Wombat Wishes and Dolerite Dreams

The Ben Lomond campsite receded into memory as we delved deeper into the park, anticipation crackling in the air like highland lightning. Reaching the Carr-Villa trailhead, we were met with a vista that stole our breath. Towering Dolerite cliffs, sentinels of a forgotten age, pierced the cerulean canvas above, their flanks etched with the stories of millennia.

We prepped for the hike and then our boots hit the path, and a playful dance began – a traverse across lichen-dappled boulders that unveiled ever-more-panoramic vistas. Sal readily conceded this hike was a serious contender for the title of "most epic hike" she had done. Though each new hike we undertook in Tasmania threatened to take that crown.

Each pause wasn't merely a gasp for breath, but a reverent immersion in the unfolding masterpiece. The world stretched out below, a tapestry of emerald valleys dwarfed by the immensity of the sky.

Energized by pre-made salad rolls at the halfway point, a welcome respite in the cathedral of nature, we pressed on, the summit of Legges Tor our ultimate reward. Here, at the second highest peak in Tasmania, the Alpine Plateau stretched out in all its glory – a stark yet captivating tapestry woven by wind and time. We sat for a while and reflected on this new life we had constructed for ourselves.

Our return journey was leisurely, filled with even more photo ops and the ever-present hope of spotting a wombat (though only their telltale evidence materialised). Arriving back at the bus, a deep sense of satisfaction settled over us. We'd conquered the trail, not with brute force, but with a spirit of exploration and reverence. Tonight, the trailhead would be our comfortable haven, a cocoon spun from accomplishment, where whispers of the wind would lull us into a sleep filled with dreams of alpine vistas and soaring skies. An unforgettable day, etched forever in our memories, a testament to the raw beauty and untamed spirit of Tasmania.Read more