South Coast Track Advice

[Orion]

Orion, would you mind passing on the number for the woman or the Tourist Office who recommended her? I'm also looking at transport options for three from Cockle Creek in late Feb. With the taxi, did you pre-book or just ring once you arrived in Cockle Creek?

I sent you a PM.

[philm]

Hi I'd be interested in the number for the transport as well if y oh could send it to me

[L_Cham_67]

Some of the campsite toilets actually do have four walls,a roof and a seat around it now. When i walked it about a year ago (from east to west), a helicopter flew in as we were leaving south cape rivulet and lowered a small building around the toilet. We then found out they had also been installed at Granite Beach, Little Deadmans Bay and Point Eric. I'm not sure if surprise bay, prion beach and eastern side of louisa river have then as we didn't camp at them.

[Orion]

philm - I sent you a pm with the number.

I'm not sure if it's okay to post the phone number in the thread, but the people at the Hobart Tourist Info place on Davey Street gave it to me.


Prion beach toilet has walls now. Kind of nice. Louisa River was lacking them, if I recall correctly. There was other evidence of work that had been done sometime in the last few years but there were also a number of places where some maintenance seemed warranted. It's a tricky thing though, deciding how much to improve a track.

[neaira]

Thanks Orion

We're looking at 8 days with possibly a night at Louisa bay. Are there any campsites you'd particularly recommend or suggest we avoid after Deadmans Bay?

[bumpingbill]

Thanks Orion

We're looking at 8 days with possibly a night at Louisa bay. Are there any campsites you'd particularly recommend or suggest we avoid after Deadmans Bay?

When I was there a few years ago, we stayed at Prion Beach. That was okay. Wasn't the best camp, but it was fine. Finding water can be a little harder than other camps, but there was still plenty around. I think it's worth crossing the river before camping (if it's safe) because it'd be pretty annoying for it to rain overnight, resulting in a river rise meaning you can't cross in the morning. Take the opportunity to cross while it's there!

We skipped Osmiridium, and stayed at Surprise Bay. That was a wonderful campsite. From what I've read Osmiridium isn't all that great. It's not too far to Surprise either, and if you get in first you'll get the choice of some pretty amazing spots.

[L_Cham_67]

I actually didn't mind Osmiridium Beach. It was sheltered, had a reliable water source, and was close to a fantastic beach with tall dunes and interesting rock outcrops. The only downside were the mozzies!

[Orion]

Trackcutter's camp didn't call out to us but it was a nice lunch spot.
I wish things had lined up so we could have stayed at Surprise Bay.

The main difference we noticed in camping ambiance was due to the number of people. On our first trip, just after the New Year, it was very crowded. There were about 30 people at every site. I felt like I had to race at the end of each day. At Prion crossing we had to wade into the bush to find a spot and in the middle of the night someone was sick just in front of our tent. I had to clean it up.

In contrast, on our recent trip we went just before Christmas and the track was so much quieter. We were alone at Prion. But by the end it was getting crazy again. The Point Eric and Buoy Beach sites were packed full of people, like ghettos.

[Lophophaps]

The main difference we noticed in camping ambiance was due to the number of people. On our first trip, just after the New Year, it was very crowded. There were about 30 people at every site... The Point Eric and Buoy Beach sites were packed full of people, like ghettos.

Might it be time to consider a booking system like the OLT and Milford? No extra fees, just one way and a limit on numbers.

[Orion]

Might it be time to consider a booking system like the OLT and Milford? No extra fees, just one way and a limit on numbers.

I'd hate to see that. Whether it's needed or not I wouldn't offer an opinion without a lot more data.


Out of curiosity I compared costs between the SCT and OLT, which we walked in January. For the two of us the effective price was almost identical:

Overland Track (Jan 2015)

$400 (2 x $200 OT fee)
$268 (2 x $134 Tassielink: Hobart-Devonport-Cradle + Lk St Clair-Hobart)
$100 Hotel in Devonport
----
$768 AUD


South Coast Track (Dec 2015)

$250 (taxi from Hobart to Cockle Ck)
$500 (2 x $250 Par Avion - Melaleuca to Hobart)
$ 25 (taxi from Cambridge Airport to Hobart)
----
$775 AUD


Expensive walking!

[philm]

Thanks for the advice everyone just fine tuning my walk plan.

have done the SCT twice now and this is my itinerary both times
1st night Point Eric
2nd night Louisa Bay -leave late on the next day - spend time walking out to Louisa Island. Short day to Louisa River
3rd night Louisa River
4th Little Deadmans
5th Osmiridium
6th Granite - Of all the campsites I have stayed at on the SCT this is the worst, only because there are not alot of flat spots.
7th South Cape Bay - near Lion Rock - you get out early the next day

A couple of questions regarding Osmiridium Beach

Is the turn off from the track easy to spot?

Also is there water around the camp at Osmiridium Beach?

If we did stay at New River Lagoon were is the best place to obtain water?

Granite camp does not sound great but is there any alternatives close by?

[L_Cham_67]

The turn off to Osmiridium is signed, so it should be easy to spot. There is a creek which runs beside the Osmiridium campsite which I think is reliable. The only other real option instead of Granite Beach is Surprise Bay, which cuts the days walking by 1 to 1.5 hours. I've never camped at New River, so I'm unsure as to the best spot to collect water

[Mark F]

I did the SCT in January so in answer to a couple of your questions:
The turnoff to Osmiridium is well signed.
The creek at Osmiridium should be fine but when I was there in mid January at the height of the "dry" there was no flow in it. I wouldn't drink it until it was treated.
I didn't see water at the western end of Prion's but there was water near the camp on the eastern side of the boat crossing.

The water answers will change dramatically if normal rainfall patterns are experienced.

A comment on the boat crossing - due to the really low rain fall this summer the boats had to be dragged a long distance to the water which was exceedingly difficult even for two people. To make it easier try using some lengths of timber as rollers/sliders under the boats - it makes a hell of a difference.

Orion - there are cheaper options for Cockle Creek to Hobart. I managed to get a lift from Cockle Creek direct to Cambridge for the cost of 2 coffees

[neaira]

We were there at the start of the month and there was no water to be found at New River Lagoon. I guess either fill up at the creek at the west end of the beach which was running or check with the rangers to see if the situation has changed. There were a bunch of track workers there who ended up having their water flown in. They mentioned there was camping 2-3km further down the track by a creek but we didn't really look for it the next day so I'm not sure what it'd be like.

Granite Beach wasn't too bad, while there aren't a huge number of flat spots the waterfall made up for it.

It was a bit difficult finding water at Surprise Bay too.

[bumpingbill]

If you push on from Little Deadmans, and stay at Prion/NewRiverLagoon there is usually water further north of the campsite, and up the hill a bit. It's not the best though, and can be rather brackish.

Or, if you know you're staying there you could carry water along the beach from a source at the western end of Prion Beach. Though it also might be hard to find as Mark says.

Also you could skip staying at Osmiridium and go to Surprise Bay. Then you don't have to stay at Granite. It'll add 3km to your next day's walk to South Cape Bay, but SB is a very nice place to spend the night!

EDIT: Just saw neaira's post - seems like water is a big issue around the SW atm!

[Orion]

Orion - there are cheaper options for Cockle Creek to Hobart. I managed to get a lift from Cockle Creek direct to Cambridge for the cost of 2 coffees

We were going in the other direction... still, I'm sure there are cheaper ways, at least for some people. But go ahead and rub it in. :-)

[AmazeMeTas]

I do transfers out of Cockle Creek to Hobart to either accommodation or airport. $80 per person min 2 people. I can be contacted on 0447250979.

[Porter Ricks]

The Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service this week replaced the two old 2.5m aluminium dinghies at New River Lagoon with three new 3.6m flat bottomed aluminium rowing punts. The new boats float in much less water than the old making the shallow water crossing much easier, no long drags across the sand flats! Life jackets have also been supplies in a box either side of the crossing. New oars too. Crossing is much improved

[Orion]

The Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service this week replaced the two old 2.5m aluminium dinghies at New River Lagoon with three new 3.6m flat bottomed aluminium rowing punts. The new boats float in much less water than the old making the shallow water crossing much easier, no long drags across the sand flats! Life jackets have also been supplies in a box either side of the crossing. New oars too. Crossing is much improved

That's good to hear. It's one of things I thought could have used an upgrade, those oars especially.

I had a hard time crossing in the wind as one of the oars I was using had basically no connection to the boat. And I am an infrequent and poor oarsman. I ended up losing the battle with the wind and beaching (we were heading west). Fortunately it wasn't too difficult to drag the boat that last hundred meters or so. But getting back with two boats and then back again as the wind increased was a bit of a struggle. I was cursing the parks as I got my morning workout.

[davidf]

My 2 cents.

We walked the port davey to south coast track over a couple of weeks feb/march. I found the regularity of camp options that such we could make it up as we went. What you lose on the swings you gain on the round abouts.

there is a costing above. We started at scots peak. Found a ride from hobart for 3 for $200 total. Food drop to the airstrip $90. Found a group leaving cockle creek and jump there bus, about $60 each, brought there price down to. So about $120 in travel costs hobart to hobart and 4 or so days of extra walking to doing just the south coast track.

[Happypacker]

Re shuttle from Cockle Creek to Hobart. We used Gemma from Amaze me Tas 0447 250 979 in dec 2016. Very reasonable cost, prompt, friendly service and we were able to stop at a cafe for lunch along the way.