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Spain Story
Walking Away Towards You
When I think of Spain I think of a dog, handsome but dusty, sleeping in the shade of a tangled olive tree, while the sun beats down all around and the cicadas screech. Repeat that scene a hundred thousand times and you will have a passable impression of España. Of course, there are variations. The…
August 5, 2022
New Caledonia Story
A Night Out in Nouméa
My host family is kicking me out. I found out today at school when our contact at the vice-rectorate came up to me and said she needed to discuss something.  “But don’t worry,” she says, “you’ll see a new place next week. Oh, and don’t take it personally." I speak to my host that afternoon.…
July 28, 2022
Story
I’m Good at Saying Goodbye
After stacking motorbikes and removing helmets, we shuffled into a dimly lit room and sat on worn couches. We didn't mind the red wine stains or the ripped carpet. We smiled at the woman behind the bar, shook her hand, and tried to remember the Indonesian word for evening greetings. Shisha XL was our…
July 6, 2022
Australia Story
A Shark Named Buster
I'm sitting alone in a waiting room that I've never been in before, nor thought I’d need to. There’s a sliver of light from the outside world peering through the small glazed window of the door into the clinic. It’s almost like any other waiting room - lifeless overhead lights, slightly comfortable seats and perhaps…
May 25, 2022
Australia Fiction Story
Everyday Heroes
In times of peace, they were strictly enemies. Mr Wilson sat on his porch, sweating in front of an old desk fan, glowering at the boys who sat in the park, drinking beer on sun-baked afternoons, smoking cigarettes, hawking at the back of their throats, spitting, playing loud music, swearing, intimidating passers-by. They wore Nike-branded…
April 13, 2022
Australia Story
Down the Mullumbimby Rabbit Hole
It was a Friday, around 3pm, when we had our first glass of Kratom. Jai finished his glass first and placed it on the table. “I’m going to the tip,” he said as he removed himself from the lounge and walked through the front door. I was somewhat confused by this. Why would a man…
March 10, 2022

Astray is a storytelling project centred on travel, place, culture and identity.

We’re run by a team of writers who mostly live, work and play in nipaluna / Hobart. With reverence, we acknowledge the Tasmanian Aboriginal people as the traditional and ongoing custodians of trouwunna / lutruwita / Tasmania: land that was stolen and never ceded. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.