Child of the Planet

Major themes of sex and death MONA is an extraordinary private gallery that's been open for a year in Hobart Tasmania. Everything about this facility is mind boggling. The galleries are cut down into the sandstone. The gallery shares the site with one of the oldest vineyards in Oz. Free entrance for locals. It's probably the best gallery in Australia! The splashing of the data fountain follows you around the space helping to orientate oneself.

Walking up Davy street which runs through the middle of Hobart, returning to my B&B, I passed a door set back in a sand stone wall. Something about the door, and the sign hanging above scratched at my curiosity. I took note of the instructions nailed to the door and went exploring.

The professionalism of the MONA facility, for me is highlighted by the number of options available for punters to get to the venue. You can drive, hire a bike, catch a bus, walk, run, and almost certainly swim to the site. I caught the ferry out to the gallery. A return ticket and gallery entrance can be bought as a bundle at the bright purple MONA booking office down on the waterfront. MONA ROMA Ferry

Hobart is a two hour flight from Sydney. The airport is 20 mins out from the city center.  Loads of Indian Takeaway. Funny smell in air sometimes. Could be the nearby zinc factory? Tasmania is a land criss-crossed with with roads of death. While it's sad to see so much minced native forna coating the roads, it is impressive that there is must be a lot of wildlife around. Salamanca Market day Huge markets held very Saturday. http://www.salamanca.com.au/ The heritage suburb of Battery Point was stuffed full of cafes and period houses built from stone. olde world sweet shop

All product is local to the valley. approximately 30 minutes drive south of Hobart Velvet Cushion is a local eatery and they had a stand up the back of the feild. Their pork pie was big on crust, short on pork. The Thai fish salad wrapped in a Wasabi leaf (replacing the usual ice-burg lettuce) was much more successful. This was washed down by a local cyder called Blighs. Pig n Fig folk were selling a tasty pork fillet/slice o apple/rocket leaf/creamy fig dressing. There were a couple of honey venders. One had bees swarming at the stall and I saw a couple of punters sprinting away waving arms around their head. I purchased a couple of bottles of mead at a neighboring honey vendor. Wasn't just foodie type vendors. Products such as pot plants and soaps were also being peddled. Taste of Huon Ranelagh Showgrounds Adults $8.00 / Children free Free parking. Website

Really hard to find cheap accommodation in Hobart. My mate reckons it's because there is nothing to do down here in the winter months, so accommodation providers must 'make hay while the sun shines.' If This is true then what Hobart needs is a winter festival. Something like Sydney Vivid festival? The Edinburgh sits on a major intersection and the old building lets in the noise. The building itself makes a bit of noise too. Not great if your a light sleeper. Thankfully central Hobart all but dies overnight so the building can get almost peaceful after midnight. Really handy to central Hobart and Batteries point and there is Parking out the back I stayed for two nights at the Edinburgh B&B and the shared bathrooms were clean, as was the bed linen if a bit miss-matched. Room reminds me of a location out of twin peaks. Lot's of old wood and weird little nooks and crannies. Web site... Edinburgh Gallery Bed & Breakfast 211 Macquarie street H

Nice cafe with views up the river 651-655 Main Road  Berriedale TAS 7011 (03)6277 9900 http://mona.net.au/ LINKS museum-of-old-and-new-art-hobart museum-of-old-and-new-art-hobart inside museum-of-old-and-new-art-hobart getting there  

A Google-ised museum concept in that the viewer must actively participate in the experience.

Salty Caramel pie Is also available as an ice cream. 341 Elizabeth St,  North Hobart TAS 7000, Australia Website

Panorama from Sphinx rock We hopped out of the car (you need some sort of powered transport if your visiting Hobart) at a car park and headed up an extremely well maintained path for the Sphinx rock lookout. Strongest Eucalyptus fragrance I've ever encountered in the Australian bush. Weird looking through the bleached trunks of trees that suffered during a huge bush fire back in the Sixties. Regrowth hasn't yet grown up to match the previous heights. Weird berry that looked like a purple miniature capsicum