Boronia Beach

Boronia Beach in Kingston is a hidden-away gem of a place. I call it the secret beach in my head. About a 10 minute walk from Kingston Heights, down a long
set of steps and along a bush track, you round the bend and see through the trees this glorious little cove that transports you to some remote Greek island!


We went with the clan on a 30-degree day the other week, and although it was for once a bit busy with a few other families, there was such a nice vibe that we were happy to share out little paradise with others. Emerging from the cool, crystal clear water onto the clean sandy beach embraced by tall shaggy bush and totally out of sight of civilization is enough to make you fling your arms wide and sing "I'm aliiiiive!" Which I did, unashamedly.

Where: Walk from Kingston Heights, Kingston.

TMAG

TMAG, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, has had something of a serious facelift since I was a kid. It's now a very contemporary, lively and exciting place to visit. There was a stunning exhibition about Tasmania's indigenous people, the old faithful natural history section, but with some fresh new animal pelts for petting (see photo) and a fantastic and interactive Antarctic exhibit, complete with drawers full of taxidermied antarctic birds and a big slab of ice to touch! There is a scale model of Mawson's hut which I could've spent all day peering into. See bottom left image. Or better yet, go to TMAG and peer in yourself!



There is also a discovery centre for the kids, and its heart is in the right place, but I look forward to it receiving a bit more attention in coming years. There are some very exciting looking artist's models of future plans for the museum, so I think it's only going to get bigger and better. The museum shop is also new (to me, anyway!) and was a pleasure to browse through with some gorgeous books. The courtyard area to the side of the museum, near the Bond Store, is a lovely open area. It's just a great, easygoing place with a relaxed vibe and will become much more of a hangout as my son gets older.

Where: 40 Macquarie St, Hobart
Opening hours: 10am -5pm daily (excluding Christmas day, Anzac Day and Good Friday)

Shameless self-promotion

My partner and I have launched an etsy store, Zando Design, where we will be selling all manner of original handmade items. So far it's in the process of getting well-stocked with one-inch badges. Check it out for some fun and quirky button badges, made right here in Tasmania!

Cool house

Barossa Rd, Glenorchy.

MONA FOMA

The Museum of Old & New Art's Festival of Art and Music - MONA FOMA - took place last weekend in Hobart. We went to see one exhibit, Discordia, a collection of amplified electric guitars and a flock of finches co-existing in sweet disharmony. It was fantastic...surprisingly peaceful and meditative. You moved quietly around the room, beautifully set up with a sand island and horizontally stood guitars, and the birds moved in response, alighting on the miked up instruments and creating unique hymns. Kids loved it too!

Where: Discordia took place in the Long Gallery, in the Salamanca Arts Centre, where there were also a number of other exhibits.

The Taste Festival

The Taste Festival, formerly the Taste of Tasmania, is an 8-day event spanning the end of the last year and the beginning of the next (that's Dec 28-Jan 4 to you plebs!). It's a mix of food stalls highlighting the produce of Tassie that has now been well padded out with art installations, short cinema, roving comedy, concerts and loads of free events. There are also the Sydney to Hobart yachts in dock which hold more interest to me now through the eyes of a fascinated toddler than ever when I was a kid myself.


Among the fun stuffs was the Mercury Kidz in the Park, in St David's Park yesterday - the highlight of which for us was the petting zoo. I fell in love with the jersey cow and the piebald donkey. Turkeys you can keep. Ugly buggers! There were performers too, such as George from Playschool (who I secretly wish I could've seen. I could so happily work on Playschool. Except for the whole not-living-in-Hobart bit of it. Maybe Andy Muirhead and I can do a Tassie version.)(If I knew him, that is.)

We missed seeing George from Playschool because we went over to the Cenotaph for the Hobart Kite Festival, which was a brilliant afternoon out. The Tasmanian Kite Club, or Kite Association of Tasmania, or whatever they called themselves, were selling $3 hotcakes: simple black or orange plastic kites, that were idiot-proof and great fun to fly. Loads of families with picnics, kids and old coots in suspenders (think Uncle Jessie from Dukes of Hazard) flying kites, a stunning blue sky and the panoramic view of Hobart, the bridge and the mountain. What a perfect afternoon!