Hilltop Haven: Samuels Gift to Wanderers

The journey back to Launceston unfolded like a treasure map of undiscovered gems. We set ourselves a delightful challenge: each new resting place had to be a mere 30-minute drive away and somewhere our wheels had never touched before. It was as if we were explorers of old, charting unknown territories with each turn of the road.

Our first stop materialised in the form of Samuel's Place, a private sanctuary that beckoned us with the promise of solitude and natural beauty. As we crested the hill, the world seemed to unfurl before us. A vast, cleared paddock stretched out, acting as nature's own viewing platform. The panorama that greeted us stole our breath away - Freycinet to the North and Maria Island rising from the sapphire sea to the south, their majestic silhouettes etched against the sky like ancient sentinels guarding the coast.

As we stood in awe of the vista, Samuel himself appeared, ambling down from his house like a friendly spectre emerging from the landscape. His weathered face told a story of a man who had found his slice of paradise after years of searching. With a warmth that belied his solitary existence, he shared tales of slowly building his small house, a labor of love that had spanned years. In a gesture of openness that touched our hearts, he had set aside this spot for wanderers like us, perhaps seeking the companionship he had left behind when he moved to Tasmania.

As twilight descended, we settled in for a night that would etch itself into our memories forever. The Tasmanian sky, unpolluted by city lights, transformed into a canvas of celestial wonder. Stars burst forth in their millions, and the Milky Way unfurled across the heavens like a river of light leaving us feeling simultaneously insignificant while deeply connected to the universe above.

The magic of the place compelled us to linger for a second night. As if nature herself was putting on a show, the wind rose with the darkness, whipping across the hilltop with wild abandon. Our bus rocked and swayed, the metal creaking a lullaby that spoke of adventure and the raw power of the elements. Despite the tempest outside, we felt snug and exhilarated, cocooned in our traveling home.

As dawn broke, painting the sky in soft pinks and golds, we prepared to leave this enchanted spot. With hearts full of gratitude, we left a small token for Sam - a gesture that felt inadequate in the face of the priceless experience he had shared with us. As we pulled away, the bus humming with anticipation of the next unknown destination, we carried with us not just memories, but a piece of Samuel's dream and the magic of that starlit hilltop.Læs mere