As the year winds down and Christmas approaches, many of us feel tired. Tired of rushing. Tired of planning. Tired of thinking that travel has to be big, bold, and exhausting to be meaningful.

But soft adventure reminds us of something important:
You don’t need extreme travel.
You don’t need long itineraries.
You need moments that move you.

One of my favourite reminders of this came from a spontaneous weekend escape to Tasmania, a trip that began with nothing more than a cheap flight alert and a willingness to say why not.

A Simple Yes

A Jetstar alert popped up on my screen advertising $49 flights to Hobart. I was sitting in front of my inbox that had completely taken over my day, looking for any distraction at all. Without overthinking it, I clicked.

In the spirit I try to live by when it comes to travel, I found myself saying why not, and before I knew it, I had booked a weekend in February to spend in Tasmania.

No grand plan. No long leave request. Just a quiet yes to getting away.

Salamanca Mornings & Sensory Moments

We left Melbourne after work on Friday night, picked up a car at Hobart Airport after the quick 30-minute flight, and started Saturday early at the Salamanca Market.

This was no ordinary market. There was a genuine buzz, stalls filled with handmade jewellery, candles, soaps, old books, baby items, cakes, biscuits, and local wines. But what stayed with me most was the smell, layers of food drifting through the air as you wandered the aisles.

Local seafood stalls had long lines for BBQ prawns on sticks, scallops, and the most beautiful oysters, served from a tiny white caravan. It was immersive, unhurried, and full of character, the kind of experience that stays with you long after it’s over.

East Coast Wanders, No Rush Required

Determined to make the most of our short weekend, we made our way up Tasmania’s East Coast, one of the island’s most diverse and breathtaking regions. Rugged coastline. Pristine beaches. Seaside towns full of warmth and charm.

We stopped often, not because we had to, but because we wanted to. Scenic lookouts, local stores, food discoveries, and quiet moments that reminded me how powerful it is to travel without a strict agenda.

This was soft adventure in its truest form: movement without pressure, exploration without exhaustion.

Glamping Where Time Slows Down

Our destination for the night was Little Beach Co Resort, a remote coastal glamping property surrounded by private bushland, granite rock coastline, and the white sand and crystal-clear waters of Little Beach.

Glamping had been on my bucket list, and this place delivered in every way.

It felt like the middle of nowhere, ocean as far as the eye could see, beige bell tents scattered along the coast. The tents were simple yet elegant, and the moment we arrived there was an overwhelming sense of peace.

No noise. No schedules. Just the sound of the ocean in the distance.

Before dinner, we shared a platter of local cheeses and dips with a bottle of red wine as the sun dipped below the horizon, reflecting on the beauty we had already experienced in such a short time. A pre-arranged BBQ pack waited for us, which we cooked ourselves before retreating to our tent and falling asleep to the faint sound of waves crashing against the rocks.

The Beauty of Coming Home Changed

The next morning, after breakfast, we slowly made our way back to Hobart for our early evening flight home. The drive offered more breathtaking views and countless moments that left me in awe of the country I’m lucky enough to call home.

That cheap little weekend getaway turned out to be so much more than I expected. We saw so much in such a short amount of time, but the best part wasn’t the places. It was the feeling. Being in a car, stopping whenever we wanted, with nowhere in particular to be and nothing required except curiosity.

A Sense of Adventure Required

As the year draws to a close, this trip feels like an important reminder.

Soft adventure isn’t about how far you go.
It’s about how travel makes you feel.
It’s about space, presence, and saying yes when something calls to you.

Sometimes, all that’s required is a sense of adventure. And that, more than any long itinerary or extreme experience, is what makes travel unforgettable.

To read more about this little weekend adventure click the link: https://senseofadventurerequiredbyjen.blog/tasmania/