New Year's In Tasmania

Next week is the 'official' start of summer in Tasmania. In just under two weeks, it's Christmas.

And if you've never considered spending the holidays in Tasmania, why not?

Boxing Day is a pretty big deal in all the former colonies (except the U.S.). Tasmania's capital is the finish line for the annual Rolex Sydney-to-Hobart yacht race which starts on December 26. It's a big deal with about 90 yachts competing. Yachting is almost as big as cricket and rugby in ANZ. Although a bit more expensive to take up :-)

The next day, head over to the week-long 22nd Annual Taste Festival to nosh on the best foods grown in Tasmania as prepared by the best chefs on the island.

Then it's a short trip to the annual Falls Festival, a three-day funfest of music and comedy held in two beautiful venues, Lorne on the mainland in Victoria, and Marion Bay in Tasmania.

It's been quite a week already, but we're not done yet.

On New Year's Eve, the tradition in Devonport is to write your New Year's resolutions on a lantern and set it adrift in the Mersey River. And there are fireworks, of course.

Closer to Hobart your choices are New Year's back at the Taste Festival or make it over to Royal Park in Launceton for a grand fireworks display over the Tamar River. And, as there are shows at both 9:30pm and again at midnight, you've got a decent shot at making both!

If you want to spend a quieter New Year's in luxury and away from the crowds, there's always The Lodge at Tarraleah in the Highlands, two-time winner of "Best Lodge" complete with an award-winning wine list.

After all that, you take a day or two to relax (hey, Taste runs through the 3rd and there are wineries to visit!) then head home. When your friends ask you where you spent the holidays, you'll proudly say, "Tasmania.". And once you're done telling them where that is and what you did, you'll be the object of envy for the rest of 2012!

OK, maybe it's cutting it kind of close to pull off Christmas in Tasmania. But it's not too early to start planning for next Christmas! You'll find Tourism Tasmania in booth 922 at the show. Stop by and learn more about what's going on down there the rest of the year.