Planning your trip to Tasmania

If you go THE BEST WAY TO TASMANIA From LAX, nonstop service to Melbourne is offered on Virgin Australia and Qantas, direct service (stop, no change of plane) is offered on United and connecting service (change of plane) is offered on Virgin Australia, Air New Zealand and Qantas. Restricted round-trip fares begin at $1,000. From LAX to Hobart, connecting service is available on Qantas and Virgin Australia. Restricted round-trip fares begin at $1,260. We took the ferry, which leaves nightly, from Melbourne for Devonport. Rates vary by season, and accommodations range from $84 for a stand-by, off-season seat to $390 for a high-season, deluxe cabin. For more information, call 011-613-6421-7333 or go to www.spiritoftasmania.com.au. THE OVERLAND TRACK Anthology’s tour of the Overland Track, which we booked, takes six days; three- and four-day abbreviated hikes are also available. Prices range from $1,192 for a three-day tour from October through December and in April to $2,385 for a six-day tour from January through March. For more information, call 011-613-6392-2211 or go to www.anthology.travel. Four other licensed operators offer guided tours of the Overland Track. Hikes average six days. Prices are seasonal and based on duration of the tour. They start at $1,440 for the shortest off-season tour (six days) with Wilderness Expeditions. Info: Tasmanian Wilderness Experiences at www.twe.travel; Tasmanian Expeditions at www.tasmanianexpeditions .com.au; Wilderness Expeditions at www.wildernessexpeditions .net.au; Tarkine Trails at www.tarkinetrails.com.au. BAY OF FIRES Anthology’s four-day tour begins in Mt. William National Park. Prices range from $1,778 from October through December and in April to $1,864 for a January through March booking. The southern part of the Bay of Fires can be reached through the villages of St. Helens and Binalong Bay. OTHER TOURS The Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service maintains a list of licensed operators working within the state’s parks at www.parks.tas.gov.au/index .aspx?base=15401. ON YOUR OWN Experienced hikers who want to explore the Tasmanian wilderness can find info at Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service website, www.parks.tas.gov.au/. TO LEARN MORE www.discovertasmania.com/