why we started the compass hut journal
Words & photography by Kylie Bell
Behind the scenes, and a core part of why we chose to create and place unique, eco-hut experiences' on Tasmania's Central North Coast, was, and is, to share our love and passion for our region's stunning landscapes and outdoor experiences. Growing up, these landscapes surrounding our childhood home, were our backyard, and filled our souls and passions for adventure, hiking and exploring our islands wild places. We are also, unsurprisingly, foodies; having grown up on an organic farm - home of Compass Hut, and a place of many memories for both of us both; eating, peeling - even salt and peppering veggies, knee deep in the paddock! Our passion for food also stems, I feel, from being surrounded by some of Tassie's best cheese and chocolate makers, honey collectors, berry farms and many more visitor-facing agritourism experiences; which is been more recently rapidly growing to include a range of cellar doors, micro-breweries and many more. Locally, the central north and north-west coast is Tasmania's agricultural and agritourism food bowl. In fact, we are positioned, in the heart of Tasmania's Tasting Trail: a self-drive, farm-gate, road-trip journey, stretching from the Tamar Valley Wine Region to the east, then turning west, back through to the picturesque township of Stanley and The Nut (a striking, volcanic plug on Tasmania's Far North West coastline).
Therefore, reflecting back to 2018 and our many notes and sketches that would later become Compass Hut, the foundation-pillar of the 'Compass Hut' concept was split in two.
Firstly, it was a vessel to explore our passion for eco, sustainable architectural, interior and furniture design as creators; which we could share with others. And secondly, it was. a base for others to experience and explore our stunning region too.
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From a travellers perspective, the Central North and North-West coast, is one of Tasmania's most beautiful, and scenically-diverse regions; aided by its coastal, temperate climate, volcanic red soils and its many rivers.
Geographically, our region begins from the geologically-intriguing, north-west coastline. Then stretches across rolling hills and farmland, gently rising up from Bass Strait to the Kentish region; home to Sheffield, the International Mural Fest and Mount Roland, towering over our landscape at 1,233 meters - one of the best day hikes in the region hands down. Across the mountains foothills, around and beyond, visitors can discover spectacular caves, waterfalls, lookouts, lakes, vineyards, Tasmanian wildlife experiences . . . the list goes on!
Perhaps our region's most famous icon however - and perhaps Tasmania's (from an international, globetrotting and nature-lover lens) - is Cradle Mountain and the start of the Overland Track. As locals to the region, avid hikers and wilderness lovers ourselves, we have lost track of the number of visits we have made in our lifetime, to today. This is obviously not been helped by the fact that this national park and mountain - a possible pre-historic and dormant, volcanic crater - is in our backyard; a short, 60 minute road trip from us at Compass Hut.
For those visiting Tasmania for the first time, we are positioned in the centre of the east to west axis and road-tripping route via the A1. This connects Launceston to Compass Hut's east, Australia's second-oldest city, through to the historical, maritime village of Stanley to our west; a possible point of interest for those romantic drama film lovers, and fans of husband and wife duo, Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander, Stanley became the stage of DreamWorks Pictures/Walt Disney Studios film, The Light Between Oceans, premiered in 2016. Returning, back down to coastline to Compass Hut, when pivoting this axis on the map 180 degrees, we are also on route to Cradle Mountain, commencing from the coastal city of Devonport - Tasmania's third largest city and home of the Spirit of Tasmania vessels and visitor terminal.
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Bringing ourselves back to our core, secondary, founding-pillar, we recently decided that we wanted to inspire and ignite a curiosity for our region in you: our Compass Hut community and readers. To do this, each month we will release new blogs, filled stories, travel inspiration and illustrated with photography captured by your hosts.
The aim is to firstly share the love of our region through the medium of photography and storytelling - bringing you along on our adventures and highlighting our favourite spots with our readers. And in time, hopefully, you are able to experience the richness of the Central North and North West Coast too.
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To join our Compass Hut readers, you can subscribe below. For those seeking additional further afield travel and wilderness inspiration, check-out Kylie's travel and photography blog, Lost Oar.
Finally, don't forget to check-out, like and follow us at @compasshut.
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Kylie
Come with us on our journey
Subscribe and be the first to know about discounts, packages and deals. We also take you on our eco accommodation journey, keeping you up to date with news, updates, media/book features, and new blogs featured as part of our Compass Hut journal. We also take you along on new or current tiny house and sustainability projects. And of course, we love to inspire our readers each month with travel inspiration on our beautiful, central north coast region of Tasmania. We also keep you informed on upcoming events and more.