Tasmania - the magical island state

Separated from the mainland, Tasmania is often overlooked as a travel destination. The once penal colony is surprisingly easy and affordably accessible by air or ferry across Bass Straight. Like Cape Town, sublime in its grandeur, its wee capital sits in the shadow of a towering mountain.

With the heritage sandstone architecture in the background, every Saturday the best flavours of Tamania come out and play at the renowned Salamanca market. With over 300 stallholders lining the streets, you can expect to find mouthwatering food and produce, artisan jewellery, clothes and timber crafts, as well as vintage collectables. 

The bite sized capital also plays home to the underground labyrinth that is MONA. Burrowed deep in to the coast of the Berriedale Peninsula, the museum presents antiques, new and contemporary art from the David Walsh collection. For those who are curious and have yet to visit, it can best be summed up as a subversive adult Disneyland. 

If nature is more your cup of tea and you are stuck without a car, Mount Wellington is a stone's throw from the centre of Hobart. Cab it, bus it, hitchhike it, tour it or walk it to the top. Be warned: it is a 14 km trek to the top. You could stop along the way and refuel at Cascade Brewery, the oldest continually operating brewery in Australia. And, once you reach the top, gawk at your colossal achievement (and uninterrupted views of Hobart below).

Straying further afield, Tasmania is a nature lovers' wonderland with its diverse and unspoiled landscapes. From highlands carved by glaciers, to solitary beaches and colourful alpine wilderness,there is something for every season and every person. 

Finally, we mustn't forget World heritage listed Port Arthur - one of Australia's most evocative convict settlements. The site is home to ruins and restored period homes dating from the prison's establishment until its closure in 1877. Now you can explore and learn about the hellish conditions prisoners lived in or how some saw it as a beacon of hope in starting anew. 

So, maybe on the next long weekend, venture that little further afield....to Tasmania!

Land of morning the calm - South Korea

I flew back in time - across the sea and found myself in South Korea, the land of the morning calm. Stretching beyond the years of oppression, war and occupation by the Japanese, South Korea has bloomed into a true cultural, foodie, fashion and tech capital.

Our home base, Seoul is Asia's greatest overlooked gem. Set in an expansive valley, its 10 million residents are never left bored and, it seems, never sleep - with the city jittering at all hours of the day and night.

Getting around the colossal capital is the easiest part, its punctual and reliable network of public transport make it the fastest and cheapest way to explore - deciding on what to see and do on the other hand...

Located in the quaint suburb of Yogmasan, Yogma Land opened in the 1980s. A popular amusement park with families until its closure in 2011, it is now a trendy location for urban explorers. A 5000 won entrance fee (approx. $5 USD), gives you the freedom to wander and exploit the dishevelled park’s eerie charm.

The neon glittering streets of Hongdae offer a window into the lives of Korea’s young people. We visited this university town twice - once during the quiet of the day and later returned for a glimpse into the bustle of its second, more personal life. Famous for its swanky cafes and nightlife, Hongdae is a great example of youthful freedom and self-expression. Performers line the streets in the evening and test out their skills in random rap battles, dance-offs, music performances and all sorts of quirky acts to express creative freedom.

Worlds away from the modern hype, the five grand palaces of Seoul are a perfect example of the beautiful aesthetics of traditional Korean culture. The smallest of them all, Deoksugung, meaning ‘palace of virtuous longevity’ is today only a third of its original size. It served as the main palace of the last king of the Joseon Dynasty, who later became the first emperor of the Great Han Empire.

Only 2.5-hour from Seoul by fast train, the seaside fishing town of Busan is South Korea’s second largest city. Busan houses the country’s largest port and seafood market where you can buy both live and dried fish as well as devour delicacies such as raw fish and freshly cut (still wiggling) octopus’ tentacles. After the Korean war, the market settled in to the routines you still see to this day where vendors are mostly women -  known by locals as Jagalchi Ajumma, meaning middle aged or married women in Korean.

Aside from the market, Gamcheon Cultural Village has become one of Busan’s unique cultural offerings. Beginning its life as a shanti town, hundreds of families flocked to the hillsides of Busan to start over post the Korean War. Given new life in 2009 when artists were commissioned to spruce it up with colourful murals and paintings, new pieces have continually popped up throughout the village over time allowing it to become a cultural and arts hub. 

I feel we missed out so much due to the chill of winter and limited time - although it serves as the perfect excuse to plan a return trip and venture further afield - to understand the true meaning of ‘the land of the morning calm’ through the country’s spellbinding natural parks, splendid tranquillity and picturesque high mountains…and maybe even dip our feet in North Korea.

Adventures of the public transport kind

If you fancy yourself an adventurer and coincidentally find yourself car-less in Melbourne, do not worry! There are plenty of options to get out & about with my good ol' friend public transport. It may take a tad longer to reach the final destination, but on the plus side you can sit back and enjoy the diverse scenery of regional Victoria.

Mornington Peninsula
Most people end their commute at the end of the Frankston train line and are stumped on where to go from there - but fear not commuters, the 788 bus will take you to the moon and beyond - well down to the end of the Peninsula at least. Hugging the coast all the way to Portsea, you won't be disappointed with the boundless selection of beachside towns to jump off at to explore. At the end of the line Point Nepean National Park is sure to impress. Step into the boots of the soldiers that were once posted at Fort Nepean. Once playing a critical role in Victoria's defence, it is now an outstanding example of the evolution of gun technology in Australia's early defence strategies. 

Dandenong Ranges
Travel inland on the Lilydale or Belgrave train line and you'll find yourself in Upper Ferntree Gully - at the base of the Dandenong Ranges. Swap to the  688 bus going towards Croydon station and you will soon be winding your ways through the eclectic villages of the region. Hop off in Olinda and wander down to the National Rhododendron Gardens, host to brilliant coloured blooms of phodedendrons, azeleas, camellias, cherries and daffodils. 

For as much as we love to complain about how rubbish our public transport network is, there are so many options available those wanting to test their navigation skills in regional Victoria. The regional public transport network is a great way to fling yourself further afield. You could find yourself exploring the rich gold rush history of Bendigo and Ballarat, eating some of the best fish and chips along the Great Ocean Road or saying hello to the native wildlife in the Grampians. 

Long Weekend in Sunset Country

Long weekends bring about an opportunity to escape the big smoke and re-introduce the lungs to the crisp country air. Escape chosen for this adventurous long weekend: Sunset Country in north-east Victoria.

The unique region is one of the most secluded in the state and engulfs The Murray - stretching from north-east South Australia and over Victorian the border to Swan Hill.  The region plays home to the Murray-Sunset National Park, one of the few remaining semi-arid regions in the world where the environment is left almost untouched. 

Within the national park, The Pink Lakes glow brighter than the sunsets - and trust me, there are some ravishing sunsets that come round those parts. The amazing spectacle is thanks to a red algae that calls the salt beds of the lake home - after rain, the algae spawn and give off an unusual pink hue.

Up until 1979 the lakes were mined for their salt, but this stopped after the area was declared a state park. The park was incorporated in to the Murray-Sunset National in 1991, making it the second largest national park in Victoria.

The area is now a paradise for Western Grey Kangaroo, emus, native birds and about 600 known species of plants - as well as a temporary home to visitors who come to admire it's beauty. 

Awe-inspiring sunsets, star littered skies, isolated landscapes and friendly locals made the five hour drive there all the more worthwhile. Make the most of the next long weekend and wander further than the average person and you might just stumble on a rare sight. 

Del Kathryn Barton at ACMI

Since winning the Archibald Prize back in 2008, Del Kathryn Barton has built a strong name for herself in the arts world. Now two Archibald Prize wins later, she brings her acclaimed work to ACMI in Oscar Wilde's The Nightingale and the Rose.

Del Kathryn Barton awakens this wondrous short story with renowned filmmaker Brendan Fletcher. The exhibition features a selection of Barton's expressive paintings as well as never before seen props from the production archives. 

The animation celebrated its world premier at the 65th Berlin International Film Festival in 2015 and has since won the Film Victoria Erwin Rado Award for Best Australian Short Film. 

It is a magnificent display of true creativity and I am excited to see what's next to come. 

Melbourne's Eclectic Architectural Mix

Melbourne's Architecture could be labelled as one of the most contrasted in Australia and maybe even the world. Blending perfectly, the eclectic mix of architectural styles compliment each other - from sleek modern to satisfying repetitiveness in grim brutalist architectures that resembles something out of the communist era to heritage elegance, serving a reminder of Victoria's vibrant gold rush history. 

You will hear on repeat of how well thought out the layout of Melbourne is - often being glorified against Sydney's confusing maze like layout. This is true and perhaps the reason the city has thrived in it's architectural creativity. 

Below are some great examples of how creative we are as a city and how it reflects back in our architectural style - mixing the old and new and giving grim buildings new life through our versatile imagination, thus reflecting who we are as a city.  

Open House Melbourne is a great time to get out and learn how beautiful our buildings are inside and out - learn about the history of the city by connecting with design and architecture. 

The Maginificent Murray

Most people when visiting the Murray region don’t stray too far from the river, the region however has so much more to offer – with an array of quirky attractions and great food and wine offerings littered throughout the region.

Located just outside Albury, the Yindymarra Sculpture Walk hugs the river and showcases eleven contemporary Aboriginal sculptures created by local Aboriginal artists. Each piece weaves a story of local indigenous history and the cultural significance of the Murray River through stories from the artists’ lives.

A bit closer to town or specifically in town you’ll find MAMA. Reopened in October 2015, MAMA has re-written what a regional gallery is. Having a motherly element to it, you will not feel like an outsider within its walls - the gallery is about giving people from all walks of like the chance to engage with and enjoy art. Photographs and works on paper are strongly represented in MAMA’s strong collection along with works from regional and emerging artists.

Still within the surrounds, Bonegilla Migrant Experience was once a migrant reception centre for those wanting a new start following the destruction WWII left throughout Europe. With more than 300,000 migrants being processed though the centre from 1947 to 1971, it became the largest and longest operating reception centre in the post-war era – with most visitors knowing someone who had passed through its grip. Bringing to light post-war immigration, it is the only public memory place left standing where people can get an insight in to Australia’s dark immigration past.

If you are feeling adventurous and want to see what excitement sits outside the bigger towns, then Cactus Country is a must visit. Located half way between Albury and Echuca, the name says it all – occupying 10 acres, the attraction has plants that are more than 50 years old, stretching from North American to Mexican and African Species.

The Murray has everything you need in a weekend trip – food and wine experiences, your cultural hit as we as a wealth of history to keep your mind pedalling for the next little while. 

Mount Worth & Bunyip State Park

Situated about two hours east of Melbourne, Mount Worth State Park protects a remnant of the forests that once covered the western Strzelecki Ranges.

The tall Mountain Ash, Blackwood and Mountain Grey Gum littered forests offer an insight into what the Strzelecki Ranges used to look like before cattle farming took over the land.

Just that little bit closer to Melbourne, Bunyip State Park provides opportunities for all - hikers and walkers, four wheel drivers, motor-cross riders, mountain bikers and horse riders alike. 

A few years back almost half the park fell victim to a bushfire. The State Park has since made a speedy recovery and is once again lush and open for exploring.

According to the Aboriginal people, the Bunyip is a spirit that punishes bad people. Local Aboriginal people believed the Bunyip lived in the swamps of the Bunyip River and therefore avoided the area. Many early settlers, believing this story, never pitched their tents near a Bunyip hole. People were also careful not to make ripples when collecting water as this would upset the Bunyip. 

Well worth a visit for their serenity and fresh air, both parks give spectacular views over the beginning of the Great Diving Range.

Big Marilyn

Yesterday, we travelled up to Bendigo to see Seward Johnson’s piece, Forever Marilyn. Taking inspiration from the 1955 film The Seven Year Itch, it’s the first time the piece has been displayed outside the U.S.

Having a rich gold rush history, Bendigo has a lot to offer. From a stunning regional art gallery to great food on offer sought from the surrounding region.

On our visit, we also decided to give the local op shops/ thrift shops a spin. Unfortunately we didn’t have much luck, only coming away with a tragic horror film featuring none other than Snoop Dog.

It was all good fun in the end - seeing something different and learning something new.

Alice Springs and Beyond

On my first night out in Alice Springs, someone asked me 'Where are you from?' I answered 'Melbourne' without hesitation. They didn't seem phased by my answer and calmly replied 'Yeah thought so. One thing you need to know about Alice Springs is nobody is from here Alice Springs.' I thought about this for a bit and concluded it odd. It turns out he was quite right. Over the coming days I met people from all walks of life, none who were originally from Alice Springs. 

That there is one of the many things that makes Alice Springs so unique - the colourful mix of people who bring life to the arid landscape in the geographical heart of Australia. 

Venturing beyond the township itself you are spoilt for choice, with Mount Gillen a short five minute drive and Ellery Creek Big Hole only another fifty minutes on top of that. 

The spectacular un-signposted walk up to the summit of Mount Gillen will set you back about an hour, with the most unyielding stretch challenging you just before reaching the summit. Meeting the peak is rewarding with 360 degrees views over Alice Springs and the surrounding parched landscape.

Ellery Creek on the other hand is all about the relaxation. Enjoy a picnic under the trees overlooking the narrow enclosing walls hanging over the waterhole and follow it on with a swim in the cool waters - trickling down from the West MacDonnell Ranges.

For the little amount of time I had to unearth this peculiar little rural hub, I got a lot out of it. I can say I will be back in an attempt to venture further abroad.