[Chat] What to see in Tasmania ?

[Kris Howard]

I visited Queenstown in November 2014 and did the train ride. In the Spring it doesn't go all the way to Strahan though, so we just did the out and back. I blogged it if you want to judge whether it's with the trip: https://www.web-goddess.org/photo/trip-to-tasmania-november-20-30-2014/13

I'm glad we did it, but TBH there's not much else to do there. 

Kris

> On 8 Jan 2017, at 10:27 am, Marc MERLIN <marc at merlins.org> wrote:
> 
>> On Sun, Jan 08, 2017 at 09:41:54AM +1100, Christopher Neugebauer wrote:
>> You should do the full trip, one-way to Queenstown (if you can), and
>> take a bus back to strahan.
> 
> I didn't even consider that it was an option. Let me look into it.
> But you're saying visiting Queenstown isn't worth it?
> 
>> The Rack and Gorge has more interesting rail technology. The river and
>> rainforest has more interesting scenery. Take your pick if you can
>> only do the half-day.
> 
> Gotcha.
> 
>> Don't say I didn't warn you :)
> 
> Ack.
> 
>> Add 50% over the times that you see. The roads are narrow and
>> dangerous, and because it's summer, they'll be full of tourists who
>> cannot drive nearly as well as you claim to be able to.
> 
> That last bit is more my concern. Every time I end up on a mountain
> road, my biggest issue are the people in front of me that I can't pass
> easily, or at all in places, and that won't pull over.
> 
>> The roads are narrow. You can very easily get stuck behind people who
>> are less capable than you, with no overtaking opportunities for 40-50
>> minutes. Especially in summer, we're talking about heavy caravans and
>> the like. And rental cars that aren't suited for Tasmanian roads.
> 
> Yeah, that worries me a lot more. Sadly, I assume it's unavoidable. All
> I can do is make sure the rental car has some engine power so that I
> have a fighting chance to pass other cars in areas with a bit of room.
> 
>> On Sun, Jan 08, 2017 at 10:15:21AM +1100, Kathy Reid wrote:
>> Just to echo Chris' sentiments, and because I've done the drive, twice.
>> 
>> The drive to Strahan is dangerous, requires advanced driving skills, is
>> fatiguing and has a high degree of difficulty. In a manual vehicle,
>> expect to be in first gear for a lot of the turns. In an automatic rent
>> a vehicle, you will find controlling the turns-on-inclines even more
>> difficult.
> 
> I'm not driving to or from Strahan to/from Hobart. It's not that I can't
> do it, but that it's long and tiring and I'm not really interested in
> doing this, especially if I'm going to be stuck behind other cars slower
> than me.
> Looks like right now my best option is to take the 16:30 Strahan to
> Hobart bus back.
> As for Cradle mountain to Strahan, if it takes 3H instead of 2, so be
> it. There isn't much else I can do about it.
> 
>> If you do drive, allow 50-100% extra time than indicated. Chris is not
>> being dramatic here, he is being cautious and concerned for your safety.
> 
> Understood.
> 
>> If you do go, be prepared for additional patience, keep your fuel tank
>> as full as possible (as lower gear, higher traction, slow speed consumes
>> more fuel) and pack a first aid kit, extra water and food.
>> I was the first responder on scene when a lady slid off the Cradle Mt
>> road in snow in 2013. It wasn't pretty, but I learned valuable lessons.
> 
> Ack. My worst issue so far we doing a similar drive in Taiwan (east cost
> to west coast, 3000m peak, crappy rental car), and some asshole that was
> blocking me on the way up and when I finally found a spot where I could
> pass, he tried to run me off the road by moving into the opposite lane
> and pushing me into the shoulder.
> Another stupid driver with no skill and too much ego to let someone
> faster pass, I hate those :(
> (but yes, I completed the pass, and after 2 turns he was nowhere to be
> seen in my rear view mirror, as expected)
> 
> Marc
> -- 
> "A mouse is a device used to point at the xterm you want to type in" - A.S.R.
> Microsoft is to operating systems ....
>                                      .... what McDonalds is to gourmet cooking
> Home page: http://marc.merlins.org/                         | PGP 1024R/763BE901
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