Hobart to Launceston - any tips?

[Febs]

Hi guys,

I have to drive from Hobart to Launceston soon, and was wondering if anyone who's done it before could give some advice? Mainly:

- Are there any speed cameras or radar hot spots I should be aware of (are there speed cameras in Tas? :confused: ).
- Are there any detours I could take with fun roads (eg: twisties, etc..?)
- Is there aything else I should be aware of, or anything interesting I should stop and see on the way?

I've never been to Tas before, so I've got no idea what the roads are like. Any advice would be appreciated. :)

Cheers,
- Febs.

[Dacious]

East side is fantastic - Elephant Pass is a great drive, watch out for sharp dropoffs and locals who take the racing line through corners. Freycinet National Park is worth going to, Wineglass Bay is worth seeing, you can stay at the chalet. Otherwise the highway that goes down the middle is pretty boring but takes less than 2 hours. If you do travel the highway worth stopping at the larger towns a lot of which are heritage listed. Queenstown is scary due to the pyrite copper mining 150 years ago, Strahan amazing (do the walking tour amongst the Huon Pines), Port Arthur will give you the willies but is a must-see, do the cruise of the Gordon below Franklin. Tons to do, watch out for snow/ice/cold on the roads.

Superbikes are at Symmons Plains Sept 8 - usually some speccy Rsups there.

Cadbury factory is worth going to in Claremont esp. if you got wimmen with you, but must be booked prior at the Tas Tourist bureau, who are good value. Tas B&Bs are pretty good. There's various cheeseries/wineries/smokeries with goods like venison, fish etc. Salamanca Place in Hobart is worth shopping at. Cascade used to be worth a look, but they got gobbled by a multi-national and have apparently gone downhill.

Pretty hard to go wrong in Tas, friendly locals, you can 'see Nick' just about everywhere, easy to find good pubs. If you're a young single male, watch out - the ambition of most Tasmanian girls is to hook a 'mainlander'. Lots of blokes end up bringing an unanticipated souveneir back with them.....

Just remember, don't fall for a virgin. If they're not good enough for their own family.....

[Febs]

:lol: "Hook a mainlander"

Thanks mate, big help. I'm there for work but will need things to do if I convince my gf to come down for the weekend. The Boags brewery is supposed to be near the hotel I'm staying at...wouldn't mind checking that out. :) Cadbury Factory - that sounds like fun too. :)

Cheers,
- Febs.

[Wonky]

We were there last September and went the other way i.e. Launceston down to Hobart. I remember the road down from Launceston as pleasant but boring. Had lunch at Ross and then headed direct east to the coast from there and down to Hobart that way. From what I remember that was far more fun to drive. If you don't come back all the way up the east coast I suggest at least doing so as far up until you can head inland to Ross. If you have a bit more time then all the way up the coast and around is good (though about 17 years since I did it). Freycinet area is good.

If you have more time the drive from Hobart to Strahan is great, lovely mix of farmland and then mountains. Cut back across via Cradle Mountain and across to Launceston though it's really a 2 day trip unless you are prepared to do a long day.

[Dacious]

Oh, and unless you have vertigo, drive up to the top of Mount Wellington on a clear day. Speccy views, beautiful but cold and windblown.

My advice (sorry if there's any locals here) steer clear of Burnie. Apart from a few places to visit nearby the town typifies what happens when conservative governments run a place too long. The pulp mill was a bloody disaster last time I saw it.

That's about the only place in Tassie I'd say that about. Rest is 100% A1, only a couch potato wouldn't enjoy it. Take warm clothing and enjoy the crisp air.

[gts071]

Hey Febs,

Being a Tassie local... I would say watch out for speed cameras in Campbell Town (60 Zone) which is approx 1 hour 20 mins out of Hobart (so you are starting to get really close to Launceston)

Get use to single lane highways, idiots speeding up on the overtaking lanes. Our speed limit is 110km/h. Oh and watch out for all streets/roads with no speed limit sign as it is 50km/h.

How long are you going to be in Tassie for?

Keen for a beer?

There are quiet a few Commodore boys down here who are always keen for an Ale or 2!

[crYnOid]

Get use to single lane highways, idiots speeding up on the overtaking lanes.

Agree 100%

I do Hobart to Launceston all the time. 2.25h at the speed limit no stops (center to center + a little traffic). The midlands highway is pretty boring by Tassie standards. Campbell Town is 45min south of launceston, 1.5h north of Hobart, it is a 60 Zone and the police either use a speed camera or radar in that area so follow the speed limit exactly.

Other tips:

There are no warning signs as you approach speed cameras in Tassie
Most of the portable cameras are transported around in Nissan X-Trails. Cops could be driving anything! There are unmarked cars wondering around the midlands.
3 (yes three!!) Fixed cameras in the state. One in longford (sign posted), and 2 on the Tasman bridge in Hobart getting traffic both ways. Don't speed on the bridge ;) (I have a feeling there might be one other in Hobart)
red light cameras in Hobart I believe are not operational as they were taking happy snaps of drivers going through green lights. Thus there are deamed unreliable and they are just to scare mainlanders now ;)
When in the cities make sure you don't go the wrong way up a one way street. There are alot of one way streets in the cities ;)




and locals who take the racing line through corners

Thats me :wave: :driving: Did the Sideling yesterday, I was held up badly by a telstra van going into scottsdale :vpo: in the morning. After getting past the tourists just before getting into the Sideling on the way back to launceston I had a fantastic run! The racing line was sometimes v.helpful....:D Brakes weren't to happy by the end....

But remember, on the fun roads only do the racing line when you can clearly see no one coming in the oncoming lane. You don't want to make the decision of "which is better, hit the oncoming truck, or go down a sharp drop off" after taking a blind corner to fast.

East and west coasts have the best driving roads, east coast has alot more road kill to dodge.

This is a good start to the driving roads ;)
http://www.targa.org.au/Targa/PrimaryMenu/Course/2006_Course/index.php

[andy_vlct]

Cadbury Factory - that sounds like fun too.


thats were i work lol.

[team illucid]

My advice (sorry if there's any locals here) steer clear of Burnie. Apart from a few places to visit nearby the town typifies what happens when conservative governments run a place too long. The pulp mill was a bloody disaster last time I saw it.



And Steer clear of Devonport, Smithton, Rokeby, Hobart, etc etc

Launceston is OK (live there for 25 years)

[Dacious]

Yeah, watch out when in Lonny, don't say good things about Hobart and vice-versa. Unless you're handy in a fistfight. You thought Melbourne and Sydney rivalry was bad! We nearly got thrown out of a motel after I mentioned I liked Baskerville better than Symmons! :rofl:

Tassie - one of my favouritist places. Been too long since I was there.

[vt350phantom]

I took my car there on the spirit of Tassie a few years ago and it just so happens that I ran it off the clock on the road between Launceston and Hobart!! so I would have to say that you should be fine :)

[Febs]

Thanks for the help fellas. I had no idea about the North/South rivalry too...I'll keep it in mind. :D


How long are you going to be in Tassie for?

Keen for a beer?

6 days (Sun-Fri).
I'd definitely be up for a beer, but I've only got the car for Sunday. Once I'm in Launceston it'll be public transport and walking. :)

While I'm at it...any good restaurants/pubs you guys can recommend in Launceston? Preferably within walking distance of the CBD (Frederick St, I think).

Cheers,
- Febs.

[VU_SS_UTE]

And Steer clear of Devonport, Smithton, Rokeby, Hobart, etc etc

Launceston is OK (live there for 25 years)

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Steer clear of Hobart but Launceston is ok, you have to be joking HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

On a serious note though, speaking from experience dont bother speeding on the Midlands Highway!

[team illucid]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Steer clear of Hobart but Launceston is ok, you have to be joking HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

On a serious note though, speaking from experience dont bother speeding on the Midlands Highway!

Yeah I was joking - Lonnie sucks as well. :)

[gts071]

Thanks for the help fellas. I had no idea about the North/South rivalry too...I'll keep it in mind. :D



6 days (Sun-Fri).
I'd definitely be up for a beer, but I've only got the car for Sunday. Once I'm in Launceston it'll be public transport and walking. :)

While I'm at it...any good restaurants/pubs you guys can recommend in Launceston? Preferably within walking distance of the CBD (Frederick St, I think).

Cheers,
- Febs.

Thats fine... I have a car :D

If you need a lift somewhere let us know, I work 8:30am-4:30pm Mon-Fri so any time after that should be good.

Just let me know when you are keen for a beer and a feed and I can raz up some of the local commodore boys.

If you like I can PM you my number if you want to call me while you are over.