R.A.A.F Fire Fighter Reunion
Hobart, Tasmania
Touring in Tasmania
Just a few notes for those that plan on travelling
while in Tasmania. Hopefully this will
help get you get started on your search for holiday ideas. As is usual these
days there is a wealth of information on the net.
Small Map of Tas PDF
Towns - to get your
bearings.
Hobart the capital city is in the south. Greater Hobart area surrounds the Derwent
River estuary with a population of around 250,000 – around half of Tasmania’s
population.
Launceston is the second largest city, is in the
central north, 40km inland where the convergence of the North & South Esk Rivers form the Tamar River. It has a population of
around 140,000 for the greater area
West along the Bass Hwy are several smaller towns,
Deloraine being the largest before joining the coast at Devonport followed by
Ulverstone, Penguin, Burnie, Wynard with Stanley & Smithton in the far
northwest “Circular Head area.
Queenstown on the west coast. Scottsdale in the
northeast, St Helens & St Marys on the east coast. Campbelltown & Oatlands in the midlands.
Bothwell in the central highlands.
Weather
The
weather is usually settled in Tas. during March, but it is Tasmania so be
prepared for anything. Nights are
starting to cool off but the days can be warm & sunny. Wikipedia says that
the March average high for Hobart is 20.7C & the average low is 11.6C. If your travelling around the state, get the
forecast (Tasmania Weather and
Warnings (bom.gov.au))for the area you’re in & the one you are
travelling to. The distance may be small
but the difference in weather can be great.
The Central Plateau has a major influence on Tasmanian weather.
Transport
There is no passenger
(commuter) rail service in Tas. This is
something that has shocked some visitors.
Public transport is restricted to the 4 larger town areas. There is a bus service connecting larger
centres. So, if travelling outside of
the major 4 centres you need a car or to be on an organized trip.
Roads/Driving
As a rule, roads are one
lane each way, the Midlands Hwy (Hobart to Launceston) & the Bass Hwy (Launceston
to the NW) do have sections of dual carriageway. Allow time to get stuck behind a truck. Most
roads do have passing lanes, occasionally. Straight flat roads are also in
short supply. Just how twisty or up & down depends on which part of the
state you are in. The west being the
worst, the midlands being least bendy.
Friends of mine, a retired truck driver & avid
grey nomad on the North Island, recently said 150km a day is as much
distance as you want to travel if you want to stop & see something along
the way while in Tas. In straight travel times Hobart to Launceston is 2 Hr’s,
Launceston to Devonport an hour plus 40min to Burnie. Smithton is a further 1 H 15 min away.
Hobart to Queenstown is 4 Hr’s. Once off
the Midlands & Bass Hwy travel times can balloon out. As an example, from
my home to the Reece Dam is 168Km it takes around 2Hr’s & 30 min one
way. Using a route planner that gives
travel times may be useful. Touring in
Tasmania is just as much about the journey as it is the destination.
Wildlife abounds in Tas.
so any travel after dark on any road, but the main roads is not advised, A roo bar for our car was $350 dollars after it cost $500 to
fix the car after hitting one wallaby.
Our car would have been a right off apart from the roo
bar after hitting one on a main
road. Get to your destination before
dark.
Fuel – Unleaded &
Diesel are available everywhere. 95 most places 98 in the larger centres E10 or
Unleaded plus ethanol as it may be called is not so common in many parts of
Tas. What is common outside of the
larger towns & after hours is swipe card pumps. You need to prepay using a credit or debit
card before filling the tank. The main
thing I hear people complain about these is “I never know how much I
want”. You are asked the number of the
pump you are using & to put in a limit for you purchase plus the cards
PIN. Those that are not familiar with
the system don’t realise that you will only be charged for the amount used. So, if your limit is $100 dollars & you
only use $50, that is what you will be charged.
With debit cards you will see the exact account charged to your account
within minutes. Credit cards will show the limit amount as pending, until the
transaction is finalised. If you are
still pumping at around $98 of your $100 limit the pump will stop. This is so it doesn’t go over your
limit. After you replace the nozzle if
you swipe your card again you can elect to receive a printed receipt. There is a limit of $900 per transaction for
anyone needing a large amount of fuel. (Yes, $900 is not enough to feed the
tractors. That’s how I know.) Just start
again. A “Tas Fuel” app available to
download that will tell you where & what fuels are available, for what
price. I’m told you can download it no
matter where you live, but it will only work once you arrive in Tas.
Phone Network Coverage
This is not a problem in populated areas. But once you
get away from the towns it can be a problem. We are only 10min from Mole Creek
& coverage is very patchy. Telstra
would have the largest footprint.
Banking
The problem has been solved by cards & ATM’s but
some small towns have very limited banking services.
Most places will take card. The “Fat Man” car punt at Corinna on the West
Coast needs cash.