Snug, Tasmania, Australia - Day 2

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

One of the best things about RV travel is starting each day with a new view. Outside our camper this morning were the grounds of a beautiful berry farm and a padamelon mom and baby hopping around the yard. Unfortunately, the weather was a bit unreliable with a mixture of spotty rain showers, wind, and sunshine.

Andi had work calls this morning from 7:00am-10:00am. He started a campfire and worked outside for a while until the on-and-off rain showers foiled his plans. Luckily, the owners of the property had a small garden shed they use as a make-shift outdoor kitchen that Andi was able to sit inside and finish his work while it rained.

Andi and I were torn about staying on Bruny Island for our last night in Tasmania, or taking the ferry back to the mainland. Camping on Bruny Island meant one more night of dry camping without power or water hook-ups. But, this was a pretty sweet spot to stay.

We left the berry farm and drove to Alonnah on the other side of the island. The rain continued to come down, whipping the trees wildly in the wind. There was a short 2km walk in Alonnah, but none of us felt like hiking in the rain. The Bruny Island Lighthouse was close by, but accessible only by dirt road so that was a no-go for us, too. In the end, the weather spurred our decision to take the ferry back to mainland Tasmania. It took us about 30 minutes to drive from the southern tip of Bruny Island to the ferry terminal.

We just missed the ferry when we arrived, so we had to wait 20 minutes for it to come back again. No worries; luckily, we were traveling in our home on wheels.

Traveling back to the mainland by ferry proved to be as smooth as the way here. We simply drove our RV onto the boat and sailed to the other side. Because the ride is so short, passengers can stay inside their vehicles or get out and move around the ferry if they choose.

On the other side, Andi picked a restaurant called Kettering Cafe for lunch. Unfortunately, there wasn’t anywhere to park in the small half-circle drive so we continued on. Next, we drove to Oyster Cove Inn (too much seafood for the kids) and Steamhouse Cafe (closing soon; take-away food only) before returning to Kettering Cafe. This time, we parked the RV a few blocks away and walked to the restaurant. It seemed to be the only place open at 2:30pm in the afternoon.

I had very low expectations for this small cafe off the ferry port, but surprisingly our experience at Kettering Cafe was delightful. The two women working the restaurant were friendly and helpful. Andi and Aden each ordered a korean beef bowl, Tory got a cheeseburger, and I had the chicken schnitzel burger. The kids and I played a round of Kings in the Corner while we waited for our food. “Watch me cook,” Tory said. Such a competitor; she crushed us.

Continuing our theme of indecision on our last day in Tasmania, Andi and I went back and forth about where to camp tonight. Option 1 was to stay in the Huon Valley, an area known for its fruit trees and berry farms. The problem was, it was already 3:30pm so there wasn’t a lot of time left in the day to sightsee.

Alternatively, we could go back to the campground we stayed at in Snug, take showers, and start to pack up the RV. We choose the second option. Not the most exciting choice for our last night in Tasmania, but sometimes logistics win out over adventure.

A grandmother and a nine-year-old boy from Brisbane were parked next to our site at Snug Beach Campground. Andi introduced Aden to the boy named Archie, and they hit it off right away. The boys played frisbee outside until it got stuck on the roof of a nearby building. Then, they switched to playing Roblox on their devices. When the battery of Archie’s iPad was low, he said it was “going flat.” Aden thought that was funny.

Andi and I each took showers in the campground facilities, then decided to go for a walk together. I found a nearby walking trail that followed the Snug River. I’m determined to see a platypus swimming in the river one of these days and looked really hard tonight, but unfortunately didn’t see anything.

The weather was so weird today — raining one second, windy the next, and then then sun would come out again. Tory said she’s never seen someone wear their hood so much, but gosh — it’s cold! I’m tired of the wind blowing on my ears.

Aden played with Archie until dark, and then came in for dinner. We ate leftover chicken stir fry. Groceries are scarce at this point since we’re leaving tomorrow.

Last night in the rental camper. I think we’re all a bit sad to leave Tasmania, but ready to move on at the same time. This is a beautiful island full of history, nature, beaches, and wildlife. No better way to experience it than traveling around in a camper. That said, we’re all ready for comfortable beds, accommodations that don’t smell like a toilet, and a little more space.

Next stop: Adelaide in Southern Australia