We woke up in Strahan to the sound of silence instead of raindrops, though the ground certainly told the story of the heavy downpour we’d had overnight. There were some truly impressive puddles surrounding the truck, making for a bit of a hop, skip, and a jump just to get things moving.

The aftermath of a wet Tasmanian night with some significant puddles gathered around the truck.
The aftermath of a wet Tasmanian night with some significant puddles gathered around the truck.

Once we made our way into the heart of town, the morning turned out to be beautifully calm and pleasant. The water in the harbour was like a sheet of glass, perfectly still and reflecting the moody Tasmanian sky. It’s the kind of quiet that makes you want to whisper so you don’t break the peace. Steve was particularly taken by how the red-roofed buildings along the shore looked almost like a painting mirrored in the water.

A perfectly still morning in Strahan where the buildings and trees are mirrored in the glassy harbour water.
A perfectly still morning in Strahan where the buildings and trees are mirrored in the glassy harbour water.

We spent a good while just wandering along the foreshore walkway. It was lovely to stretch our legs on flat ground for a change. The reflections of the jetties and the fishing boats were so sharp you could hardly tell where the wood met the waterline. You kids would have had a ball trying to spot fish in that clear, dark water; it has that famous tea-colour from the button grass tannins, but it’s as still as a millpond.

The quiet jetties and boats of the Strahan foreshore reflected in the dark, tannin-stained waters.
The quiet jetties and boats of the Strahan foreshore reflected in the dark, tannin-stained waters.

Of course, no morning walk is complete without a bit of a look at the local shops. We found a great little spot called The Coffee Shack, which is a bright blue corrugated building that’s hard to miss. Steve was very happy to see they were open, as he’s always on the lookout for a decent brew to keep his engine running.

The Coffee Shack, a cheerful blue landmark where we stopped for a morning caffeine fix.
The Coffee Shack, a cheerful blue landmark where we stopped for a morning caffeine fix.

While we were poking around the various boutiques, Lisa became quite transfixed by a shop called ‘Lakes Leather’. There was one particular bag that caught her eye, but being us, we decided to sleep on it and went off to tackle the exciting world of holiday laundry instead.

However, some things are just meant to be. We returned the very next day because Lisa couldn't stop thinking about a specific leather bag. The most wonderful part—and the reason we knew we had to bring it home—was the brand name embossed on the front: ‘Carmela’. As you know, that was Lisa’s mum’s name. It felt like a little wink from her, finding a beautiful piece of craftsmanship with that name right here in Strahan. It’s more than just a souvenir now; it’s a lovely little connection to family that we’ll treasure.

Lisa’s beautiful new leather bag, featuring the name 'Carmela'—a special tribute to her mother.
Lisa’s beautiful new leather bag, featuring the name 'Carmela'—a special tribute to her mother.

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