We left the hustle and bustle of Sydney and began our exploration of Tasmania, an island off the southern coast of Australia.

Both of us are nature-lovers, and Tasmania did not disappoint. On the way up to Cradle Mountain, we stopped and wandered through Mole Creek Caves, where crystals sparkle in the dim light and the temperature remains the same year-round. We summoned all our courage and set out on the Tahune Forest airwalk, a great way to see Tasmania’s wildlife…if you aren’t too afraid to be suspended well above tree-level! Bridestowe Estate’s lavender fields provided a lovely (and fabulous smelling!) walk in the countryside. Tassie, as the locals call it, offered us plenty of isolated places to just escape and spend time together—including Freycinet National Park, where the hike up Mt. Amos nearly killed me but provided great views over Wineglass Bay. Along the island’s east coast is the Bay of Fires, which gets its name from the vibrantly coloured rocks there. We were charmed by Russel Falls, a serene place where we would have liked to spend the entire trip. And the animals! There are wildlife parks throughout the island where we got to see kangaroos, wombats, and the famous Tasmanian devils! Their name may refer to their famously aggressive temperament, but they sure are cute!