Tasmania is a small state, with around 500,000 people living here. Seventeen years ago, I moved here from South Australia. For 11 years, I lived on the North West Coast and then moved to the south.

When you live in Tasmania, it’s different than anywhere else. Firstly, the rest of Australia constantly forgets you are an Australian state. I’m here to tell you, Tasmania is a wonderful Australian state and I have lived in nearly all of them. Secondly, most people coming to Tassie for the first time, seem to think it is so small you can drive around it in a day. Not true, quite ridiculous really.

Thirdly, because it is small, it is assumed by many that there is not much to do. Of course if all you want to do is to party every night in different nightclubs and spend your time only in Hobart, you will become bored quickly. Hobart is beautiful, and it has enough nightlife for the small city that it is. It makes up for nightlife though with the best local produce and wines in the country (in my opinion), served in wonderful cafes and restaurants. You can take so many day trips from Hobart to wineries, waterfalls, caves, Kunanyi (Mt Wellington) and many other places.

The Huon Valley with its apples, cider and scenery. The Tahune Airwalk or a day trip to Bruny Island – or stay awhile and relax while perhaps watching the whales or dolphins swim by.

Mona, the world’s most intriguing and unusual museum is a must see. Love it or hate it, you’ll never see anything else like it.

Tasmania has the beautiful East Coast, North West and West Coast. Take boat rides or travel on the Old steam train. Visit the zoo with its Tasmanian Devils a big attraction. Port Arthur is steeped in history and also sadness, but an amazing place. You can travel to Cradle Mountain in October and be lucky to see snow in the morning and head to the tulip festival in the afternoon sun, if you are lucky. Of course, you will see so many waterfalls.

The beaches in Tasmania are first class. The water is blue and clean. The sand soft and yellow. You can look out to sea in December and watch the best yachts in the world head for the finish line in the Sydney to Hobart.

So you see, it’s almost impossible to spend a few days in Tasmania and see all there is to see. For those who constantly forget this little state, try to remember that you are forgetting a place with the purest air in the world and the nicest people you could ever meet. You are forgetting the wonderful scenery, the artists, the writers and the class of this state with its Theatre Royal – the oldest theatre still in use in the country.

I am not a native of this state, but I am proud to know I’ve been accepted as one now. We don’t have big bridges or opera houses, but we have love and caring for our state and we are proud Australians.