R.A.A.F Fire Fighter Reunion

20th to 23rd March 2025

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.