Cradle /Dove Lake Road

[Nuts]

Hadnt taken much notice, I knew there was a shuttle service but Wasnt the idea to make the carparks less congested but moreso make the drive Safer???

I Have noticed in the last couple of years the shuttle buses take less and less regard of others on the road. Both in and out in the last few days and so close to being left stranded, scarred or run up onto a bank by one of these. And they now charge for the service???

Someone really needs to get these guys to settle down and not begrudge those who choose not to use their service (or 'get in their way'). I would like to see some of the complaints, insurance claims or numbers for terrified visitors so far???

It doesnt take a phd to work out that there will always be a conflict of interest !!!

Ridiculous situation, whats lacking this time?

What a horrible intro to our most visited park...

[stepbystep]

What a horrible intro to our most visited park...

Friend of mine visited the park as a tourist last weekend, was told by info centre the only pass they could buy would cost $60 an obvious lie http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=914 my friends have no money and just wanted to go to Ronnie Creek to see the wombats in the evening, so they enquired about the bus, and it costs more in the evening, I was amazed it cost anything, they are acting in a terrible way, and it seems lying to the general public is becoming their general policy - pathetic! Left a bad taste in their mouth, bus fare was $16 or something - ridiculous....

The bus drivers are pretty bad also, but I haven't seen anything too bad, but I don't travel the road too often.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Yeh thats a very sad story SBS. Sad to hear the tourists are being treated this way.

I have a parks pass, so i'd be buggered if i'd be paying anything to get to Ronnie creek. Just let em try to stop me!!

I have also heard the bus drivers are quite crazy, but after watching a guide from Cradle Huts jump into Lake St Clair the other week in quite chilly conditions, it seems everyone who works in that park is quite crazy.

[sthughes]

I didn't know they had started charging for the bus

I remember the days when the bus drivers seemed to care, however the time before last time when I was there one of them practically tried to run me off the road

Also what's with the stupid electronic sign that always says the carpark is congested and to exit left. Even in winter when there are only 5 cars in the park (well in the Dove Lake & Ronnie Creek car parks combined)! Only regulars realise if you drive up to the gate it will open anyway (unless it really is full I suppose). They might as well just have a sign saying "*&^%$#! Off Tourists".

[flatfoot]

Sounds like chaos reigns. I last visited Cradle Mt around 2005. I recall that it was quite busy (that was early January).

This time I'm planning for family to drop myself and my nephew @ Ronny Creek by 7am on 16 December (or perhaps earlier if the weather is suitable for a nice sunrise).

We'll get to the park lunchtime the day before. Hopefully it won't be too bad getting up to Ronny Creek for the circuit walk that afternoon.

[Erica]

I have also heard the bus drivers are quite crazy, but after watching a guide from Cradle Huts jump into Lake St Clair the other week in quite chilly conditions, it seems everyone who works in that park is quite crazy.

CMH guides are a different kind of crazy though... I've swum in Lake St Clair every Cradle Huts trip I've done (do have the pleasure of only working Nov-March, so its usually not AS cold as it can be other times) its a bit of a thing we have...

[ILUVSWTAS]

I have also heard the bus drivers are quite crazy, but after watching a guide from Cradle Huts jump into Lake St Clair the other week in quite chilly conditions, it seems everyone who works in that park is quite crazy.

CMH guides are a different kind of crazy though... I've swum in Lake St Clair every Cradle Huts trip I've done (do have the pleasure of only working Nov-March, so its usually not AS cold as it can be other times) its a bit of a thing we have...

hehehe only one of the 2 guides jumped in i noticed. The patrons did love it!! Good showmanship to end an adventure for them.
Mind you the poor guy could hardly talk as he struggled to get his warm clothes on

[north-north-west]

They charge for the bus now? And is that $16 just one way?
Rip-off Central. That's one place I won't be going back to soon.

[Nuts]

The Jetty jump was a 'thing' we sometimes did with craclair, I presume it had been going on since the 60's when 'tours' first began.

I tried a couple of times (many years ago now), the last with full pack.... Its the sort of thing that many 'punters' do get a chuckle from. Rest assured, with them mainly in the 'older' age groups they likely are having different thoughts to those boosting the 'jumpee's' bravado....

Funny thing age, you see how much time is wasted and pain endured when your young enough to take direction from vanity and ego.

Anyhow... the road... my concern was mainly with the safety and experience for visitors. Me...they can ram away, so long as they hit the side with the dents

The cost seems to concern many, it adds up to being generally A Lot of money. Lots of buts and also's though in SBS friends case it does seem something is not quite right...it still doesnt sit well, to have to pay to visit a national park full stop. Of all the things casually thrown open to user pays; park fees in any quise, I have never/will never agree with.

A person should be able to simply go and see the Wombats (f#s), NO CHARGE AT ALL!

No matter how far weve come or what century this is... some of the basic and good things in this world need to left so.
I find it sad sometimes at how these days, these things, (and more and more $) seem to be so easily handed over without a fight.

[Jellybean]

The cost seems to concern many, it adds up to being generally A Lot of money. Lots of buts and also's though in SBS friends case it does seem something is not quite right...it still doesnt sit well, to have to pay to visit a national park full stop. Of all the things casually thrown open to user pays; park fees in any quise, I have never/will never agree with.

A person should be able to simply go and see the Wombats (f#s), NO CHARGE AT ALL!

No matter how far weve come or what century this is... some of the basic and good things in this world need to left so.
I find it sad sometimes at how these days, these things, (and more and more $) seem to be so easily handed over without a fight.

I'm hearing you! On the same note but a slightly different tangent, I was stunned when I moved to Sydney from Perth and found you had to pay to park at the beach here!! What the...!?

Some things should be left free for all to enjoy.

[sthughes]

Yup I agree with you both.

I know what you mean Jellybean, I was Up at Palm Beach in October. It was $4 an hour for a patch of grass to park your car on, and still a short walk to the beach! I can see why there is a cost with beaches like Manly being right in town, but Palm Beach is miles from anywhere!

Do hope we haven't given P&W an idea - I can just imagine a pay & display machine at Dove Lake

[north-north-west]

Do hope we haven't given P&W an idea - I can just imagine a pay & display machine at Dove Lake

That'll probably be the next step.

Unless they just ban private vehicles from going beyond Pencil Pine.

[Son of a Beach]

Do hope we haven't given P&W an idea - I can just imagine a pay & display machine at Dove Lake

That'll probably be the next step.

Unless they just ban private vehicles from going beyond Pencil Pine.

...and pay and display at the shuttle bus depot?

[north-north-west]

Probably.
Anything to make a buck.

I wouldn't mind so much if the money went back into the parks, but it all goes straight into Consolidated Revenue.
Politicians suck. Big time.

[juney]

What a thread of misinformation!
No, they don't charge for the shuttle bus. To be in the park you must pay a park fee, and that fee covers you for using the shuttle bus if you choose to. I don't understand how people can complain about paying $16 to be in an amazing world heritage area. If people can afford to make the trip here then surely they can afford a parks pass.
I travel the road regularly. My experience is that some people do not understand the concept of the pull over areas. If you see oncoming traffic, whoever has a pullover bay in front of them should use it and let the other vehicle continue on. Also there is an accepted rule of courtesy that if going down hill you give way to those going up hill. I never have issues with the shuttle bus drivers - perhaps it is because I understand these road rules and follow them.
It amazes me how people can find things to whinge about.

[Nuts]

What causes you to be on the road regularly? Do you drive a shuttle bus?

I dont know much about the fees, seems a bit cryptic on the parks site: 'The Cradle Shuttle Bus is currently running on the Spring Shuttle Timetable (PDF 451 Kb) In addition to your Park Pass fee, a charge for the use of the shuttle bus service may apply'. It was really a side point/question of my post.

---------------

Last weekend, as I approached the bridge at Ronny creek a shuttle bus approached from Dove Lake side. We were clearly ahead but he must not have thought so.... He pulled over to the side but looked pretty angry as he started moving out again just as we reached him. It definitely put the wind up our driver and must have been close along the side of our van.

Returning a couple of days later we had a hundred meters to go along the one lane dropoff when a shuttle came out (from the northern end) and didnt hesitate to keep coming.
It is good to hear that you have had a good experience Juney but I was working there when a bus tumbled over the side of this drop-off (which is why it now has the barrier and is designated single lane). It may appear a 'whinge'. I do find jumping to that conclusion a bit offensive but it wont last......

I too have travelled that road often. Even when it was gravel it was possible to get along there much faster than the average tourist. The point is that there is a subtle difference between what is seen as courtesy and grudge in this case. Those that know the road should be responsible for a system that causes NO angst. Stop at the sniff of oncoming traffic. I wouldnt like their job, and the drivers perhaps show mostly patience but the system or the profits need review.

[Greenie]

Nuts, was the tumble a fatality?

[taswegian]

Yes it was serious - 4 fatalities. People soon forget, move on and become complacent.
If you want to read about- here's a link.
http://www.courtlists.tas.gov.au/magistrate/decisions/coroners/cradlemt/info_5.htm

Similalrly we could also add complaceny for the dangers of rapid weather changes here in Tasy that have led to loss of life.

My recent experience last month was mixed. One bus was very very good, one I'd suggest 'owned the road'.
Another very high cost vehicle driver was extremely poilte and friendly too while another(simlar vehicle class) was obviously not aware of others or was not going to make way for anyone.
personally I don't think it comes down to the 'what they drive' or 'why they are there'. Just mere human traits we all can carry.

[Nuts]

Yes, it was tragic. Somehow they passed at possibly the only short stretch where this could have been so devastating. Rather not drag it up further but it does show what can result at extremes.
I doubt this could happen again with barriers in place, though there is lots of opportunity for minor accidents and even more for just ill will. Obviously its not only shuttle buses, they are just likely the most prominent.

A free regular shuttle service is a good idea. I know it will always be a headache to manage traffic up there, dont have too many answers myself that likely havent been discussed. Im sure someone is being paid to stress over it, good luck to them. Its the sort of thing that can really blow up if it takes another news headline to act on better ideas.

[juney]

Hey there Nuts,
Didn't mean to offend you. The "whinge" comment was more so directed at people complaining about park fees.
I travel the road regularly because I am a guide in the park.
Just to clarify...the shuttle bus IS a free service. To be in the park you need a parks pass and this pass entitles you to use the shuttle bus. It goes every 20 minutes from 8am to 5pm and then on the hour at 6pm and 7pm. Well, that's the current timetable, it will be extended over Summer.
Cheers

[stepbystep]

What a thread of misinformation!

Indeed, perhaps rather than post here there should be a thread listing the misinformation PWS employees give visitors to their parks.....

Other than several examples of hearsay, I should highlight my own trivial experience. On my last trip to the park I visited the PWS info centre near the boomgate to update my park entry fees to find the desk not only unmanned, but abandoned apart from the few tourists milling around wondering "what the..."
I then retreated to the visitor centre from where the bus leaves, paid my fare and while casually chatting to not 1 or 2, but 3 desk staff about my plans for the evening of walking up Mt Campbell to take in the sunset and explore up top, I was not informed by any of them that the track was closed and not accessible to the public !

I know for a fact that several people have been misinformed about shuttle bus fees and more commonly park entry fees and this leads to confusion and ultimately a bad experience. The friends I spoke of in my original post were made to think they either had to pay $60 for a day in the park or a minimum of $16 for a bus ride - both bits of info seem to be wrong. PWS seems to be suffering from the same disease many government agencies are suffering from, and this to my way of thinking is undertrained and probably underpaid front of house employees, which like it or not gives the tourist a bad experience by giving them incorrect information! It does make me wonder how those that don't speak English well get on.....??

Either way confusion reigns, and perhaps the odd bus driver contributes to that too, but as I said before, I have not had any real trouble with them before.

[sainterone]

I was up there a couple of weeks ago.

Used to drop in regularly, but nowadays don't get the chance.

Have to say that the redesign of the road from the visitor centre was a mistake - it's breaking up in quite a few places and patched.

On the bus drivers - you need to remember that these guys are doing their job - where possible and safe and easy to do so, i always give way to them - they are slower and deserve a fair go / helping hand.
On this last trip, there was a couple of times where the bus driver pulled over for me to pass - always acknowledged with a friendly wave.

Courtesy works wonders folks.

[Joel]

Should be renamed the Misinformation Center I think.

sbs, I guess the guys were trying to explain that if there were 4 people in the car, a $60 vehicle pass is cheaper than 4 day passes.

[bxaftw]

hey, sorry to dig up an old thread, but i didnt want to start a new one.
can anyone tell me if the road to cradle mountain is open all night?
ie; someone told me the gates are automated and open to cars with their park pass, can anyone confirm this? i want to get down there at night to do some astro photography.


cheers

[Azza]

The gates (wire cable) is open 24 hrs and there is no checking of park passes.

I think its just setup so they can limited the number of cars in peak season.

[stepbystep]

The gates (wire cable) is open 24 hrs and there is no checking of park passes.

I think its just setup so they can limited the number of cars in peak season.

You haven't been there for a while Azza! There is a boom gate and some sort of sensor that reads your parks pass sticker, 24 hr access so long as you have paid your fee.

sbs, I guess the guys were trying to explain that if there were 4 people in the car, a $60 vehicle pass is cheaper than 4 day passes.

Nah they were a young couple, oh well life goes on, pretty sure they have
I'll be up there tomorrow filming between Ronny Creek and WFV for 2 days, if you see us stop and say hello, we just might make you famous

[Azza]

Crickey... Only a year or so since I've been into Dove Lake..

I wonder what the sensor picks up. There is nothing special about my parks pass, certainly nothing that could be used to determine whether its still valid.

[stepbystep]

It was definitely like this April/May last year. I got turned back because my pass had expired - got a new one and bingo, big brother....

[ollster]

Crickey... Only a year or so since I've been into Dove Lake..

I wonder what the sensor picks up. There is nothing special about my parks pass, certainly nothing that could be used to determine whether its still valid.

It'll be a dude in a tree with a telescope I reckon.

[Nuts]

Wow, the wonders of technology.. maybe coincidence? It has always been controlled by a dude with a button, switched on and off as the carpark fills (in theory)?