So, here’s the thing. Approximately 16 months ago, our family trip to Tasmania was completely canned by that other C word we’ve come to dislike. Yes, Covid plunged the state of Victoria into the first of a number of lockdowns and we, like the rest of the state, stayed home for our Easter break.

Mid – year saw our family holiday to the Grampians halted by the commencement of a nearly 4 month long lock down in our state. When this lockdown occurred (we happened to be staying with Jess and Matt in Box Hill), those in metro Melbourne were bound to a 5km radius. I attempted to offload food, wine and other goodies we had packed for our trip, but it was pretty heartbreaking to leave them behind.  I’ll never forget the words Jess spoke as we said goodbye: “Gee Mum, there’s worse things than being in lockdown with Matt” – naaaw, young love.

This year, I started bravely discussing yet another idea for the five of us to get away to Tasmania. I booked a house in Launceston – nothing happened. Cautiously I booked the boat – nothing. Jess booked flights – nothing. I booked a house in Coles Bay – nothing. Booked our final accommodation in Hobart then…another lockdown. * insert famous Duffy eye roll*

This lockdown didn’t last long – 1 week for rural Vic and 2 weeks for metro. But EVERYWHERE shut their borders to Victorians, including Tasmania. It wasn’t until after the long weekend, Tasmania opened their borders to all Victorians, which meant the five of us were eligible to travel. *insert relieved sigh*

Unfortunately, that was the start of the lockdowns in the rest of the Australia. With an eye on the news and a plan B (Jessica’s suggestion = Victorian ski fields) we have held our collective breaths every day this week.

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So it is with great achievement, that I write this blog from the relative comfort of the Spirit of Tasmania. We have, in fact, just left Port Melbourne. The two members of my family are doing their favourite things: Rod is sitting across from me, having finished a half bottle of wine and Hamish is playing the onboard Xbox. Jess and Matt have caught a direct flight from Melbourne to Launceston. We’ve booked a house through Air BnB and they’re checking into this tonight.

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I know this blog doesn’t quite fit the profile of the others I’ve written for our last two lengthy overseas travel adventures, but hey, it’s 2021, the world has changed; technically, we ARE going overseas and this might be the only ‘overseas’ we manage for quite some time.

If you’ve followed our travel stories before, they are usually full of driving mishaps, navigation errors and multi-faceted communication issues. Who knows what Tasmania has in store for us? I remember a few years ago making a big call along the lines of, “I’ve been on a North Sea Ferry crossing, I’ll never have to go on a ferry again!” But here I am, about to get an excited 10 year old settled for the night. Wish me luck.

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