Ernest Hemingway, oozer of machismo, once said, "If one writes about war, self-respect demands that one shares the risk." Hear, hear! We at Weekender feel that this applies to high thrills 'n' spills adventuring, as well. So we put 'Our Man in the Field' through the paces of adventure holidaying on the beautiful isle of Tasmania that, let's just say, registers pretty high on the Bruise-o-meter.

Erik Fearn returned to us recently with cracked, fogged up specs, shredded clothes and a noticable limp, and he had this to report:

Tasmania - Adventure Capital of Australia

"Okay. Now let me see if I've got this straight: You're putting me at the front of the raft. I paddle like a maniac while you steer us towards that raging abyss of white water and craggy boulders down there. As we heave and lurch uncontrollably down the rapids, you want me to toss the paddle, get into the "butt-above-my-head" crash position - just in case - and hope for the best. Is that a fair approximation?"

"Right, mate." My river guide was obviously used to hysterical passengers. He flashed his big, chipped tooth grin, his pupils like pin-pricks.

"But…why exactly?" The draft of the river was starting to display its control.

"Spirit of adventure, mate! It'll seep into your life like blood into a bruise." Gee, thanks.

And so it is with Tasmania, Australia's adventure state. Crocodile Dundee wannabees (Homo Non Australicus) with an imagined surplus of testosterone flock to this sleepy, cool, southerly island with a size, climate and temperament very much like, say, Ireland's.

Tasmanians have always seen themselves as different from their northerly brethren; having a gentler character that runs counter to any stereotype you might have of Aussies, they only become vocally passionate when talk turns to their beloved land. "God's own country", the boast goes - and they may not be far off either.

Tasmania itself boasts of fully 1/3 of its land as reserved for recreation and conservation. With skiable, hikeable, raftable mountains fronting a bikable, swimmable, divable, kayakable coastline, it is no wonder that tourism is this state's biggest draw (and employer, with nearly 10% of the population of a half million involved with tourism somehow).