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NATIONAL PARKS AND BUSHWALKING |
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| All national parks in Tasmania charge daily (24hr) entry fees ,
often on an honour system, of $3.30 per pedestrian or cyclist, $9.90 per
vehicle: if you plan to go bush for long periods, then a two-month
holiday pass (person, cyclist or motorcyclist $13.20, car $33) or an
annual pass (car $19.80 for one park, $46.20 for all parks) might be
better value. Tasmania's wilderness has always attracted thousands of
bushwalkers , and many of the tracks have become churned-up and are
gradually being boardwalked; keeping to set paths to avoid further
erosion is just one of the national park's minimum-impact guidelines,
available in a leaflet from the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service ,
134 Macquarie St, Hobart (tel 03/6233 6191, www.parks.tas.gov.au ),
which also supplies detailed maps. To get leaflets before your trip, you
can write to GPO Box 44A, Hobart, TAS 7001. It must be emphasized that
walking in the wilderness can be dangerous if you're ill-prepared: you
should never go by yourself and you should always register your plans
with a park ranger or inform others of your intentions. The free
Bushwalking Trip Planner for Tasmania's World Heritage Area gives you
information about the clothing and equipment you'll need in these parks,
where the weather can change rapidly - even on a warm summer day hail,
sleet or snow can suddenly descend in the highlands, and walkers who
have disregarded warnings have died of hypothermia. As a minimum, you'll
need wet-weather gear, thermal clothing, walking boots, a sturdy tent,
warm sleeping bag, a fuel cooking stove, maps and a compass (which you
should know how to use). Gear can be rented from outdoor shops in Hobart,
Launceston and Devonport. |
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