20 replies to this topic

[midgetyone]

Well, I have decided (due to the unpredictable nature of wetness of the West Coast , no offence to the West, and the unpredictable rain protection of my tent) that I will be indeed touring the West Coast in a camper van. One of those Hiace things you can hire. I will be available to go after April. So I will need to draw on your expert knowledge of the West to help plan my trip around one of these vans....... (not quite sure that the vans are up to my style/destinations of camping). So the 5 Ws....

Who: 4 of us, 2 vans
What: Free places to stay, awesome sights, bushwalks, photogenic places, any do and don't moments, just plain adventure (love local knowledge things such as the old tunnel in Zeehan etc)
When: After April, Before or after Winter, best time of year really. for 7 days allowing 2 for to from travel from Hobart
Where: Strahan though Arthur Pieman and back. Best suggested route.
Why: Well why the heck not?

So I'd love to hear any/all advice to help plan this adventure.

[midgetyone]

Wow the average bond on one of these campers is $5000 Ouch

[midgetyone]

AutorentHertz it is, no bond Seriously though $5000 in cash? For a seven day trip? I feel uneasy giving that much to someone even if they are a company. If you have to have that much cash lying around to rent one you might as well buy a second hand one

[Mystic]

I assume the rental conditions prohibit taking the van on gravel roads????? If that is the case, then you may wish to reconsider the rental

[Cascade]

You could just about hire a 4x4 and stay in motels for half that price.... Or is that the total hire cost for 2 vehicles for the 4 Adults plus the 2 Childrenn for 7 days?....

Thrifty vehicle hire = Mitsubishi Pajero 4x4 Wagon. Pick-up from & return to HOBART 7days = $723.00 average hotel motel cost per night $120.00 tops = $840.00. Total around $1565.00. Add $700.00 for food @ $100.00 a day and its still less than $2300.00.

You can get accomodation as low as $80.00 a night in Queenstown.

It may not be as flexible but a 6 berth Derwent camper from Discovery Campervans Pick-up from & return to HOBART for 7 days = $1300.00. OK so its big but it solves the travel and sleeping problem for everyone.

If your smart you'll tell Hertz that your not a bloody mainland or overseas tourist ready for them to rip you off and offer to shove their vehicle/s where the sun don't shine.....

[Mystic]

Cascade.

April should still be quite dry over this way. If the vehicle you are renting cannot travel gravel roads, forget Macquarie Heads, forget Trial or Granville Harbour, forget the pieman river and Corrina. You can do the major towns, but very little else. If it is a large vehicle, you will not fit through the tunnel at Zeehan either.

As Cascade points out above, the cost of motels would be less than the cost of a rental vehicle. I think you would be far better off using your own vehicle, and tent, and maybe motels IF the weather turns nasty.

A rental vehicle will seriously reduce your options.

[midgetyone]

Haha no it's only 400 for their van for the seven days and yes you can go on gravel roads

[Mystic]

Out of curiosity, who are you renting the van through? I have not heard of any rental company that allows vehicles to be taken on gravel roads.

[midgetyone]

Well, here's the go I think, mostly sealed roads but fine for gravel to see places like Trial Harbour etc. So not going up the Arthur Pieman region, but more inland up to Marrawah. Would like to see Savage River too

[dave]

when we rented a motorhome over there, a few years back, we took our own last time, we couldnt find one rental company that would allow their "on road" campers or motorhomes off the bituman! only their 4wd versions

watch out for "overhead damage" as well, this is not covered by your standard insurance, deposit will be a big bight

and dont forget to refill the tank before you return the camper or you will pay the hire companys exorbitant prices

[midgetyone]

This is the Van I'm thinking of

Yeah thanks Dave,

Hertz don't have a deposit which is good and you can drive on gravel with a higher excess on the insurance. One just has to avoid any trees

[Mystic]

If you want to head that far north, then the Western explorer is the way to go.My favourite road in Tassie. It is around 100km of gravel though, but usually kept in good condition. I assume it is only a small camper, so getting down to Trial Harbour would be no problem (just take it easy, especially on the gravel section as there are a lot of blind spots). The time you want to travel Trial should be reasonably quiet and you could be the only one there apart from the locals, unless you go over the Easter break.

Parks and wildlife website says of the Savage River Park...

Quote

In keeping with the wilderness character of the Savage River National Park, the park is remote and inaccessible and has no visitor facilities.

Though, you can get into the northern end, around the Milkshake Hills area. If going up the Western explorer, you turn right at the T-intersection at the end of the explorer, head towards Kanunnah Bridge but go straight ahead through the roundabout instead of crossing the bridge. Unfortunately to head towards Marrawah from the Western Explorer, you turn left at the T-intersection. Though Milkshake Hills is not too far inland to double back, and you can cross Kannunah bridge to get a sealed route through to Marrawah.

On the drive from Hobart, break it up with a few leg stretchers, that are well worth doing. Franklin River Nature Trail, Donaghy's Lookout, and Nelson falls are all great walks, and reasonably short. (The lookout walk is good if a clear day). If you did those three walks and felt a bit tired when approaching Queenstown, there is a camping area (free) on Lake Burbury, after crossing the bridge, turn left near the end of the sweeping right hand bend. Or, go into Queenstown, turn left into the main street (Orr St), then take your first right (around the back of the Empire Hotel), follow that road for about 25km until just before it turns to gravel. Turn left where the boat ramp sign indicates and you will find a quiet camping area on the shores of the lake that is a bit more isolated than the first option. Again this one is free.

Will add a few other suggestions later.

[midgetyone]

Hmm yeah the Western Explorer... I'd have to think about that being so much gravel. I'd really need a fair idea on what the road is like, how many people travel it etc.

Thanks for those walking ideas they look great

[dave]

it's actually quite a good road, I have spoken to few folks who have travelled it, just allow a wee bit of time to do it justice

[Cascade]

Iv'e taken my slide on camper through from Smithton - Zeehan without any hassles and there were many standard vehicles making the trip both ways. There is a good camping spot at Lat -41.46 Long 145.09. Also the Corinna campsite fees are reasonable but if you want to camp there it would pay to book in advance - details can be found here. http://www.corinna.com.au/ and here http://www.tasmanias...rinna_visitinfo
Hope this help a little.

[Mystic]

Don't worry about the Western Explorer, it is usually in great condition. The worst section is before you hit it going off the highway when coming from Zeehan and heading to the ferry. A short stretch on one of the worst roads in Tassie, but taken slowly, still alright. I would rather go that way than take the run from Waratah down to Corrina. If you want to spend a day or so around Corrina, but don't want to pay the site fees, head up the road about 5km and after you cross the first bridge there is a shaded clearing on the right where you can camp or park your camper on the edge of the creek. Lovely little spot and free.

There is a $20 fee to cross the river at Corrina.

[midgetyone]

Whew what a busy week

Hmmm yeah not sure I'd like to risk excessive driving on gravel roads Maybe in the future..... Would like to see Lake Mackintosh......

[Cascade]

Haha... Up this top half of the state, and myself being in a rural location, gravel roads somehow just become a fact of life. Boiled down, in the end they are just a means to getting to somewhere you really want to go or even as a short cut through forestry sections to save some kilometres.

With my slide on camper loaded on my vehicle along with my neighbour who was towing an off-road camper trailer behind his vehicle, we comfortably traveled north to south at 60 - 80kmph most of the way and up to 100kmph in absolute safety on some of the straight stretches only reducing speed when passing other cars and 4x4's.

To be honest, I've hit bigger pot holes traveling to Hobart on our bitumen roads than I ever did on the Western Explorer.

[Shane V]

well said Cascade...it is a great road.

[Mystic]

Agree fully Cascade. Some sections of the Western Explorer, especially at the northern end, are better than the highways and I have comfortably sat on 100km/h. The rest of the road, even in the old Volvo can be safely handled at 60-80, though it is a road I like to dawdle along. the scenery and the sense of isolation is wonderful.

Lake Mackintosh is a very nice spot, and there are a number of places you can camp around the shore. Make sure to cross the first dam you come to (can't recall its name offhand) and follow the road further on for the best spots.