Take it slow
Slow travel offers a deeper connection to Tasmania’s landscapes, communities and culture. Ruth Dawkins explores how taking the time to linger can lead to a richer experience.
Like any tourist, on her first visit to Tasmania, Xueqian (Chien) Zhang rushed from one landmark to the next, ticking off sights and snapping photos. But when she returned in 2022, she chose to travel slowly: to notice, to savour, to surrender to the island’s quiet magic. Rather than cramming an itinerary full of stops, she and a friend moved at their own pace, embracing the rhythm of Tasmania’s landscapes.
What Xueqian discovered was not just a different way of travelling, but a different way of being. “This time, I felt a different type of joy – calmer, but my heart was warmed by small details and moments,” she reflected in a blog post. “Not being rushed made me feel less tired and more observant.”
Visiting just three locations over 10 days, Xueqian learned the names of native plants and animals. She stood in the waves and balanced on fallen logs in the forest, bringing back memories of the nature play she had enjoyed as a child. She hiked across rocks at Lake Fenton, wrestling with self-doubt before reaching the summit, where the view made every step worthwhile.
Three years on, it is that experience at Lake Fenton that has stayed with Xueqian. “It was scary and at times I wanted to give up,” she says. “But doesn’t our life act the same? Sometimes we have to work hard if we want to see something different or interesting.”
Tasmania, with its wild beauty and unhurried charm, proved the perfect place for Xueqian’s slow
travel experiment. “It’s a state made for nature and adventure lovers,” she says. “There are so many wonderful places to explore.”
The slow-travel shift
If slow travel had a textbook definition, Dr Anne Hardy could write it. A researcher at the University of Tasmania, she has spent years studying how and why people travel, and how tourism shapes communities. But when asked to explain the principles of slow tr travel, she keeps it simple: it’s when the journey itself is intrinsic to the experience.
“You’re not just blasting through a place,” she explains. “You’re travelling slowly and deepening your understanding. Culture becomes key, as does the opportunity to engage with local people and seek out the unexpected.”
According to Dr Hardy, the appeal of slow travel has grown in recent years and, while there are many motivating factors cited by travellers, including tighter household budgets and sustainability concerns, she believes that COVID has been a key driver of the shift.
“Even before the pandemic, people were moving away from generic travel experiences. There was growing interest in something more place-based and authentic,” she says. “Then the world shut down and we all stayed at home. I think that made many people realise that high-speed travel can actually be quite stressful.”
When borders finally reopened, many people returned to their travels with a new perspective. Instead of packing in as many destinations as possible, they sought out stronger connections with fewer places.
“We realised that slowing down wasn’t a bad thing... and that’s where Tasmania comes in.”
The island, she explains, is uniquely suited to slow travel. In part, that’s due to our geography: Tasmania looks small on a map, but it takes time to get between places, and each of the state’s regions has a distinct identity. “That almost forces people to slow down,” Dr Hardy says.
“When you combine those characteristics with a growing interest in winter travel, it’s clear Tasmania offers something novel. Where else can you rug up and head out to see clear, dark skies and beautiful stars, then come inside to sit by a cosy fire, sipping a glass of Tasmanian red?”
A focus on local
For Tara Howell, slow travel isn’t just an abstract philosophy; it’s an approach that is woven into both her work and her personal life. As Director of Blue Derby Pods Ride in Tasmania’s north-east, she offers visitors a unique blend of adventure and immersion, combining world-class mountain bike trails with secluded pod accommodation and locally sourced food and wine.
The experience is intentionally designed to help guests slow down. The off-grid pods have no WiFi, power points or mirrors – encouraging visitors to disconnect from their screens and tune into nature.
“Everyone has a moment of panic,” laughs Tara. “They question whether they can really do it… but then they love it. They relax, and often their most memorable moments come from embracing the unexpected, like riding through a sudden downpour and getting saturated with rain and mud.”
Tara believes winter is when Derby is at its most magical. The rainforest trails are greener, the region’s waterfalls are at their best, and the night skies are spectacular. Blue Derby Pods Ride also offers a special winter experience, including a lakeside campfire with canapés and stargazing, that’s only possible in the darker months.
Beyond her work, Tara is deeply committed to living the values of slow travel. Supporting local businesses and exploring close to home are fundamental to her happiness. “One of our best weekends ever was camping at Myrtle Park, which is just 30 minutes away. Even a day trip up Mount Arthur, or a simple walk along an old railway line, can be an adventure. We have so many opportunities right in our backyard."
Family adventures
At the opposite end of the state, Nat Mendham shares Tara’s passion for local travel – especially while raising a family. After living overseas for most of their twenties, she and her husband made a conscious decision to move back to Tasmania to raise their children, valuing the easy access to nature and the wealth of experiences right on their doorstep.
“We’ve spent so many holidays just paddling in the shallows, chucking rocks into waterways, or noodling about with no real destination or goal. Kids want copious time to explore. Slow travel is an opportunity to let them take the lead.”
A recent camping trip in the Derwent Valley offers a perfect example. “It’s too easy sometimes to zoom through a place and not notice it,” says Nat. “But on this trip, we borrowed kayaks and spent two days on the water, camping by the water each night. We took some time to browse in Black Swan Bookshop, and went to the local pub for dinner. It was really lovely, very social, and we got to see the river in a completely different way.”
For winter, Nat and her family have a longstanding tradition of heading to Mount Field for a snow trip. “We stay in the government huts, which are delightful – there’s a massive roaring fire which is an excellent way to defrost after you’ve been out for a little blast in the snow.”
Nat mentions that every time she travels in Tasmania, even when it’s less than an hour from home, she always spots a signpost for somewhere new she hasn’t visited and is keen to explore. For her and others, this is the very essence of slow travel.
“It’s about making space for the unexpected,” she says. “You’ve got to trust that you’ll fill the time with things you didn’t plan: wandering, chatting with locals, finding hidden spots. It’s very much about quality over quantity.”
3 Standout slow-travel destinations in Tasmania
Sofia Tsamassiros is owner and founder of Eudaimonia Tasmanian Cycling Tours, which offers immersive, sustainable experiences around Tasmania. Her tours focus on regional areas, providing a deeper connection to the island’s unique nature and communities.
Huon Valley - Known for its meandering river, beautiful coastlines and forested landscapes, the Huon Valley offers an inspiring diversity of scenery, nature and people. The area is home to a creative community, and its proximity to both water and forest makes it an ideal destination for slow travel.
West Coast - Offering a striking blend of wilderness and history, the West Coast’s proximity to the World Heritage Area and its mining towns provides an intriguing contrast between natural beauty and industrial past.
North-west Tasmania - For a slow-travel experience that blends creative culture and farmland, the unique towns of the north-west are ideal. Sheffield shines in winter with a majestic Mount Roland backdrop and countless murals to discover, while Penguin offers coastal charm.