you to Tasmania and beyond, starting in cosmopolitan Sydney. There, you’ll spend a day or two adjusting to the time difference before jetting down to Launceston, a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy and the gateway to the farms and vineyards of northeast Tasmania’s Tamar Valley. After a visit to the island’s most luxurious property, set on the Freycinet Peninsula, you’ll discover the wine bars and art museums of Hobart, the island’s capital. Along the way, you’ll hike through stunning national parks, spot endangered Tasmanian devils and kayak among platypuses. Last, you’ll head to Kangaroo Island to spend a few days unwinding at the reconstructed Southern Ocean Lodge, which is once again one of the continent’s most spectacular properties. Getting to Australia may seem daunting, but the Travel Office can work with your schedule and budget to find the most comfortable flights.