TOURIST TUESDAY: TASMANIA DAY THREE

On Sunday Tasmania, yet again, showed us it's perfect weather. In the morning we went to MONA. The Museum of Old and New Art, it is an art museum located within the Moorilla winery on the Berriedale peninsula in Hobart, Tasmania. It is the largest privately funded museum in Australia.

All, three of us loved it, we each had our favourite exhibition. Easy to say Jarvis's was ‘Danser La Musique’ by Chen Zhen; essentially a huge trampoline with a system of ropes and bells that make a sort of basic music when the trampoline is used. We each took turns having a good jump around.

A fun house style mirror surrounds the outside of the gallery, and inside you can either descend via a tightly spiralling staircase into the sandstone bedrock of the Berriedale peninsular or by a glass lift. The typical recommendation is to start at the deepest level, B3.

Staff offered us an iPod Touch, with headphones, which they call the “O”. The device contains detailed information, commentary, and in some cases additional audio or videos, about all of the artworks on display, and uses GPS-technology to enable visitors to instantly access the appropriate information about each piece. Jarvis took control of our and off we set.

We only spent a couple of hours inside, but I would have happily spent a couple of days. Lunch was at the open air markets. Delicious, and relaxing with the live music and belly dancing performances.

Mandatory nap was required after the morning at MONA. Which was good as by the time we woke, the light was perfect to drive up to Wellington Park, featuring kunanyi/Mount Wellington, locally known as ‘the mountain’. 

It was surreal driving up the mountain and through the clouds. Once on top, we set off on a hike back down the mountain to walk to the clouds. Point to note: the mountain has an elevation of 1,271 m, which equals windy and very cold. Also climbing is evolved, wear appropriate shoes (Justin) and do not wear a skirt (me).

Jarvis was like a mountain goat, he loved the climbing and was shimmering up and down the highest points like crazy. We climbed and explored until my ears ached and my fingers we frozen. And, until Justin's belly demanded food.

Heading back down the mountain, I jumped out of the car, and got Justin to take photos of me in the clouds. 

TOURIST TUESDAY: TASMANIA DAY TWO

Saturday was the day of the wedding. So we only had an hour or so with Justin in the morning, before he had to set off for work. So Jarvis, and I, thought we would show him some of the sights of Battery Point that we had discovered the day before.

First stop was a coffee for Justin, then we walked back down to the water and looped around to the park. I must say...Tasmania was certainly showing off with it's perfect weather.

This house was great, my assumption is the lady who lives there is an artist. Not only did she have a PINK house! She has this great window display and a collection at her front door. The collection is of shells, stones, feathers, odds and ends. She encourages the children to take something and replace something, so the collection is ever evolving. Jarvis took a stone. At the end of our visit I left a four metre daisy crochet chain in rainbow wool. How someone enjoyed that.

The afternoon and evening, was the wedding. The bride's dress, wow I was speechless, most gorgeous thing. The location was pretty special as well.

The fun part was at the end of the night when I was leaving. The location was in the middle of no where, so it was pitch dark. Driving the car down the dirt road to the property gate Jarvis opted to share his vivid imagination with me.

I had to get out of the car to unchain the fence, Jarvis yells out to me:

"Mum, Mum, that man with the weird eyes is staring at you"

Yes, I was more than a little freaked. I had to get back in the car, and then walk back in the dark to rechain the fence. Just to freak me out a little more Jarvis once again yells out:

"Mum he is looking at you really weird, and walking over"

I may or may not have ran back to the car, locked all of the doors and done a massive burn out in my attempt to get out of there.

Too much imagination?? Please tell me he just has too much imagination?

TOURIST TUESDAY: TASMANIA DAY ONE

In just over a week, we went from the hot beaches of the Sunshine Coast to the cool air of Tasmania. Justin had a booking for a wedding in Tasmania, Jarvis and I were lucky to go along for the ride.

Jarvis is quite the experienced traveller now, so he took packing, and flying all in his stride. His only disappointment was that he had been hoping for a blue or a red hire car. His words "oh no boring white". Next time just for Jarvis we will ask the bride to organise us a 'non boring colour car'.

The apartment was lovely. Too lovely and clean and white for a toddler! But the apartment, and my nerves, survived a four and a bit day visit by Jarvis and Justin. (Actually in hindsight I would say Justin makes more mess than Jarvis. Justin has been away for a couple of weeks in Japan and the house has stayed super clean with him away).

Justin spent the afternoon with the bridal party, so Jarvis and I set off on foot to explore the suburb we were staying in.

Battery Point, is one of Hobart’s oldest and most historic areas, it is one suburb away from the city (Dad said south of the city) It was love at first sight for me. Clean streets, heritage listed buildings, pink houses, flowers everywhere, the water one street away, and cute shops. Jarvis was impressed as well. Water, a big boat, a great park and a vintage style lolly shop. I found myself taking looks of photos of clouds and cute houses.

Side Note: Another reason I loved Tasmania.

From 1 November 2013, retailers in Tasmania can no longer supply shoppers with a plastic shopping bag for the purpose of enabling goods sold, or to be sold, by the retailer, to be carried from the retailer's premises. The primary aim of the Tasmanian Plastic Shopping Bags Ban Act 2013 is to reduce the number of lightweight plastic shopping bags in Tasmania by encouraging the use of clean reusable bags.