L’Officiel Malaysia – July 2019

L’Ofciel Living

We love a place with mojo—which Tasmania certainly showed

to me during my recent visit. It may be the smallest state of

Australia but the idyllic landscapes as well as its bourgeoning

culinary, wine and art scenes have made it a dream destination

for travellers across the world. Situated about 250 km south of

Australia’s mainland, Tasmania offers as much charm, energy

and excitement as the other states—if not more—and one thing

is for sure: do not be fooled by the size of the island state.

FIRST STOP: HOBART

Hobart, Tasmania’s picturesque capital city, unfolds between

the Derwent River and Mount Wellington. With a population of

just over 200,000, it punches well above its weight in terms of

attractions while maintaining friendliness and accessibility. Its

compact size and delightful blend of heritage, culture, scenery

and produce make it a city that residents cherish and visitors

relish.

We started the day with a hearty breakfast at Maylands Lodge

(maylandslodge.com.au/+61 3 6169 2777), an urban lodge that

operates at a 132-year-old building. Following a stroll along the

nearby streets, we went on a short drive that soon revealed

plenty of the quirky stores and charming buildings with plaques

proudly hung on the façades explaining their history.

Hobart’s cultural claim to fame is MONA, the Museum of Old

and New Art (mona.net.au/+61 3 6277 9900). The dazzling

architectural marvel houses some of the most innovative and

consistently enduring contemporary artworks ever produced.

No first-time trip to Hobart is complete without a stopover at

the city’s most enigmatic museum. It has changed Hobart the

same way Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum has done to

Bilbao, Spain.

The locals know of its titillating backstory: David Walsh, a

millionaire who made his fortune at casinos and on horse races

and other gambling ventures built the museum with the intention

to stir outrage. You turn one way and see Roman or Egyptian

antiquities; you turn the other and see a piece of kitsch or an

endless row of porcelain casts of genitalia. The gallery space

was huge, so we fell back on the crutch of an iPod audio guide

that could sense our location in the museum and describe what

we were looking at. You could spend a whole day here but two

or three hours will give you a good overview of the best bits. The

best way to get to MONA is via water on their camouflaged ferry.

Sailing from Brooke Street Pier (Hobart waterfront) to MONA, it

takes approximately 25 minutes one-way.

If you’re a history buff, take a trip down the peninsula and visit

A Taste Of Tassie

Tasmania is the most quaint and enchanting southern island on the planet. We checked.

BY NAWAF RAHMAN

MACq 01 - Courtesy of MACq 01 and Rosie Hastie

MACq 01 - Courtesy of Adam Gibson