Tassie on Toast - A Love Letter to Tasmania

I acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this land,
the Palawa people of Lutruwita (Tasmania),
and pay my deepest respects to Elders past and present.
Their deep connection to this place lives on in every tree, every shore, and every breath of air we share.

They say you’re not really Tasmanian unless you were born here.
That it doesn’t matter how long you've stayed —
if you’re from the mainland or overseas, you’ll always be “not quite.”

But when I first breathed in the crisp Tasmanian air,
when I saw the Derwent shimmer from my window,
I knew:
This is where I want to be. This is where I feel most me.

I came over with a car full of hope and a heart open to the unknown.
I didn’t know what to expect — but I knew I had to be here.

The longer I stayed, the more this place revealed itself:
Drivers that let you merge.
Strangers who stop to say hello.
Neighbours who leave lemons at the gate.
Volunteers who give without asking.
Wilderness that humbles you.
Beaches that heal you.
Sunlight that makes everything sparkle.

Every day in Tasmania reminds me that home isn’t just where you’re born —
It’s where your spirit settles.
Where your heart says: “This is it.”

So, what does it take to be Tasmanian?
Kindness.
Patience.
A love for the wild, for the weather, for the people and the air.
A willingness to belong — and to let others belong.

This is my tribute to Tasmania.
My home.
Whether or not I was born here, my heart belongs here.

And if yours does too —
Tasmania is for you.

See the Tassie I fell in love with: 📸@tassieontoast