New friends in Paradise

“I absolutely love this spot”, Jane said today summing up how we both felt about Tidal River. The parks office told us today that every long weekend and major public holiday is booked out a year in advance – we’re not surprised – this place is paradise. You meet some great people (and some dodgies!) when you’re camping with plenty of time to chat. Yesterday we met a very interesting and friendly family staying in the cabin next to us - Emma and Damian and their little daughter Ashleigh. Our kids immediately bonded and had a fantastic time together. Emma is originally from the French Island of Reunion (near Mauritius) and Damian, an Osteopath, has 2 clinics in Thornbury and Fitzroy. Went spear fishing from the kayak this arvo – Victorian fish are smarter than their Tasmanian cousins (ie. I got nothing). Love from the Darvalls

Wombat show

They even hire local wombats to put on a show for the kids! Another great day - surfing, swimming, running, eating & sleeping. Love from the slackers.

Wilsons Prom

Wow! What a fantastic spot. There is a good reason Wilsons Promontory has become an iconic Australian camping spot. Jane and I hadn’t been to Tidal river campsite since we were kids – it’s actually got better. The campgrounds are nestled in the pristine National Park and are really well maintained – the best we’ve seen so far. The hardest thing is deciding whether to go kayaking, fishing, surfing, swimming, hiking or bike riding. We managed to beat the school holiday rush and snag the best campsite in miles – right on tidal river which the kids love. Love from the Happy Campers.

We've made it all the way to....Flinders

Hi Jane here for my first blog entry. We left our home 4 weeks ago now and we have made it all the way to Flinders on our big adventurous road trip – and I don’t mean Flinders Island or Flinders rangers – just good old Flinders Victoria - 1 hour from home. After our three exciting weeks in Tasmania settling into the camper trailer way of life at some magnificent spots we then came back to Melbourne on the Spirit of Tasmania one week ago. Spent one night at Jude and Clyde’s house which meant we had a lovely breakfast party for Henry and Ella’s third birthday. Then we headed to Andy & Sarah’s beautiful property in Hoddles creek for the week while they were away at a healing retreat at the Gawler foundation. Andy & Sarah arrived home last Friday two of the healthiest & most relaxed people I’ve seen for a long time. Thanks to Harriet, Jessie and Phoebe who very generously welcomed us into their home. We enjoyed sharing in their lives for the week – finding the best coffee in Yarra Junction at the groovy café Harriet works at, seeing Jessie in her basket ball grand final, hunting tiger snakes around the pool and hanging out with many of Phoebies friends who visited after school. Thank god Andy & Sarah’s place is a natural beautiful retreat because life with 3 busy teenagers and 3 busy pre schoolers did require a lot of energy – although I did still fit in some time for Red Rascal business and managed a sale from the back of Andy’s ute at school pick at the Yarra Steiner school to see Red Rascal coming to a great shop in Yarra Junction called Under the Juniper Tree. So we have landed in Flinders with time to repack our camp gear and hopefully loose a lot of stuff – we are very comfortable campers but some what laden down – is it the multiple cooking implements? – do we need a cob oven, a camp oven, a smoker and a camp equivalent of a slow cooker, not to mention the three burner gas stove; or maybe it is my sewing machine, iron & two suitcases of red rascal T’s?; or is it the diving, fishing, kayaking gear???? Who knows – but some big questions are going to be asked this week??!!?? (The sewing machine is definitely in). Another very exciting part of Tassie was taking Red Rascal over seas and out of Victoria – we have picked up two fantastic shops to stock us in Hobart. Forget me not is a kids clothing shop and Mini store is a lovely women’s clothing shop. So another reason for a pit stop at Flinders is to sew, sew, sew and how I love it!! On Friday we just picked up a big batch of long sleeve T’s and for the first time they have the Red rascal label in them – no doubt I’m biased but they look fantastic, I almost had to sleep with a pile of them. I’d better get back to the sewing machine now. The only plan from here is to get all the way to Beechworth for Easter (it’s a very long way & I’m just not sure if we’ll make it that far!!!) Bye & Love Jane, Toby & the three feral children who have taken far too well to the unstructured outside life of playing nude most of the day.

Ferry to Melbourne

Got up before dawn this morning in the lovely old town of Deloraine and drove the remaining 50km to the ferry. Bad coffees and sausage rolls to start the day - magnificent! What could have been a very tedious voyage was made a lot easier by the kids play area and face painting - we left the kids in the cabin and Jane and I amused ourselves for hours! It feels a bit strange going back to Melbourne when we don't have a home to return to. We miss Tasmania already - it was sad seeing it disappear over the horizon. Love from Jane, Toby and the Squids

Bay of Fires farewell & Launceston bound

The beautiful weather continued and we had to prise ourselves away from our wonderful spot in the Bay of Fires - but commerce beaconed in Launceston where Jane had one shop lined up as a potential stockist. While Jane visited the store the kids and I went to a beautifully manicured local park with real green grass (something now quite rare on the mainland) - the kids promptly dropped their pants and did a wee on the nearest tree - too long in the bush! Then did a trip up the Cataract Gorge - rode the chairlift and swam in the outdoor pool. Love from the Travelling Wilderbeasts.

Kayaking on the lagoon

Another day in paradise. Ollie has been riding his bike around the campsite in ever widening circles. This morning he discovered a lagoon which gave us hours of fun on the kayak. During Jane's birthday reveries red wine spilt on keyboard and computer now doing strange things - or is it the writer? Love from Jane, Toby, Ollie, Henry & Eloise

Spearfishing

Had great success today spearfishing and then with the fish smoker. These Tasmanian fish either have have never been hunted or are really dumb. The hunter and gatherer is back! Another pristine day on the beach and then around the campfire. Recovering from overindulgence of Jane's birthday. Love from the Darvalls

Jane's birthday

After 2 days of alternating pounding rain and huge sand laden wind gusts, Jane's birthday dawned crystal clear and calm. After our normal morning ritual of coffees and milos we opened Jane's presents to much excitement followed by more coffee and french toast. Yaaaay! A great day of swimming, surfing (read: getting dumped) and finishing off with tandoori roast chicken in the cobb - best cooking device ever. Happy Birthday Janey!! Love from Eloise, Henry, Ollie, toby and Jane. ps. Jane reckons the hot bush shower was her best present

Curried wallaby

We arrived in Cosy Corner campsite in the Southern end of the Bay of Fires on Friday night and realised why it was so highly rated – clearly every other Tasmanian and grey nomad realised the same. At first very depressing having to fight it out with hundreds of other campers but we quickly found a secluded spot and settled in for the night.

An amazing spot – pure white beaches, aqua blue water and she-oaks sheltering the best camp sites.

The following 2 days lots of time spent in rock pools with the kids, spear fishing, surf fishing and getting the campsite into perfect order. Last night 3 varieties of local fish pan fried, tonight wallaby vindaloo (not joking) – tasted amazing.

Love from the Darvalls

Ahhhh! Clean sheets

There’s nothing like a few days in the bush to make you appreciate clean sheets and hot water even more! We arrived in Hobart on Thursday morning from the wilds of the west coast and promptly booked into a motel in Sandy Bay. Luxury! Jane and the kids made a beeline for the bath while I went and collected coffees and hot cross buns.

Jane immediately put her “work clothes” on and got to showing her range of Red Rascal t-shirts (check out www.redrascal.com.au) to a few inner-Hobart retailers. It appears the Hobartians have more taste than the folk of Penguin – she immediately got some sales and requests for more showings the next day. You beauty!

The next morning Jane was off selling again and we drove out of Hobart that arvo with the camping coffers full. We were headed for the Bay of Fires on the North East coast, recently rated as the 2nd best camping spot in the world by Conde Naste traveller (apparently Elsternwick is No. 1), trying to beat the long weekend traffic.

Love from Jane, Toby, Ella, Ollie and Hendrix

Ps. Cute photo of the twins holding hands asleep in clean sheets
pps Stopped at dodgey camping shop to get more water jerry cans - I hate paying full retail - particularly when you know the exorbitant mark up

Pristine wilderness, clear mountain streams and questionable genes

All the stereotypes about Tasmania are largely true: pristine wilderness, slow pace, clean air, a unique and varied environment and friendly locals with questionable parentage.

For the last 3 days we’ve been camping on the banks of the Pieman River in the remote old mining town of Corinna on the rugged and remote west coast. In the 1880s it had two hotels and serviced about 3000 miners and Huon Pine cutters. By 1900 there was only one man left – an old Swedish miner who stayed on to run the ferry across the Pieman River. I can’t imagine he was that busy and apparently was happy to accept payment at the other side.

Today the Tarkine Lodge and attached campground cater for the streams of Grey Nomads (and the odd young family) that stream through the tiny town at about 50 per day. We’ve softened our view of Grey Nomads since our earlier blog. We’ve discovered them to be very friendly, interested, interesting and helpful. I think they’re bored and miss their grand kids. At the sight of our 3 little ferals one couple came up and offered their services as “professional grandparents” – we couldn’t accept fast enough.

After leaving Corinna this morning via “The Fatman” car barge we hoped to drive the 270km of winding road to Hobart. The kids had another idea. So we’ve ended up in the tiny hydro-electric town of Tarraleah in a restored art-deco house – still owned and run by Hydro Tasmania. It’s a wonderful, untouched example of a 1930’s state run town – all beautiful manicured streets and lawns, fountains and civic buildings in the middle of nowhere – think Canberra on a tiny scale. It has been well maintained and has a fascinating history of the very impressive hydro scheme (built over 70 years ago – its still has the capacity to sell power back the mainland cheaper than Latrobe valley can generate) – now enough of the 4^th form geography lesson.

Reflections on camping with 3 little kids: overall fantastic fun, occasionally very challenging and fascinating watching them adapt to a very different lifestyle. With no TV and home comforts they have quickly reverted to little bush elves with bedraggled hair, a good collection of cuts and bruises and a permanent manic expression.

We’ve got way too much gear – a big cull will take place back in Melbourne – but have some great items. The outstanding bits of gear: Waeco 60l fridge, various headlamps, ARB tubeless puncture repair kit (you’re not a man until you repair your own car tyre), 2 trestle tables (you can never have enough bench space), wireless internet (for around the campfire), Cobb cooker (brilliant – had slow roasted Tassie venison on the banks of the Pieman last night) and our little solar mobile phone charger. OK, so we’re soft.

Postscript to our “theft incident”: we discovered as we packed up our campsite at Blackwater Creek that our friendly local family had been getting into a bit of our stuff. One of them had tried to cut through my bike lock and had helped themselves to some batteries and had gone through some bags. But they at least came up to wave us off and Denise had even made a beautiful doily for Jane. We couldn’t get out of there fast enough (I could hear the sound of duelling banjos in the distance).

Love from Jane, Toby, Ollie, Eloise and Henry