Suitcase. A Taste Of Tasmania

I first visited Tassie waaaaay before it was trendy. Rewind to the mid-2000s and this teenager [who was yet to be bitten by the wanderlust bug] fell in love with its historic charm. I remember sitting on the pier, imagining myself in some sort of periodic novel, written by the likes of Emily Bronte. What can I say? Its magic and charisma really did have an effect on me…

My visit last month, brought it all back again. The bustling Salamanca markets, the quiet harbour, the green parks and the historic buildings that peer over the water with a sense of aging wisdom. It truly is a place like no other in Australia and I’m so happy to see it being celebrated by local and international travellers alike.

The autumnal colours had already arrived in Tassie, with golden hues popping out at you wherever you chose to venture.

And whilst the air was certainly cool, there was no shortage of great bakeries to stop into for a warm drink and a flakey croissant. I think Daci & Daci was my favourite.

We hired a car at the airport in order to cover as much ground as possible and I highly recommend you do the same; there’s so much to see outside Hobart’s city centre. Unfortunately we didn’t have time to venture up to Wineglass Bay or Cradle Mountain, but we were still able to explore a little closer to home.

If you take the coastal road south of Hobart towards Tinderbox Nature Reserve, you’re guaranteed a beautiful drive. Waterfront homes soon give way to rocky cliffs and rolling hills dotted with vineyards.

A trip up Mt Wellington isn’t to be missed either but be sure to pack your best jacket. It was 6 degrees at the top in early April, with a windchill that made it -3. But I will say, the thrill as you dash from your car to the lookout point in the howling winds really is like no other.

And back down by the pier in Hobart's centre, we were treated to some exceptional sunsets complete with fairy floss clouds.

If you love a nature trail then Russel Falls in Mount Field National Park is also worth a visit. The drive will take you along the River Derwent inland, past some gorgeous little places like New Norfolk.

Then you travel on foot through the park to reach the falls. In amongst the twittering trees and the rushing falls, I truly believed those who say that Tassie has the cleanest air in the world.

Back in town we wandered the many cobbled lanes and indulged in some oysters on the pier, much to the disdain of the seagulls, when we refused to share. They’re fresh from Bruny Island, and are some of the best you’ll ever taste.

It’s pretty obvious to me that Tassie is in hot contention for the foodie capital of Australia, although I doubt Melbourne will give up their title without a fight... We had some incredible meals over the weekend; I think it comes down to their fresh, local produce. Our second night’s dinner was at Peacock & Jones where we had some incredible dishes like beef tartare, clams with samphire and fish gazpacho. Each was a highlight in its own right.

Of course we couldn’t leave without seeing MONA, the museum is a new addition to Hobart since I last visited so I was keen to see what all the fuss was about. The exhibitions certainly live up to the talk; including pulsing lights, wordy waterfalls and the infamous wall of ‘lady parts’. But I think what I loved the most was the building itself; this incredible structure perched on the edge of the river really is a feat in architecture.

Perfect for the culture-addicts, the wistful wandering wanderlusters, or the foodies amongst you. If you haven’t paid a visit to Tassie lately, now’s the time to do so.

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Photos by Krissie.