‘We’re already full.’ The standard answer to any kind of request regarding work. Strawberry season is just about to finish. Cherries have run out a week ago and until the apple and grape season starts in a few weeks everyone just has to hang in there idly. ‘Why don’t you come back in April?’ The apologizing suggestion to calm guilty consciousnesses. Apparently, they haven’t quite understood the traveller’s lifestyle, where in a matter of a few months the applicant might as well be on the other side of the globe. Long-term decisions, a foreign idea. So, since Tasmania has the advantage of being not much larger than Bavaria, a callback with a job interview on the other side of the island might as well be taken seriously. Within a few hours the state can be crossed, from the lush green north into the rain-deprived south, along the well-populated east coast right into the Tasman peninsula. A trip where it quickly becomes obvious that Google Maps’ optimistic display of paved roads is often still a work in progress, gravel spitting on both sides of the car, raining down on the abundant wildlife, curious who is stupid enough to drive here. Heaps of wallabies and pademelons, unfortunately more often lifeless than lively, the occasional echidna and the nocturnal bushtail possums. Technically, Tasmanian devils should roam as well, but their scarcity, shyness and carefulness keep them well away from intruding humans. Really a rare sight these days. The Tasman national park lures with abundant Eucalyptus forests and stunning cliffs, chilly but swimmable ocean waters that used to harbour forests of giant kelp. Well, not anymore. The last one died a while back in 2016. So sad to think that the fastest growing plant on the earth, half a meter per day, wouldn’t call the southeast corner of Tasmania its home anymore. Since the job hunt is slow, days are better spent hiking, snorkelling and meeting other job-seeking backpackers. Everyone seemed to have the same amazing idea to come to Australia’s southernmost state in summer such that there is a surplus of workforce right now, driving around in cars and vans, with tents and sleeping bags, asking every living soul that appears to own a business if they can’t use some extra hands. Predominantly in the Hobart area. The island’s capital attracts travellers en masse. It’s calm and chill and has a harbour and some beaches, that occasionally glow at night. Bioluminescent algae. Apart from that it’s totally different from the rest of Australia. More European, more British, less ‘everything here can kill you’. Even the weather is less extreme. Suddenly it’s properly cold. In summer. The people here love it. Tasmania’s population is virtually a collection of Australians who favour winter over summer. They don’t mind the extra blankets as long as they don’t sweat rivers during the day. Even though, the sun is still clearly strong enough for sunburns. Can’t skip the sunblock even on a cloudy day. Almost worse than further up north.