At 66, I took my friend to Tasmania and discovered I was capable of more than I ever imagined

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When Canberra resident Cathy Darlow thinks about Tasmania, she doesn’t just think about beautiful scenery or memorable holidays. She thinks about connection, challenge and a place that helped her rediscover what she was capable of.

The 66-year-old has been travelling to Tasmania several times a year since 2019, the same year she turned 60 and lost her partner. What began as regular visits to spend time with her father on the state’s north west coast soon became something much deeper.

“My dad is adventurous and had taken me to many places in North West Tasmania,” Cathy said. “I have fallen in love with the natural beauty, the little towns, the bush, the beaches, the animals, the fungi, the snakes and even the leeches.”

Her father, now 92 and still living independently, remains one of her greatest inspirations.

Four years ago, the pair climbed Mount Montgomery together. While Cathy struggled through the tough ascent, her then 88-year-old father seemed to bound up the mountain effortlessly.

“He was like a mountain goat,” she laughed. “He said to me, ‘You don’t know what you’re made of until you challenge yourself’.”

Those words would stay with her.

Last year, Cathy decided to introduce her friend Dehne to the Tasmania she had grown to love. The trip would also celebrate his 71st birthday, so she set about planning what she describes as a “seriously good itinerary”.

The pair spent 19 days travelling through Hobart, Freycinet, the Bay of Fires, Launceston, Cradle Mountain and Burnie. Cathy approached the planning with military precision, researching accommodation, flights, hire cars, restaurants and attractions months in advance, while Dehne created a detailed spreadsheet of their journey.

“We booked everything well ahead because some places book out months in advance,” she said.

Their adventure began in Hobart, where rainy weather greeted them as they collected their hire car and headed to Battery Point. Waiting in their accommodation was a homemade chocolate cake and sweeping views across the harbour and Mount Wellington.

From there they explored some of Tasmania’s most famous attractions, including the quirky and unforgettable Museum of Old and New Art (MONA).

A ferry ride seated on sheep sculptures, a lunch featuring mealworms, a dancing performer and a collection of eccentric artworks made for one of the most memorable days of the trip.

Yet it wasn’t just the attractions that impressed them.

“We weren’t expecting the food to be so consistently good,” Cathy said.

Whether they were eating at restaurants, bakeries, cafes or volunteer-run venues, they found fresh local produce almost everywhere they went.

They also discovered that Tasmania’s people could be just as memorable as its landscapes. From a harpist in Richmond who played Happy Birthday for Dehne to friendly strangers encountered along the way, small moments often became lasting memories.

As they travelled around the state, they found themselves drawn to the winding coastlines, historic towns, green farmland and rugged wilderness that make Tasmania so distinctive.

Then came Cradle Mountain.

Although she had visited before, Cathy felt uneasy about the famous national park. She knew its weather could change rapidly and had heard stories of people getting into trouble in the wilderness.

The pair successfully completed the Dove Lake Circuit on their first day, but the following morning they set off towards Crater Lake, unsure how far they would go.

Everything changed after a chance encounter.

Resting near Crater Lake, they met two women of a similar age who were heading towards Marion’s Lookout, a notoriously steep climb that includes sections assisted by chains.

The women offered a simple piece of advice.

“There are those who will always wonder what the view is like from the top and there are those who already know. Then there are those who will just give it a go, because if you don’t do it, you will never know.”

The words struck a chord.

“We decided we had to do it,” Cathy said.

The climb was challenging, but reaching the summit delivered a sense of accomplishment neither of them will ever forget.

“We were shouting, ‘Yes, we did it!'”

A group of younger hikers congratulated them as they took in the spectacular views stretching across the Tasmanian wilderness.

“We didn’t die,” Cathy joked. “And the views were amazing.”

Months later, Cradle Mountain still lingers in her thoughts.

“Images of Cradle Mountain National Park pop into my thoughts often and create a yearning, like an absent lover,” she said. “I will return again.”

Looking back, Cathy says the trip was about much more than sightseeing.

It was about spending precious time with her father, who joined them on many of their adventures. It was about exploring beautiful places, meeting interesting people and embracing experiences that pushed her beyond her comfort zone.

“We loved getting out every day and walking somewhere beautiful, rugged or interesting,” she said.

Her advice for others considering a Tasmanian adventure is simple: allow plenty of time, plan ahead and don’t be afraid to challenge yourself.

“Be adventurous, because you truly don’t know what you are made of until you challenge yourself.”

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