Before he died in 1981, Norman Sykes most generously left a 40 acre block of land to the Kentish Council. He instructed them that the land be used as a nature sanctuary. Today, visitors can enjoy walking through this Sanctuary and marvel at the natural beauty and wonder about the generous man who bequeathed it to his adopted land. The serenity of the place moved me as I wandered around the walking tracks. It was peaceful with a tranquility that was only broken by the sound of

The cool weather in Tasmania Australia is perfect for growing the delicate and fabulously showy flower, the peony. They are a rare and difficult plant to grow. It was a joy to visit the Gateforth Peony farm in Black River to see over six acres of them growing with such abundant beauty. These colourful flowers range in colour from pale yellow to reds, pinks and even an almost black. They are among the largest garden flowers, and their profusion of blooms make for gorgeous cut

Railton is known as the Town of Topiary in Tasmania, Australia. There are more than 100 topiary characters growing in and around the town. 81 kilometres west of Launceston, with a population of 1000 people, locals wanted to attract visitors to this rural town. Neil Hurley, a local resident, had the idea to plant a topiary, and the idea has grown since then (pun intended). This is a whole-of-town project with many locals having a topiary on their front lawn. As I drove around

Tulips only flower for one month a year, and how glorious that month looks when you get the chance to visit Table Cape Tulip Farm in northern Tasmania. With the oceans of Bass Strait in the background and a glimpse of the Table Cape Lighthouse, this is a dream location for a visit and photographs. Flowering in the Southern Hemisphere Spring, the best time to visit Table Cape Tulip Farm is between late September and mid to late October. There are over six hectares in this fiel

Since coming to Tasmania, I have frequently heard that the Coles Myer shopping emporium opened its very first store in Wilmot here. It was a suprise when visiting the town that they did not have any information verifying this. The reason is, that the rumours are not true. In fact, the first ever GJ Coles store was opened in Collingwood, Victoria in 1914. That one Victorian shop was the beginning of the Coles Myer shopping empire. It would be a great story for Tasmania if it w

Wilmot is a small town in the north-west of Tasmania (population 298 in the 2016 census) and is definitely worth a visit. Located 39km (24mi) south west of Devonport, the drive through this rural area is a pleasure for all the senses. Winding country roads, stunningly green hills dotted with sheep, cows and occasional llamas make it a fabulous journey to a lovely destination. Known as the Valley of Views, stopping at the designated lookout gives you a breathtaking vista of co

Around 80 novelty letterboxes adorn the sides of a 25km stretch of road from near Forth to past Wilmot in the north-west of Tasmania. Known as the Wilmot Letterbox Trail, this drive takes you through beautiful farmlands and breathtaking valley views. The scenery is spectacular and that alone is worth the trip. However, it is the quirky letterboxes that also capture the eye. Not every property has a decoration outside, so it is the alert eye that spies the prizes. I ventured o

Cruising on the Pieman River in the middle of the Tarkine Wilderness was definitely a glorious experience. It has been described as remote, beautiful, magical, memorable, wild, peaceful, serene and more. The air here is one of the cleanest in the world. We set off from near the Corinna Wilderness Lodge at 10am and arrived back at 2.30pm. The 53m long vessel started its sailing career in1939 as tourist boat, built in Hobart and consisting of a hardwood frame. The original owne

Peace and tranquillity await the traveler in the isolation of the Tarkine Wilderness at Corinna. Without internet or mobile phone coverage, it is a wonderfully secluded time out from the rush of modern life. I recently had the great pleasure of staying a weekend in a comfortable and modernly decorated one bedroom cottage at Corinna. There are ten, one bedroom cottages and four, two bedroom cottages in this little village type accommodation. Looking at the cottages from the ou

Quiet and serene was my hike through the ancient cool temperate rainforest at Corinna. This is the second largest temperate rainforest in the world (the first is in the Pacific area of the United States). Located in the north west of Tasmania, this area is known as the Tarkine Wilderness. 477,000 hectares is home to creatures and sights not seen anywhere else in the world. The uniqueness is the untouched beauty. Once there were mining towns here, but they are long gone and th

A TripAdvisor review stated that visiting Fern Glade Reserve was “like stepping into a prehistoric paradise.” Fern Glade Reserve is located just 4kms from Burnie in the north west of Tasmania. The sound of fast flowing water greets you as soon as you get out of your vehicle. Tall trees with fern filled undergrowth line the riverbanks. Gorgeous green grass invites you to sit down and watch the river as it passes by. Wanting to connect with nature, I found the area to be perfec

Standing on solid ground gazing out at the vista of the Gunns Plains farmlands, it is difficult to imagine the beautiful cave system below your feet. Tours operate six times a day. Our group was led by Geoff Deer who started working here fifteen years ago. Geoff has an excellent sense of humour and engaged all members of the tour, from a young preschooler to the older members. We descended down a steep flight of fifty four concrete steps then the path leveled out. Due to the

Pablo the Penguin welcomes visitors to the picturesque seaside town of Penguin in northwest Tasmania. Yes, little penguins can be seen along here from November to March each year. In fact, the botanist Robert Campbell Gunn named the town after seeing the large number of penguins along the coast, way back in 1861. With the rich farmlands and the Dial Ranges behind the town and the seas of the Bass Strait in front, this gorgeous town is a favourite holiday destination in Tasman

The largest freshwater crustacean in the world is endemic to north west Tasmania. This endangered species is the Giant Freshwater Crayfish (Astacopsis gouldi) and has found a home at the Lobster Ponds where visitors can see and learn more about them. Surrounded by beautiful native gardens the ponds here protect the crayfish. Originally opened in 2003, between 20 - 25 local volunteers took over running the Lobster Ponds in 2011. Local farmers supported the venture with land an

I had the pleasure of attending the Sparkle in the Dark fundraising event in Ulverstone, Tasmania hosted by the Rotary Club. The theme of the night was The Great Gatsby and all attendees dressed for the era. Men looked resplendant in suits and formal black tie, the women were absolutely gorgeous in sparkles and beads, boas and feathers. This dress up event was right up my alley. I had the perfect dress to wear for the occasion. (Yes, I do carry a sparkly beaded dress in my l

Walking through a lush rainforest full of towering tree ferns, myrtles and tall eucalyptus all covered in green moss is a delight. Finding the extraordinary and rare geographical feature, the Trowutta Arch, at the end of a 15 minute walk is a glorious bonus. This is part of the Tarkine Drive in the remote north-west coast of Tasmania. "This rainforest is park-like, with large, widely spaced trees producing a dense canopy above and a shaded, cool and moist understory of tree f

A surprising find in the north-west of Tasmania was the stunning, awe-inspiring, magnificent Leven Canyon. I believe it should be on everyone's bucket list of things to do when in Tassie. It is 43kms south of Ulverstone and with three designated trails, there is one to suit all abilities. Happy Travels! #maturesolotraveler #ayearintassie #solotravel #solotraveler #solotraveller #australia #caravanning #tasmania #levencanyon #ulverstone #nwtasmania #northwesttasmania #tassieo

Often we visit a venue and don’t know the story of how it started. I love finding out about businesses that have organically grown in the local area, it enhances the experience. Visiting Fuchsia Fantasy in Lillico was an absolute gem and has an amazing story behind it. Ken Mason and his wife Stephanie were potato farmers in north-west Tasmania. For their hobbies, Ken competed in table tennis and Stephanie collected fuchsias from around the world. Eventually they started to of

Captain William Bligh is known for his mis-adventures in Mutiny on the Bounty. But did you know that he is to thank for the apple industry in Australia? Way back in 1788, Captain Bligh planted a selection of fruit, including apple seedlings, on Bruny Island in Tasmania. These were the first apple trees planted in Australia. Apples were important in the early colonial days of Australia. The fruit is rich is antioxidants and dietary fibre, plus helps reduce the risk of developi

Dip Falls in northwest Tasmania is a cascade waterfall that flows over cubic-basalt formed rocks. A little off the regular tourist routes, visiting the falls are most definitely worth the detour. They are 64kms from Burnie, about a 1.5 hour trip. I drove through gorgeous green farmland, watching cows graze and admiring the landscape before arriving at my destination. This two tiered waterfall, has amazing rock formations that look like blocks have been stacked to form the dro