‘The mere sense of living is joy enough!’  -  Emily Dickinson

One of the things that we really love about Tassie is the sense of enjoyment in the simple pleasures of life. The young people who hurtle down on their bikes after school to throw their fishing lines in from our Woodbridge pontoon.  The sheer joy of driving in the Tasmanian countryside. The almost forgotten flavours of jams home made from freshly picked berries. The smell of the air when you get off the plane at Hobart. Drinking sweet tasting water straight from the tap.

Here are some more of the simple enjoyments that we have discovered – bet you’ll never read about these in a travel article!

Sunday Evening – Bush Bands and Beef Rolls 

There is an bush pub  about an 45 minutes from Woodbridge that has enchanted us. It is authentic ‘Country Tasmania’!

On Sunday afternoon, everyone gathers outside in the yard to listen to the bush, blue-grass or country band, in the cooler days standing around blazing fire-boxes, constructed in true ‘bush style’ from all manner of metal bits and pieces. At 5.00pm the hot beef rolls come out. Classic pub + cold beer + great ‘grub’ =  simple pleasure!

But the greatest pleasure is the people – genuine people. Everyone is made to feel welcome, and men with flowing mountain-beads and checked flannel shirts chat with bikers in black leathers, city sophisticates and family groups. We like the way this place makes us feel!

Coffee with Platypus on the side

About 45 minutes in the other direction from Woodbridge is a little cafe in what can only be described as a shed on the very edge of a stream. The shed has all sorts of extensions and additions, (it can’t possibly comply with any modern building standards!) as it has grown like topsy out over the gurgling stream – a delightful sound!

The food is simple but good, the setting is sublime, but what really sucked us in was the day we watched a platypus go about it’s business in full view in broad daylight for about an hour. It doesn’t get much better than this!

There are many other hidden gems…… just ask us.