Go off-roading in style in the Huon Valley
Creekside glamping in Frida the ‘75 Kombi in the Huon is a great way to enjoy the peace and serenity of the great outdoors.
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Cruising down a country road, windows down, the wind flying through her soft curls.
Destination: wherever the road takes her – perhaps somewhere beachy.
Maybe she has a partner – hair also windswept, and feet on the dashboard as they bop along to Fleetwood Mac.
It’s a romantic idea, but I’ve never been too convinced by influencers pushing the effortless ideal of travelling and sleeping in a van; the reality of going without the small comforts is too much to imagine.
This is why the drive through the Huon Valley to Kombi Kamp at Upper Woodstock has me almost prematurely regretting my decision to go.
As we drive along a bumpy Pelverata Rd, my fiance spies a tiny toy kombi van sitting on the fence; we’ve arrived.
Sitting in the paddock is a bright turquoise van, our accommodation for the weekend.
We’re greeted by Pam, who walks us through the property and it quickly becomes clear there’s a lot more to this stay than a trendy van and a few fairy lights.
Pam takes us through an impressive outdoor kitchen, sort of like a cabin kitchen with a wall missing.
It’s complete with a wood stove in the corner, jaffle irons and a table for two.
She also provides us with all the essentials – eggs, milk, butter and bread from the Summer Kitchen Bakery along with a tin of what my fiance swears are the best Anzac biscuits he’s had.
I hear the passion in Pam’s voice when she speaks about Kombi vans, they’re a part of her story.
She says she and her partner are surfers and perhaps she’s “an old hippie at heart”.
Frida is a 1975 model, restored and repainted from a yellow brown to the brilliant and bright turquoise it is now.
The van certainly looks impressive inside and out but let’s address the elephant in the room: we can’t drive the van.
But at a spot as peaceful and picturesque as this, you may as well throw away the key.
If we weren’t famished, we might have done exactly that.
A quick stop at Huonville for burgers and beer at DS cafe and we’re all set.
When we return, we explore the property, walking a winding track along the creek, exploring the bushland, and hoping to see the elusive platypus we’re told lives in the area. Sadly we do not meet.
We spend the rest of our afternoon lazing about and enjoying the warmth of the sun.
The sun starts to descend, it’s time to light the fire. It’s all set and ready to go, all we have to do is light it, and there’s a winter’s worth of wood to keep it alive.
We have a perfect night toasting the biggest marshmallows I’ve seen, provided by Pam, and knocking back a couple of glasses of Two Tonne’s pinot noir.
A clear sky puts the stars on full display and my fiance can’t pass up the chance for some starry night photography.
We try not to frighten the pademelons and wallabies who sneak past to get to the open field behind us, it is their home we’re visiting after all.
As my fiance cooks meat on a grill plate over the fire, the scent wafting through the air lures in an unexpected visitor.
A curious quoll scopes the area looking for leftovers, but all he finds is a rinsed off plate to lick.
After a long day of doing the perfect amount of nothing, we decide to take Frida out for a spin, and by that I mean it was time for sleep.
Inside is a perfectly styled, with a bohemian theme.
The double bed, which takes up most of the space, is adorned with white pillows and crocheted lace.
The last time I went camping, I thought sleeping on a blow-up mattress was as good as it could get, even then, I’d awake to find it had partially deflated in the night.
The bed is comfortable – more comfortable than I expected and it doesn’t take long before we doze off.
In the morning we help ourselves to the seedy sourdough loaf from the Summer Kitchen perfectly paired with a little jar of heaven – homemade jam.
Next comes the real test: the shower.
I like a long shower, it helps me relax and sometimes I lose track of time.
I recall Pam saying there was enough water in the tank to shower for as long as I’d like, a dangerous challenge, indeed.
It’s an outdoor shower, but very private and I’m reminded of an old shampoo ad where a
model washes her hair under a waterfall in the middle of nowhere.
It’s a far cry from the image, but, practically speaking, this is better than that.
The walls are made of corrugated steel, the base a large boulder surrounded by smaller rocks.
The water heats up quickly and the pressure is better than the showers of at least three share houses I’ve lived in.
On the agenda today: the Franklin market, wine tastings at the incredible Home Hill Winery and Kate Hill Winery, and a meander down Geeveston way, hopeful Masaaki’s sushi is still doing takeaway.
Lucky for us they are.
On the drive back to camp, the skies turn and I worry we won’t be able to enjoy our stay as much as yesterday.
We each pick up a good book and seek shelter inside Frida, before falling asleep.
When we wake up, the rains have eased but the clouds are still grey.
I suspect we will not be treated to the clear night we had yesterday, but there’s very little an open fire can’t fix.
Perhaps it’s the change in the weather but tonight the mosquitoes are relentless, I remember why I don’t go camping.
Luckily I remember the mysterious foil-wrapped pest deterrent Pam mentioned, all we have to do is soak it in water, poke holes in it and put it in the fire.
I follow the instructions and, just like magic, our unwanted guests leave and once again it’s just me, my fiance and the hungry quoll who is no doubt watching us from afar.
We cuddle up and watch the flames dance, enjoying peace and serenity of the great outdoors; two happy campers taking on the wilderness in style.
The author was a guest of Kombi Kamp
Make a note:
- Getting there: Kombi Kamp is located at Upper Woodstock on Pelverata Rd. The turn off is halfway between Huonville and Cygnet. From Hobart it’s a 37-minute drive in light traffic. Pelverata Rd is a dirt road and is not well maintained, so careful driving is recommended for small cars.
- Dine: Kombi Kamp is close to Cygnet and Huonville, restaurants and cafes are close by but it is also fully equipped with everything needed to cook a decent meal, including a grill plate to place over the fire.
- Staying there: Kombi Kamp operates through Airbnb and is $215 a night, with a two-night stay minimum. There’s also a service fee of $66.
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