Media Releases

Breathtaking "Tasmanian Wilderness" Comes to DVD

When you combine the insights of legendary traveller Sorrel Wilby with the magnificent natural landscapes of Tasmania, add a dash of homegrown wisdom from local wildlife experts and bushwalking guides, then season with spectacular aerial photography, you're looking at a very tasty travel dish.

These are the ingredients Australian Geographic has melded to serve up a new and entertaining travel documentary produced to coincide with the iconic magazine's 20th anniversary.

In company with Sorrel, soon you'll discover the full extent of Tasmania's natural treasures in this 52-minute DVD.

You'll travel from Strahan deep into the heart of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, paddling beneath waterfalls and tall limestone cliffs on one of Tasmania's many scenic waterways - the mighty Gordon River. In the beautiful alpine environment of the Cradle Mountain region, you'll walk around Dove Lake and learn secrets of the ecology with wildlife biologist Nick Mooney.

You'll descend into the depths of richly decorated limestone caves to meet creatures that never see the light of day. And you'll meet out-of-the-ordinary characters who swear they've seen a Tasmanian Tiger roaming the wilderness.

Following a spectacular flight to the small remote airstrip at Melaleuca, you'll trek Tasmania's southwest corner en route to Cockle Creek with a Tasmanian Expeditions guide. Through rainforest, golden beaches and quiet lagoons, you'll see all of what makes the remote southwest one of Tasmania's wilderness jewels.

One of the many highlights of the DVD is the wonderful aerial photography. Flying across the island you experience the vast reaches of Tasmania's rugged wilderness. From ground-level - on foot, by cruise boat, kayak or by car - you'll find that the World Heritage wilderness, which covers more than 40% of Tasmania's landmass, is easy to access.

As Sorrel Wilby says, this splendid production rekindles a sense of wonder at the magnificence of Tasmania's ice-carved mountain landscapes, its wild rivers and deep forests, and its rare and endemic flora and fauna.

Accompanying the DVD is a full-colour, double-sided map featuring the brilliant photography we've come to expect from Australian Geographic. The DVD and map will be available with the October/December issue of the magazine on sale September 25th at all Australian Geographic retail outlets.

Readers and visitors to Australian Geographic nationwide stores will have the opportunity to win a trip to Tasmania following in Sorrel's footsteps with luxury accommodation, including the world-acclaimed Islington Hotel in Hobart, Strahan Village, World Heritage Cruises and Cradle Mountain Lodge.

Visitors to www.australiangeographic.com.au will be able to preview the documentary and trace Sorrel's travels alongside information on how to get there, things to do and places to stay.