Week 7: March 27th – April 2nd, 2023 // Final Count Down

It’s been such an eventful roller coaster this week! Nearing my final days in Tassie I’ve been wrapping up loose ends for van things, making an effort to check off some of the final main “must-sees,” and trying to make the most of my remaining time here.  It’s been a rather emotional one if I’m being honest.  The reality of me venturing off properly on my own is setting in and I’d be lying if there wasn’t a lot of anxieties coming with it. Between the usual worrying I’ll forget something important, to the unknown adventures and mishaps, to the general lack of expertise in so many things.  I feel as though I’m throwing myself into the deep end, and while I’m SO incredibly excited for what has been a dream of mine for years to finally become reality, there’s a healthy amount of “what the fuck am I doing” to keep me grounded? Level-headed? Who knows lol.

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We kicked off this week with a true Tassie must experience!  I brought my car out to a mechanic in Triabunna to get some work done [stuff required for the safety certificate I needed – I’m going to do a whole separate post dedicated to buying a vehicle in Australia], which was coincidentally just a 10minute walk to the ferry that’ll take you to Maria Island!  Maria Island is infamous for its abundance of wildlife (Wombats, Kangaroos, Wallabies, Pademelons, etc.) and endless trails for walking and biking. I mentioned the details in a recent Instagram post https://www.instagram.com/p/CqVZbZvyTO2/ but the island doesn’t allow cars, making it an absolute dream space to properly disconnect and venture into nature (keep an eye out for a detailed post on Maria Island in the future).  Most of the island doesn’t get much service either so it really does force you to be present with your surroundings.  I turned my phone on airplane mode and used the little paper map from the information centre to get around, using mostly just my camera for capturing little moments.

The weather was perfect, mostly overcast but warm, with few breaks of sun.  My favourite moments from this day were wandering across the beach and the painted cliffs barefoot for about an hour – just taking time to really admire the beauty of the naturally formed patterns –

getting to sit with a wombat, and capture a really beautiful photo of a kookaburra.

Unfortunately for the van, one of the parts ordered didn’t arrive… so we were left to hope the mechanic back in Hobart would give me the safety certificate anyways…

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Plot twist… they did!! Tuesday I called them up first thing to see if they could change my appointment to meet with me that day (the girl I bought the van from was leaving the next day for a 9-day trip, so this was quite literally our last chance to get everything officially and properly signed over to me).   Brought it in and 2 hours later was handed the safety certificate!  It was a super rainy day, so I spent most of it curled up in the van outside the Fitzy Castle house, working on blogs, editing my photos from Maria Island, working out some plans for my final week.  Taking it relatively easy after the big win.

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Wednesday is once things really started to kick into gear.  Met up with Stefi (the girl I bought Peg from) in Sorrell to get the registration moved to my name, transferred from Queensland to Tasmanian plates, and get a Tasmanian drivers licence!  I think the woman at Service Tassie had a good laugh at us – she made a comment about how it seemed so funny to be so stoked about getting new plates and a driver’s licence – all we could really say was that it had been such a long time coming to get to this point!  Honestly, everything else for this trip has been so seamlessly smooth – I’ve been lucky to have made some really incredible connections for all aspects of my trip, the support I’ve received here has gone well above anything I could’ve ever expected – but the process for getting the van actually put in my name has for sure been as nail-biting as you could get it.  Quite literally got drawn out to the last possible second, but SO thankful it all worked out!

I’d been in need for a good climb, so once I got settled back, had some food, I took myself to the gym for a good boulder sesh.  It’s been so cool and motivating seeing the progression I’ve been making in my strength and technique.  Working through routes I would never even be attempting back home, even at my strongest.  I feel a different level of confidence building up this time around, which has been a lot of fun to navigate and witness.

Spent the rest of the evening + afternoon applying to Sea Shepherd’s volunteer photographer position.  I got really into it and ended up putting together a proper portfolio, which got me really excited and eager to look into more work and potential opportunities similar to this.  Maybe even some blogging for another company! (Any takers?)

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Thursday morning, I finished up and sent off the application, then made my way to the MONA (Museum of New and Old Art).  I had been told it was a cool experience, but this well exceeded my expectations.  For starters, the grounds and architecture are absolutely stunning! So much thought went into not just a place to hold art, but to physically experience it too from the inside and the outside.  All your senses are activated when you walk through.  You begin by going down 3 or 4 floors underground, and the rest I’ll leave to you to have to experience yourself one day.  Let’s just say, I’ve spent a lot of time in museums, especially in Europe, and I think this is my favourite by a long shot.

After eating some lunch and hanging in the van in the MONA parking lot while the rain went past, I made my way to the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Garden’s.  It’s quite similar to the UBC Botanical Garden’s but is free to park and enter, and a bit smaller.  Super stunning layout and plant life, with lots of really beautifully detailed + informative little signs scattered throughout the park.  My favourites were the signs sharing how indigenous people use the plants for materials, medicine, etc.

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Friday was SUCH a great day. Leah and I had been meaning to connect for a while so we spent the day out at Port Arthur’s visiting the Tasmanian Devil Unzoo, hiking Cape Raoul, and hitting up the infamous ‘Trout Party’ back in Hobart!

I was really impressed with how the Unzoo was set up. The place is meant to help protect Devil’s from contracting the illness that spread like wildfire and wiping out I think something like 95% of the population.  Thanks to efforts like theirs, the Devil’s have been rescued from extinction, but still have a long way to go to no longer be considered endangered. Check out the Unzoo website for more information: https://tasmaniandevilunzoo.com.au/save-the-devil/.

Cape Raoul was a beautiful 15.5km hike out to stunning cliff face views, similar to those of Cape Hauy, but with a lot less “up down.”

For those wondering what a ‘Trout Party’ is – one of the houses in the friend has a little bar room that is decked out to be the ultimate “fisherman bar.”  It’s just a small room off the backyard with exactly what you’d imagine!  This house is known for throwing some pretty fun parties at least a couple times a year, so everyone looks forward to them!

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Saturday I managed to get in a bit of a slower morning before spending the whole afternoon with Rhys working on the van.  The van build has been such a fun learning process, getting to use power tools, brainstorming designs, figuring out ways to make the most use of our material, the many… many… trips to Bunnings (Australia’s version of a Home Depot), seeing my little home come together.   Slowly but surely.  We had a few little hiccups with the original electrical set up, but thankfully the owner of the house we’ve been using to build out of is an electrician and was super willing and eager to help get it back up and running.  I’ve actually really enjoyed the electrical part a lot.  It makes me more excited about the idea of designing a proper van from scratch in the future – one with a functioning sink and shower, and lights on dimmers, with electrical outlets. Actually use my schooling for once lol.

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Sunday I made a point to get out to the Farmgate market one last time.  I really didn’t take advantage of the markets back home, and I know this is something I want to be doing more of. Supporting the small local businesses, buying your produce for the week, trying new products, gathering with friends to sit in the park or going solo and wandering leisurely.

The afternoon was spent much more of the same – meeting with Rhys thinking it was our last day of building, just to find ourselves saying “we probably only need a few more hours tomorrow.”  We definitely made really good progress today though! It was actually coming together – all the drawers fit together (like a glove I might add… every millimeter really does count) and screwed down into the van, electrical fully up n running, fridge properly set up.  The end is truly near…

Then spent the evening hanging out with the house + Sophie for dinner and watching an episode of Alone; this year’s season is filmed here in Tassie!

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The final days have me feeling a whirlwind of emotions, but overall, I’m feeling incredibly grateful for my time and experiences I’ve had.  It turned out to be so much more than I could’ve imagined.  The people I’ve met and the support I’ve received has been truly wonderful.  Now I move into the last days of preparing to leave for the official big adventure, with no one but myself and Peg.  It’s a journey I’ve longed for years, and now… here we are.

Wish me luck.

Stay passionate and curious,
Hunter 💛