Tas driving distances/useful towns

[beanie kids]

Hi - please excuse some disoriented mainlander distance questions - we're trying to figure out an itinerary and I can't get my head around the distances/road terrains. I trust locals more than google maps - so here goes....

1. Google map is telling me it takes 3.5 hrs to drive from Hobart to the start of the Walls of Jerusalem start via Mersey Forest Road. Could that possibly be correct?? Would you do that and then start walking?? I am very dubious....(and a late riser)
2. Would you drive from Hobart to Mt Field - do a half day-ish walk and return in one day?
3. If we finished the WOJ and then drove around to Cradle camp site - Google is telling me 1 hr and 7 mins - oh hahaha - really?? Is there a town between to re-stock in?
4. Or if we were around the WOJ and wanted to head over to Freycinet - half a day??
If these times are correct you guys are lucky lucky lucky
We are not the kind to start early/finish late....Thanks for suggestions!

[Drifting]

I use the Victoria Route Planner for Tassie and Victoria. It is generally very accurate.

http://www.visitvictoria.com/displayobj ... 476A9047C/

It takes me around 3 1/2 hours to leisurely get to Freycinet from Devonport, so I'd say roughly the same from WOJ, given that it is closer, but up in the mountains a fair bit. Of course Cradle Mountain is only about 2 hours the other way, and Lake St Clair only a couple hours away too..

Oh Tassie....how sweet it is......

[ILUVSWTAS]

You got it pretty spot on!!
We do regular day trips based from Hobart to all parts of the state! (except maybe the west coast) I recently drove to Freycinet, walked the circuit then drove home.
+ Mt Field is roughly just over an hour drive from Hobart.

[wello]

On point 3: An hour and a bit should be enough to get from WOJ to Cradle. Doubt it would be more the 1.5 hours. Some nice views on the way as you go past mt Claude.

As far as towns to re-stock, that's another story. There's some supplies available at Cradle itself, but likely to be expensive and minimal range. The alternative is to back track to Mole Creek (local type supermarket) or a little further to Deloraine where I'm pretty sure there's a Woolworths. Sheffield is also a possibility. Nothing on the way though.

Wello

[tasadam]

Hi - please excuse some disoriented mainlander distance questions - we're trying to figure out an itinerary and I can't get my head around the distances/road terrains. I trust locals more than google maps - so here goes....

1. Google map is telling me it takes 3.5 hrs to drive from Hobart to the start of the Walls of Jerusalem start via Mersey Forest Road. Could that possibly be correct?? Would you do that and then start walking?? I am very dubious....(and a late riser)

Get up earlier, allow at least 3 hours drive, and this time of year with longer days no worries about starting walking by noon.

2. Would you drive from Hobart to Mt Field - do a half day-ish walk and return in one day?

No, I'd put in a longer walk than half a day (In other words, yes).

3. If we finished the WOJ and then drove around to Cradle camp site - Google is telling me 1 hr and 7 mins - oh hahaha - really?? Is there a town between to re-stock in?

No town "between", you'd have to divert to Sheffield or even Devonport, or buy supplies from what limited offerings they have at Cradle Mtn shop depending on your needs / what you want to buy. Due to time of day (lots of animals at dawn / dusk), unfamiliarity with the road etc, maybe allow one and a half hours, unless you need to divert.

4. Or if we were around the WOJ and wanted to head over to Freycinet - half a day??

I reckon easily.

If these times are correct you guys are lucky lucky lucky
We are not the kind to start early/finish late....Thanks for suggestions!

Yes we are lucky... Take your time & enjoy it.

[tasadam]

Good thought about Deloraine Wello, yes a Woolworths there, though time & distance might mean Devonport could be closer.
On a good run I can be at Cradle visitor centre from Dev in 55 mins.

[sthughes]

Sheffield has a fair bit too, no Woolworths but it does have a decent IGA. Things like gas canisters and 'specialist' stuff might be a problem, but otherwise I personally wouldn't bother diverting all the way to Devonport or Deloraine just forr food, drinks etc.

One thing I've leart is to make sure you have plenty of petrol around closing time. Many country servos close at 5-6pm. I arrived at Tarraleah at about 6pm one afternoon and had to get them to unlock the bowser as I didn't have enough to get to anywhere else! Luckily the owners were still on site doing the books Guess I'm so used to getting petrol at 10pm or later in cities that I never really thought of them closing at 5.30 in mid summer.

Enjoy your holiday!

[Chris]

One thing I've learnt is to make sure you have plenty of petrol around closing time. Many country servos close at 5-6pm.

Another warning about petrol: I was not impressed on the way home from Cradle in April - thought I should top up in Sheffield but discovered that the only fuel available was from a now un-manned place on the outskirts. Being an innocent Tasmanian who hasn't met one of these before, I was disgusted at the fee deducted from what I thought was th $? worth of fuel I expected

[Drifting]

I'm pretty sure both petrol stations in Sheffield have night fill stations. Also, there's a smaller food shop that is open later than the bigger store- to around 8:30 most nights from memory.

[Beeper]

Those times are quite accurate. Don't underestimate the time it takes to get to places, the roads are not straight nor flat!

[tasadam]

I can't be certain, but based on the "being lucky down here" comment, I think the original poster was doubtful it took so little time to get to places... Could I be right here? I'm curious now.

[beanie kids]

Correct Adam! I just couldn't believe you could be in so many amazing places with so little travel time. We never underestimate as we always seem to take twice as long as everyone else to get anywhere (why is that??). Thanks for all the tips about petrol - forgot about that - and good to know our times are not too far out. The beanie kids will be pleased to know they don't have to argue in the back seat for days and days between walks.