TASSIE TRIP FEB 2013 - about 10 days - E.O.I

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

I think it's time for a holiday :-)

Going to do a trip to Tassie, Feb.

This is basically a reccie run as far as 4x4 tracks.
I've been over a few times but never with 4x4.
Swagging it while weather is fine.
Will get a room if weather looks below average.

DATES: depart melb 9.00am 24th feb 2013
Depart devonport 9.00am 4th march 2013

[VKPrado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close VKPrado]

Sounds like a good trip you have planned there.

If you want to drive the west coast tracks in the Arthur- Pieman area then you will need a "Recreational drivers pass" which is available through the Parks on-line shop. Speaking of passes if you are intending to go into any National Parks you need a seperate "Parks Pass".

Also for the Arthur- Pieman area there is a good guide available on-line about the area which details the tracks in that area. Have been using it as a guide for planning the GTG 2015.

There is another guide called "4WD tracks in Tasmania" which lists tracks around the whole state which is also very good.

Have fun planning and am a bit jealous I will not be able to join in as it is the busy session at work,

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

Hey thanks for the info.

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

Might be the Tassie bushfire trip.......

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

Just booked the boat.
Updated first post a bit.
$65.00 deal. Going over on the 24th feb, back on 4th march.

From Temma to Greenes Creek (12 km) the track is medium 4WD standard, however it can increase in difficulty after rainfall with deep-water sections. The beach drive from Greenes Creek to Sandy Cape (12 km) is rated hard 4WD standard. Travel by convoy is compulsory due to the frequent occurrence of quicksand and potential need for rapid retrieval. An alternative to the Sandy Cape beach run is to stop at Greenes Creek and return to Possum Creek and take the Balfour Track.

This talk gets the blood pumping

http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=7542

Can any Tassie locals or anyone that knows confirm this list of 25 tracks are they the best ones to have a look at? Or are there others that are better/nicer etc?

[VKPrado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close VKPrado]

If you are going to play on the west coast you will need the right permits/ passes which can be bought online from the same sight as your link above.

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

Hi VKPrado,

I saw that thanks.
Have you travelled many of the tracks on the list parks have there?
Are you going to be around to show us some areas? Maybe a day trip?
If so that would be great.

Anyone driven across the Balfour crossing? It looks deep n long n dirty enuff to not want to get stuck in.
Also it looks pretty rough in places...... I wondering does it dry up a bit? Not too much rain lately.......

[VKPrado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close VKPrado]

Not sure if the Balfour Track is still open. There was talk of closing it. The track is very wild if going by the sign at the start of it saying you need a snorkel and winch before attempting the track.

I personally have not done any of the track in a vehicle and only done a couple on bikes but that was years ago.

I have done more in the North East and a bit on the East coast.

I have started the Jefferies Track down south but with the camper on it got a bit difficult and thought it was wiser to turn around when I could than keeping on going. Without the camper I would have continued.

There is a good loop in the North East when you link a few tracks together which has a bit of everything. On the East coast the last track I explored was the Swanston Track which is only 20km long but took 2.5 hours to get through.

St. Albans Bay which is near Bridport was a good drive on the sand over the dunes.

I am working 6 days a week at the moment but would be more than happy to have a day trip if you wanted to have a look around the North/ North East of this state. Always nicer to go with someone else and would give me another chance to seek out some more tracks for the 2015 GTG.

[JPH Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close JPH]

Not sure if the Balfour Track is still open. There was talk of closing it. The track is very wild if going by the sign at the start of it saying you need a snorkel and winch before attempting the track.

Sounds like your kind of track ####! Pity I've got to work!

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

Thanks for the reply, from what I can find out Balfour is only rated difficult due to the 70mtr stretch of water. It should be open.
I would say snorkel for sure, but not too much to winch off from what I see on you tube. But might just have to (go for it) to get thru!
We have no set plan for what tracks we are doing or not, fully flexible.
We are planning to meet up with one other 4by once we get over to do tracks together.
If your day off is Sunday, then perhaps the 3rd we will be back north for sure as we have to catch the boat the next morning.
Does the 3rd work?
If so we will head west coast first c how tat goes and work our way back.

Happy to help seek out as much as we can in a day lol.......

[VKPrado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close VKPrado]

Only just saw that you will be in the north on the 3rd which is today. Bit late to arange something now, sorry. Hope you have had a good time here in Tasmania and saw what a great place it is.

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

Hi, funny thing is I just came back to have a look at the thread after a fair while, and then you replied at the same time.
We are arriving 24th feb, 3 weeks from now, depart on the 4th march.
Hope you can get some days off :-)
I'm thinking all the 4x4 in the n/e side will keep us busy, will likely leave west side for another trip (next feb) :-)

Again you pick the days dates is good :-)

[VKPrado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close VKPrado]

Talk about being blind. Thought it was you were heading back tomorrow but had the wrong month.

Ok back to the planning. I will keep an eye here to see what you do plan do to and see and will see if I can make a day out with you.

[photoprado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close photoprado]

The beach drive from Greenes Creek to Sandy Cape (12 km) is rated hard 4WD standard. Travel by convoy is compulsory due to the frequent occurrence of quicksand and potential need for rapid retrieval. An alternative to the Sandy Cape beach run is to stop at Greenes Creek and return to Possum Creek and take the Balfour Track.

I've done the Sandy Cape beach run as a passenger a couple of years ago.

1. It was awesome.
2. I wouldn't take my Prado there.

Reality is, even if you don't get stuck and lose the vehicle to the sea, you will be driving through sea water with little to no chance of giving the chassis a washdown until some time after. There are a number of creek/river outlets to navigate. We went with locals, and it was very clear that they had a lot of experience in judging the waves and the beach conditions, and their vehicles were prepped for running in sea water. We had an inexperienced hanger on whose vehicle would have been lost to the sea if a bunch of us didn't hop into the water and stabilise it until enough snatch straps could be linked to safely extract it. I'm guessing that vehicle is well and truly rusted out by now.

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

I've done the Sandy Cape beach run as a passenger a couple of years ago.

1. It was awesome.
2. I wouldn't take my Prado there.

Reality is, even if you don't get stuck and lose the vehicle to the sea, you will be driving through sea water with little to no chance of giving the chassis a washdown until some time after. There are a number of creek/river outlets to navigate. We went with locals, and it was very clear that they had a lot of experience in judging the waves and the beach conditions, and their vehicles were prepped for running in sea water. We had an inexperienced hanger on whose vehicle would have been lost to the sea if a bunch of us didn't hop into the water and stabilise it until enough snatch straps could be linked to safely extract it. I'm guessing that vehicle is well and truly rusted out by now.

Heheh aha....... Yeah well I'm not panning on doing anything too hard, after the the write up I posted and your confirmation (thank you), I won't be doing that beach driving this trip at least - need to look at it sometime.
I will discuss with my recovery vehicle once I meet up with them, but I'd like to check out some tracks near Hobart,
1. Jefferys Track - Medium
2. Wellington Park Fire Trails - Medium/Hard
Hopefully the tracks are good fun and views should be great too.

Although I'd love to check out Balfour and sandy cape/aurthur river also some tracks around strahan, we just don't have the time. I think most of the area we will check out will be n/e corner: peron dunes/ st Helen's to St. Albans bay around there, just have to c how we go make it up as we go...... Depends how many days I have recovery vehicles lol.......