Maggs 17 Road

[corvus]

Just a warning to anyone thinking of heading up there that logging is being undertaken and the 17 Spur is not really suitable for 2wd vehicles now as the Log Trucks are churning it up as they are allowed .
Please dont complain or interfere about this operation as Forestry could within their rights put a gate on the road .
corvus

[abowen]

Corvus,
Some time has passed since your last post on Maggs 17. Have you been up this way recently? Has the road improved? Looking at the option of accessing the ART via the Lake McCoy/ Pillinger Track from the end of Maggs 17/2 in late March. Any feedback would be appreciated.
Cheers
Andrew

[doogs]

I was up that way in a car in november, a bit bumpy. Had more trouble on the coarde gravel sliding around a wee bit!

[SueOfTheSouth]

We used the Maggs off shoot road which gives access to McCoy and Pillinger in January and it was no problem. Two other cars used the road during the time we were in the area.

[abowen]

Thanks for the replies. After I posted I found some info from Peter which was dated earlier this year so figure it must be ok again.
Is the off shoot road the more easterly road after the outdoor centre? On the map it is shown as a road that is dead straight and then loops backup the hill towards Maggs Spur Road 17/2.

[SueOfTheSouth]

That leads to the same place but we took the main Arm River road and drove past the turnoff to the Arm River track and took the next road to the right

[abowen]

Hi Sue,
Thanks for your reply. I will do the same. You never know, the other way could have locked gates where you least expect them. Long way to back track. Is there much room for parking in there or is it like the end of the road at the ART ? The ART car park can get tight if there are a lot of cars parked along one side.
Cheers
Andrew

[corvus]

Parking is not plentiful but you should be able to turn OK and I am pleased to hear that the road has not deteriorated any further,
c

[shazcol]

Maggs 17 road was fine for a 2WD last Sunday (27/2/11). Only two short sections chopped up a bit but they where dry and easily negotiated, we do have a 4WD but I would have taken a 2WD in there without any worries.

It may be different after a bit of rain to muddy it up again. It was very muddy and slippery back in October last year but probably still doable in a 2WD with care. If you came across one of those big boys coming the other way in a 2WD when it was muddy you could have some issues getting back on again in places.

[abowen]

Thanks for the updates.
AB

[abowen]

Thanks to all for the good beta on this track. Used it a couple of weekends ago and found it relatively easy to find the start and navigate.
Very nice way to go compared to the traditional sharp climb on the ART track.
We had some bad luck on the way out though. Left the cars during the week and on Friday got back to the cars at about 5.30pm. Packed up and put some clean gear on, hopped into the car and only got a km down the road when we found a tree had been blown down in one of the wind storms during the week. Too big to handle or pull or push with the car. Backed up the road to try and get network on the mobile, found network by standing on a large log near the track start, made some frantic calls to friends and police, eventually raised an officer from Forestry who kindly came to our aid at around 9.00 pm. Then of course I did not have enough petrol to get all the way to Hobart - nothing is open anywhere from Deloraine to Launceston. After a long trip around and dropping my walking buddy home, I eventually arrive home at 4.00 am - completely stuffed!
A trip I will never forget for a lot of reasons.

[shazcol]

Getting fuel is a real problem in TAS after hours. If you have diesel fuel the BP at Deloraine has 24hr card access as do a lot of the other BP's around the place. If you want petrol you are in a spot of bother. Another reason I installed a 130L long range tank in my bus.

Glad you got the tree out of the way, you were very lucky that late on a Friday! Hope the rest of the trip was memorable.

[taswegian]

just for info
there are 24 hour petrol stations in Devonport IF you get desperate.
This is one I know of
118 WILLIAM ST, DEVONPORT, TAS, 7310 (03) 6424 3221
In Sheffield we have card options at both ends of town for diesel and petrol (well its both at west end, not sure about east - Know it sells diesel)

PS - Admins
this site doesn't know 'Devonport' in the spellchecker

[abowen]

Thanks Taswegian. At the time I didn't consider Devonport. Just thought I would be ok on the Bass Hwy somewhere. Never mind. Next time I will keep it in mind or just stop and camp somewhere for the night and then drive. A tired driver isn't a good driver!
Cheers
Andrew

[north-north-west]

This is why I always take at least one full jerry when I go bush.