Ronny Creek Shuttle Bus Hours

[flatfoot]

Hopefully someone can tell me the December / January operating hours for the Ronny Creek Shuttle bus.

The plan is to walk the Dove Lake Circuit the afternoon before i start the Overland Track with a group of friends.

We'll be arriving via a shuttle from Launceston so won't have our own transport.

We'll likely be staying in the cabins near the visitor centre. It's quite a walk from there down to Ronny Creek, so hoping the bus runs until at least sunset ( which from memory is around 8:30 - 9:00 pm at that time of year ).

[flatfoot]

Answered my question!

http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/file.aspx?id=19115

[South_Aussie_Hiker]

You need to be careful about the published times.

I was there in February during a great stretch of weather. We tried to get on a 4pm bus to Dove Lake (given that the last was 1720) and weren't allowed on because "there are four full bus loads already down there, so if we take you down, there won't be enough spaces to bring everyone back".

It used to be that they'd just run all the scheduled services and then if there were people left they would keep going until they got the last one. There also used to be a late unadvertised bus at about 7pm and another at 8pm to pick up and stragglers who made the most of the long daylight hours. Used to be great to jump on that from the chateau to get a lift back to the cabins near the park office.

Doesn't happen any more. Arrive at the dove lake bus stop after 6pm, and you're walking for a few hours back to your accommodation.

[flatfoot]

Thanks for the warning! Crazy in December / January given sunset is so late.

[Tintin]

Do you have to pay for the shuttle bus from the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre to Ronny Creek, or is it included in the cost of the Overland Track Fee?

[gayet]

Its free

[Tintin]

Its free

Thanks mate.

[MrWalker]

Its free

But you still need a ticket to ride it.
If you show your Parks Pass to the staff at the Visitor Centre they will give you a free ticket.
The bus drivers don't check Parks Passes, but they might check your ticket.
I don't think they ever check on the way out because you must have a pass to have got there. So if you walk from Lake St Clair you don't need to go to the Visitor Centre for your pass before you can ride the bus to the Vistor Centre.

[gayet]

I have never shown a ticket. Never been asked. Not that I have caught the bus more than a few times.