I am Tasmanian first, Australian second.
I have boasted about my beautiful little state as I’ve travelled around the world. I’ve educated people that yes, Tasmania is a real place and not some fictional land filled with spinning cartoon characters. And no that teeny little island under Australia is not a separate country. (We wish!)
Tassie has long been the butt of many jokes, especially by Mainlanders (that’s what us Taswegians call people who live in the rest of Australia). We were considered backwards, behind the times and quips about us having two heads stopped being funny the year we got the internet – so about 2010. Teenagers grew up dreaming of “getting out” of the state.
When I was at school I can remember my Mum complaining there was nowhere to go for coffee after 5pm – all the cafes closed after the lunch rush. For many years the most exciting thing to happen here was the introduction of Sunday shopping. I am not being facetious in the slightest.
I love Tasmania and it will always be home, even if I didn’t set foot in the state for three years. But after so long away, I’m looking at my home state with fresh eyes.
Discover Tasmania is the name of the state’s tourism website and social media accounts. It’s also a popular hashtag used on Instagram and Twitter to promote Tassie. Well, on this trip I’m not exactly “discovering” Tasmania. I spent 26 years of my life here. I’m pretty familiar with this wonderful little island. Instead, I’m putting my own spin on things. This is my #rediscovertasmania adventure.
Most of us have a different mindset when we’re travelling than when we’re at home. We are more curious, more relaxed and will inevitability see a place differently than if we lived there. Graffiti becomes a colourful piece of street art to post to Instagram instead of senseless vandalism; a 30-minute walk becomes a nice way to see the city instead of something you just wouldn’t even think about doing because, hey, that’s why you have a car; markets become a place to try local produce instead of a crowded place with bad parking and overpriced food.
As much as I loved Tassie when I lived here, I did not truly appreciate it.
I spent a night in the Huon Valley and on the drive back to Hobart stopped almost every five minutes to take a photo. I rarely took landscape photos for fun when I lived here. In fact, when I wrote an article about Tassie a few years ago I had to source images from Tourism Tasmania as I didn’t have any personal photos to use. The avid photographer and blogger in me is embarrassed to admit that. Seriously LOOK at this place!!
Over the past two weeks I’ve had a great time rediscovering Hobart – visiting the Museum of Old and New Art, the Salamanca Market, and some of my favourite cafes such as Zum and Jackman and McRoss. I haven’t lived in Hobart since I was at university and this is the first time since then I’ve actually had time to really enjoy the city. There are a bunch of new cafes and a strong focus on promoting local produce – which is wonderful because Tassie has such great stuff here and it’s a great way to enjoy and support the state.
MONA was only a few months old when I left and at the moment its winter festival, DARK MOFO, is on. A few years ago an initiative like this would have struggled. A cultural festival? In winter? Nope. We all would have just stayed at home and complained about the weather. But people are really getting behind it and I can’t wait to check out more of it while I’m here.
Today I’m heading up to the north-west coast, where I grew up and lived while working as a journalist at the local paper. I did duck up quickly last week for the night, but this week I’ll have a chance to explore a little.
You can follow my #rediscovertasmania journey on Twitter and Instagram, where I’m posting lots of pictures and tips for things to do and see in Tasmania. I’m sure there are heaps of things that have popped up in the last three years that I don’t know about so feel free to send me any suggestions.
