There is something rather special about conversations that begin with a simple “cooey” and end with a full notebook of travel inspiration.
In this episode of Travel With Us A While, I had the absolute pleasure of chatting with Kat — a fellow lover of life on the road — who is currently wandering her way around beautiful Tasmania in a 7.2-metre motorhome.
Only three weeks into an eight-week adventure, and already her journey is full of those delicious travel moments we all know and love.
You know the ones…
🚐 Rolling into Tasmania
Kat and her partner crossed Bass Strait on the Spirit of Tasmania — berth booked, motorhome loaded, and excitement levels high.
Like many of us who travel this way, she came prepared.
Spreadsheet prepared? ✔️
Plans flexible? ✔️
Sense of adventure? Absolutely.
They rolled into Devonport at 6am — slightly bleary-eyed and desperately seeking coffee (haven’t we all been there?) — before beginning their slow wander down the east coast.
And already, Tasmania was doing what Tasmania does best…
“Every day we get a beautiful view of something.”
Honestly — could there be a more perfect summary?
💙 East Coast Magic
From Bicheno’s blowhole to carrot cake and lobster rolls (because calories absolutely do not count on holiday — it’s practically the law), Kat has been happily sampling the good life.
One standout stop?
Iron House Brewery.
Free camping encouraged.
Happy hour from 3:30–5:30pm.
Beachside views.
Lovely people around the campfire.
Now that’s my kind of travel planning.
🐬 Wildlife and Wilderness
One of Kat’s recent highlights was the wilderness cruise around Schouten Island and Wineglass Bay — and oh my goodness, what a day they had.
Pods of dolphins.
Seals and sea lions.
Albatross and sea eagles.
Local champagne and King Island cheeses.
Honestly, it sounds like the sort of day that reminds you exactly why we keep answering the call of the road.
As Kat put it so beautifully — the crew knew exactly where to go and what to look for.
Local knowledge at its finest.
🗺️ The Joy of Loose Plans
What I particularly loved about our chat was Kat’s travel philosophy.
Yes — she loves a spreadsheet (I suspect many of us do).
But she also leaves room for:
- free camping discoveries
- tips from fellow travellers
- conversations in camp kitchens
- those unexpected little detours
Because, as we both agreed…
Some of the best places you’ll ever find are the ones not in the guidebooks.
🌿 Still So Much to Come
With six weeks still ahead, Kat’s Tassie wanderings are far from over.
On the horizon:
- Maria Island
- Tasman Peninsula mooching
- Bruny Island
- Cockle Creek
- Lake Pedder
- the West Coast wilderness
- and Easter in Stanley
(And yes… possibly a few more wineries along the way. Purely for research purposes, of course.)
✨ Why We Travel
What stayed with me most after our chat was that familiar, quietly joyful feeling Kat described when they finally sat down with that first Tassie coffee and looked around at the working world.
“It’s an excellent feeling… just making your own time on the road.”
Oh yes. That’s the magic right there.
Whether you’re travelling for eight weeks or eight years, that gentle freedom — the choosing of your own direction each day — is something rather precious.
If you’ve been dreaming of a Tassie road trip, or simply love hearing how other travellers wander this beautiful world, I think you’ll enjoy this conversation.
So pour yourself something nice, settle in, and…
travel with us a while. 🌅
— Bron
Listen to the full podcast here:
