Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is located 240 kilometres south of the eastern side of the continent of Australia, from which it is separated by Bass Strait. The island state of Tasmania is the 26th largest island in the world and is surrounded by many smaller islands including King Island and Flinders Island.

The state has a permanent population of app. 500,000, of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart area in SOuthern Tasmania. Tasmania's area is 68,401 square kilometres of which the main island covers 62,409 square kilometres.