The first serious scenery side trip on this section of the Southern Edge drive takes me out on winding coastal roads carved into the pastoral and woodland-covered hillsides of Tinderbox, a town nestled on the northern edge of North West Bay. Why the name? Legend has it that a silver tinderbox washed up on the shores of the area in 1830.

The sun is shining and the view is too spectacular to resist, so I jump out for some fresh air and a photo opportunity. On my return, it’s a good time to look over the car’s finish. This colour is named Cashmere Gold Opal, a fancy-sounding name for a mild and softly pearlescent, if subdued, hue. The car’s shape and overall look remain loyal to the Forester model we’re familiar with. The slightly boxy shape gives the interiors a spacious feel, with a generous 484-litre cargo volume in the Hybrid Sport model.

It’s this sturdy look and feel that is finally aligned with a powerful hybrid motor for an AWD that I’m sure plenty have been waiting for. The Forester would be as comfortable driving a mob of rowdy pre-teens to soccer training as it would be getting flecked with mud on the trails for an off-road weekend adventure. For the latter, there’s a 220mm ground clearance, X-Mode with Hill Descent Control and dual-pinion steering.

Back on the tarmac, everything that goes up must come down, and as I wind my way back down the hillside, the sparkling waters are breathtaking. The EyeSight Driver Assist technology is keen to remind me to keep my eyes on the road ahead. The cattle in the paddocks I cruise past have a pretty good backyard view. For those itching for a swim by this point, there are plenty of options. Snug by name is snug by nature, with a long stretch of calm water at Snug Beach framed by leafy surrounds.

However, today I’m not going for that salt-kissed look, so it’s a journey somewhere a little different before a pit stop for lunch. Raptor Rescue is tucked off the main road and run by father-and-son duo Craig Webb and Ziggy Gow-Webb. Tasmania is home to some of the world’s rarest birds, and Craig was awarded an OAM in 2025 for his tireless efforts to save and rehabilitate injured birds.

A visit to his 20-acre property includes an in-depth understanding of the work the volunteer team is doing and the remarkable natures of our indigenous birds of prey. As we walk around the top-notch aviaries Craig has built, including the largest in the southern hemisphere, Ziggy and Craig identify each bird and their unique attributes. I turn my head just in time to catch a wedge-tailed eagle fly across the aviary, its magnificent wingspan of up to 2.3m on full show. There are just 120 breeding pairs left in the wild. While the goal is to help injured birds recover enough for release, those that cannot be released remain under the team’s care. Bookings are essential, as the birds are wild animals and each visit is escorted.

Tummies are rumbling by now, so it’s off to picturesque Kettering for a bite to eat. Bobbing sailboats are framed by rolling green hillsides down the shore. Take a sharp left at the entry to the marina and you’ll arrive at our lunchtime spot, Seawall Cafe. If you miss the turn-off, you’ll quickly realise it as you’ll end up in the car queue for the ferry to Bruny Island.

After snagging a spot on the deck, it’s apt that we enjoy a lunch of freshly caught fish and chips given the vista and soundscape of tinkling boats. It would be easy to rest here all afternoon in the sunshine, but I’ve got a few more kilometres I’d like to cover.

Behind the wheel again, the adaptive cruise control comes in handy as the road stretches ahead. While the seat heaters aren’t necessary at this time of year, the flick of a switch opens the sunroof for a serotonin-soaked afternoon drive and a fresh sea breeze to pep up alongside a takeaway coffee from Seawall Cafe. The centre console cup holder grips a small-to-medium cup tightly, making it tricky to extract, and the side-door drink bottle holder is limited by a narrow fit. A phone charging dock is handy, but an extra one for the passenger would be useful on longer trips.

On the subject of seats, this is also an area where the car’s overall finish feels a little less premium, with the water-repellent grey and black upholstery somewhat utilitarian, though sensible for outdoor adventures. There is also an option for leather and Ultrasuede accent trim.

If there were a few more hours in the day, it would have been tempting to visit Grandvewe for cheese and distilled goods in Birchs Bay, on the way to the final stop just outside Flowerpot. However, I’m always keen for another excuse for a road trip.

There’s no mistaking the views down the vineyards at Mewstone Winery & Cellar Door. It’s worth dragging your eyes away from the vista of vines sweeping towards glistening coastal waters, as the architecturally designed cellar door is also a sight to behold.

Natural light spills through the floor-to-ceiling windows, brightening the concrete and Tasmanian oak-framed contemporary space, the perfect setting to sample the Mewstone and hughes & hughes range of wines with a platter of local smallgoods. On this occasion, I’m grabbing a bottle to take a memory of the sun-soaked day home to have with dinner, the perfect reward after a day’s driving.