A weekend in a van by the beach, Cronulla

October 2018
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Our weekend away plan had two requirements - one that it would not be too far from Sydney and the other that it would be cheap. This is what led me to search AirBnb, pulling that price range slider right down to the lowest possible option to find one single listing in the vicinity of Sydney — a hippie van parked in Cronulla. I had a laugh to myself as I viewed the images late one night on my laptop and sent it to Isabella and Cassie knowing that they were the type of friends that would not only find the thought humorous but would be up for the adventure. And so with their keen replies shorty after, it was locked in.

Few weeks later we pulled into the parking lot and there she was, our teal accommodation situated right next to the beach.
We christened the weekend with a sunset wine & some cheese. Not our classiest moment as our wine was held in mugs and we lacked all kinds of cutlery, yet we made do as us budget travellers have learnt. The next two days started with the alarm going off at 4.30 for a 4.42am sunrise. It was easier than normal to get motivated at that time of morning as I would simply pull back the curtain to see the sun's first glimpses of her morning routine. Another factor was that our mattress wasn’t designed for us back & neck pain sensitive beings and so it was a good excuse to get out of there as soon as possible, struggling with stiffness all those 25 metres down to the water. After the sun was fully risen and our eyes had adjusted to the light, it was our time to get some life into our system and jump into the ocean. Diving under some icy waves at that time certainly wakes you up and the salt that remains is a reminder that it is always the best way to start the day once you've overcome the shock of wearing three layers to running into 15 degree water. This temperature got us to the point where we were very ready to race off to town to caffeinate. The rest of our time consisted of the classic things to expect on a Cassie, Carla and Isabella holiday. Lots of conversation, sunshine & naps (not always a good combination as Cassie experienced), swims & sunsets, food and laughter. One of the afternoons was spent reading in our Hawaiian clad hideout as the rain fell and it was just one of those simple moments that you fall in love with. Reading was followed by pasta being delivered by UberEats, bless them, what could be better. 

Below are some 35mm images from our weekend which give a little taste of it all.

Love time spent with these two sisters of mine and the adventures we go on. Till the next wild one...

Tasmania, Australia

"The peace that passeth all understanding"

This scripture was found inscribed in a book from the 1930's as we scoured the isles of miscellaneous items in a shop we found on the side of the road. This short sentence encapsulates a little of the feeling of being in Tasmania. Part of this comes from having no reception state-wide and seeing not a soul on the road or anywhere else for that matter but, you cannot deny the stillness, awe and wonder when you sit atop a wind howling peak or the only noise you hear is a raging waterfall above you or waves that make you jump because you've mistaken them for thunder.

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I've never thought of traveling to this mysterious off cut to our island but when Jetstar informs you that flights are $35 and $1 return, you jump at the opportunity.  And so back in December,  my family made the grand voyage of flying overseas (I found myself actually thinking this) to this little treasure trove of natural untouched wilderness. We made our way roadtripping from Launceston down to Hobart, exploring the west coast and then the east coast before returning to our original destination.

Flaming boulders, salty oysters, azure waters, cows and the cream that came from them (best cream I've ever tasted),  harsh landscapes, colours & textures that scream all things wild and wonderful are just a few of Tasmania's strengths. Here are a few snapshots that capture the 12 days we spent exploring this unexpected surprise.