Tasman National Park
| Tasman National Park | |
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IUCN Category II (National Park)
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| Nearest town/city | Port Arthur |
| Coordinates | 42°51′19″S 147°58′33″E / 42.85528°S 147.97583°E |
| Area | 10,750 ha[1] |
| Established | 30 April 1999[1] |
| Managing authorities | Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service |
| Official site | Tasman National Park |
Tasman National Park is located in eastern Tasmania, Australia, 56 kilometres east of Hobart.
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[edit] History
The park was proclaimed under the Regional Forest Agreement on 30 April 1999.[2] The Tasman Island Lighthouse (constructed in 1906) is located on Tasman Island, which is part of the park. This lighthouse and weather station has been unmanned since 1977.[3][4]
[edit] Geography
At 300 meters asl, the columnar dolerite cliffs at Cape Pillar and Tasman Island are among the highest in the world.[2] Dolerite is a rare rock type on mainland Australia.[2] Land formations accessible by road include the Blowhole (a hole at the inland end of a sea cave, Devil's Kitchen and Waterfall Bay.[2] Dolerite formations which are more easily viewed from the ocean include Cathedral Rock, Totem Pole, Candlestick, and Tasmans Arch.
[edit] Flora
Three species of Euphrasia (a semi-parasitic, herbaceous flowering plant commonly known as eyebright) are found only in Tasman National Park.[2] The rare Cape Pillar Sheoak is a shrub or small tree found only in the Tasman National Park where it is restricted to the Cape Pillar area of the Tasman Peninsula and to Tasman Island.[5]
[edit] Fauna
Australian Fur Seals use the coastline for breeding and resting, and Little Penguins (sometimes referred to as "blue penguins" or "fairy penguins") nest along the foreshore.[2]
The park forms part of the South-east Tasmania Important Bird Area, identified as such by BirdLife International because of its importance in the conservation of a range of woodland birds, especially the endangered Swift Parrot and Forty-spotted Pardalote.[6]
[edit] Three Capes Track
The Three Capes track is a proposed 68 km, 5 night/6 day, hut based, one way walk encompassing the three capes in the Tasman National Park: Cape Hauy, Cape Pillar and Cape Raoul. [7] The proposal would require an additional 30 km of additional walking track, and upgrades to existing track. [7] The proposal suggests that the infrastructure would be required to cater for 60 walkers each day. The feasibility study proposed a fee of $200.[7] The track would start at White Beach and end at Fortesque Bay.[7]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Reserve Listing - National Parks". Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service Website. Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service. 17 November 2008. http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=5714. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f "Tasman National Park - Highlights". Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania. http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=3880. Retrieved 2009-07-23.
- ^ Brothers, Nigel; Pemberton, David; Pryor, Helen; & Halley, Vanessa. (2001). Tasmania’s Offshore Islands: seabirds and other natural features. Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery: Hobart. ISBN 0-7246-4816-X
- ^ "Tasman Island Lighthouse". Lighthouses of Tasmania. Lighthouses of Australia Inc. http://www.lighthouse.net.au/lights/TAS/Tasman%20Island/Tasman%20Island.htm.
- ^ "Allocasuarina crassa". Threatened Flora of Tasmania. Department of Primary Industries and Water, Tasmania. http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/Attachments/SROS-6VH35M/$FILE/Allocasuarina%20crassa.pdf. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
- ^ "IBA: South-east Tasmania". Birdata. Birds Australia. http://www.birdata.com.au/iba.vm. Retrieved 2011-10-13.
- ^ a b c d "Three Capes Track Proposal". Department of Environment, Parks, Heritage and the Arts. June 2009. http://www.webcitation.org/5iTvrYgYb. Retrieved 2009-07-23.
