I created a map where I marked the roads I had traveled. Looked fine when I saved it but then Google map transformed it to this ####%&66 (censur) map... Looking like I traveled in straight lines between the places. Don't know why, it just look (censur) ridiculous but at least still gives an idea of the route so I decided to publish it anyway... The route around Maria Island is not included in the map.
View Tasmanian leg of bicycle tour around Australia in a larger map
Distance I traveled was about 1700 km. Tasmania is a very popular for cycling touring. Offer interesting landscape, nature, beautiful roads and views and is small enough to be covered during some weeks of holiday. But you can also easily spend months here. I thought that with 6 weeks I would have plenty of time to see everything but I soon discovered that it was not enough if you really wanted to see the places. So I decided to focus on the east coast. It's flat, have generally better weather compared to the windy and wet west coast.
Roads and traffic have also been good, as always I avoid the main highways when possible. Never felt really afraid or so even if narrow in some parts. Only dangerous part was when traveling over the bridge to Bridgewater. The bridge was narrow and strong gusts wind from the side made the cycling risky. I had to stop and wait until no traffic to complete the crossing. The motorist generally gives you a lot of room. Many also honks, gives you thumbs up when they see my heavy touring bike.
Another positive thing is that I've not seen as much road kills and litter a long the roads as on the mainland.
There are many places that I like but if I have to mention just one place it would be Maria Island. Not as famous as Freycinet Peninsula/wine glass bay but such a beautiful and interesting place. AUD 35 for a return ticket + 10 $ for bringing the push bike.
The north east of Tasmania gave a very British impression, the most so far of Australia. And with the broad leave trees like Hazelnut, Oak, Birch and lots of farmland with hay drying it was also very familiar landscape and sights to where I grew up in Sweden.
The coast north of St Helens offers kilometers of empty beaches and some interesting NP. Only problem I had as a cyclist was that it was a bit hard with water. The camp sites offer no water and because I had problem with my water filter I could only stay for two nights before I had to go to St Helens.
Highlights:
The Tasman Highway from St Helens to Bicheno, flat good road with not much traffic and along the coast. Easy access to the beaches/cost on many places.
Wielangta forest drive. Gravel forest road through lush, damp rainforest. Much more wildlife on the roads then cars. Partly very steep with 16 degrees hills but still manageable. Possible to combine with a shorter walk that will take you to some old saw mills and settlement ruins. Saw mill was closed in 1924 because of lack of timber and some years later a fire destroyed the township.
Grasstree hill road and the Nicholls rivulet rd, would be very fun to ride with a racing bicycle. The roads are winding, have nice gradient and perfect tar. Still fun to cycle with a heavy loaded touring bike but with a racer bike it would be something completely different.
Walking/trekking,
Freycinet Peninsula, if you do a overnight walk and get away from the crowds around Wine glass bay the area can be very interesting. Do the walk down to Cook beach where it's a free camping area and a rainwater tank.
Maria Island, best of Tasmania. Well worth spending a 2-3 days exploring the island. The island has a history of first being a penal colony. Later an Italian entrepreneur tried to run a cement industry and other more and less successful projects. Many of the building from the convict area is still standing today an are now part of the world heritage listed sites.
Abundant wildlife to be seen on the island, easy to spot kangaroos, wombats, Echidnas etc. Even 51 Tasman devils have been introduced to the island.
Bishop and Clerk lookout gives stunning views of the island, Freycinet Penninsula and out over the Sea. A must to go.
There is a very well equipped and maintained camping area in Darlington ($7) and a couple of free camping areas further south with tank water provided.
Bruny Island is also worth some days. Nice camping area on the Neck ($10) tank water. Historical interesting place to visit too. Many of the great historical sailors, (Captain Cook, Blight etc) have landed on the island. The places also still look almost the same as when they stopped at the island.
Best camping:
Bruny Island, Maria Island.
Myrtle recreation area next to the Tasman Highway, about 30 km south of Scottsdale. Beautiful big grass area next to a river, perfect for camping, Hazelnut trees, big kitchen area, showers, drinking water and toilets. And only $ 6.
Toughest road: The gravel road to Fortescue Bay camping ground, 12 km from the turn off from the main road. The road was really in a bad condition, washboard/corrugated, lots of loose stones, big stones buried in the road surface, winding, steep hills. They day I cycled there was also the hottest day with temperatures of +30 degrees. I turned around with only 2 km left to go because if was not fun and I didn't found it worth going there. Never regretted it.
Hardest times: I'm glad that I spend the most of the time on the east coast. Lots of things to see on the west coast too, but the weather there can be more challenging. When I went there it was rain, rain and rain, with some shorter glimpses of sun and the sky. All the rain and clouds meant that there were no views of the landscape or surroundings too. Therefore I've only have a handful photos from west coast. To give an idea what it was like you could print a couple of photos of West Tasmania. Bring them to the shower and then stand there for eight-10 hours in the cold shower. This will give you and idea of how the cycling was. And if you would experience a three day tour. Just repeat if for three days:) Of course the weather can be better there but you need always to be prepared for the worst.
It can snow any time of the year on Tasmania. And I also come across snow on the Billycock Hill after a cold and snowy night.
Getting to Tasmania is easy, there are many cheap flights and also the ferry between Melbourne and Devonport. I took the ferry, easy as you can roll your bike on board. But more expensive compared to the flight and takes longer time. But on the other hand you can save one night of accommodation if you take the overnight ferry (two daily departures during the peak season).
Roads and traffic have also been good, as always I avoid the main highways when possible. Never felt really afraid or so even if narrow in some parts. Only dangerous part was when traveling over the bridge to Bridgewater. The bridge was narrow and strong gusts wind from the side made the cycling risky. I had to stop and wait until no traffic to complete the crossing. The motorist generally gives you a lot of room. Many also honks, gives you thumbs up when they see my heavy touring bike.
Another positive thing is that I've not seen as much road kills and litter a long the roads as on the mainland.
There are many places that I like but if I have to mention just one place it would be Maria Island. Not as famous as Freycinet Peninsula/wine glass bay but such a beautiful and interesting place. AUD 35 for a return ticket + 10 $ for bringing the push bike.
The north east of Tasmania gave a very British impression, the most so far of Australia. And with the broad leave trees like Hazelnut, Oak, Birch and lots of farmland with hay drying it was also very familiar landscape and sights to where I grew up in Sweden.
The coast north of St Helens offers kilometers of empty beaches and some interesting NP. Only problem I had as a cyclist was that it was a bit hard with water. The camp sites offer no water and because I had problem with my water filter I could only stay for two nights before I had to go to St Helens.
Highlights:
The Tasman Highway from St Helens to Bicheno, flat good road with not much traffic and along the coast. Easy access to the beaches/cost on many places.
Wielangta forest drive. Gravel forest road through lush, damp rainforest. Much more wildlife on the roads then cars. Partly very steep with 16 degrees hills but still manageable. Possible to combine with a shorter walk that will take you to some old saw mills and settlement ruins. Saw mill was closed in 1924 because of lack of timber and some years later a fire destroyed the township.
Grasstree hill road and the Nicholls rivulet rd, would be very fun to ride with a racing bicycle. The roads are winding, have nice gradient and perfect tar. Still fun to cycle with a heavy loaded touring bike but with a racer bike it would be something completely different.
Walking/trekking,
Freycinet Peninsula, if you do a overnight walk and get away from the crowds around Wine glass bay the area can be very interesting. Do the walk down to Cook beach where it's a free camping area and a rainwater tank.
Maria Island, best of Tasmania. Well worth spending a 2-3 days exploring the island. The island has a history of first being a penal colony. Later an Italian entrepreneur tried to run a cement industry and other more and less successful projects. Many of the building from the convict area is still standing today an are now part of the world heritage listed sites.
Abundant wildlife to be seen on the island, easy to spot kangaroos, wombats, Echidnas etc. Even 51 Tasman devils have been introduced to the island.
Bishop and Clerk lookout gives stunning views of the island, Freycinet Penninsula and out over the Sea. A must to go.
There is a very well equipped and maintained camping area in Darlington ($7) and a couple of free camping areas further south with tank water provided.
Bruny Island is also worth some days. Nice camping area on the Neck ($10) tank water. Historical interesting place to visit too. Many of the great historical sailors, (Captain Cook, Blight etc) have landed on the island. The places also still look almost the same as when they stopped at the island.
Best camping:
Bruny Island, Maria Island.
Myrtle recreation area next to the Tasman Highway, about 30 km south of Scottsdale. Beautiful big grass area next to a river, perfect for camping, Hazelnut trees, big kitchen area, showers, drinking water and toilets. And only $ 6.
Toughest road: The gravel road to Fortescue Bay camping ground, 12 km from the turn off from the main road. The road was really in a bad condition, washboard/corrugated, lots of loose stones, big stones buried in the road surface, winding, steep hills. They day I cycled there was also the hottest day with temperatures of +30 degrees. I turned around with only 2 km left to go because if was not fun and I didn't found it worth going there. Never regretted it.
Hardest times: I'm glad that I spend the most of the time on the east coast. Lots of things to see on the west coast too, but the weather there can be more challenging. When I went there it was rain, rain and rain, with some shorter glimpses of sun and the sky. All the rain and clouds meant that there were no views of the landscape or surroundings too. Therefore I've only have a handful photos from west coast. To give an idea what it was like you could print a couple of photos of West Tasmania. Bring them to the shower and then stand there for eight-10 hours in the cold shower. This will give you and idea of how the cycling was. And if you would experience a three day tour. Just repeat if for three days:) Of course the weather can be better there but you need always to be prepared for the worst.
It can snow any time of the year on Tasmania. And I also come across snow on the Billycock Hill after a cold and snowy night.
Getting to Tasmania is easy, there are many cheap flights and also the ferry between Melbourne and Devonport. I took the ferry, easy as you can roll your bike on board. But more expensive compared to the flight and takes longer time. But on the other hand you can save one night of accommodation if you take the overnight ferry (two daily departures during the peak season).
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