Tasmania Trip - Part 9
Farewell, Tasmania: A Journey to Remember
Our final day in Tasmania was a gentle unwinding — a scenic farewell stitched with sweet moments, charming towns, and a few last-minute detours that made us feel like we were prolonging the magic just a little longer. We had a clear goal — return to Launceston, drop off the car, and catch our evening flight — but with no real rush, we embraced the slow travel spirit one last time.
Richmond was our first stop, and what a beautiful surprise it was. With its peaceful pace, colonial charm, and the timeless arches of Richmond Bridge, the town felt like stepping into a painting. Ducks glided lazily through the river while visitors wandered its banks in quiet admiration. We browsed artisan shops, picked out handmade pottery, and left with warm hearts and a little piece of Tasmania wrapped up in brown paper and twine.
From there, we retraced our journey north and finally made it to Christmas Hill Raspberry Farm Café — a stop we had long anticipated, especially after the mishap that forced us to skip it earlier in the trip. Even without ripe raspberries on the vines, the grounds were lush and serene, and the café itself was a haven of rustic elegance. The raspberry dessert we shared was as delicious as we’d imagined — tart, creamy, and celebratory in the most satisfying way.
Just down the road, Van Diemens Land Creamery called out to us with one final surprise: Pepperberry & Leatherwood Honey ice cream. The flavour was astonishing — sweet, floral, spicy — like a bold farewell hug from Tasmania itself. As if that wasn’t enough, we stumbled across freeze-dried ice cream, the kind of oddball novelty that made us grin and say, “Why not?” Quirky, fun, and uniquely Tasmanian, it was the perfect souvenir to take home.
Before we ended our drive, we made one final indulgence: Ashgrove Cheese Dairy Door. From the whimsical painted cows on the lawn to the creamy, perfectly-aged cheeses inside, it was a fitting last stop — rich in flavour, character, and cheer. We loaded up on our favourites, savoring the idea of tasting Tasmania again, one slice at a time, back home.
Reflecting on the Journey
As we boarded our flight and Tasmania faded beneath the clouds, a quiet contentment settled in. This trip had been more than just a journey — it had been a return, a rediscovery, and in many ways, a gentle reckoning with time.
Coming back to Tasmania after twenty-seven years felt like opening a long-sealed letter — the handwriting familiar, the words touched by time, the memories blooming anew. So much had changed — roads, towns, even the traveler we were — yet the spirit of the island remained untouched. Wild. Honest. Unapologetically beautiful.
We had wandered through misty mountains and wind-lashed coastlines. We’d driven winding roads flanked by forests, ferns, and fields that rolled into the horizon. We had met wildlife at arm’s length, and felt the deep hush of ancient rainforests settle into our bones. There were frustrations too — a flat tyre, change of plans, unexpected turns — but even those became stories we laughed about later.
Tasmania gave us everything: drama and stillness, indulgence and simplicity, mystery and warmth. From the vivid blue of Wineglass Bay to the haunting quiet of Cradle Mountain, from creamy oysters on Bruny Island to the sweet heat of pepperberry ice cream — every moment had a flavour, a scent, a texture. It’s the kind of place that doesn’t just invite you to look — it asks you to feel.
And we did. Every day.
Now, as we return to the rhythm of daily life, we carry Tasmania with us — in the stories we tell, the souvenirs we savour, and the lingering sense that the world is full of wonder if we just slow down enough to see it.
Until next time, Tasmania. You were unforgettable.