The Island of Tasmania Trivia Quiz

Answer: An island state of Australia

Tasmania is an island, but it is also a state of Australia. Tasmanians use the same currency and speak the same language as other Australians. At one time, Tasmania was a colony known as Van Diemens Land, while New South Wales and Victoria were also colonies in their own right. Because of its size and geographical position, Tasmania may not conform with your view of typical Australia, but Australia has room for just about every environment there is to have!

Answer: six

For many years Tasmania had two cities, Hobart in the south and Launceston in the north east. Devonport in the north west then attained city status, and a few years later, Burnie, also in the north west, was also a city. Meanwhile, with no fanfare, two suburbs of Hobart, Glenorchy and Clarence, had also acquired city status, so now there are six.

To become a city in Tasmania, a town must attain a population of 25,000 people and hold that population for a designated period. Cityhood is permanent, so although Devonport's population has dipped just below the 25,000 mark, it retains its status.

Hobart is the second oldest capital city in Australia. It is the smallest and most southerly of the capitals.

Answer: Koala

Tasmania has several unique animals, including the Tasmanian devil. However, it has no koalas except those living in wildlife parks.

Answer: True

George Town, which dates from 1804, is indeed the oldest town in Australia. Hobart in Tasmania and Sydney in New South Wales are both older, but they are cities, not towns.

Answer: A small black and white marsupial, native to Tasmania

Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) are carnivores, weighing in at between 6 and 8 kgs. They feed on carrion, but have been known to take the odd chook. Devils don't attack humans unless provoked, and hand reared ones are friendly and easy going. The devil has very strong jaws and can consume a carcass, bones and all, which makes it a valuable cleaner of the bush.

Although not particularly big, the devil is the world's largest surviving carnivorous marsupial.

Answer: cool temperate

Tasmania enjoys a cool temperate climate with four distinct seasons. In summer it is warm enough to swim in the sea or rivers, with day time temperatures ranging from around 17 to 30 degrees Celsius. Winter brings some frost and snow to the highlands, with day time temperatures in the low to mid teens. English trees and flowers usually thrive in Tasmania, but the landscape outside the towns and farming districts is dominated by native bush.

Answer: Thylacine

The thylacine, also known as the Tasmanian tiger, Tasmanian wolf or Marsupial wolf, was a large, meat-eating marsupial. It looked rather like a large dog with stripes and was rather shy. The last known live example died during the 1930s.

Answer: Lake St Clair

Lake St Clair is close to Cradle Mountain, and was carved by glaciers. It forms part of the Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Tasmania.

Answer: True

Tasmania is one of the few places in the world where opium poppies can be legally grown. The poppy fields of Tasmania are strictly controlled, and the produce used for medical supplies. While in bloom, the poppy crops are a gorgeous sight.

Answer: Mount Van Diemen

Tasmania is an island of rivers and mountains. Cradle Mountain is the very beautiful cradle-shaped peak in the central highlands, while Ben Lomond is the home of the ski fields near Launceston in the north east. Mount Dromedary is one of the two mountains near Hobart in the south. As far as I know, there is no Mount Van Diemen.

Other Tasmanian mountains that do exist include Mount Dove, Mount Roland, Mount Claude, Mount Amos, Mount Murchison, Mount Arrowsmith and Mount Dial. And that's just a few of them!