Tasmania - The Playground State
[Image ID - a still creek at the Bay of Fires. Featured is a perfect reflection on the water of the world above. Orange rocks, Australian bush and gum trees, and clear blue skies.]
Travelling with work is a dream come true. I’m privileged to explore Australia with purpose and adventure on the side.
Outside of my work commitments, I take time off and do one thing for myself each time I go somewhere. Four work trips to Tasmania in 2023 gave me the chance to do a lot.
I didn’'t expect this state to feel like another home. A chill greets you on the tarmac upon arrival. This is balanced by the warm embrace of the people and surroundings.
A Playground
[Image ID - Campbell’s sitting spot by the water an hour west of Hobart. Featured is Campbell sitting by a wooden shed seaside with the ocean backdrop behind him.]
If you like the outdoors, Tassie is paradise. You constantly feel nature’s presence. It is one big playground. National parks are everywhere, and the journeys to get there are equally enjoyable.
The landscape changes in the blink of an eye. One turn on the windy, rural roads takes you through thick forests. The next, large golden plains by the sea. You’ll grow an obsession with earth-toned yellows, greens, and browns after you visit.
[Image ID - views out the window on the coastal drive in Eastern Tasmania. Featured are golden plains meeting the sea. On the horizon is a rainbow.]
I’ve come to Tasmania in different frames of mind. Once was my lowest mental state in years. A wintry walk around Cradle Mountain healed internal wounds. I couldn’t see beyond five metres for the entire day of hiking. The low visibility gave me the chance to see what was happening inside.
Five months has past since this hike. The learnings have been a turning point. I've met a stronger, more authentic version of myself. One that’s confident enough to release what you’re currently reading.
It’s extraordinary what a walk in nature can do.
[Image ID - A view of Cradle Mountain before the clouds came in. Featured is one of the peaks through the trees at the base of the mountain.]
Carpe dm
Social media’s impact sparks interesting discussion. We are more connected than ever, yet there’s a loneliness epidemic. Our dependency on our devices has us spending hours per day on them.
My relationship with social media is far from perfect. I succumb to the dopamine chase often. Some days more than others. After over a decade on the apps, I’m forging a connection that is positive and works for me.
Last year I dm’d a stranger from Tassie to see if she wanted to do a day trip. I hadn’t done this before. I thought a voice note was the best approach.
What sparked was a favourite friendship I made last year. A stunning road trip together evolved into more. Catch-ups whenever we were in the same place, and check-ins from different parts of the world.
[Image ID - me capturing my first ever beach tea experience. Featured is Grace kneeling on a rug preparing the brew on the sand at Wineglass Bay.]
I learnt that, if you’re well intentioned, people are more approachable than you think (and tea on the beach is game-changer). We all come across people we want to connect with. It’s likely someone has thought the same about you. A message can open a whole new world for you. Well, at least it did for me.
Facing the black mirror everyday presents its battles. Connections like this provide a glimmer of hope. It reminds me in the hard times that there will always be someone out there looking forward to seeing you.
All it takes is a message.
[Image ID - Happy Grace walking on Wineglass Bay.]
I appreciate you coming this far. Below are a few favourite frames from my trips to Tassie last year.
[Image ID - golden moments at work. An adaption with signage to support a wheelchair user play tenpin bowling.]
[Image ID - 7 more shots from Tasmania I love. They all circulate around my obsession with Tasmania’s coastline. From waterside camps, rock formations, to people/swan watching.]
