Back to the Highlands: Two Attempts, One Adventure

Back to the Highlands: A Little Determination

I'm not an experienced camper, and heading off on my own is certainly outside my comfort zone. In fact, sometimes the hardest part isn't the journey itself, but actually getting out the front door.

After several weeks of umming and ahhing, I finally decided to stop thinking about it and just go. I packed up the car, loaded my camera gear and headed towards Penstock Lagoon in Tasmania's Central Highlands, determined to give solo camping a try.

Unfortunately, things didn't quite go to plan. By the time I reached Penstock Lagoon, I was feeling completely overwhelmed. I hadn't packed everything I needed, my confidence had disappeared, and the whole idea suddenly felt like too much. So, after all that preparation, I turned around and drove home.

Not exactly the camping adventure I'd imagined!

But the day wasn't a complete loss. I'd stopped at historic Steppes Homestead along the way and spent some time exploring and photographing the old buildings. At least I'd come home with some photographs, even if I hadn't managed to stay the night.

And as it turned out, I wasn't quite ready to give up on the Central Highlands just yet.

First Attempt: A False Start in the Central Highlands

On the way to Penstock Lagoon, I stopped at Steppes Homestead, a place I've visited before but hadn't always had the time to photograph properly.

This time, I wasn't in a hurry. I spent some time exploring the old buildings, paying more attention to the weathered timber, doorways and small details that might otherwise have gone unnoticed.

Although the camping part of the trip didn't go to plan, I was pleased with the photographs I'd taken. The day hadn't turned out quite as I'd hoped, but at least I'd made the most of my stop at Steppes Homestead.

Second Attempt: Back to the Highlands

Not one to give up entirely, I decided to have another go at camping in the Central Highlands. This time, though, I wasn't going alone.

With a friend along for the adventure, we headed back to Penstock Lagoon and successfully managed a night away. It might not sound like much to seasoned campers, but after my first attempt, it felt like progress!

One of the highlights of this trip was exploring Waddamana, a place with a fascinating connection to Tasmania's hydroelectric history.

I've always enjoyed photographing old buildings and places that have played a part in Tasmania's past, so Waddamana was right up my alley. The old power station, machinery and historic structures provided plenty of opportunities to get the camera out and explore a different side of the Central Highlands.

Beyond the Power Station — Waddamana's Forgotten Buildings

Away from the impressive machinery of the power station, I spent some time exploring the old buildings around Waddamana.

While much of the power station has been carefully preserved, some of the surrounding buildings have clearly seen better days. Weathered timber, peeling paint, broken guttering and years of accumulated dust and grime have left their mark.

These are exactly the sorts of places I love photographing. I found myself wandering around, drawn to the little details and wondering about the people who once lived and worked here. Even the most ordinary corners seemed to have a story to tell.

After exploring Waddamana, we spent some more time driving around the Central Highlands, taking in the scenery around Penstock Lagoon.

Although I came home with far more photographs of old buildings and machinery than landscapes, it had been a worthwhile trip. More importantly, I'd finally managed that overnight camping adventure, even if I hadn't quite tackled it on my own yet.

The next adventure would take me somewhere completely different — into Tasmania's wild Southwest. And this time, I was going solo.