Seeing is believing and that couldn’t be more appropriate than heading to music, arts and food festival Dark Mofo yourself and soaking up a truly unique experience!

We found ourselves in Hobart during the early stages of the two week the festival which runs from the 8th to the 21st June and in turn soaked up what was an interesting week at a fascinating and globally recognised festival.

Although the overall trip was something else, there were five core reasons to add this one to your bucket list.

Hobart

Jaw dropping beauty only just summarises what this quaint city has to offer with a balanced mix of urban and nature. Many of the historic buildings remain and any approved developments don’t shoot upwards to the sky and block out far reaching views of Mount Wellington or the mighty ocean that stretches for miles.

People are friendly and the pricing isn’t too far fetched once you’ve made the journey with local spots offering decent happy hour savings.

When day becomes night a red lighting hue becomes the constant of most venues or support for Dark Mofo and will usually lead you to good times.

All in all, during Dark Mofo or outside the two week party times you’ll find something to like about Hobart!

Mona – Museum of Old and New Art

The ferry out to Mona alone is worth a trip to soak up the tranquility and spot the odd houses dotted along the harbour’s edge before arriving at the fort-like building that creeps out of the hillside.

Even with all the hype surrounding Mona you’ll still be raising a few eye brows at the out of the ordinary art on show with immersive and interactive pieces scattered across multiple levels. There was probably still 1/4 of the installations being finished but was enough to walk away having seen things you never thought you would!

Bonus points for the Moo Brewery planted on-top of the museum as well as food on offer to sit, relax and enjoy the fresh air.

Red Bull Music Academy – Transliminal

Photo credit: Red Bull Content Pool / Anthony Smith

RBMA weren’t kidding around with their set-up for their Transliminal parties across the Friday and Saturday nights of both weekend. In what became the final destination for many was the cities town hall with an open bottom floor and towering second level with the option peer down from to keep an eye on the 2,000 punters that rolled through until the early mornings (hint: 5am).

The decks, smack bang in the middle of the floor were circled by a hefty red and white laser show created by revered audio visual master Robin Fox which entombed the room but also danced around the space delighting punters .

Photo credit: Red Bull Content Pool / Anthony Smith

Music was on-point with DJ Harvey plowing through a 5+ hour set on the Friday as he moved between disco, house and some harder house with Legowelt liberally applying some  hekkers tekkers on the Saturday. This contrast of DJs within the exact same identical space really helped focus on the track selection as well as build and flow of the night.

Big shoutout goes to all the supports on both nights especially Lorna Clarkson on the Saturday for delivering a perfectly steamy opening set.

Those that stuck around or popped up the following weekend at Red Bull Music Academy’s ‘Transliminal’ parties were treated to the pleasurable beats of Huxtable, Chiara Kickdrum on the Friday and Maurice Fulton, DJ Jnett and Adi Toohey on the Saturday.

Each year, the Red Bull Music Academy parties keep getting better and better, and are a standalone reason to make your way to Dark Mofo!

Food/Winter Feast

There’s plenty of cafes and bars on offer in Hobart with Rude Boy offering up some Caribbean bites, Daci and Daci with the holy place for baked treats or the kind of secret underground spot of Ettie’s making for a perfect spot for a glass or two. Seafood is caught locally and the quality is certainly noticeable be it chowing down on fresh salmon or the well revered selection of oysters.

The Winter Feast pictured above is a central part for the festival with a huge hall laden with long tables, glowing red crosses and stacks of lit candles – a real pagan set up! The vendors running alongside each wall as well as countless more just outside offer anything and everything you could think of when it comes to delicious food and drink to start or end a night.

Dark Park

Ahh where to begin, Dark Park is a playground for adults without the need to ‘protect’ people with open fire pits, countless installations, giant lasers, moody sonic sounds, confronting short films and much, much more (a stark contrast to Sydney).

Everything has an ominous dark red light adding to the overall feel of the space that allows you to step outside of your normal self and push your own boundaries.  Try talking to some strangers and before long you’ll find yourself deep in conversation.

Can promise you, you won’t see this sort of set up in Sydney!

Conclusion

Put this on the planner and get in early when booking accommodation and flights. Head with someone close or even a bigger crew to cover a bit more ground across the weekend but be sure to take in the sights and sounds outside of Dark Mofo.

Again, the Red Bull Music Academy ‘Transliminal’ parties keep getting better and better and a stand alone reason to make you’re way to Dark Mofo!