Brad & Ange Adventures

Brad & Ange Adventures 🚐 Travelling Australia at our own pace. 🐌
📖 Sharing our adventures and discovering the stories.
💚 Local knowledge. Shared memories.

🏚️ We decided to go for a wander through the bush near our campsite at the **Luina Ghost Town**, and it turned into one ...
01/07/2026

🏚️ We decided to go for a wander through the bush near our campsite at the **Luina Ghost Town**, and it turned into one of those walks where every few metres there was something new to spot.

Among the trees we found what we think were old fence posts for corrugated iron fencing, concrete culverts and the remains of old utility infrastructure. All signs that people once lived and worked here.

Nature is slowly reclaiming it all. Moss is covering the concrete, fungi are popping up through the leaf litter, and a quiet little creek now flows through what was once part of a busy mining town. 🍄🌿

It's fascinating how places like this slowly change over time. The big landmarks tell part of the story, but it's often these small details tucked away in the bush that capture our imagination.

💧 Continuing on from our post on Saturday about Waratah's fascinating water tunnel, we discover another link in Tasmania...
30/06/2026

💧 Continuing on from our post on Saturday about Waratah's fascinating water tunnel, we discover another link in Tasmania's history... the **Dudley Kenworthy Water Wheel**.

Long before electricity became commonplace, Waratah's reliable water supply was being harnessed to power the town's mining industry. That innovation eventually helped make Waratah the **first industrial site in Australia to be lit by hydro-electricity**. ⚙️💡

Standing here, it's amazing to think that something as simple as flowing water helped shape the future of this little mining town.

One of the things we're loving most about travelling Tasmania is how one discovery often leads to another. The more we explore, the more the stories connect. 💚

Has anyone heard more about the original water wheel or how the hydro-electric system worked? We'd love to learn more.

29/06/2026

There's something special about an old country pub. 🍻

We stopped at the Bischoff Hotel twice while we were exploring the Waratah area. It turned out to be one of the most reasonably priced pub meals we've found in Tasmania, but what really stood out was the atmosphere. Places like this have welcomed locals, miners, travellers and families for generations, and you can't help but wonder about the stories these walls could tell.

One thing that caught our eye was the sarsaparilla bottles scattered along the bar. At the time we thought they must really love sarsaparilla! 🤣 We've since learnt that the Bischoff Hotel is known for adding it to beer. 🍺 We'd love to know how that tradition began.

We love local knowledge. 💚

If the Bischoff Hotel was your local, or you've spent time in Waratah, we'd love to hear your stories, photos or favourite memories from years gone by.

🏚️ When we first saw the sign for **Philosopher Smith's Hut**, we couldn't help but wonder... who was the Philosopher?Hi...
28/06/2026

🏚️ When we first saw the sign for **Philosopher Smith's Hut**, we couldn't help but wonder... who was the Philosopher?

His real name was **James "Philosopher" Smith**, and despite the nickname, he wasn't a philosopher in the traditional sense. He earned it because he was known as a thoughtful, well-read man with a curious mind. Sounds a bit like Brad 🤣

On 4 December 1871, James Smith discovered tin at nearby Mount Bischoff. That single discovery changed the future of Waratah, creating one of the world's richest tin mines and helping shape Tasmania's mining history.

The hut standing today is a reconstruction, built to commemorate his discovery and give visitors a glimpse into the simple conditions early prospectors lived in.

Brad couldn't resist trying out the old sledgehammer. ⚒️

One of our favourite parts of travelling is learning the stories behind places like this. They remind us that history is often shaped by ordinary people making extraordinary discoveries.

If you know more about James "Philosopher" Smith, this hut, or Waratah's early days, we'd love to hear your stories or local knowledge in the comments. 💚

📍 Philosopher Smith's Hut, Waratah, Tasmania

💧 What lies beneath this steel grate?At first glance it doesn't look like much... just a metal grate in the middle of a ...
27/06/2026

💧 What lies beneath this steel grate?

At first glance it doesn't look like much... just a metal grate in the middle of a grassy paddock.

But look a little closer and you're peering into one of Waratah's old water tunnels, part of an ingenious network of water races and tunnels built to support the Mount Bischoff tin mine.

Historical information at the site explains that water was diverted through this network more than a century ago, playing an important role in the mining operations that helped shape Waratah's history.

Standing here today, with ferns growing below and silence above, it's hard to imagine the roar of water that once rushed beneath our feet.

One of our favourite parts of travelling is learning from the people who know these places best. Every town has stories that aren't written on the information boards.

If you're a Waratah local, have worked here, or know more about this old water tunnel, we'd love to hear your stories or memories in the comments. 💚

💧 Whyte River, LuinaThe Whyte River flows quietly near our camp at Luina, with crystal-clear water winding its way throu...
26/06/2026

💧 Whyte River, Luina

The Whyte River flows quietly near our camp at Luina, with crystal-clear water winding its way through the Tasmanian bush. 🌿

It wasn't just a beautiful spot to explore either. We were able to top up our water tanks from the river. Brad even caught a small trout before releasing it back into the water. 🎣💧

The old rusty pipeline crossing the river was a reminder of Luina's mining history and the mine site on the opposite side of the river.

Some of the best camps we find are the ones that other travellers don't give a second look.

Have you ever found a camp that surprised you in the best possible way? 😃

25/06/2026

When we walked to Philosopher Falls, we carried a lot of mixed emotions with us.

Like many others, we had followed Rob Parsons' videos and the search for Celine Cremer, hoping her family would one day receive answers.

We acknowledge the incredible volunteers who never gave up searching.

Walking through this beautiful rainforest felt different. There was sadness, there was peace, and there were moments where it was hard not to think about Celine and her journey.

It is a remarkable walk that we will remember for a very long time.

Our thoughts are with her family and friends, who never gave up hope of finding answers.

Rest peacefully, Celine. ❤️🌿

🧡 We're fascinated by the Thylacine, Tasmania's most famous lost animal.The more we learn about them, the more interesti...
24/06/2026

🧡 We're fascinated by the Thylacine, Tasmania's most famous lost animal.

The more we learn about them, the more interesting they become. Here are a few fun facts we discovered:

🐾 The Thylacine wasn't actually a tiger or a dog. It was a marsupial, meaning it carried its young in a pouch.

🐾 Both male and female Thylacines had pouches. The male's pouch helped protect his reproductive organs while moving through thick scrub.

🐾 They could open their jaws incredibly wide, up to around 80 degrees, much wider than most dogs.

🐾 Despite often being called the "Tasmanian Tiger", Thylacines once lived on mainland Australia and New Guinea.

🐾 The last known Thylacine died at Beaumaris Zoo in 1936, just months after the species was officially given legal protection.

🐾 Unconfirmed sightings are still reported today, particularly in remote parts of Tasmania.

🐾 Their scientific name, Thylacinus cynocephalus, means "pouched dog-headed one".

It's hard not to wonder what Tasmania would be like if the Thylacine was still roaming its forests today.

❓Which of these Thylacine facts surprised you the most?

🐾 Remembering the Tasmanian Tiger 🐾At Whyte Hills Lookout, we came across this striking thylacine sculpture overlooking ...
24/06/2026

🐾 Remembering the Tasmanian Tiger 🐾

At Whyte Hills Lookout, we came across this striking thylacine sculpture overlooking the Takayna / Tarkine Wilderness.

The Thylacine was Australia's largest carnivorous marsupial. The information board explains that the Takayna / Tarkine was once one of the last refuges for thylacines, with animals still being captured near Waratah in the 1930s.

The last known thylacine died at Hobart's Beaumaris Zoo in 1936 and, despite reported sightings over the years, the species was officially declared extinct in 1986.

Since we have been exploring the west coast and seeing just how much untouched wilderness there is, it's hard not to wonder if they could still be out there. 🐾🤔

What do you think?

🌿 Whyte Hills Lookout 🌿Not far from Philosopher Falls, this lookout offers stunning views across the Takayna / Tarkine W...
23/06/2026

🌿 Whyte Hills Lookout 🌿

Not far from Philosopher Falls, this lookout offers stunning views across the Takayna / Tarkine Wilderness.

With endless layers of rainforest, mountains and valleys, it was well worth the stop. 😍

Which photo is your favourite?
Give it a ❤️ and let us know why it caught your eye. 📸😃

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