“As a surfer and traveler we get to experience so much of the world but we can often have tunnel vision for the waves. We forget to take everything in between – the people, the culture. There are so many stories to tell and I hope that my films go some way to achieving that,” said Torren Martyn.

I’m speaking to Torren over the phone as he sits on his daughter’s swing in the garden of his new Tasmania home. It’s a far cry from the other perspective he’s had of the island lately after spending months circling it aboard an 18-foot sailing kayak.

The journey forms the basis of ‘Southern Edge’, his latest film with long-time friend Ishka Folkwell and Needessentials. More than anything, Torren hopes the project encourages people to seek out their own adventures.

“The most important thing for me is that I want it to inspire people to get out and do something for themselves, no matter how big or small,” he said. “Life is precious. Get outside, travel slowly, listen deeply and move with respect.

“You don’t need the million-dollar boats and souped-up UTEs to get out there. The less you have, the more exciting it becomes and the more likely you are to lean into other people along the way.”

As Torren and Ishka circumnavigated Tasmania, camping along the coastline as they travelled, the pair spent time meeting locals, learning about remote corners of the island and scoring waves when the opportunity appeared. Torren said the project often felt endless in the best possible way.

“It felt like a film that could never finish because every place had more stories, more characters and more reasons to stay,” he said.

Sailing around the island also offered a perspective impossible to find on land.

“There is everything to gain from taking the path of most resistance,” he said. “It’s the most enriching experience – that sense of self-sufficiency, of doing it for yourself rather than waiting for the perfect moment or for the stars to align. That’s how a lot of my trips start, as an idea and a bit of ambition.”

The journey itself was about as stripped back as it gets. For months, the pair travelled with their butts just inches above the Southern Ocean.

“Yeah, it’s pretty mad,” Torren laughed. “Being in this tiny vessel looking back at this wonderland of nature, it makes you feel so small.

“They’re genius by design. It’s a single sailing mast, a set of pedals and some simple stowage. They’re quite stable. We probably sailed 80 to 90 percent of the trip and pedalled the rest.”

Given Tasmania’s raw coastline, the pair had to be selective about when they travelled.

“Especially once we got around to that west coast, there were times where we couldn’t access land for long periods and it can be incredibly unforgiving, so we were super particular with our planning,” he said. “We also had Ryan Scanlon from Needessentials, who’s a sailor too, helping guide us from land.”

While the central themes of Southern Edge go beyond just surfing, Torren still found a few waves along the way, though Tasmania rarely makes things easy.

“Being an island sitting in the Southern Ocean, it’s the most challenging place I’ve been in terms of surfing consistently,” he said. “There are so many great setups but they might only break once or twice a year and being there when they’re on is hard to get right.

“It’s not as simple as jumping in the car and driving ten minutes to your local beach break. You might drive for hours, hike in or take a boat, but when it all comes together the reward is really sweet.”

Southern Edge continues a body of work that has helped establish Torren as one of modern surfing’s great explorers. Films like Lost Track: Atlantic, Calypte and Thank You Mother have become defining examples of contemporary surf adventure filmmaking and he’s not planning on stopping yet.

“There’s a whole wide world out there but the hardest thing for me now is leaving my family,” he said. “Keeping us together as a unit and moving in a pack is what excites me. I want to share these experiences with my partner and daughter.

“My body feels great and I still want to surf some crazy waves. Sailing is a great way to access a lot of those remote setups, but I think any ocean-based adventures will probably be on hold until my daughter is confident swimming.

“I was actually looking at purchasing a bus last week. Another trip around Australia sounds pretty good to me. This country has so much to explore and I got the opportunity to do it as a kid. My daughter is at that age where she’s soaking everything in and I think it would be incredible for her.”

If you need some inspiration for your next surf adventure, you can check out Southern Edge here.