HOBART, Tasmania, Australia — From February 9-12, 2007, the Australia Wooden Boat Festival will again dock in Tasmania. This biennial event, held in Hobart's historic waterfront, is expected to draw more than 500 wooden boats and 50,000 visitors from around the world to celebrate maritime craft, art and heritage.

Tasmania's historic port of Hobart was first selected as the home for the inaugural event in 1994. Steeped in maritime history, ship building was at the heart of the island's culture. Tasmania 's forests produce some of the world's best boat building timbers (Huon, King Billy and Celery Top pines and Eucalyptus such as stringy bark and blue gum), inspiring superb craftsmen to produce handcrafted boats from these timbers.

This year's festival will feature the 140 year-old trading ketch May Queen, joined by an impressive variety of boats from around Tasmania and Australia .

Some highlights include:Tall Ships: Witness (or even sail aboard) a fleet of Australian square rigged ships in this year's spectacular Parade of Sail.

17th Century Dutch exploration vessel Duyfken: The Duyfken is an authentic replica of a small Dutch exploration ship, which first sighted and mapped 400 years ago.

Tjotters Friesian yachts from Holland: These flat-bottomed yachts with lee boards are designed for sailing the shallow man made canals of Holland.

Kerry Mansell and truwana lady: Truwana lady is a double ended wooden sailing working boat developed from the whaleboat. These boats were developed for use on Flinders Island off Tasmania's North East coast to transport mutton birds and gather shellfish.

Vietnamese Boats: See how a bamboo boat is woven into shape as it has been for centuries.

Shipwrights Village: Watch demonstrations of shipwrighting skills, from drawknife demonstrations and figurehead carving, to log sawing and shaping.

Seafood Taste: Savor the best of Tasmania 's seafood produce and taste experiences delivered in the complete produce to plate experience.

For a complete festival schedule visit www.australianwoodenboatfestival.com.au. For further information on travel to Tasmania, visit www.discovertasmania.com