Cygnet To Base Camp Tasmania

Peter gave us the location of a camp site which was an epic site, turned out to be a slightly private property, later that evening the farm manager came over and invited us to go hunting which was very cool,he asked us “howz ya tucka” we were low on food so some wallabe was shot and the hind quarters were on for, stewing, grilling and some Korma curry, he had full licence etc to cull so part of his job and he did it very well with extreme safety at the top of his list.

 The following day the actual owner came over and had a chat with us and everything was cool as he had already chatted with the farm manager who gave us a glowing report (not sure why), very nice accommodating people and we had great fun.

With the “Ride The Byroads” in our sights we headed to Geeveston then inland, we came across a camp which looked awesome although we thought we had it wrong, just around the corner is Mount Hartz National Park so we poked our noses up there …just to see.

Getting to the top we found many walks, lakes, tarns and scenery worthy.

Lake Osbourne was the shortest so we did this, the Mount was under cloud and it was cold, the next day promised to be clear so we headed back to the camp.

Establishing this was the one we had a primo spot with a table and fire pit, wasn’t long before other people crowded in and our space was narrowing.

 

The mission the next day was the top, we took in Lake Esperence, Ladys Tarn then on to Hartz Peak for lunch. 

Weatherwise it came clear and warm, one of the nicest days we had had so to be on top of the world of Tassie with epic view was a hell of a treat.

Making it back to camp alive the evening came in and the came was markedly quiet with a Ukrainian girl across from us and a coupla Ozzies in total.

Camp fire and final wallabe korma cookup with some wine we were sorted.

 

Base camp Tasmania our next desto via the Byroads Ride we found an empty section of road and had not seen anything or anyone for 60km.

Having just bought a DJI 4 Pro drone to upgrade the viewer interaction we needed to try it and use it to get there way to use it.

We were trying the “follow me” function but our parameters were not set correctly as yet.

Nearing the end of the first battery we set it down so it did not do return to home…some 3 km away.

Just as we started to turn around a bus and trailer came thundering over the horizon and we shit ourselves thinking that is the end of that…with the expensive empty feeling.

We rode back and there is was, alive and well, unscathed from its underworld experience having been missed by mm by 8 wheels.

We couldn’t believe our luck, the Moto Travel Gods were defo on our side somehow.

After this undie soiling event we packed it away and headed to New Norfolk for fud….and stiff gin.

Up at base camp we settled in after meeting Steve and his good lady the owners.

Sitting down chatting I asked Ellen did we get the bus footage or not?, she didn’t know so we checked and sure enough in the interest of looking after you lot by way of extreme footage it was there and we laughed so loud people in the camp just steered at us…not knowing firstly the relief and second the absurd recording we had managed.

Houston and Emily had also organized to come to sit out the impending bad weather, they arrived and managed to setup up just before the rain, that evening it biffed it down so again we were greatfull for a Hilliberg Staica 2 which stood its ground, Houston got some drops on his head and some water under the floor.

Basecamp Tasmania, on Wikicamps you can only give it 5 stars, it deserves 6 plus and it is because of the owners (also the location), Steve is an awesome lad who takes keen interest in all the guests with personal interaction leaving no one to feel left out.

Steve said he would come up in the afternoon and have some gins with us as the weather rapidly deflated, in true form armed with two bottles of gin and some tonic we had great fun and chats with tasting from ours, Steves and Houstons gins.

Steve even opened his workshop and lent us a disc grinder/cutter so we managed to cut down out tarp poles to fit into our tent case, onya mate the little things like this make a moto travellers day.  

As a helping hand to a guy who has a day job, running the camp, looking after the fresh bub etc we promised to and took to cleaning the central kitchen area, with 4 of us getting into it we were done in 20 minutes and the place looked spiffing.

All in all this place and location rocks and the camp owners are leading the way on how to treat travel muppets.

Vid of dangermouse drone

 

 

 

 

 

Mount Field To Cockle Creek To Hobart

Finishing at Mt Field National park we drifted south again towards Cockle Creek, the southern most part of Tassie you can drive too, on the way down we did a detour to Mount Wellington because we could partially see it.

We stopped on the way at the Longley Pub which allows free camping if you buy some grub and grog...so this worked well for us scoffing a local cider with fush and chups.

No misbehaving here tho or you will be in for the chop.

Cockle Creek, beautiful spot but the weather was barely ok and very cold then it was crap, wet and cold then it hailed 😊

We did there manage to get an evening smile from the weather Gods at one stage, stunning.

While down there we had two hikes in mind, one to the lighthouse and the second out over to the back coast both were cool (cold) but very nice.

This is a screen show of where we were, the spit in the distance is the spit in the pic, we are the blue arrow.

Packing up and leaving Cockle Creek it was pissing down, so much fun 😁, the sun came out in sessions shorter than an excited porn star, just as we decided to leave it decided hail, heavily, only short lived we piled on and left only to catch the very heavy rain before we left the second part of the camp.

Seeing the clearer skies ahead we kept the hammer down (30kmph) and rode out of it, again while it was now almost clear it was freezing cold which saw both of us layer up.

Houston and Emily (T7 and Himilayan people) had let us know there was a moto gathering in Hobart so we thought we would attend and have fun, camp was organized about 15 km out of Hobart and was an excellent choice for News Years eve and celebrations as well.

 

The gathering in Hobart was about 10-15 bikes which was cool, another Scollap and curry pie with a coffee was in order while chatting travel and motos.

The coulest part was finally meeting Troy from “The Bad Idea Bros”, while standing and chatting I kept thinking I know you (he was wearing his TBIB hat) and I finally twigged….senior moment.

I wasn’t expecting to see him there so it was coulas surprise…the rest he can show and tell about.

That night was new years eve and we had three fires within a central point, Gin and Tonic, Chocolate, good fud galore new mates and unknown mates all celebrating so a very good time was had by all.

 

Leaving 2023 behind and riding off into 2024 our intention was to go to Brunny island…and on getting to the ferry terminal it seemed to be everyone else's idea too so for us exit stage left and we will come back in a weeks time when hopefully some may have/will have gone back to work.

In between time Peter (who owns a Ural) had contacted us and we had chatted about brakes, we decide to hit Cygnet for the night before catching up for the afternoon with Peter, we bleed the brakes, balanced our throttle bodies etc so pretty cool.

We enjoyed a nice dinner before setting off to a camp site which was stunning.                  

 

Mount Field National Park Part 2

After 3 days away up the top it was back to National Park HQ being the place of choice for Christmas Day and beyond.

These from up the top, beautiful place.

 

Having just setup to enjoy the place a Tenere 700 and a Himilayan 411 came in, naturally we hid but the spotted us.

I good yarn with them and they too decide to setup camp till the day after boxing day.

With a multitude of things to do we set off playing, walking, gorking etc, things to see were abundant including a massive tree called Gandolfs Staff, the Growling Squallet hole / waterfall and an epic mountain tarn walk which was 14km.  

 

We took a trip into a place called the growling squallet with Emily and Houston, Emily decided to try and take an alternative route.

 

Christmas day rolled around and Santa was on for Ural rides all round for little and big kids, we had a heap of kids come and the laugher, thumbs up, smiles and waving were only a small part of the noisy fun, one fello had three young lads and they just loved it.   

 

Mount Field National Park Part 1

Mt Field National Park, should be kept under cover so the Russian don’t find it, what a stunning place, our arrival was easy and we got setup up then our neighbours came home, I said I hope you don’t mind a coupla dodgy kiwis setting up next to you, the lady replied as long as you don’t mind being setup up by two other dodgy Kiwis…well that sealed the deal.

John and Robyn were the camp commandants and Robyn was born and bred in our Queenstown 60 km south of our hometown Wanaka.

We hit it off very well as the are very coul people and like proper Kiwis bent over backwards to help and make our stay awesome, this wasn’t special for us only, they genuinely were doing an awesome job welcoming everyone in, that human contact and welcoming is dying in this stupid and fast age so it was extremely refreshing, onya guys.

Part of our mission was to go up to strathgordon and beyond to see the dam, staying 2 nights at Mt Field National Park we piled off into the abyss exploring our way in and around, the more we saw and read, the more our stay was getting extended. The dam was a living and working piece of art, 140 m high, elliptical in its curve from above and curved in against the water side, the front wall curved differently to the rear giving it a 3.3 m wide top and 17.7 m base.

 

It took two years to build which in 1974 was excellent, it wasn’t without controversy however the people who would complain about it are the same people enjoying the electricity from it using their laptop to write the complaint…just saying.

In the forest there are massive tress and stunning waterfalls, majestic place.

  

While at the park we had some lean temperatures but with plenty look at it did not matter.

Part two coming up next

Queenstown to Bronte Lagoon

 Only a road trip today with nothing difficult or wet so a pleasant change.

On the way we did take a turnoff to Tarraleah power station which was pretty cool, it is all part of the Tasmania Power Scheme.

The evening saw us camp at Bronte Lagoon, once set up a walk along the waterfront was in order, we were at a jetty when a fisherman came in and said he had a great day fishing so he gave us a trout which was awesome so pre dinner snacks were had.

Leaving Bronte Lagoon we headed south and east with more farmland and paddocks and I was feeling a bit empty, our turnoff into Mt Field National Park headed us right back into the trees and native bush and I immediately felt more alive.

Mt Field National Park next.... 

Strahan To Queenstown..

Queenstown…hmm, we should have stayed at Strahan as we wouldn’t have gotten under a weather bomb which saw our helmet cheek pads get soaked from underneath from the rain bouncing back up off the road.

Another wee shower but not intense.

 

Arriving at QT we were slightly wet at all our sleeve ends and neck etc, our Klim gear keeping everything out elsewhere but the temp dropped to 7 degs so we were cold.

Queenstown was an interesting place and not really Queenstown as we know it, cool none the less.

 

After a quick discussion we opted for our very first backpacker room which had a heater so that was great for drying our helmet linings and gloves.

On exiting QT the next day it was not a lot better and our drive out of there was cloudy and like riding in a Tupperware container however it did clear and the rest of the ride was great with a stopoff at “The Wall”, no pics as we were not allowed cameras in there.

 

These from Outside.

These metal insects along the drive