I started the very first day of 2019 on a plane to Tassie. During this trip, I was reminded that simple things make you just as happy, if not, more than the big things. After all, it’s about making the most of what you already have and experiencing the journey without fixating on the end destination.
I had the opportunity to stay at a hobby farm just outside of Sheffield, north west of Tasmania. I also explored beautiful landscapes and sights across the island’s northern coastline. But to avoid writing another article that simply shares a list of things to do and see in Tasmania, I wanted to share the meaningful experiences that brought me so much joy from this little Aussie island gem.
View of The Nut, Stanley, Tasmania
TAKE IT SLOW
I arrived at Launceston, or as the pilot called it, “Lawny”, where the only fast-paced action was everyone unbuckling their seatbelts and clambering to get their bags from the overhead compartments. After that, I immediately felt the atmosphere shift to a much slower pace from the airport, to the long drive ahead to the farm. We passed large fields that started looking the same after a while with hay rolls, cows, sheep, plantations and even alpacas. Every town we visited during our road trips were laidback and never busy. There’s little noise pollution and since my phone had shitty coverage (don’t bother trying if you’re not with Telstra in Tasmania), all I could do was go with the flow and you know what, I didn't know how much I needed this slower pace. We've become very impatient beings demanding instant gratification and it's just so refreshing to have your brain reset and not be constantly set off by all kinds of stimuli. Here's a random travel thought. I found myself asking “is this it?” in my head in some of the small towns and it made me realise how many people travel to certain areas assuming that a town, where real people live their lives, owes them some sort of entertainment or tourist attraction. It’s also a selfish mentality you develop from being so used to a city filled with everything. Afterwards, I stopped asking myself “is this it?” and started to just observe the towns.
Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake - the view from Glacier Rock, Tasmania
CONNECT WITH NATURE
It doesn’t matter how old you are, you instantly become an excited kid again when you spot a creature that you don’t usually see. I saw an echidna almost every single day, it was a great experience to get close to them in their usual habitat. We saw a wombat near Lake St Clair on the way to Cradle Mountain and its waddling furry bum was terribly cute. On top of The Nut in Stanley, you’ll be amongst a sea of butterflies floating around you – it’s a magical scene. And everywhere you go, you’ll spot wallabies and other creatures. Walking around the Dove Lake Circuit near Cradle Mountain was peaceful with only the sounds of nature. And lastly, the alpacas – they’re ridiculously cute with hipster-like haircuts but don’t get too close, in case you get a bit of a slobby gift from them (they spit).
Picking raspberries and blueberries on the farm, Tasmania
EAT SIMPLE
If we weren’t at the farm, we spent a lot of time driving from one location to another. This meant we had to plan in advance our meals or simply make do with what we have. We were lucky on the farm since the fridge had been stocked up previously, and if all else fails – there’s always fresh eggs from the chooks as well as raspberries, blueberries and red currents straight from the trees. On the road, we had simple and healthy snacks on the backseat like fruit, crackers, nuts and LOTS of water. For some, this doesn’t sound out of the ordinary, but the 5 days made me realise how much access we have to convenient deliveries like Uber Eats and how we also live in abundance and excess, buying more than what we usually need. Now that I’m back home, I’m more inspired to find easy ways to eat healthy, make home-cooked meals more often and buy what I need and not what I always want. Another habit – before I order from the delivery apps, to ask myself if I really have nothing at home to eat. This way, I can at least enjoy the takeout meals I actually like from time to time, and not rely on it as a weekly backup plan. It’s all about finding a healthy balance not just for the body, but also for your lifestyle, attitude and bank account!
USE YOUR HANDS
Some of my favourite moments from the trip weren't even considered spectacular things for most. A lot of them were little tasks around the farm that gave me a lot of joy, perhaps because they felt like novelty things that usually wouldn't occur back at home. I tried milking a goat, picked buckets of raspberries and blueberries, made easy desserts like choc ripple cake, rolled out pastry (something that put my arm muscles to the test since I'm not a big baker) and cracked walnuts. There's something about doing these little things that give you a mini sense of accomplishment and ultimately a closer connection to and appreciation for the final product. As time poor as we are back at home, I'm now always on the lookout for more little things to do that give me time to reset and take a break from the digital stuff.
Cracking walnuts for a salad
BREATHE
It's a very cleansing feeling to breathe in the clean Tassie air and let it fill up your lungs. Having quiet time and working on your breathing helps you with whatever energy and mood you're trying to achieve. We find the right breathing techniques to exercise (even in yoga, we move with our breaths), we breathe in and out for longer to prepare for sleep, we breathe to clear our minds. While the air back in Sydney is not exactly the same as the air I breathed in standing on the rocks in Tomahawk, being more aware of my breaths can help me to focus my thoughts and ultimately have better control over my mind and actions.
Tomahawk, Tasmania
Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed this post. One of my 2019 resolutions is to write and share more of my stories, insights and experiences so stay tuned for the next one.
- Karen
For more frequent updates, head to my Instagram @karen__png