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Travel: to, the hottest? destinations - of 2009!
Australia & Pacific
28. TASMANIA
Roamed by the feral Tasmanian Devil and the spotted-tailed quoll, Tasmania is, at least in part, an untouched wilderness spanning rainforest, beaches, high mountain plains, and lakes sailed by black swans. Historic towns, fertile farmlands, and pleasant cities also add to its charm, belying a darker side of the island's history, when the land doubled as a detention center for convicts. Travelers head here to experience ultimate adventure and breathtaking scenery.
Why Go In 2009: The value of the Australian dollar is at its lowest in five years and is predicted to fall even more within the next few months – bad news for Aussies, good news for U.S. travelers. Now is the time to take advantage of the plummeting Australian currency and to see the primordial beauty of Tasmania without breaking the bank. Worried about the long flight? Don't be. In September, Qantas Airways unveiled its new fleet of spacious A380s – the largest commercial jet in the world – making the transpacific distance seem a little less difficult; note that a domestic transfer to Tasmania is best routed via Melbourne.
