Tasmania specific bushwalking discussion.

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Tasmania specific bushwalking discussion. Please avoid publishing details of access to sensitive areas with no tracks.
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Meander Falls road

Tue 10 Aug, 2021 9:17 pm

Hi,
What are my chances on Meander falls road, east of car Park with a Ford falcon.
Only my 2nd week in Tassie so I have no idea. Google maps/street view does not help.
If the answer is laughter, then could I get maybe halfway?
The only reviews I can find are 10 years old.
Thanks

Re: Meander Falls road

Tue 10 Aug, 2021 9:34 pm

I think it depends on the weather.
A 2WD should be able to make it, but during the wetter months, the road will be quite slippery/soft in places, and there are often large puddles to negotiate.
I've taken an i30 as far as Quarry Road/Stone Hut Track (in winter), but used a 20 year old CR-V to go up to the end of Meander Falls Road a year earlier.

Re: Meander Falls road

Wed 11 Aug, 2021 7:23 am

Its a good gravel road. If you driven on a gravel road before you should be ok.

Re: Meander Falls road

Wed 11 Aug, 2021 9:17 am

Falcon you say? I used to get mine anywhere the big boys in their Hilux's could...
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Re: Meander Falls road

Wed 11 Aug, 2021 1:12 pm

More or less what Thornbill said. Up to a point it's more about how you drive that what you drive.
The 'up to a point' bit is important. I'd have loved to see that beast go up Urks Loop Rd when I took the Hilux there.

But the Meander Falls Rd is good gravel by Tassie standards.

Re: Meander Falls road

Wed 11 Aug, 2021 5:59 pm

Thanks everyone.
I will do it, but maybe not in this week's weather.

Re: Meander Falls road

Wed 11 Aug, 2021 9:14 pm

Yeah Urks Loop might have been a stretch. But there weren’t many places we couldn’t get that thing if you took it slow. Surprising how far you’re willing to push a car when it’s worth nothing!

Re: Meander Falls road

Fri 13 Aug, 2021 9:42 am

We went up to the Quarry on Stone Hut track last week after lots of rain. I know that's not Meander Falls car park, but it's close.

I think most 2wds would make it there with no problems.

Clarnece

Re: Meander Falls road

Sat 14 Aug, 2021 7:44 pm

Decided to go to Liffy Falls today.
Small amount of rain put a nice slippery shine on the dirt road.
Drove in the gutter to try to get a grip on what gravel there was.
Still slid and spun.
So happy to get out.

Re: Meander Falls road

Sun 15 Aug, 2021 9:54 am

We went to the Meander Falls carpark yesterday and the road is in good condition, even when wet.
The first unsealed section out of Meander has a some potholes, so don't drive too fast, but the road improves after the new bridges.
Reports about needing 4WD would be in the period when the bridges were out and a different road was required.

Re: Meander Falls road

Tue 17 Aug, 2021 12:01 pm

The drive to Meander Falls carpark is, from memory, quite enjoyable, though with a remote feeling to it. Many years ago, celebrating getting my first bomb through there, I attempted an early-Spring walk to the Falls but could not make good progress over the terrain with the clock ticking away. It certainly was not going to be an out-and-back / one day walk! Along the way one photographer by the name of Ted Mead ambled by. Meander Falls remains on my bucket list, along with Reynolds Falls. No time in the very near future unfortunately...

Liffey Falls is a long time favourite, along with The Spout (upstream, before the actual falls). I have driven the road in a) a beat-up Mitsubishi "Sopwith" Sigma of 1982 vintage (c. 1995 trip); b) Lexcen CSi (VP Commodore-cross) wagon (1996 — 3 days after the Port Arthur disaster) and in 2019, a supercharged VF Commodore wagon, which thought the surface was dishy enough for it to engage traction control and ESP. Might have been icy (8am in the morning; it certainly didn't look anywhere near as dodgy coming out.

Re: Meander Falls road

Sat 21 Aug, 2021 9:29 pm

I drove the old falcon all the way to the Meander trail head.
It was no trouble at all. Beautiful road.
The Falls and River is roaring ATM.
Done the Meander loop and laughed at the sign saying 7 hours for 13 km. I took 7.5
Tassie really has amazing walk with very hard trails. I climbed Mt Bogong ( staircase track ) in less time than today's Meander loop.
Thanks again for all of your advice.

Re: Meander Falls road

Sun 22 Aug, 2021 9:27 am

We don't have trails any more than Victoria has. We have tracks.
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