We woke up to a bit of a drizzly morning in Branxholm, Tasmania, but we didn’t let the damp weather keep us inside. Lisa insisted that a bit of mist was good for the complexion, so we donned our rain jackets for a morning stroll through the quiet streets. The town has such a peaceful feel to it, especially when the roads are slick with rain and the air smells so fresh. We walked past the local cafe, which had its lights glowing warmly against the grey sky—a very tempting sight when you’re out in the cold.
The architecture in these small Tassie towns is always a treat to look at. We came across the Imperial Hotel, which is a magnificent two-storey building painted in a cheery yellow with green trim. It really stands out against the clouds. Steve joked that it looked far too posh for us to go wandering into with our wet boots, so we stayed on the footpath and admired the woodwork from afar.
While we were chatting with some fellow campers later that morning, they told us about a creek walk just north of town. Since we weren't in any particular rush to move on, we decided to check it out. It was a lovely, easy track that led us right alongside the water. The creek was flowing quite fast after the rain, bubbling over the rocks and logs. It’s the kind of spot where you could sit for hours just listening to the water. The grandkids would have had a ball trying to spot platypuses in the shallows, though we didn't have much luck seeing any ourselves this time.
After our walk, we decided to head further north. We passed through the town of Derby, and we couldn't help but laugh at the contrast. Having spent plenty of time in the Derby back home in Western Australia, seeing this version was a bit of a shock to the system. Our Derby is all red dust, massive tides, and boab trees, while this one is tucked away in lush green hills with mountain bikes everywhere you look. It’s funny how two places can share a name and absolutely nothing else! On the way our of town was a massive rock that someone had painted to look like a bright, colourful fish nestled in the scrub. It gave us a good chuckle; it’s those little quirky touches that make these road trips so memorable.
We eventually pulled into the Pyengana Recreation Reserve. We’ve found that some of these spots with names that are a bit of a mouthful often turn out to be the best surprises. This free camp is absolutely spectacular. We found a spot with views that go on forever across the valley. To top it off, there is even a flushing toilet—Lisa says that’s the height of luxury when you’re camping!
