Tassie..which direction???

Hi Andrew

It takes a bit of a double loop to see a cross section. Tour along the north coast, then down the west, across from Queenstown through the middle. Quite a long drive into the Gordon River dam, but worth it. Down to the southern end via the east side, back to Hobart and Port Arthur. North along the east coast, then back south down the Midlands - real convict history here, and amazing convict built bridges made for horse and carts now taking heavy traffic including road trains. Then north again via the beautiful central mountains. As the weather a Cradle Mountain can vary, if a Tasmanian says it will be clear at Cradle - go that day from where ever.

If weather is more suitable doing it in reverse, change your plans.

Motherhen

Make sure you are in HOBARTon saturday for the market

Andrew,

I dont think that direction is an issue in Tassie. Its so small, relatively speaking that places seem quite close together. You will need to zig and zag a bit anyway to see the sights. Follow the weather and anything that only happens on particular days eg Salamanca markets and any festivals that you might want to see eg PennyFarthing Festival at Evandale near Launceston.

Cheers,

Val

Andrew,

I think it is best if you criss cross a bit because we found, with our kids, that they tended to get sick of forests day after day which can happen down the west and south.

As said before it is better to be flexible and follow the good weather. Cradle Mt, Mt Wellington and the like are spectacular but the weather can take away from the experience.

Generally it will only be a short drive to better weather.

For example we were there around Easter time and woke up on the east coast near Freycinet with warm sunny weather wearing shorts and T shirts and ended up in Richmond for lunch in drizzle and weariing 2 jumpers

Stert with the boat and let the rest happen. Don't try to be too organised we find that if we do that we quite often miss the best bits.

Hi Andrew,

We are going over on 23rd January for 8 weeks - only booked today. Taking our van and tinnie, just the two of us.

Might see you there somewhere as it is such a small state.

We have been there before a number of times, most were short fly/drive holidays, once with our car, and once to do the Overland track hike from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair, so we feel we know it at least a bit.

They have all been at peak season because we were teachers and had to go when we were on holiday. This time will be different.

We plan to meander our way around and revisit some of the places we just glimpsed on other trips, as well as new ones. Lots of bushwalking and fishing, photography...

Not sure which way to go when we get off the Ferry, depends partly on the weather forecast at the time. I would rather not plan too much ahead.

Regards,

Heather

We are also off end January for 6 weeks, was going to go right along the top to the nut then down the west etc then I found out that the wooden boat festival was on the 14th of Feb in Hobart so now we are going left down the east coast to be in Hobart for the festival and off coarse the markets. There is a good 4x4 track I have read about from Zeehan to Arther River. I am told that Bruny Island is worth a look as is the area around Southport.

Andrew,

I did a rekky in 2007. ;)
11 days clockwise in a campervan which I hired, as I sailed down to Hobart in my brothers yacht. 11 days just didn't do it justice and I only had time to see the tourist stuff.
Planning to take the 4WD back someday.
As others have said a bit of zig zagging might be required.
Have fun.

Heading down there as well. Booked the boat for the 29th December. We are going clock wise. No reason other then our first stop is for family in Launceston so it sort of makes sense to continue from Devonport and keep going that way. I'll also have WA plates and similar car to you towing a Jayco Swan caravan.

Cheers

Matt

Hi Andrew,

If possible reserve your decision untill the last day or two so as to be able to use the coming or departing weather to your advantage , check the Sth Aussie Neptune Island coast station their conditions generally take obout 12hrs to influence the west coast weather.If a low should go thru sth Vic and sit east of Flinders Island ne & e winds and rain are on the cards, if a high goes sth of tassie se & e winds are possible. Approaching highs produce southerly winds the day before their arrival, 99% of Tassie's weather approaches from the west.

HAVE A GREAT TRIP.

Tassie,

Hi Andrew,

We just got back yesterday from our 3rd trip down there - it was just a short one this time, only 9 days.

We flew into Launceston, picked up hire camper, drove down past the Great Lake, into Lake St Clair, along to Queenstown, down to Strahan, out to Reece Dam, through Rosbery, up into Cradle Mt, up to Penguin, along the coast to Stanley, out to Arthur River, back along the coast & down into Sheffield, Mole Creek & Chudleigh, up to Beaconsfield & Beauty Point & then dropped car back in Launceston.

had a great time, but as usual not long enough. Weather varied from cold, cold, cold to a 28 degree day. can't pick the weather!

Enjoy - it os a beautiful spot!

Cheers,