Editor’s Note: PAUL PICHUGIN IS A LANDSCAPE and travel photographer based in Western Australia, who’s just a little bit obsessed with photographing beautiful scenes all over the world — but especially at home in Australia. He had the opportunity to travel to Tasmania and spent a week criss-crossing the island in search of epic sunrises, sunsets, mountains, forests, and whatever else he could find. Here are 8 landscapes that prove Tasmania is a worth destination for 2016.

1

Lake St. Claire National Park

Located in Cradle Mountain -- Lake St. Claire National Park, the mountain of the same name couldn't look less like somewhere you'd want to lay a baby down. But it is dramatic, craggy, capped with an imposing peak, and begging to be photographed. It's home to ancient rainforests and a hotbed for unique flora and fauna, including the ever-famous Tasmanian Devil. It's also the start to a famous six day trek, the Overland Hike, which takes hikers on a Tasmanian alpine trek through the mountains, and includes many sites just as impressive as Cradle Mountain. But Cradle is a pretty good start, if I do say so myself.

2

Russell Falls

This is Russell Falls in Mount Field National Park. Over 40 percent of Tasmania is protected by the government and much of that is open to the public in the form of national parks. Considering the size of the island, it means a national park is never very far away.

3

West Coast

The West Coast has an area called “the edge of world." The sea on this coast is the longest uninterrupted expanse of ocean on the entire planet. From this coast there is nothing between it and Argentina, approximately 10,000 miles (16,000 kms) away.

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4

Glacier river at Cradle Mountain

Crossing a glacial river at Cradle Mountain. While this is the start of the Overland Trek, it's also easy access to plenty of day walks, some as short as 20 minutes.

5

Tasmanian coastline

While parks, hike, and waterfalls are numerous, so is the coastline. Making a beeline for the ocean is a surefire way to be wholly refreshed, whether the start of end of a long day. It's easy to catch a sunrise or a sunset depending on which coast you're near -- or both if you're making good time across the island.

6

South Eastern Coast

If you head to the South Eastern Coast you may be lucky enough to experience the natural phenomenon of bio-luminescence. it is a fairly regular occurrence and also is a great area for viewing not only the crystal clear night skies, but also Aurora Australis or the Southern Lights. In this image, I happened to catch not only bio-luminescence, but bright clear skies as well.

7

Wes Beckett Falls

Wes Beckett Falls in the Tarkine Forest. A bit of a hike to get to, so it's recommend to rent or hire a 4x4 to get as far as you're allowed by vehicle, and then do the descent into the gorge where the waterfall is. Regardless, totally worth the effort. If you need more convincing, immerse yourself in another 360-degree pano that I put together.

8

Milky Way

With sunrises, mountains, hikes, waterfalls, rivers, lakes, hills, bio-luminescence, and of course, the never-unimpressive Milky Way, when is one supposed to sleep while visiting Tasmania?