Van Journal Week 2: Waterfalls and Bay of Fire

Van Journal Week 2: Waterfalls and Bay of Fire

What is in motion stays in motion...

This was the first week we really felt like the adventure was back in full swing. After spending several months converting our van during the Covid lockdown, we were hungrier than ever to get out and explore.

Admittedly, this was the first week in which we were able to settle into van living. After the trial run to Queensland and a rapid descent to Tazzy, it felt great to focus more on the destination than just getting there.

It's clear now that we've spent so long trying to get things right with the van and organizing everything we need. So much so, in fact, that we had given very little time to plan our route or our adventures in Tasmania - if ever really.

Van Journal Week 1: The Road to Tasmania

• alt=“ST COLUMBA FÄLLE GEHEN“>
• alt=“CAMPING AN DER BUCHT DER FEUER“>
• alt=“SWIMCART STRAND CAMPINGPLATZ COSY ECKE“>

Reflecting on the Spirit of Tasmania

The Spirit of Tasmania felt like a paradigm shift for us. It was as if we were truly seeing the beginnings of travel post-Covid-19. Finally, the familiar feeling of freedom that a nomadic life offers began to return.

We opted for a day sail, mainly due to the fact that it was the only space left on the ship. However, we were glad we did. We really appreciated spending a day on the Spirit with little to do other than think and start planning our trip.
alt=“WITH OUR VAN ON THE SPIRIT OF TASMANIA”>Front row seats on the Spirit of Tasmania
Surprisingly, we had good 4G cell reception for almost the entire trip across Bass Strait. Calm seas also meant I could do a little maintenance on this blog. Looking back, it was neglected over the last three months while we were building Clifden. It's true that even though we haven't been traveling, I still have a backlog of content to post from previous trips.

So as I look to the future, I will learn from my mistakes in neglecting We Seek Travel during this time and make an announced effort to never abandon it again.

Things in motion stay in motion. I'll take Newton's advice and make sure this blog continues to move forward and upward.

Finally, the first step was publishing my long, 13,000 word article on building a van. Hopefully this will be useful for those planning to convert their own van in Australia.

Converting Our Van in Australia – Complete Build and Resources Guide

Waiting for the water in Devonport

Luckily for us, disembarkation from the Spirit in Devonport went unexpectedly quickly and smoothly. That's because we got a seat right at the front of the boat, which also meant we had to get out first. I've heard it can take hours if you're somewhere in the middle.

Strict Tasmanian quarantine laws dictate that no fresh fruit, vegetables or plant material can enter the island state. So our first stop was the nearest Woolies in Devonport to stock up on groceries for the week.

It seemed as if fragments of the torrential rains we had narrowly missed on the mainland had followed us south. But we didn't complain. Instead we spent a few wet nights at the Forth Recreation Ground where we did a bit of work and finished planning a rough route and recorded all the destinations to visit and things to cover in this blog.
alt=“LITTLE BLUE LAKE TASMANIA”>Short stop at “Little Blue Pools”
alt=“TASMANIAN ROADS VAN LIFE”>Back on the road to the east coast

Waterfall hikes and enjoying the moment

Our plan is to spend several months, however long it really takes, to experience and cover as many of the best hikes, waterfalls and attractions Tasmania has to offer. The combination of our flexible schedule and the proximity of each location in Tasmania meant that a perfect route wasn't really necessary for us. Instead, we took advantage of the heavy rains and headed out to see some of the northeast waterfalls in full force.

If we took this approach we would undoubtedly go back and forth a bit, but we really don't mind.

Waterfall highlights of the week included stops at Lilydale Falls, St. Columba Falls and Halls Falls. We also experienced our first sight of the world-famous Tasmanian temperate rainforests on the Myrtle Rainforest Walk.

• alt=“ENTDECKUNG DER LILYDALE FALLS RESERVE KOSTENLOSER CAMPINGBEREICH“>
• alt=“LILYDALE FALLE WALK TASMANIEN“>

Spending some time hiking allowed us to reflect on the return of the lifestyle we had given up everything for. We were finally able to move freely and live a life on the move. Days of self-isolation and physical lockdown, debilitating conditions that go against our very nature, were behind us. Although it may not be over for good, on the trails in Tasmania we felt like this world was in the history books.

• alt=“HALLS FALLS ROCKPOOLS TASMANIEN“>
• alt=“ST COLUMBA FÄLLE GEHEN“>
• alt=“WASSERFALL ST. COLUMBA, TASMANIEN“>
• alt=“REGENWALD FARN UND FLUSS IM ST COLUMBA FALLS STATE RESERVE“>

The Bay of Fire

At the end of the week we spent a few days in the Bay of Fires, a place that lives up to its name.
alt=“SUNSET CAMPING AT THE BAY OF FIRES, SWIMCART BEACH”>
Huge, dark orange, lichen-covered rocks line the shoreline, resting on beds of chalky white sand and kissed by turquoise waters. It really is an incredible color palette. But, perhaps more appropriate to the name, it's as if the sun paints the sky and sea with a flamethrower with every rise and set in the bay's waters.

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We were lucky enough to find a killer spot right on the water at Cozy Corner, another apt name for a great spot near Swimcart Beach.
alt=“SWIMCART BEACH CAMPSITE COZY CORNER”>
I honestly couldn't believe my ears when I was told that all the campsites in the area were free. We made the most of it and spent the last three nights of our first week in Tasmania enjoying the natural beauty of this incredible place.

alt=“BAY OF FIRE SUNRISE WAVES”>
alt="SUNRISE AT THE BAY OF FIRE">
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alt="SUNSET ON THE BAY OF FIRES COAST TASMANIA">
alt=“SWIMCART BEACH CAMPSITE COZY CORNER”>
alt=“BAY OF FIRE TASMANIA”>
alt=“THE GARDENS AND THE BIG LAGOON BAY OF FIRES TASMANIA”>
alt=“BAY OF FIRE TASMANIA”>
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