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ADVICE
Top Tassie touring tips
Thinking about touring the Apple Isle? Here's some advice before you hop on the ferry...>> Buy a $60 Holiday Vehicle Parks Pass, available at the information bureau on the Spirit of Tasmania ferry. It covers vehicle entry to all 20 Tasmanian national parks and is cheaper and more convenient than buying individual passes.
>> If you like strolling among mother nature, get hold of the 60 Great Short Walks in Tasmania guide, either as a free booklet at tourist information centres or a smart phone/tablet app from the iTunes store.
>> Be prepared for wintry weather, even in summer, particularly on the West Coast. It rained six out of seven days at Cradle Mountain
during our early-summer trip, so pack a waterproof jacket and boots as well as gloves and beanies (even in December!) if you want to get out amongst it.
>> Pack a warm sleeping bag, or even better, fit central heating to your van.
>> Don’t be fooled by the easy 200km/2.5 hour ‘top to bottom’ run between Launceston and Hobart. Off the main drag few roads are flat or straight, so allow extra time particularly with a caravan, and to stop at the many things that catch your eye along the way.
>> Take a four-wheel drive and enjoy numerous opportunities for beach runs, including the hard sand around Strahan, and free camping in the pure white Bay of Fires.
>> Pack a kayak or small boat. We lost count of the lakes passed, particularly south of Hobart, and protected bays along the coast.
>> Stock up, including fresh water, in bigger towns when you can. You pay a premium for fuel and food at many tourist hot spots like Cradle Mountain and Coles Bay.
>> Travel off-peak for cheaper fares on the Spirit of Tasmania, or watch out for special deals.
>> Check opening times before turning up to attractions, even in summer. The peak holiday season doesn’t really kick off until after Christmas and runs until late-March, so some attractions shut down or run reduced schedules outside of this period.
>> Don’t drive at dusk. Judging by the amount of roadkill, and tame wildlife sitting on roadsides around sunset, there’s a good chance of hitting something furry and damaging your vehicle if you travel late in the day.
>> Don’t be put off by claims of rough, often narrow bitumen full of speeding trucks. Overall, Tassie roads are as good if not better than on the mainland, and much, much less busy...
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Written byChris Fincham
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Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
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