Tour of Tassie

G'day Fellas,

I'm in the very early stages of planning a tour of Tasmania very late Feb
/early March 06. My thinking so far is to take the bike on the Spirit of
Tasmania Ferry down from Sydney to Tassie, do a 7-10 trip around the island
then ferry back to Melb. and return to Sydney via the Sth East Vic and then
the coast road back to home. (Syd)
Is that enough time to see most of the good stuff down there?
Has anyone ever done it this way?
I'm thinking of doing a combination of camping and hotel /pub stays on a 3
to 1 basis but that could change due to weather I s'pose. If i can get a
small group(say about 4-6 riders) to go it might be more reasonable to hire
cabins at caravan parks.

This will be a first ever bike tour for me so I'm eager to start the
planning on it now. My bike ( Kawasaki ER-5) is fairly new but it will be
serviced before the trip. I am a new rider at 45yrs, wishing I had done this
yrs ago.

How much gear (clothes) would be a reasonable amount to take on a bike? I
only have 1x 30ltre (approx) ventura bag at the moment plus a 2 man
tent.sleeping bag & self-inflatable matress. I take it that most of the
time I'd be wearing riding gear.
Are those throw-over panniers a good thing? They don't look like they hold
much or would a 2nd ventura bag be better?.

Does it get cold at night during this time of the year ? Feb/March

I can't think of anything else to ask right now but i think this is enough,
so If any of you can give me good suggestions and advice or even if you are
thinking of doing this kind of trip yourselves, I'd be very gratefull.

Cheers & Thanks in advance

Dave J. (DJ)

 

Make a list of all the things you think you'll need. Then remove all
the things which you don't _really_ need Then remove all the things
which don't fit in your available luggage space. If your currently
available luggage space isn't sufficient for all the 'necessities' then
increase it, (another rack bag, tank bag,
throwovers) and then go through the first step again. If it doesn't fit
you probably don't need it. Don't pack too many "just in case" items,
you'll probably never need them and if you do you can probably buy them
as you go or find some other way around not having them.

The first real biking trip I did was a 10 day 4500km trip from Melb to
Bris and back. I packed from scratch, just including what I thought I'd
need along the way and the only thing I needed which I hadn't packed was
a torch. I didn't really "need it" but it would have been handy. The
following day I bought one. I never used it for the rest of the trip.

You'll find that as you do more and more bike trips, when you're out
shopping for things, even if they're not bike trip related, you'll
probably start thinking "if I buy the really small one I can carry that
on my bike. Pretty soon you'll probably have a reasonably compact kit.
I've found that those space saver plastic bags which you can roll all of
the air out of are great for keeping the space which clothes consume in
your bag to a minimum.

Nev..
'03 ZX12R

 

http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/glitch1/Tours/LongTours/Tassie/
http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/christel-aus/Tassie_2003/
for a few ideas.
For more details, just email.
cheers
pete

 

I went around Tassie on a CB250RS with two ten-liter compression
bags for clothes & sleeping bag, and a backpack bungied onto the tail
for ... hell, I dunno, I don't think I took much else.

My XLV750 kit was two small "dirt bike" throwovers and a gearsack bag.
All the heavy crap goes into the throwovers to keep the weight low.
All the bulky stuff goes in the gearsack, and the tent goes across
the back seat. Put about 50,000km on the bike like that, got the
setup pretty streamlined by the end .

Take as little crap as possible, and a credit card in case you forgot
something. If in doubt, fall back on your karma.

Unless you really want to camp, you're better off staying at pubs
and van parks, because it's pretty cheap and you lose a lot less
valuable riding time that way. Also, they sell beer there, which
is handy at the end of a long day.

Don't bother booking ahead, it'll only lead to disappointment. In
fact, do as little planning as possible, that way you can't possibly
go wrong. Take a decent map.

Any work which needs doing on the bike, do it about two weeks before
you leave so that it's "broken in" when you go.

I've got to get back to Tassie some time ...

-----sharks

 

Wow!! Great stuff fellas thanks a million.

Nev, Yeah I know what you mean about taking too much. Last year I did a
short weekend bicycle tour from Sydney to Berry and had my panniers loaded
to the hilt with...'just in case' stuff and only used a qtr of it. Lesson
learnt.

Glitch, Great websites mate, wow!! loved reading them. are they your
websites and/or tours that you did? fantastic pics, it truly is kind of
paradise.Thanks , I bookmarked them to read again and i might send them to a
mate to read as well if it's ok.

Sharkey: pubs and beer...aaaaahhhh!! you've got me ears pricked up
now....well that was a major consideration but i wasn't sure how plentiful
the pubs were in Tassie or whether they had rooms available, but sounds like
I've got nothin' to worry about eh. I've been known not being able to
continue the next day after getting tangled up with the locals playing pool
etc. jeez...after the 8th beer those balls all look the bloody same!!

Keep it commin' fellas...thanks

Regards

DJ

 

just remember that the ventura bag and rack has a recommend weight
limit...( I always try to start a trip at or below that limit, and that way
when I exceed it I know I tried to do the right thing.. lol)

--

W.D.
"DUCATI" not perfect but
we win world championships

 

you wanna book the shed for your Hobart visit?

 

(warning, some pages are heavy on pics)
Yo, tours we did...as said here: (top of text)
http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/glitch1/Tours/LongTours/Tassie/page9.html
Number of tassie-trips has grown to 7, next to come is another week in
November.

Once you're done with Tassie ....this is the steroid-version:
http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/glitchride/NZ05/

.....and if that ain't enough, go here:
http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/mock1/Europe2001/Part_1/
A sort-of 6-week version of that is well and truly "on the rails" for Sept
'07 )

This one from "day3" for some Syd/Melb stuff?
http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/glitch1/Tours/LongTours/BeefReef/

Sure, pass on the links.
(Really have to get onto this and update some of the stuff, add another
dozen rides or so...
too mnay roads, too little time

cheers
pete

 

It's a risk ... you know, you give yourself an extra day so you
won't be arriving late, and then you stop somewhere and have a few
beers and don't get started until later than you would have got
to where you are now if you'd left home bright and early, and then
the weather closes in and you end up at another pub ...

It's terrible, eh Pisshead?

-----sharks

 

Bloody shocking mate, but a bike friendly pub, fire, cold beer, pizza and
free beds sure beats cold, wet, dark, roo ridden roads!

As for Tassie, I'm with Sharks, DJ. Some people don't feel comfortable
unless they have their whole lives planned. I'm the complete opposite and
enjoy the mystery that the ride may bring (see sig). You'll need to decide
for yourself.

Both boats are good but you get to sleep in on one! I prefer to get the
Sydney boat back as the homeward leg usually becomes more rushed and not as
enjoyable.

Accommodation can be a bit tricky, especially in the north west, at that
time of year. I found it helps to start looking before the late afternoon
rush. You can always dump your gear in the room and spend a few hours
exploring the local roads. I usually take a swag and if worse comes to
worse you can find a bridge to camp under or a hay, potatoe, poppy field,
shearing shed if you ask the farmer nicely. If you come across a pub/motel
grab it! There's a good one (Budget) in Bridport and if you ask the barmaid
nicely she may even wash and fold your long johns while you enjoy a beef
vulcano and get shouted beers by the publican!

The weather's not too bad but expect the unexpected and pack a jumper and
long johns just in case. Op shops are perfect for getting cheap warm
clothes from. If you stay at Strathgordon don't bother waiting for the rain
to stop. You could be there for eleven months!

Bottled water is your friend. Don't drink the spring water in the south west
and particularly Bronte Park! They have a fairly rare but nasty bug down
there called Salmonella Mississippi or Backpackers Disease. You'll wish you
were dead for four days and miss the Wintersun Rally! If you get on the
piss in Queenstown buy a big bottle the night before. The water looks like
tea but tastes nothing like it!

Watch out for Smack's bar stool and fridge ganging up on you in the shed.
They're out to get blood!

When you get off the boat, buy a map, look for the squiggly lines (won't be
hard) and follow the wind as much as possible. You'll have a ball! Oh, and
try not to see everything and leave some for next time. There _will_ be a
next time!

 

any room end of november for 3 scumbags ?

 

Yeah I'm a bit like that too, a bit compulsive and I tend to rush into
things abit, hence a bit of planning as I've never ventured like this before
but I won't overdo the planning. I kinda like the seat of your pants
travel........(DJ)

I've actually considered that myself, It might be better to be relaxing at
the bar on my home in comfort.....(DJ).

Yeah?? you're kidding me right??.........(DJ)

Shit!! is it that bad?? ......(DJ)

Yeah What's this thing about the 'SHED"?.....(DJ)

Great Pete, Thanks a million, that is all great advice witha few small
doubts (see above....(DJ)
And you are so right mate...the journey is the destination...i like that!!

 

And I'm with Pete ... generally in a bar several hundred kilometers from
where we're meant to be. Sucks, eh? Oh well, since the bar is open,
we might as well have a beer ...

-----sharks (it's all Hammo's fault ... remember that, DJ ...)

 

Yep

 

Yeah What's this thing about the 'SHED"?.....(DJ)


The shed is a large Colourbond establishment for the storage of motorcycles.
It includes a room with a queen size bed, TV running cold water and
electrickery. Showers are available in the house. The bar is right next to
the bedroom and has Broadband access and a fridge. (The fridge is a bit
bloodstained) People tend to get behind the bar and start listening to the
music on the HDD and looking at the naughty pic screensaver and drinking and
lose all feeling in their legs. The bar stool is quite stable. The 25 mins
from Hobart on the road to South Arm and is free to ausmotians.

If you ask jmack to wash and fold your long johns, you'll get told to ****
off


smack

 

No! Tho' last time I was there, there was a wedding in town and they were
booked out so I had to share a room at the backpackers with a bicycle
riding BMW rider from Wales.

It is with a hangover and there's some great characters in the pub who like
to play pool and get you drunk. The barmaid there kept giving me a free
Boags for every VB I bought. Dunno whether she was trying to get me drunk
or convert me!

 

Bloody Hammo! It's all his fault!

 

Only way to avoid a hangover......stay pissed!!

Actually I'm quite partial to the Tassie brews, both Boags and Cascade
Premium...not bad at all. I'll only drink VB when Tooheys taps are dirty,
which is not often at my watering hole.

Pete....I reckons the barmaid had other things on her evil mind

DJ........dreaming of barmaids

 

I have just come back from a short 9 day ride from Vic to Qld, on other
trips I have taken a tent and swag but now I have found that it is better to
do the pub stay thing, and every five days or so I have a rest day in a van
park and do the washing etc, that way I don't have to carry so much clothes.
I travel with a gear sack and a tank bag only and find this is enough. Hope
this helps.
Roc

 

Thanks Roc,
I reckon it'd be too easy to take too much, after all, most of the important
gear will be used everyday (riding gear).
Greatest thing about being a bloke (sorry girls), is that we don't have to
carry a bloody hair dryer, cosmetics, and half the wardrobe the Mrs always
takes with us on a trip.We can kinda put up with our own smell for 3 days at
least if needed.
ahh yeah....nothing like the basics!!

Cheers
DJ