Bushwalk Australia

Hi Guys,

I am planning a trip to the western arthurs and federation in summer and I contacted tigerline about their service to scotts peak dam. Unfortunately they have canceled the regular service in summer and you now need to contact them to arrange a group booking.

Does anyone know of an alternate service and the costs?

Alternately, does anyone want to travel to scotts peak on tiger line leaving hobart on the second of January and return on the 16 of January?

Maybe we need a new section for sharing rides to scotts peak dam.

Maurice

I also have heard (might be a bit inaccurate here ) that the summer timetable to Cradle Mountain will only be 3 days a week. This will make it incredibly inconvenient for people trying to access the OT and potentially make humps of people wanting to leave on bus days.

Service?....what service?.....

No regular service to Scotts peak - how frustrating. I assume the bus is still going to Cockle Creek though?
I'm sure there are many solo walkers - even small groups of two's and three's who are probably going to be stymied by this. What other way - apart from private vehicle - is there to get in there now?
I'd like to make a suggestion - that this forum provide opportunity for walkers wanting to go in to Scotts peak to come together to organise common dates to go in over the summer? I'm not sure exactly how this might work.
How about a permanent posting directing those requiring the bus to login register their interest then organise a cluster of dates so that everyone intending to go have a date in mind when they approach Tigerline (knowing others intend to go same day). Also perhaps tigerline could be brought up to speed in some way - suggesting they direct individuals who have insufficient numbers to charter the bus to the forum. I'm not sure whether this can work - I'm open to suggestions.I really feel there's a need to try and overcome this unfortunate bit of news.

Darryl

I did address this in another post less than a week ago, but have you tried Evan's Coaches? I think the idea of a list of people potentially signing up on here and going on the same days would be worth putting to tigerline too as it would work in their favour as well, as I assume the reason they no longer provide the service is lack of demand. Also not being absolutely certain of when people will walk out i.e. the return trip is more of a problem. Pay in advance works, and aim to get back the day before you need them to drive you back or something like that.

Sorry whiskeylover I didn't quite get the last sentence in your post. I've emailed Evans Coaches myself just to see what service they provide - no answer as yet - they have got Scotts Peak as destination on the website at least.

Tigerline will do the SPD trip in but need a minimum of 4. The fare will be $130 with four but reduces to $90 for additional passengers beyond that. This makes it hard for solos and couples - perhaps others as well.

Some sort of register of people needing to get to Scotts Peak Dam - certainly. Approaching Tigerline also to see if bookings for SPD cant be regularly displayed on this forum so that walkers have the option of joining an already organised charter. I would be happy to write to Tigerline to see if this was possible. The idea would need to be fleshed out with them, see if it's really worthwhile and then there would possibly be an ongoing need to regularly check with them for updates.

Keep the ideas coming. How will YOU be getting to Scotts Peak Dam next time you go?

Darryl

For now, the 'Find Walking Companions' forum could be used for this. But something more specific could be useful, especially if there was some cooperation with the operators. I'll have to think about it.

Hi everyone
Evans coaches got back to me.
They do charter only and the cost of the bus to Scotts Peak is $250. I'm not sure that this would be a totally practical solution for very small parties - but at first glance it looks a better option than tigerline charter - three passengers with the Evans coach and it's about $83 each which compares reasonnably with the last fare I think Tigerline charged ($65 one way?) on their regular service and $130 per person for four on their charter rates.

Darryl

Dear all

Yes tassielink has indeed cancelled the Scotts Peak service and are reducing some services elsewhere as well which in future years might indicate eventual closure of other handy bus services. I have been checking alternatives and its too late for anyone to run a scheduled service this summer (permission is needed to run a bus service and the red tape takes time). Hence its charters only with someone licensed to run charters - there are quite a few of those and I have contacted a few to see what is on offer.

The best bet for this summer seems to be Evans Coaches who are based at Geeveston, tel 03 - 6297 1335. Robert and Louise operate the family business and they also run a scheduled bus service to Cockle Creek so they are used to walkers. They will take charters for a minimum of two people for $75 each into or out of Scotts Peak to Hobart. They are also willing to combine groups so solo walkers can join with another group (might require some changes to your itinerary though). Note - dont try their website or email as it seems someone else is using it - the telephone gets them immediately.

All other alternatives I could find were dearer per person and also generally wanted 4 or more to be viable. The same notes have already been added to the update pages on my website for the south west tassie guide as well.

Hope this helps everyone who wants to get into or out from Scotts peak and Mt Anne this summer.
Regards
John Chapman

Have been taking a keen interest in this post as I have been planning to do the Mt. Anne Circuit for the past month now.

Today I received a return email from Evans Coaches telling me the cost of transport for myself to Scott's Peak Rd. is $150.00 each way. That's $300.00 return from Hobart.

Now that Tassielink has pulled the pin on their service the competition has become null and void with the monopoly going to Evans Coaches. I am struggling to justify that the cost of transport out wieghs the cost of flights from Adelaide, accomodation in Hobart and food expenses combined, for the entire eight day trip.

Sadly, I may have to rethink the whole trip. Has anyone come up with any alternative modes of transport to this area?

Ciaran wrote:Has anyone come up with any alternative modes of transport to this area?

This is only semi-serious, but has a slim possibility of helping...

A post in the 'Find Walking Companions' forum may turn up somebody who is walking the same or similar area at the same time and has a spare seat in their car.

I don't know if this might help. I haven't used these guys but have used similar services in northern Tassie (along the lines of charter services that John Chapman referred to earlier in this topic).

http://www.twe.travel/05_transport/01.html

Anyway I noticed that they list the following:

Mt Anne Circuit 1:50 travel time $97 one-way

If that info is correct for one person it could at least reduce the cost by $100 or so. Might be worth an email.

I have used grahams service before and he was very accommodating. Didn't mind the odd stop to pick up supplies however i do notice a change in pricing in regards to this. He can also organize a bunch of other stuff if you need it. Guides, accommodation etc.

Whats wrong with hitchhiking, the last time I walked the south coast track, we were in Dover in about an hour from cockle ck. 1 truck and a bloke in a panel van,admittedly we arranged a lift up to Scotts Pk. , I would allow half a day, shouldnt be a problem as we tasmanians are generally pretty friendly characters. Cheers.....olblackbilly

Hey All,

If you are planning to hike the Western Arthurs circuit in a group, and are apprehensive about the reliability or safety of hitch-hiking, then (in a group of 3 hikers, on a 10 day hike) it would be 50% cheaper to rent a car between you (at around $25 a day with insurance) then hiring a bus. Plus, before and after hiking you'd have the benefit of having a car.

Cheers,

Erin

Sad to hear of the change to this service (on the other hand I remember that the female bus driver was incredibly rude and antagonistic towards an overseas passenger on one occassion I caught the bus back from Scotts Peak). Tasmania is a very long way behind New Zealand when it comes to bushwalker transport services. Try for instance getting from Lake StClair to Cradle Mountain in a reasonable time. It can take 2 or more days depending on what day you finish the Overland Track Would sadly have to suggest that solo walkers or couples would be better off hiring a small car to reach the track heads instead of trying to use public transport.

When I went to the western arthurs in 2005 we got a taxi from hobart. I pre arranged this by looking in the hobart phone book and finding someone who sounded like an independent operator. He picked us up from hobart , we stopped to buy fuel at a hardware store and he drove us out to scotts peak dam. It was a full half day for him and i think we paid about 300 dollars negotiated in advance. This was more expensive but in the same ball park as the bus fare for a party of 4, which from memory was around 50 bucks a head anyway and saved us a night's accomodation in hobart. We also arranged for him to meet us 12 days later, but ended up coming out a day earlier and catching the bus home. I have done the same to moonlight ridge when we went to PB - just went up to a taxi rank and asked around - didn't take long to find someone. This may not be strictly legal for you or them....The bus service was just so inflexible - with a taxi you can leave at any time, any day.

I understood that Tassielink were going to start up the Scotts Peak service again this summer. At least - that is what i was told when I was in Hobart in July.

Dave

Just emailed Tassie Link about this and the reply was no.

They said Evans Coaches do the Scott Peak run.
Their web site says they will be doing this run on Mon, Wed & Fri from Dec to Feb at $100ea for 2 or more people - bookings essential

They should advertise here... they'd double their business in not time on that run!

But seriously, if anyone else wanted to start up such a business, it would seem that there's a need for it... for a variety of popular bushwalking routes.

Evans coaches are running a 3 day a week service to Scotts Peak, on the alternate days that they run to Cockle Creek, starting in November. There is a sign at the rego hut, I will double check the details tomorrow as I head back out that way to collect my car. If there is enough of you, renting a car would be heaps cheaper than a bus, but I would think insurance on rent a cars for that purpose may be quite high.

I've started taking out travel insurance when I hire a car. I make sure it includes coverage of excess on rental cars (usually around $3 000) in the case of an accident. Then I don't pay the excess reduction insurance (up to $30/day), instead getting it covered in my travel insurance for about $10/day. I used that method in NZ in September and in Victoria last month. It certainly saves money, but as I haven't had a bingle yet, I can only assume I'm as well covered

cheers

Peter