This is my comprehensive report of our Tassie Tour 2010 so sit back, grab a coffee and read all about it.
On 24th May the Wagga group of Southern Cruizin Chryslers departed Wagga to meet up with the South Australian PT Cruiser club at Mopar Motors in Melbourne. A bit of bling for some, none for others and quite a few jobs done by Sam and his busy staff to get us all on the road together.
After many turns, different directions a few lost PT’s we all finally arrived at Port Melbourne in time to board the Spirit of Tasmania for our journey across the waters to Tasmania.
Now what happens on the boat stays on the boat, but I can tell you many passengers we not only entertained by the entertainer but also by the singing dancing South Aussie songbirds and dancers. Enough said there.
A smooth nights sailing saw us arrive in Devonport and after a hearty brekkie we set off for an approx 300 klm cruise along the north coast of Tassie to Stanley out close to the west coast taking in the sights along the way.
Sorry Mr Minister but the funeral has to wait, we have all your parking positions in front of the church. Luckily the hearse didn’t arrive till after we departed.
Not long after the rain started only light at this stage but the wind also picked up a little. We continued onto Burnie for a coffee break before heading further out west to Stanley. Some went on the chairlift for a look while the rest stayed in the confines of the Stanley pub for a feed.
The return journey to Devonport was a wild wet ride. Rain that heavy you could hardly see the bonnet of your PT which only lasted a short time thank god. Tuesday night was a quiet night in the PT camp.
Wednesday we split and went all different directions and crossed about halfway but seeing much of the same things at Deloraine, Sheffield ( the town of murals ) Mole Creek including the Cherry Shed, Anvers chocolate factory, the Honey Bee museum and the Ashgrove Farm cheese factory. This was a nice sunny day.
On a fine sunny Thursday morning we all departed heading south for Hobart following the tourist route via Deloraine ( once again ) and also Westbury, Perth and all between until we arrived for a late lunch at Ross at there well known bakery. Onward to Bagdad ( no not the bad one ) to meet up with our Tassie connection Andrew Lee and PTC-00 his PT leading us into Hobart and checking out the wharves where the saturday Salamanca markets are held each week. Then out to our accommodation at Risdon Vale. The Tavern near the caravan park didn’t know what hit it when we all arrived together for our 1st dinner but over the next few nights they got to know some of us really well.
Friday some went south to Port Arthur and others to other places and ourselves spent quite a bit of time at the famous Cadbury chocolate factory. The day was fairly overcast and threatened rain all day but not much fell during daylight. It started after dark.
Sat was a wet day, all day but most of us enjoyed taking in the weekly Salamanca markets & coffee shops. Some disappeared into the clouds at the top of Mt Wellington for a look and some of went on a tour of Hobart in an old 1970 Leyland double decker bus, nearly as wet inside as outside but the sights were fabulous.
Plenty of pics although it was still raining but that’s Tassie isn’t it?
Andrew had pre-arranged a visit to Joes Garage for a photo shoot. All set up, pics taken then a little incident took place from an outsider which in turn had MR PLOD turn up on his pushbike and tell us to Pee Off, in other words move on. That was the last we saw of him.
Sunday saw most of us head even further south from a foggy Hobart to Huonville where 9 of us braved the cold and jumped aboard a Jet boat for an exhilarating 35 minute ride at high speed with plenty of 360’s along the way and many twists and turns.
Also around this area we saw a Forrest Gump look a like.
Onward further south to a clearing nice sunny day via Franklin, Port Huon, Geevestone before arriving at the Tahune Air Walk. This is another must see thing if ever down this way in Tassie. The sights are glorious.
At this stage a BIG thank you must go to Andrew for helping us, organising things and showing us around his home town of Hobart. Thanks mate.
Our 2nd week has started and Monday once again but before we left Hobart it was a visit to Cadbury’s choccy factory ( again for some ) before heading in a north westerly direction for Strahan. A fine day but coming out of Hobart one of the biggest police breathalysers I have ever seen was set up and only 2 PT’s out of 12 were checked. Our leader who was Andrew was one of them but as usual we waited. Must have been a site for the coppers to see 10 other PT’s wait for the leader to join us again. We kept going at the next roundabout and Andrew headed home. It was another fine day most of the way out but towards dusk a few light showers started to fall.
Along the way we took a couple of detours for sight seeing with some visiting the Russell falls in the National park and other places and the rest of us stopping at Hamilton for a feed we didn’t get…………..told they couldn’t cater for us so off we went to Derwent Bridge where we were warmly welcome at a truck stop and had a humungous feed before taking a very interesting tour of the Wall. Something you should all see at sometime. It will be 100 mtrs long when finished but at present is about 50 mtrs long and a wall that is all hand carved by a 53 yr old man who has taken 5 yrs to get this far. Very very interesting. Onto Queenstown and didn’t this open our eyes a little. Coming onto dusk and coming down a winding road that somehow you shouldn’t take a billygoat on we did find that we tested both our brakes and our steering ability to reach the bottom. From there to Strahan in the dark and raining wasn’t much better. Whenever in Tassie and near the mountains you certainly learn how to take the corners the correct way. It’s a long way to the bottom if you go over the edge.
Twisting winding roads and an over abundance of concentration whilst driving saw us all retire rather early on our 1st night in Strahan.
Our 2nd Tuesday we woke to yet again rain. Remember it rains 364 days a year in Strahan. Some headed off to do the day trip on the Wilderness Railway trip to Queenstown whilst some of us opted to do the day cruise that takes in the beautiful sights of the Gordon River. We recommend either of these day trips if you are ever out at Strahan.
Our 2nd Wednesday saw us leaving Strahan heading in a north easterly direction to Launceston with some heading to Cradle Mountain and some bypassing it visiting the sights in Zeehan, Wilmont, Tasmazia, Sheffield ( again ) and all places in between arriving at our accommodation at Hadspen just out of Launceston.
The Hadspen caravan park will never be the same after the PT mob’s gathering at the camp facilities room for a squash or two and the singalong led by the songbirds. Video was taken of the night which will never be released to the public for viewing. You had to be there to see what we got up to. Enough given away there.
Our 2nd Thursday the group scattered in different direction for touring with us heading eastward to Scotsdale then Ledgerwood to view some wooden sculptures in the park there.
Then onto Pyengana for cheese tasting at another cheese factory and then for lunch at the Pub in the Paddock which features Priscilla the beer drinking pig.
We returned to Launceston via the east coast taking in the sights at St Helens and St Marys.
Thursday night dinner was at the Archers Manor for some of us which is owned by Allan Roark and under the Manor is the Universal Joint. A bar that is stacked with memorabillia from Allan’s days as a Nascar driver. There is his own Nascar vehicle, sprint car and numerous motorbikes which he is now involved with. A lot of other stuff is stored there also. Thanks Allan for having us there. We were also lucky enough to have Bruce & Cheryl aka PT Canary with us with there yellow Route66 and Ian aka Seagull with his 01 Inferno, all from Launceston.
Our 2nd last day being Friday some went shopping then spent some time at Cataract Gorge taking in the breathtaking scenery there. Others went northward to Beaconsfield and surrounding areas for a sightseeing tour.
Thanks to another PT owner Grant Sutton and also a member of the Launceston Van Diemens Street Rod Club they hosted us to a drinkies and pizza night at there own clubrooms with about 6 or 7 hotrods in attendance plus other members for a very enjoyable night.
We thank each and every one of them for allowing the use of their rooms and for also joining in with us. It appears as though Hotrod clubs and PT Cruisers have much in common and can easily interact with each other.
A fun filled night of laughter and fun.
Once again thanks to Bruce & Cheryl and Grant for putting this together for us. Be rest assured Tassie people that we will be visiting you again next time we are in your area.
All toooo soon this great Tassie tour has come to an end on sat 5th June and we have to load ourselves aboard the Spirit of Tasmania for a bit of a rough ride back to Melbourne. The waters weren’t so kind to us coming home with the boat doing a bit of rockin & rollin.
Some of us had brekkie at Port Melbourne before saying our goodbyes and heading our separate ways.
Bring on the next tour to Tassie, we’re ready, ARE THEY ?
The slideshow shows a bit of everything for the whole time we were away and does take some time to watch the 393 pics in it. Enjoy and who knows, you may want to visit this wonderful Tassie one day.
Tassie Tour 2010
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possibly next time!! ... Phantom reports we are off to TAS in FEB for the wooden boat show 
.. not taking a mopar .. 
... darn & drat
