Map copied from Microsoft Encarta World Atlas with thanks

Tasmania

For a long time we'd heard that the north west corner of Tasmania was the wild and untamed corner. We thought we'd have a romantic Valentine's weekend by catching the TT-Line ferry down on Friday night from Melbourne to Devonport, staying in Strahan on the Saturday, and then catching the Sunday night ferry back to Melbourne.

The ferry trip was interesting! It's a real adventure to just load your car. Whilst you may request a parking spot that allows you to open your door fully, there's no guarantee that the spot they'll place you in will allow that to happen. Then as the cars are parked, everyone empties out and crabs their way to the stairs and lifts which take them to the accommodation decks. A restaurant and a bistro are available for your evening meal. The restaurant may require you to book ahead!

When you arrive at Devonport, the quarantine people check your vehicle to ensure no fruit has been brought. If the human checkers have any doubt, they get the sniffer beagle involved! Then you are on your way.

Once out of Devonport and heading along the north coast to Burnie, the windy road shows 110 speed limit signs. That is the fastest part of the journey. When you turn left at Burnie and head in the general direction of Strahan, you start to notice you are in hills and rain forest. As you are getting used to how lovely this all is, you find you've driven into a vast area that is "cleared". Trees have been bulldozed into neat rows and the area is neither pasture nor forest any more. Why oh why have they done such a thing?

As the dismay at the devastation grows, you find that you're back in rain forest again.

Places We've Stayed At Without The Van

• Franklin Manor, Strahan, Tasmania

Interesting old building that has been restored by a series of owners. The floors still run at strange angles! Our deluxe room had a fireplace and the chimney was used like a freeway by the blow fies to enter the room. The owners were giving most of their focus to the marquee set up on  the front lawn for an over night event. Not worth the small fortune they charged. Next trip to tassie will be with the van!