THE FAREWELL TOUR

The Beast

Our final voyage into the unknown valleys, lush forests and dark waterways of Tasmania is about to begin. Strap yourself in for our final seven days of action and adventure as we pile ourselves into a six berth “Cruisin” motorhome and quite literally head for the hills.

To help create the scene picture the road trips of your youth. Fun weren’t they!

Now take away the Marlborough Light’s, 90’s mix tapes, stones ginger wine, single duffle of clothes and the feeling of complete freedom. Replace these with 3 kids, the Frozen soundtrack on repeat, tons of snacks and art projects to avert meltdowns, six large suitcases filled with ALL weather gear and the gnawing feeling that this holiday could swing either way.

Now I’ve set the mood, let the story begin.

Day One –

We picked up our Motorhome locally however; you could start your trip on the mainland and drive your vehicle onto the Spirit of Tasmania to continue your Australian travels.

Route – Cambridge, Richmond, Bothwell, Derwent Bridge, Queenstown, Strahan.

Rookie mistake – No Kwells (travel sickness pills) on board.

Approximate Distance – 340km (This long day of slow driving could be split in two by stopping at Lake St Claire overnight.)

Day one was huge! Once we all got over the excitement of driving a cubby house around and the kids realised they were going to be strapped in rather than roam free while we drove, it got real. We started with a wrong turn (Jamie’s fault) and headed north to Richmond rather that west toward New Norfolk. First happy mistake (thankyou Jamie) was pulling into the Richmond bakery for the first of many a food related pit stop. Richmond was certainly worth the visit with its beautifully restored stone buildings providing home to purveyors of local food, wine, whiskey, tourist treasures and baked goods. The home baked pies were some of the best I’ve had, as was the weighty smoked salmon sandwich I made light work of. Richmond is also the gateway to the Coal Valley, one of Tassie’s famed wine regions. You could easily spend a day cruising among the many cellar doors in the area if you had the extra time.

We pointed the cubby house towards Brighton, then north up the Midland Hwy through to Bothwell. While we chose not to side track, a visit to Nant Distillery would have been ideal from here. The distillery offers tasting, tours and a high end restaurant. With Tasmanian whisky being hard to get acquire since gaining its world class reputation, one shouldn’t pass up the opportunity to drop in on Tasmanian whisky royalty.

Having visited the Nant tasting bar in Hobart on numerous occasions we drove on through the highlands and past the Great Lakes. By this time the view from the cubby house window had changed. Gone were the sun dappled, green rolling pastures of Richmond with its chess board pieces of white sheep and black Angus cattle. In their place was hardy button grass, a species unique to the South West, which grows prolifically on the peat rich soils and stains the surrounding waterways dark brown. As we drove higher, the temperature dropped and the surrounds took on an even more desolate Wuthering Heights feeling as sleet fell on the muddy mores around us. Then only brave souls daring to inhabit this area are seasonal fishermen, who have built huts close to the freezing lakes.

Our next pit stop was truly wonderful. Near the Derwent Bridge talented sculptor Greg Duncan has opened a self-funded art project of such grand scale that it needs to be seen to be believed. Hand carved from wood Duncan has created a touching commemoration to the original pioneers of Tasmania. Named “The Wall” once complete his story will reach 100 metres long by 3 metres high and one metre deep. Jamie and I sipped on Sullivan’s Cove whisky, warmed ourselves by the huge fireplace and truly appreciated the enormity of what Duncan will achieve at this tiny outpost deep in the highlands. While chatting with us, Duncan shared plans to extend the property, building a café and gallery space making The Wall’s appeal as a tourist destination even stronger. To pass without stopping here would be at your great loss.

Onwards…..

From here the next target was infamous Queenstown, home to ghosts of people, industries and the environment alike. The driving got tough as we wound our way up the mountain on dirt roads. The weather was miserable, the roads slender and with lots of tight turns the kids were starting a revolt in the back. Fair enough too! Every time we took a tight corner their cushions slipped out from under them sending them sliding in various directions. At first they were amused but after a while it just sucked! Our belongings started to escape and roll across the floor and the Kwells we talked about purchasing, but hadn’t, became our first official rookie mistake. They kids and I took on a sage green colour and it got fairly quiet. If only I could say arriving in Queenstown was worth the drive.

Unfortunately Queenstown’s reputation precedes it and the acid rain scarred mountains surrounding what was once a thriving mining town are shocking to say the least. After driving through typically lush, wet and robust Tasmanian landscapes for most of our drive, the barren, grey mountains surrounding Queenstown sit in stark contrast. I felt sad for the land, sad for Tasmania and for the few proud locals left behind trying to survive in the struggling town. Needless to say Queenstown was not our destination. We would not have made the trip through bar the fact it’s the only route to Strahan and the famous Gordon River Cruise we looked forward to joining tomorrow.

Another 38 kilometres of conservative driving down the mountain and we finally arrived in beautiful Strahan on the Macquarie Harbour. It was a sight for sore eyes and bums after a long day in the saddle. Despite our discomfort the drive had been fascinating with the ever changing Tasmanian wilderness as entertainment and the excitement of traveling like a snail with our house on our back keeping the kids in reasonable form.

We finished the day with a great steak dinner down on the waterfront before pulling into Strahan Holliday Village to park up overnight. The challenge of fitting ourselves into the various pull out bunks and beds of our motorhome provided some final humorous moments and marked the end of our first day on the road. Jamie, who stands six foot three, had to bunk up with 5 year old Charli. Lily and Finn top and tailed in the double bed over the drivers cabin and I got a  lumpy plastic mattress to myself in the centre of the vehicle. Five star all the way for us.

Greg Duncan working on his masterpiece “The Wall”.

 

The landscape just before Queenstown

Driving into Queenstown and the grey, arid mountain tops.

Sun Sets On Our Tasmanian Dream

A Stanley Sunset

So somewhat timidly after my many months of silence, I thought it was about time I caught you up with my families movements.

The big news is we are back in Perth living in our old house and have survived a typically hot West Australian summer by the beach.

Something that I never included in my blog previously is that when we moved to Tasmania, in May 2013, the plan was to stay for a single year only. I guess the reason I never shared this previously was to avoid putting an end date on the experience in case we were open to staying on. As it turned out we were open to staying on and as our first amazing year in Tassie drew to a close we unanimously decided stay on for another. Although we had already scouted many of the islands hot spots undoubtedly it still had many wonderful secrets left to yield. We also wanted to soak up another January in Hobart when the city comes to life hosting the finish line of the Sydney to Hobart, Taste of Tasmania, MONA FOMA and a multitude of holiday makers all basking in the maelstrom of good times to be had.

We almost made it…….

Unfortunately well laid plans don’t always come to fruition. While we managed to hang around for an extra 6 months it was a bitter sweet moment for us all when we ended up moving home in late September.

Rather than bore you while I ramble on about our ups and downs in Tassie I thought I would just list the two big reasons why we ended up moving back home. Keep in mind that we never had solid plans to spend the rest of our life there. Having said that, I can’t state strongly enough that if I had two lives to live, I would spend one gloriously romantic lifetime enjoying the slower pace tucked away in Tasmania’s rolling hills.

REASONS WHY TASMANIA DID NOT WORK OUT FOR US

1. We missed friends and family back home.
2. With three small children who missed their cousins and grandparents it sometimes seemed cruel maintaining the distance, not to mention miss out on the support.
3. Job security. For Jamie, who is very employable and a particularly good networker, it was still a struggle to stay employed in his chosen field. The money was far lower than he would earn in Perth and the jobs less challenging. The size of his wage was not the big issue however job security was. People who are successful in Tasmania usually have more than one string to their bow and are also willing to live with less. Jamie and I both had open minds in terms of the types of work we were willing to take but there is only so much to go around on a small island.

When Jamie finished his fourth short term Tasmanian job we felt the lack of security was getting a bit much for us with three children to support. We were finding it hard to plan ahead and the idea of Jamie spending more time with us kept being tripped up by him having to take whatever work he could get his hands on. He usually had to work long hours over short periods on contract.

Despite those difficulties I will never regret the money and time we spent on relocating to Tasmania. It is truly a very magical place and it will remain a wonderful memory to my dying day. We made lovely friends, drank outstanding wine, ate exceptional local produce and saw breathtaking scenery. What more could you want in a travel experience.

Speaking of travel experiences stay tuned as I am yet to finish a blog post on our final seven days in Tasmania which was spent winding our way up to the North coast in a motorhome. Seriously good fun people!

North Coast

 

“Procrastibaking”

Upside Down Apple and Golden Syrup Cake

So I try to fool myself that I bake for my family but, if I’m going to be really honest, I bake for me and the family get some if they are lucky. It has become a habit that I’m unlikely to break. Recently my sister in law sent me a message outlining an actual baking condition. It’s called “PROCRASTIBAKING” which involves baking a tray of muffins rather than finishing a Uni assignment, whipping up a sponge rather than folding the basket of washing or folding choc chips into cookie dough rather then paying the overdue bills. I’m not saying I have that condition but I do have a rather large pile of unfolded washing in the corner and a steaming cake on the counter.

Anyway…….

Here’s the recipe for my latest procrastibake.

Apples are king in Tassie at the moment so I’m going with it. I picked up some beautiful Fuji’s from Lucaston Park Orchards for $2.00 a kilo. They are the star in this delicious creation. If I wasn’t sending this to school with the kids I would have also thrown in some toasted walnuts for texture.

Ingredients

2 Fuji apples, peeled, cored and sliced into slim rounds

4 tbsp golden syrup

180g butter softened tablespoons golden syrup

1 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup golden syrup

4 eggs

1 cup plain gluten free flour (or spelt or wheat if you please)

1 cup shredded coconut

1/2 cup sunflower seeds

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 tsp. ground nutmeg

4 tsp. baking powder (gluten free)

1/2 cup sour cream

1 Fuji apple, peeled, cored, finely chopped

Double cream for serving

Method

Preheat oven to 160C. Grease and line the base and side of a 20cm x 30cm x 5cm baking pan with baking paper.

Place the flour, coconut, sunflower seeds, spices and baking powder into a food processor and process until fine.

Drizzle 2 tablespoons of the golden syrup over the base of the pan. Arrange apple slices, overlapping, over the base. Drizzle with remaining golden syrup.

Use an electric mixer to beat butter, sugar and extra golden syrup in a medium bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition until just combined. Add the combined flour, coconut, sunflower seeds, baking powder and spices and stir to combine. Add the sour cream and extra chopped apple and stir to combine. Spoon into the prepared pan and smooth the surface. Bake in preheated oven for 40 minutes to 1 hour or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Remove from oven. Set aside for 10 minutes to cool before turning onto a serving plate and gently removing the baking paper. Serve warm or at room temperature with cream, if desired.

Foodie Finds

Mum is in town for a visit, which is always a treat, so I have been eating out more than usual. Having visitors is a great excuse to hit some of my favourite eateries and play tour guide.

Today we drove south down Channel Hwy to enjoy lunch and the cracking view at Peppermint Bay in Woodbridge. Peppermint Bay Restaurant was set up perfectly to cater for the tourist trade with a boat cruise arriving every day from Hobart for lunch. Although I have never made the boat trip I imagine it would be a great way to while away a day as a visitor to the island. Peppermint Bay has become one of our firm favourites with the building’s beautiful design, stunning location, produce driven menu and casual ambiance combining to provide a great dining experience. Today Mum and I enjoyed local Blue Eye Trevalla fish n chips and finished with really good coffee. The picture below actually features my Mother in Law, Helen, on her last visit to Tassie. Mum and I were too busy enjoying the outlook to take any snaps today.

Peppermint Bay Woodbridge

On the way home I pulled into a guilty pleasure of mine. Housed in an unassuming position along Channel Hwy in Kettering is the Nutpatch, a tiny shopfront full of stunning handmade chocolate and nougat. The gourmet nougat, which uses hazelnuts grown in the local orchard, has already made it’s way into specialty stores in New York and owner John Zito finds it hard to keep up with demand from both near and far. My favourite chocolate creation is the salted caramel finger (pictured) with white chocolate and black salt. Today I also picked up a dark chocolate finger filled with Pedro Ximenez. I’ll let you know how that goes…..

Sweet treats from Nutpatch in Kettering.

 

Sunny Southern Sunday at the Markets

First distraction. Organic Ice-cream

 

Having just come through a nasty two week flu, which the whole family enjoyed together, then a bout of gastro (yes the weight loss was a happy side effect) I am feeling the need for sunshine and good food to get the immune system back on track. The sun was thankfully on my side today so the kids and I took a trip to the Hobart Farmers Market to pick up some super fresh local veg and meat which I will use to knock up a good ol chicken soup.

We may have gotten slightly off task when distracted by the organic ice-cream, made with local milk, then the organic sourdough doughnuts filled with apple and cardamom or lemon curd but eventually we filled the basket with green leafy things and some lovely Bruny Island meats. Oh and I wouldn’t want to forget the plumb crumble cake, local squid tentacles and wholemeal sourdough cob. The kids love Dutch carrots so I grabbed a couple of bunches as lunchbox snacks and the baby leeks will be beautiful in the chicken soup. I must say I feel better just looking at the loot.

Arrived home and made sushi for lunch while I got the stock going for the chicken soup and, ironically, fed our chickens all the lovely off cuts. The kitchen smells great, my husband and the kids are on a wood gathering exercise and I’m not sick today. Woohooo!

Second distraction. Organic sourdough doughnut with lemon curd or apple and cardamom fillings.

Another lovely stall at Hobart Farmers Market

The Loot

Chicken stock on the go..

A Sort of Recipe for Chicken Soup

Get a free range chook, put it in a pot with chopped onion, garlic, leek, peppercorns, herbs, carrot, etc etc (any hard veg from the fridge) and cover with water. Bring to the boil then reduce to a simmer for about 1-1.5 hours. Strain the liquid and reserve. Save the chicken, toss the cooked vegies.

Put a little oil in a pot and add diced onion, celery and carrot and cook for 5 mins. Add all your chopped veg (not leafy things yet) and cover with stock. At this point you may want to add pearl barley, pasta or cooked quinoa.Bring to the boil then simmer until veg is just cooked.

Shred the chicken off the bone and add this along with chopped leafy greens such as kale, spinach or cabbage. Also add soft herbs such as parsley and dill. Lemon zest is also nice. Bring to a simmer and it is ready to save the family from winter ills.

 

 

I never thought I would be saying this but….

Damn Possum

A couple of nights ago I was brutally attacked by a wild possum in our chook pen. The attached photo was taken outside the pen tonight and may or may not be the actual culprit but, the way the little devils eyes are glowing red, I wouldn’t be surprised.

We have had an ongoing complaint with the local possums who run across our deck and roof at night, sounding like they are wearing steel capped stilettos, and deposit piles of perfectly oval poo on our outdoor table, BBQ plate and other food designated areas. They reverse Houdini into our impenetrable chook pen, which has a reinforced base, and we are at a total loss to understand how. I find them curled up sleeping peacefully in the straw filled laying boxes, fat and happy on our chook eggs. The chickens don’t seem to mind sharing lodgings but I am getting sick of cleaning up after they tip over the grain bin and help themselves to the contents.

Lately we have been checking the pen each night and kicking the little buggers out if they have made themselves at home. Up till recently the raids were going relatively smoothly, for us not the possums. A few nights ago however, I was trying to detach one from the roof beam of the chook shed with the spout of our watering can, when the possum launched itself onto my head from a distance of about one and a half metres, dug its claws into my skull, (momentarily making me do a Daniel Boon impersonation) then used it as a take of point for a clean getaway. I was left shocked, with a really crazy hairdo and a stream of warm blood running down my face.

At first I just held my head because I wasn’t sure if it had ripped my skin or just punctured it. Luckily for me, and that wascally possum, the damage came down to two deep puncture wounds and a couple of bruised areas (including my ego). After submerging my head in Detol for half an hour, to reduce the risk of deadly possum infection, I swore to myself that if this animal wanted war then war it would get.

I was discussing my radical and somewhat violent ideas for keeping possums out of our chook pen with a neighbour yesterday who informed my battle plans were entirely unnecessary. Apparently all I needed to do was pick up a battery operated sensor light from the hardware store around the corner and fit it to the roosting area of the pen. That way should any of our furry friends come visiting in the night the light would go on and they would b line it for the relative safety of the surrounding bush.

Well I guess that is one way to do it but I have to say I was kinda looking forward to joining the anti possum special forces. It’s not often you have a good excuse to wear camouflage these days!

Winter Wonderland

I have been wanting to share some inspiring blogs I follow so here is one by a great friend Jo, which chronicles her evolving property in the Perth hills. Jo is a woman possessed. Give her a project, big or small and she is a happy woman. Edgefield is her home, her place of work and her passion. Get hooked and follow the story as Jo and her family build a new green home and set themselves up with a self sustaining garden and a natural pool.
It’s like a mix of Grand Designs and Gardening Australia with a sweet family narrative.
Enjoy Kate

Something Sweet at Little Missy

Little Missy Patisserie

I have been meaning to include restaurant reviews in my blog for ages and was finally called to action after enjoying a long overdue lunch with my hubby. The kids were at school and Jamie had the day off so we indulged ourselves by visiting not one, but two great eateries for lunch.

Pigeon Hole is a favourite of mine (and Hobart’s) with its simple, seasonal produce, high end coffee and quality hand-made loaves baked by sister business Pigeon Whole Bakery. We have visited often and always leave satisfied and feeling like our business has been appreciated. Today after wolfing down a couple of crisp toasted paninis, one chorizo and pickle and the other chicken and quince aioli, we decided to head elsewhere for something sweet. Being the great people that they are, the Pigeon Hole staff pointed us in the direction of a newish patisserie just out of Hobart called Little Missy Patisserie.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU PIGEON HOLE!

Little Missy has been opened by Peter and Oonagh who are regulars at both the Hobart Farmers Market and Salamanca Markets where they peddle their freshly baked provincial style French pastries to eager customers, rain, hail or shine. Opening the “studio style” café on Argyle street may well give them an opportunity to keep more reasonable working hours down the way. In the mean time it simply means we can get our greedy mits on their made from scratch, mouth-watering sweets from Tuesday to Sunday rather than only on the weekends. Let me assure you this is great news!

The patisserie itself is tiny. There is one long wooden communal table, which seats about eight to ten, and one romantic table for two tucked into the front window. The kitchen and coffee machine are both very open to the café floor allowing customers to enjoy all the goings on and enter into relaxed banter with the staff. Missy’s is probably as good as it is ever going to be right now. The owners are in house daily overseeing all aspects of the business and the food is being produced in small batches, meaning it’s always fresh and always made from scratch.

Jamie and I shared a traditional vanilla slice and a chocolate éclair which were both filled with light semi sweet pastry cream. The éclair’s choux pastry home was thin and fresh with a wonderful bitter chocolate glaze and gold flakes as its crowning glory. The vanilla slice was absolutely outstanding. Traditional crisp flaky pastry sandwiched between orange zest spiked pastry cream which oozed dangerously sideways as I took my first  bite. I can assure you however, despite the mishap, not a drop of pastry cream was lost in the devouring of this sensational slice.

We had almost made it out the door when Jamie was overcome with the need to try one of Missy’s spun sugar topped, raspberry choux pastries which were seductively advertised on a silver cake stand on the communal table. Whoops.

In summing our experience up I would just like to say……..GO THERE NOW!

Little Missy Patisserie

Little Missy Patisserie

Sweet Treats

One Year In Tasmania – Has it lived up to expectation?

In the wild

So one year on and things have changed since I first revisited our Master Plan. I wrote the “Master Plan” so we could keep tabs on our experience and be reminded of what we set out to achieve in  moving our family to Tasmania. For those of you interested in moving here, or for family and friends who are keen to see how we are faring down south, I thought I would do a check up and share it with you. I have given a quick run down on how each section of our plan has panned out directly below the item.

I hope those of you who are considering the move find this post helpful.

THE MASTER PLAN

1. Have an adventure with our children.

One Year In….

There is no denying that leaving our comfy world in Perth for a different state, climate and lifestyle has been an adventure full stop. That said, Tasmania itself is full of natural wonders and we have certainly dived headlong into exploring. So far we have ticked off about half of our bucket list in terms of travel and experiences we hope to enjoy here. The kids are not yet old enough to go for long walks, which is a bugger as there are so many fabulous trails to hike. We have got them up to about one hour but after that it’s melt down city!

I would certainly say that the five of us have had an unforgettable experience so far.

2. Jamie and Kate to share the load in respect to work, house hold chores and  children’s needs. Both parties to work on a part time basis in their chosen fields while spending the remaining time on home duties and fun.

One Year In….

Well wouldn’t it just be perfect if that one came to fruition!

We enjoyed a good balance to start with. Jamie was working 4 day weeks and I was working 2 to 3 days. It really was to good to be true. Jamie got to spend quality time with the kids and find out what it’s like to play house husband every now and then. Personally I enjoyed the work family balance this bought and liked contributing financially. Alas all good things must come to an end.

After a good run Jamie was made redundant and I finished my contract work. Since then Jamie has worked in contract positions rather than a stable long term role. I have picked up a day a week work at a CBD wine store and every now and then I will be asked to assist on a casual basis in the local food industry.

The work situation in Tasmania is limited. If you are willing to work hard at promoting yourself there is employment to be had. Certainly you would not want to arrive in Tassie and expect something to fall in your lap. Most people living in Tassie have more than one feather in their cap and are willing to live on a little bit less.

3. More time as a nuclear family.

One Year In….

Well the one good thing about not being surrounded by friends and family is the ability to be selfish with your time and just hang out with the husband and kids. I think this was the perfect time for us to take a break from our Perth life and cement our relationship with the kids. It has it’s moments I can assure you. Being ALONE with the family isn’t always sunshine and roses. But, for the most part, we have all enjoyed the change and our bond is all the stronger for it. Go team Nancarrow!

4. Get to know Tasmania.

One Year In….

See answer to question one.

The locals tell us it takes about 25 years to become a Tasmanian so I certainly don’t attest to being one, however Jamie’s and my enthusiasm for the state has been surprising. We have driven its roads regularly in search of the next town, market or event. Sometimes locals take for granted what is on their doorstep but being newbies we are doing no such thing. We may have fallen in love a little bit.

In a few words we have found Tasmanians to be friendly, proud and protective of their natural surroundings. Tasmania itself is a hideaway from the real world. A place where you can let out that deep breath you have been holding in and get back to the fundamentals of life, if that’s what you are looking for of course….

5. Not to go backwards financially but not to concern ourselves with getting ahead.

One Year In….

Woops….. What can I say? The move cost about $15,000, we have been exploring in a manic fashion which costs dollars. Jamie was out of work for a month or so and we had a big party for his 40th. Lets just say that we may have gone backwards this year but it was worth every cent!

6. Enjoy Tasmania’s bounty in respect to the great produce available.

One Year In….

I don’t know where to start on this one. We certainly dived headlong into market hopping, which we decided was the best way to meet local producers and farmers. The ethics of these hard working people is pretty mind-blowing. There are so many organic and sustainable farmers in Tasmania who pride themselves on the fine outcomes of their environmentally and animal friendly practices. There is a real slow food movement here and many successful businesses based on producing top end produce at a top end price. I for one am willing to pay!

7. Live on acreage allowing our kids to experience a rural lifestyle, while still remaining within a 30 minute commute to work.

One Year In….

Our first six month were spent near the water in Blackmans Bay. It was a standard suburban block with views over the water and a big park in front of the property. As lovely as this was it wasn’t in the Master Plan. We spent many hours on real estate sites looking for an appropriate rental on acreage but there really wasn’t much coming up in localities within 30 minute of Hobart. Finally we came across a 15 hectare property in Margate with a warm family home and a dam. BINGO

It has been over six month now since we moved to Margate and it’s definitely what we were looking for. All the necessities are five minutes away in the town itself but we are tucked up among the rolling hills where there is rarely a soul in site. Our neighbours are lovely and we are close to the kids school. It’s a win!

THE WRAP UP

Tasmania has certainly lived up to expectation. We took the risk of arriving without having secured jobs, which I would not advise, but we got lucky and have so far managed to keep our heads above water. It think it’s been a good reminder to us all of what we are capable of. We have thrown ourselves outside the comfort zone and made new friendships, found more time for our relationship as a family and had some amazing travel experiences.

The move so far hasn’t all been smooth sailing but we are happy with where we are at and look forward to all the adventure ahead.

The photos attached are of a recent walk to Snug Falls.

The fog rolls in

The path to Snug Falls

Jamie

Finn at the falls

Kate at Snug Falls

Great News for Deserving Tasmanian Tourism

Horseshoe Falls

I just thought I would share this brilliant news about Tasmania playing the central role in an international advertising campaign by Tourism Australia.

It is so wonderful for Tourism Australia to recognise the authenticity’ of Tasmania’s tourism opportunities as the states big drawcard. Congratulations to Tourism Tasmania.

See this article from todays Mercury for all the details.