Traveling in tasmania in january

Morning Agroe
January is a good time to travel Tassie, three weeks is nowhere long enough, you will be on the move all the time to see things, no time to stop and take it all in.

Having said that, weather wise its a good time, BUT you will have to share camping spots with hoards of other campers, especially on the East Coast, but if you are coming latish January you may be here after the kids go back to school, i think about 9th February.

Depending on your set up you could free camp (other than National Park fees and may be a couple of other spots ) for the three weeks you are here.

As far as booking ahead in CVP's can't help you there as we don't use them.

There are great camp sites on the North East Coast, and down as far as Bay of Fires, St Helens etc.

On the West Coast, Macquarie Heads, Arthur River and on the North West around Stanley, Black River.

Hope you enjoy our State, have a GREAT trip.
Cheers
Baz

In Tasie it's often possible to camp on the town sports grounds for overnighters. Swansea is one we camped on, Sheffield another and I believe Glenorchy in Hobart also. The only place we went into a caravan park was in Hobart where we stayed for 5 days. All the rest (3 weeks) was National parks, Hydro reserves or friends places (3 days).

Ah Tassie; Gods Country :)

I go there every second year for kayaking etc. The west coast is very busy if you are thinking Strahan. Towns north of Strahan are more 'day visit' places so accommodation won't be as hard to get.
Strahan has river cruises, jet boats, great food, Henty Dunes, Queenstown railway etc which is why people stay more than one night. If you like bush camping over the caravan parks I suggest looking at the small camp grounds at the Macquarie Heads about 10km's out of Strahan.

If you haven't booked into Coles Bay now then don't bother. this is the victor harbour of S.A (where the locals go for their holidays). Recommened Cockle Creek which is the southern most town in Australia (head Sth from Hobart). On the way you have Pt Arthur, Forest tree walk etc.

Basically the East Coast is surprisingly good weather so expect nice high 20 and low 30 degree days. West Coast can be quite as nice but still volatile at times (mountains cause rain shadow).

You live once so dont rush the best part of tassie (West Coast). The world heritage area there has the highest ranking of any other world heritage area in the world (true story!). It's a world marvel on our back door that tourists know better than Australians! Highly recommed the Gordon River Cruise (which will take you out to the heads of the harbour and Sarah Island) and the Strahan - Queenstown - Strahan train trip thru the mountains. Amazing story of human effort to go along with it.

Anyway could go on forever so just enjoy it but don't rush your trip to see as much as possible. Take your time and enjoy the experiences in each place.

Waking up on the edge of the lake at Wayatinah C/P is good too.
Book ahead everywhere during January in Tassie.
Freecamp area under 'the nut' in Stanley around near the wharves, and also a nice C/P too.

Hi Agroe Just returned from Tassie in March spent 4 months there 3 weeks you will see very little unless you move daily, we free camped most of the time, if your going to coles bay( Freycinet nat park) you can camp free at moulting lagoon at end of river rock rd, if your near St Helens cosy corner or swimcart beach are great free camps, on the west coast at Straun the Macquarie heads camping ground is $5 a night, we loved it we spent 5 months and never visited everywhere, we missed cockle creek and many other spots, we have left them for when we return wich wont be for quite a while, we are on a 10 year trip around oz cheers Merv.

Went to Tassie for a month in March 2009 then back for a month in January 2010.

To my surprise I found it quieter in January after New Years than it was in March. In March every baby boomer seems to visit the place whereas in January they haven't crossed Bass Strait yet.

Have a great time.


Mintrax

spent 5 weeks in tassie this year, plent of places to camp if you are in a van. camper trailer a little harder but still around.

don't be fooled by the fact that january is summer, it still gets bloody cold there in summer at times.

for my 2 bobs worth, sa is better to see than tassie.....but thats just my opinion.

Hi Agroe

We spent seven weeks and only really did a quick 'double loop'. You can see what we did from My Blogs (2006). We arrived there a bit later than you (into February), although school had not gone back when we started out. We did not make any bookings, and utilised a number of lovely free camps. You need Camps Australia Wide as the terrain is such that finding a place to pull off the road is not easy, and there are so many designated free camps, particularly in the NE quarter. The West side had the least free camping opportunities.

Motherhen