2025 in Tasmania

Written By Liana Smart

As our year of 2025 started, the plan was to travel across the Bass Trait to Tasmania, head back over the 7m swells and tread into unmarked territory of Western Aus. We didn’t quite get to the unmarked territory of Western Aus though… Our Tassie trip was met with exceeding expectations. High mountains, pristine crystal clear waters, wombats!, and even a Tassie devil taking my shoe.

Here are some of our adventures that lead us to spending the rest of 2025 in Tasmania.

We started off at Leven Canyon. A beautiful little spot and even a little swimming area at Devils Elbow if you don’t mind walking. We bought some blueberries at a random berry farm. I have never tasted so much flavour in one blueberry. That 1kg bag was gone in a few days.

Cradle Mountain is on everyone’s list when they come to Tasmania and with good reason. The beauty of Cradle Mountain is breathtaking. We did the circuit up around Hanson’s Peak and unfortunately didn’t get any views until we were back down at Dove Lake. The second time around we had clear views all around and it was incredible!!
We stayed at Lake Gardner which we camped along the little stream, and if you know when to look, you’ll see some platypus swimming around. I love this spot. We would walk along the rounded rocks and go for a dip in the refreshing water.

We dipped in some more refreshing water at Derby - and if you’re lucky enough to get a spot on the floating sauna, it’s even better. One of my favourite moments from Derby, is waking up early in the morning, walking on the dirt path, lake on one side, trees on the other. As the sun starting to reflect on the lake, the steam would start to dance with subtle ques of the wind. It was mesmorising.

Walls of Jerusalem is a multiday hike - our first one for Tassie. The first day was filled with blue skies, magnificent views, come sunset, beautiful golden rays, cute spotted quolls running around, as much as I would love to say it was a beautiful warm night - it was bloody freezing!

We broke down on our way to Freycinet National Park – when I started working in Bicheno, I realised where we broke down was one of the only patches of service! After getting towed to Oatlands where we were stationary for 5 days, we found that the pub had some delicious food (my go to was schnitzel and chips) and the local coppa can make a pretty good coffee, too!

Frenchmans Cap was our next multiday hike on the list. This is a usually a 4 day hike - we combine the first 2 days and made it a 3 day hike. That was one of the biggest mental challenges I had ever faced. The first section made it pretty easy, but once up and over the pass, the cloud coverage started to sweep across and it was a total white out. We could barely see a few meters in front of us. Hiking for the last 15kms still needing to get 5km done. We didn’t exactly know how far we were from camp but we knew we had to walk down into Lake Tahune. So we made it down some steps, only to be met with another set of stairs leading upwards again. And so we danced with the up-down, until we saw the little light of the hut and after 20kms, , we were there. The icy swim at 1,000m never felt so good. The next morning we summited Frenchman’s Cap: 1,440m.

Views of Barron Pass on the way to Lake Tahune (Frenchmans Cap).

After the hiking adventures we finally got to the East Coast. Just imagine, crystal clear waters and a whole lot of relaxing.

Maria Island is a fun little place. A lot of wombats! Hiking up to Bishop and Clerk. Bike riding around the island and in my case, come down hot on a very steep, long hill, not sticking to a line and stacking it. My knee had swelled and seen better days. The next day was a ride off, quite literally.

As we continued south along the East Coast, we made our way down to the Tasman Peninsula. After doing a few days hikes, we decided to take some much needed rest in a beautiful cabin: The Stand Alone. Some things that rarely get spoken about is how, sometimes, travelling can be exhausting. For me the constant moving around and not feeling grounded, the constant thinking of where do we stay tonight, is there going to be enough room for us, how long will we stay for, when we will next get washing done, I wish I had a proper sink to wash dishes. It has many lessons in it: letting go. But staying in a home. Oh, how I appreciate home. We spent those 4 days hibernating, connecting to each other and ourselves. Honouring that we needed to stop. To stand still at The Stand Alone.

When settled again, our adventures continued, there are so many more places we saw, but my favourite places wherever I am: Sunrises & Sunsets.

Sunset at White Water Wall, Freycinet National Park

After spending 3 months exploring, we decided, why not? Let’s move to Tasmania for a year! So, we packed up what we could, brought both of our cars back over that Bass Trait and settled into Launceston. Well, kind of settled. It took a while for me to settle in all honesty. Oh, to be a child again to make friends so easily without people looking at you weirdly. When did we (I?) forget how to make friends. It’s really an effort. I have been so fortune to have met some beautiful like-minded people.

So, what has my last six months looked like?
Work has looked like: creating a safe, warm, home studio transitioning from traditional massage to Bodywork. In addition, working on the East Coast in Bicheno at a beautiful Massage Studio: Selkie Wellness (I recommend you add it to your Tassie list).
As much as I would love to say every spare chance I have is spent outdoors adventuring, that really isn’t the reality I had hoped for. It has, although, been filled with things that are grounding to the one location: climbing at the bouldering gym, practicing Tai Chi & Qi Gong, even doing some line dancing!

What will my next 6 months in Launceston look like?
One of building foundation and connections with people.

 

Some of my favourite things to do in Launceston:

 

Some of my favourite things to do around NE Tassie:

  • Bingalong Bay ~ Crystal clear waters, beautiful orange lichen rocks.

  • Bicheno ~ Crystal clear waters, Crumpets from Peggy’s, coffee from Gather Espresso, massage from Selkie Wellness.

  • Derby ~ Fossicking, Trees, River, and Mountain Bike Riding

  • Fingal ~ the Flying Saucer Café homemade cinnamon donuts (& coffee).

I started writing this when I was back in the Grampians for a few days. A test of where do I want to be. Coming back here, is what I call home. I know I will be back very soon and I will be excited for the day to officially lay my roots down back home, in the Grampians.

Liana Smart