A Trip to Hell… Literally! Visiting the Filming Location of Tomorrow, When the War Began

Some adventures are extra special because they bring together a little bit of history, a shared interest and a whole lot of nostalgia. And this one was definitely one of those adventures!

Today I took Frankie to Hell… and no, I haven't completely lost the plot! 😂

For anyone who has watched the Australian movie Tomorrow, When the War Began, or read the brilliant book series by John Marsden, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.

Hell is the name given to the hideaway in the story where Ellie and her friends go during the invasion. And, as it turns out, we were able to visit the real-life location where scenes from the movie were filmed since it is so close to mum and dad's house.


For Frankie, this was particularly exciting. She has developed quite an interest in the movie and the John Marsden books, so getting to visit somewhere connected to a story she loves was a pretty special experience.

But what made it even more special for me was that this was somewhere I had visited many years ago myself.

Cue 2011 me:

I have such fond memories of visiting this spot when I was younger, and it was lovely to find myself back there again, this time with my own daughter. Something that had once been an interest of mine was now something I could share with Frankie.
There is something rather wonderful about those moments when you get to pass a little piece of your own childhood or teenage years onto your children. You suddenly find yourself seeing somewhere familiar through their eyes, and it makes the experience feel brand new all over again.

And, of course, we weren't adventuring alone! Mum and Dad joined us for the outing, which made it even more special having them there to share the experience and make another family memory together.
I loved seeing Frankie's excitement at being somewhere she recognised from the movie and knowing the connection to the books. It's one thing to read about a fictional place or watch it on a screen, but quite another to actually stand in the landscape where it all came to life.

It's funny how places can hold different memories for different generations. For me, it was a trip down memory lane. For Frankie, it was stepping into a little piece of a story she loves. And for all of us, it was a lovely excuse to get out, explore and spend some time together.

A little nostalgia, a little movie magic and a family adventure all rolled into one.

Who knew a trip to Hell could be such a lovely day out? ❤️

And I suspect this is one of those little adventures Frankie will remember for a long time.

Sometimes the best adventures aren't about travelling somewhere new. They're about returning to somewhere familiar and sharing it with the people you love.

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