Where Waters Guide & Friends Meet

Dawn found us departing our peaceful haven on Lake Pieman, crossing the dam wall that stood as a testament to human engineering amidst Tasmania's untamed wilderness. The journey ahead promised the unique experience of the Fatman Barge at Corinna, a crossing that would carry us deeper into the heart of Tasmania's wild west.

Our arrival at the ferry brought a moment of measured anticipation - our bus stretched the very limits of what the humble barge could bear. Yet there was something deeply symbolic about this five-minute journey across the river, a brief suspension between one world and another, floating upon the same waters that had carved these valleys over millennia.

The tiny settlement of Corinna pulsed with Sunday life, a gathering of kindred spirits drawn to this remote corner of Tasmania. The Tannin Restaurant beckoned us with promises of comfort and connection, its steak sandwich and chips becoming more than mere sustenance - rather a moment of shared pleasure in this wilderness outpost. It was here, in that curious way that the universe sometimes orchestrates perfect moments, that we spoke of Ben and Kerry, wondering aloud about their parallel journey. As if summoned by our thoughts, their familiar vehicle rolled off the barge, bringing with it the joy of unexpected reunion.

Their invitation to kayak the Pieman River felt like a gift from the wilderness itself. Soon we found ourselves gliding across dark waters, our paddles breaking the mirror-like surface in rhythmic harmony. The turn into the Whyte River brought us into a realm where time seemed to hold its breath - the encroaching wilderness creating a cathedral of ancient trees and whispered stories. In these moments, surrounded by pristine nature and shared friendship, we discovered one of those rare periods of perfect contentment that travellers sometimes stumble upon.

A fallen tree across our path became not an obstacle but a natural full stop, a gentle reminder to pause and absorb the magic of where we were. The journey back carried its own kind of peace, each paddle stroke a meditation on connection - to nature, to friends, to ourselves.

Back in Corinna, what could have been a final farewell instead became another chapter in our intertwined journeys. While Anth set off to explore the Whyte River track on foot, his run becoming a treasure hunt of geocaches, Sal found restoration in the quiet comfort of our bus, each of us honouring our own rhythms of adventure and rest.

As twilight approached and we ventured north along the Western Explorer, the Savage River beckoned us to yet another serendipitous encounter. There, playing in the river's embrace like children of the wilderness, were Ben and Kerry once more. Setting up camp alongside them felt like the most natural conclusion to a day that had woven friendship, adventure, and the wild beauty of Tasmania into an unforgettable tapestry of experiences.Read more