Overland Track Transport Feb 2012

[FromAbroad2012]

Hi,

Two of us have booked to do the overland track starting on a Tuesday Feb 28, 2012. I'm having a hard time finding out about transport. Lots of bus companies seem to go from Launceston to Cradle Mountain Mon, Wed, Fri/Sat and some pages reference Tassielink doing the route daily in summer, but the online schedule only says Mon/Wed/Sat.

I'm trying to Organise this from the UK, so calling is a bit difficult. Does anyone know of any normal public transport that goes on Tuesdays? We're trying to avoid the expensive charters. Would it be better for us to switch to Wed if we can?

Thanks!

[DaveNoble]

The timetable online at present is for winter and there may be more services during summer. I would email the company. It also may be worth emailing some of the charter operators to see if they have booked trips scheduled on your date - that you can fit in with. This can work out cheaper if you are lucky.

Dave

[phishy]

I am having the same problem in December. If you do the hike on a Tuesday start there are few (no?) affordable options. There IS a Tassielink bus onwards from Lake St. Clair to Hobart on the following Sunday which allows for a 6 day walk. But no Tuesday bus from Launceston. I'm coming all the way from Costa Rica and am walking solo, so a $300 charter is not that appealing

Anyone have ideas? I checked the Launceston Walking Club website and (as you would expect) their group walks are on the weekends, so no chance to grab a ride that way. Tiger Wilderness list confirmed charters that you could potentially join up with but there is nothing for my date (Dec. 13).

Mid-December, what is the likelihood of being able to hitchhike from Launceston or Devonport to Cradle Mountain?

[Joel]

You would be seriously unlucky to not get a lift hitch hiking. Or offer a local bogan a 6 pack of beam cans & fuel for a lift.

[corvus]

You would be seriously unlucky to not get a lift hitch hiking. Or offer a local bogan a 6 pack of beam cans & fuel for a lift.

Most likely just a tongue in cheek throw away remark Joel but would you trust "a local bogan" with your life for a six pack of Beam and fuel money
corvus

[bailz66]

We are taking the spirit of tas to do the walk on Feb 18 what sort of transport runs from lake st Clair back to cradle mountain? There is a shuttle bus I hear?

[corvus]

bailz66
Commercial buses only from St Clair to Cradle the Shuttle Bus is operational only between Cradle Visitor centre and Ronnie Creek Dove Lake .
You need to do some research possibly Tiger Line Coaches.
corvus

[Zambacan]

Hi,

If you can get there a bit earlier you can share a Charter with us.

We arrive in Launceston on sunday 26th Feb (1:30pm) and are going to charter a bus to Cradle mountain. It will cost $300 (i.e $150 each) however if we have 2 more people that will reduce the cost to $75 ea.

ps

I have contacted Tassielink and there is a bus on monday morning (27th).

[awells]

We have had the same trouble organising transport from Lake St Clair back to Cradle Mountain this coming February. Has anyone on this site had any dealings with a character by the name of Simon who operates North West Shuttle bus company? We paid our money up front a few months ago (big, big mistake!) for him to pick us up at Lake St Clair and despite numerous requests for a receipt, and his assurances that he would send us one, have got nowhere. Can any Taswegians suggest a reliable bus company?