Here is a quick text and photo itinerary of our recent trip around Tassie in the Sandman.
We called it Ian and Jo’s Great Sandman tour of Tasmania.
From all the feedback I had had in relation to how tight they pack the cars in on the Ferry across Bass Strait I was pleasantly surprised that it is perfectly safe for a classic car. There is heaps of space between the cars side on. It is a little close front and back but overall I had no problem sleeping that night. No car worries anyway, the rough weather was another issue. It wasn’t as if we hadn’t come prepared. We had our sea sick tablets and a sleeping pill if it got real desperate.
Probably should not have swallowed two sea sickness tablets though. The box said take one or two so we thought we would play it safe. Half an hour later and neither of us could stand without swaying. Early night then.
No problem there as we had a big day and an early start ahead.
The first day was nice easy drive to Cradle Mountain where we had plans to walk the Dove Lake track when we got there. No simple task as it panned out as the route to Cradle Mountain was closed. No worries. A 50 km loop ending up back where we started at Sheffield was very interesting (not so much). Into the tourist info office for directions then. Now we are on our way again. The Dove Lake walk was everything you could hope for in a scenic walk. Ran into this little fellow after about five minutes.
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Here is the route we took:
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Cradle Mountain lodge was our accommodation for the first night. No, we didn’t rough it in the van overnight. I had plans for a few cheaper nights in the van but alas the powers that be put an end to that kind of thinking. The lodge was pretty special though. Fantastic dinner in their restaurant. Great walks within 5 minutes of the place and the little Pademelons (not wallabies apparently) were all over the place including under the van.
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Day 2
Took a very long drive to Tarraleah via Lake St Claire. This was the most spectacular drive of the trip. The first part was through the high country on long sweeping hilly roads. There were few trees so you could see the road twist off into the distance. This has to be the best driving road I have been on. Fantastic service, no cars and amazing scenery. We both got into the habit of making “Weeeeeee” noises as we swept down into another sensational sweeping corner.
The road then gets into rainforest territory with steep narrow windy roads. Similar to the Otways or the Dandenongs in Victoria only with no cars in site. We figure the roads are so good because there are so few cars to damage them.
Then we head into and out of Queenstown which is a mining town. First comment on the van from an old bloke in the servo there. “Don’t see many of those anymore” The lady behind the counter agrees. Brief chat, pay the steep petrol bill and we are on our way again. The road out of Queenstown is incredibly narrow and we are using 1st gear for a couple of really tight uphill bends.
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This was a long driving day as we made plenty of stops for walks to rivers, waterfalls etc along the way. After a nice couple of walks at Lake St Clair we finally made it to Tarraleah which is an old Hydro town set up to house the workers back in the day. It has been fully renovated back to its former glory, or better than it ever was most likely, and is now an accommodation village.
We stayed in the lodge part which was originally used to house the big wigs back in the day. It was sensational, they also had lots of other styles of accommodation from the refurbished houses, bunk style accommodation and even a caravan park. We were the only ones in the whole place which was a bit disappointing to see such a magnificent place not utilised. I reckon they will be broke and out of business before too long. Shame.
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Drive to Hobart.
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stopping of at the new Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) gallery on the out skirts of Hobart.
How about a series of crucifixion sculptures, a massive row of plaster pussy casts (no, not the feline variety), a fat Porsche, a human digestive system machine that smelt pretty ordinary or a death songs duke box. These were some of the highlights. Wouldn’t want it in my house, but hey, fun to look at.
Thought we should have driven right to the front of the gallery and parked there. People may have thought it was one of the exhibitions. Especially if we got in the back and started to make out. That would fit right in there.
Saturday in Hobart is Salamanca market day. Not sure what the big deal is here. It’s a market. Full of stuff that we don’t want or need. Still, Jo had her cards read although the tarot card reader failed to get much right. Check out have riveted she looks.
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Next day we head down the Huon Valley to the Tahune air walk which is a State forest where they have a huge tree canopy walk. Pretty impressive actually. Great scenic walks down there as well with plenty of wildlife. Couple of people interested in the van. “Don’t see many of these anymore” To which I start a conversation on.
Jo says that I need a standard reply as we seem to hear a standard question every time. “Not many” it is then. Spoken slowly to fit in with the local population. “N o t m a n y.”
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Back to Hobart we go. Next day it is off to Port Arthur Historical site via the very picturesque town of Richmond. Some nice Sandstone buildings here and the oldest working bridge in the country. We annoyed a few motorist here by trying to get a good video of me driving across the bridge in the van. Took a few attempts. None really panned out though. Either you get the bridge and the van disappears or you get the van and the bridge disappears. Oh well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omLLl...ature=youtu.be
Port Arthur – Fantastic.
Bloke in the motor inn: “Don’t see many of these anymore” - “Not many”
House keeper at the motor inn: “Don’t see many of these anymore” - “Not many” I’ve got it down pat now. She reckons her dad told her she wasn’t allowed to go out with anyone with a panel van back in the day so she bought her own van and took the blokes out instead.
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Nice drive up the coast to Coles Bay and the Freycinet National Park This is where the famous Wineglass Bay is. Couldn’t get a good picture as it was covered in mist and rain the day we went walking there. In fact it rained every day after that on the east coast so not much chance of a swim. If they could improve the weather down there I am sure they would get more tourists. It’s cold.
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Bloke at the kayak tour place: “Don’t see many of those anymore” - “Not many”
Spent a couple of days here walking, eating and paddling the Bay. Magnificent scenery.
You can park anyway you want as there is hardly any cars anyway.
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The last stop on our trip was a couple of days at Binalong Bay up in the Bay of Fires. This is a pretty special place. The water is a sensational turquoise color. The kind you see in brochures but not when you get there type. Shame about the weather again though.
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“What, another beautiful beach, do I have to?”
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Massive drive through valleys, over hills, through valleys, over hills, through valleys, over hills etc, etc from Binalong Bay all the way to Launceston. My knee started to ache from all the gear changes over the mountains. Some nice scenery again though.
Needed petrol in Launceston but blinked too many times and we were through it before I could stop for petrol. Had to get off the hwy and get some dodgy petrol from a small village on the way to Devonport.
Bloke in the servo: “Nice car. There’s a yellow one for sale over there” - “Not many”. Whoops, too early with the standard response!
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Bloke at customs when we were boarding the ferry for our return trip: “Let me shake the hand of someone who has a real car.” Had to open the hood and the back for them. Think it was just for a look rather than any security issues.
1700kms all up and the Sandman did not miss a beat. Great road trip on some of the most interesting and beautiful roads I have driven. Practically zero traffic. Highly recommended.
Reckon we stopped at more traffic lights on the 15 km home from the ferry than we did in the whole of Tassie.
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All the places you mentioned, i have various memories of my kids mucking around so i have a fondness for tassy. How lucky you took your sandy(and the good lady wife)....wouldve been the drive of a lifetime and i plan to do the same as soon as i can!! 
it's here and I love it!!
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