We’ve had a great start to our time around Smithton, Tasmania. There’s something about the air down here that just makes you want to get moving, though Lisa managed to find a reason to linger at the van every morning. She’s gone and made some new friends—a flock of ducks that seem to have her on a strict schedule. They waddle right up to the step, bold as brass, waiting for their morning greeting. Honestly, I think they’ve got her wrapped around their little webbed feet.
While we were wandering around the local area, I spotted a bright red mushroom tucked away in the leaf litter. It looked like something straight out of a fairy tale, a brilliant red cap covered in white spots, standing out against the brown birch leaves. It’s funny the little things you notice when you aren't in a rush.
We took a run out to Marrawah to check out the Green Point Campground. The beach there is something else entirely. We timed it perfectly with the tide out, which revealed a massive, still pool reflecting the sky like a mirror. You could see the sun glinting off the surface, making the whole place feel incredibly peaceful.
The shoreline is a real treasure trove of textures. Further along, the rocks are covered in vibrant orange lichen, clashing beautifully against the blue of the Bass Strait. There’s driftwood scattered everywhere, bleached white by the salt and sun, looking like old bones amongst the reef.
I spent a fair bit of time just staring at the rock formations. They aren't just boulders; they are these fantastic, layered slabs that look like they’ve been squeezed and folded over millions of years. The patterns in the stone are intricate, running in grey and white ribbons right across the sand.
Some of the rocks have been weathered into the strangest shapes. There are these gnarly, upright formations encrusted with yellow lichen that look like ancient sculptures. It’s a rugged bit of coast, and you can really feel the power of the ocean in how it’s carved out the land.
From Marrawah, it was only a short hop down to Arthur River to see the "Edge of the World." It’s a bit of a sobering thought standing there, knowing that if you headed west across the water, you wouldn’t hit a speck of dry land until you reached Argentina. It’s the longest uninterrupted span of ocean on the planet. I went off to the lookout to soak in the view, and by the time I came back, I found Lisa deep in conversation. She’d spent a good thirty minutes chatting away with some of the locals—she certainly has a knack for finding someone to talk to, no matter how remote we are!
On the drive back via Temma Road toward Nelson Bay, we had to slow down for a local resident. A fat little wombat was right on the edge of the road, busy munching on the grass and not giving us a second glance. They really are the tanks of the bush, just doing their own thing.
We finished the day with a walk out to Trowutta Arch. It’s a spectacular natural bridge formed by a collapsed cave system. Standing under the massive rock overhang, you look out over a perfectly still, lime-green pond surrounded by lush ferns. The contrast between the dark, heavy stone and that bright green water is stunning. It felt like we’d stepped back into a prehistoric world.
It’s been a day of big views and small details, and I reckon we’ve barely scratched the surface of this corner of Tassie.
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