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GETTING AROUND |
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Six local bus companies and one charter service reach most
destinations on the island, the main two companies being Tasmanian
Redline Coaches and Tassie Link. You cannot use a mainland bus pass with
either of these, and services are limited, often not running at weekends,
especially on the east and west coasts; in winter and spring services
are even further reduced. The largest operator, Tasmanian Redline
Coaches (tel 03/6231 3233 or 1300/360 000), offers frequent scheduled
services between Hobart and Launceston via the east coast or direct via
the Midland Highway, from Devonport to Hobart via Deloraine and
Launceston, and along the northwest coast from Devonport to Burnie and
on to Smithton. Tassie Link (tel 03/6272 7300, www.tigerline.com.au )
specializes in bushwalkers' transport, getting you to some of the more
remote destinations all over the state in their minibuses: scheduled
services run from Hobart to Queenstown via Lake St Clair, with a
connecting service to Strahan; Queenstown to Launceston via Cradle
Mountain and Devonport; from Hobart up the east coast as far as St
Helens; and from Launceston east to Bicheno. Tassie Link also run "Wilderness"
services (minimum of four people) and separate tours. "Wilderness"
services include routes running west from Hobart to Mount Field National
Park and Scotts Peak or south to Cockle Creek via Huonville and Lune
River, and from Launceston to the Walls of Jerusalem National Park and
to Cradle Mountain via Deloraine and Devonport. Their fares are rather
high, considering the short distances - for example, Strahan to
Launceston is $55 one-way, and Hobart to Mount Field is $22. Fares on
Redline are government-regulated: for example, $23 for the trip from
Hobart to Launceston, and $38 from Hobart to Devonport. Hobart Coaches (tel
03/6234 4077) head north out of Hobart to Richmond and New Norfolk, and
south to Woodbridge, Cygnet, Geeveston and Dover. Several smaller local
operators on the east coast, such as Bicheno Coach Service (Coles Bay-Bicheno;
tel 03/6257 0293), Peakes Coaches (St Marys-Swansea; tel 03/6372 5390)
and Sun Coast (Derby-St Helens; tel 03/6376 3458), help to fill in the
gaps. Maxwell's Charter Bus (tel 03/6492 1431) provides a service based
on a minimum of four passengers from Devonport and Launceston to and
around the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair area.
Buying a local bus pass is one way of cutting costs: Tassie Link (
www.tigerline.com.au ) offer a Tassie Wilderness Pass which covers a
range of time spans and journeys (from $150 for seven-days' travel
within a 10-day period, to $250 for 21-days' travel within a 30-day
period), and combines its scheduled and "Wilderness" services, getting
you to all the major bushwalking areas and giving you discounts off
their tours. You'll also reach the main cities and towns, though very
indirectly. Also, it's worth investing in YHA or VIP membership before
coming to Tasmania, which will give you substantial savings on all bus
tickets and tours.
Renting a car is a sensible option, considering the vagaries of the
transport system, particularly if you can get a group together. Local
operators offer reasonable weekly rates, starting from about $300 for a
budget car or $720 for a top-of-the-range model, including basic
insurance; as Tasmania is such a small island kilometres are usually
unlimited, and you don't need a lot of petrol. Though distances seem
short compared to the mainland, roads are often winding and mostly
two-laned - there are few freeways, except some short stretches on the
outskirts of large cities - so driving can be slow and tiring. At dusk
and night-time you have to be especially careful of animals darting in
front of your car, as evidenced by the high number of dead native
animals you'll see by the roadsides. However, there are few cars on the
road, so you should be able to relax a bit and enjoy the scenery. The
lack of traffic also makes cycling an attractive option, especially in
summer, and on the flatter midlands and east coast routes; otherwise,
there are plenty of gruelling hills to keep you in shape. Several
operators in Hobart, Launceston and Devonport rent bikes for touring.
You could also choose to go on a tour of the island with a small-group
outfit aimed at independent-minded travellers. Under Down Under Tours
(tel 03/6369 5555 or free call 1800 064 726,
www.vision.net.au/~under_downunder ) offer a five-day tour (departing
Devonport or Launceston Thurs & Sun; $395 including breakfast and lunch
but not accommodation) which does a loop of the island and includes
plenty of bushwalking and some wildlife spotting. They also offer a
two-day tour (departing Devonport or Launceston Tues & Thurs; $199) of
the northwest, which includes the Arthur River cruise. The tours can
also be combined ($575).
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