As we will be in Tassie in a few weeks time I thought that I would go onto the Tasmanian governments website and apply for a pass for entry into their national parks. A government Seniors Card issued in any state will get you a free Seniors Parks Pass valid up until July 19 (apparently after that it is going to change)..I finally found a benefit that a self funded retiree can get.

Cheers

BB

Good one Dave and Rose. Not often you get good use out of the Senior Card but now and then a goodie pops up.

Enjoy Tassie, if you have never been there you are in for a treat and I tell you that for free. 

I mentioned to someone the other day that are there now that if you are in the mountain country and hear a banjo playing,  it's a good idea to stay SEATED in ya car 

Keep Safe on the roads and out there. 

This was the trail from Cape Hauy to Cape Pillar in the early 1990s. They had just recently tied pink tape to the trees every 50 metres or so for the new track. We had a lot of trouble being able to see the next pink tape. It took us 10 hours to get from Cape Hauy to the junction to Cape Pillar. That night we found a flattish spot on the track & put up the tent. Only saw one other person out there on the we back from Cape Pillar the next day. Now I believe it is a freeway!

Second photo one tree branch has been sawn off to make the track easier!

Don't forget to look up at night, you just might be lucky enough to see the Southern Lights. These days you can get an app to tell you the likelihood of an aurora. We were coming down from Mt Anne & had a spectacular view for 2 hours. The next day we had sore necks from looking up!

Thanks Doug not many things a senior pass will get you other than a $2.50 train ride to Sydney but sometimes you do find a bargain. This will be our 3rd trip to Tassie and as yet we haven't taken the van across as the trips have been too short in duration to make it financially viable. We usually take our car over and do the motel thing. This time we are going with a group of friends so we thought it would be more social to book cabins in Burnie, Strahan, Richmond and Launceston and use them as bases to explore the different areas. I totally agree Doug the state of Tasmania is a wonderful place to visit regardless of how many times you make the crossing. Maybe we will be lucky enough to run into some GNs as all the cabins are located in caravan parks. I will definately be keeping a look out for those southern lights Whenarewethere...amazing colours.

I will probably introduce my travelling companions to the pig at the pub in the paddock.

Cheers
BB

Nevd wrote:

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Hi BB - have you actually tried to get the pass yet? We were there late last year and were advised to do that (go online for the free pass) by the tourism desk on the Spirit of Tasmania. When I went online, you actually had to give an Age Pension concession card number - the ordinary Seniors Card wouldn't cut it. Fortunately, we were travelling with some pensioner friends and could use their details. The pass gives you free entry to all national parks for a nominated vehicle (up to 6 or 8 people in that vehicle, from memory).

We did find enough discounts at attractions/tours and van parks using the Seniors Card to easily pay for the better half's weekly bottle of Bundy tonic, so it's worthwhile asking the question everywhere you go.

Tassie was great - you'll enjoy it (hopefully without the windy weather we had).

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I had no problem Nevd yesterday I went onto the Tasmanian governments site applied for the seniors pass I put in my name, address, NSW seniors card number and car rego and it was issued straight away. You print if off and fold it on the dotted line to display on your dash while you are visiting any national park. Apparently it is not valid for Port Arthur as it is classed as a historic site or a couple of other places that are run by the Forrestry guys. They actually specify that a government issued seniors card is all that is required just be aware that in July it is going to change.

BB

Gday...

For member's interest, if you want to get a Tassie National Parks pass, with Seniors Card, visit this site -

https://passes.parks.tas.gov.au/

This dialogue box will pop up -

When you click on the Senior Park Passes button, you will be required to create an account.

Cheers - John

John thats not quite true its optional whether you open an account or not you can choose not to create one (like I did) but you still have to supply them with your personal details. 

BB

I saw on foxtel a couple of weeks ago that there was a monitoring station out that way Craig that tests air quality which apparently is some of the cleanest on the planet.

The Belmont Bear wrote:

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John thats not quite true its optional whether you open an account or not you can choose not to create one (like I did) but you still have to supply them with your personal details. 

BB

I saw on foxtel a couple of weeks ago that there was a monitoring station out that way Craig that tests air quality which apparently is some of the cleanest on the planet.

-- Edited by The Belmont Bear on Saturday 12th of January 2019 09:06:24 PM

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 Hi BB

the woolnorth air research station has the cleanest measured air in the industrlised world. They can measure the  methane from a single cow fart. All on my backdoor. If you get a chance the wood carving at THE WALL at Derwent bridge is well worth a look, as is the tarkine drive, arther river boat cruise etc. Happy to point ya to a few spots

cheers

blaze

Thanks Blaze the The Wall at Derwent Bridge was already on our list and I have been checking out your other 2 suggestions on the tourism sites. Do you think that we would have enough time to do the Tarkine drive, visit the Dismal Swamp, Arthurs River and places along the coast like Stanley, Smithton etc. on a day trip from Burnie ? 

Cheers

BB

The Belmont Bear wrote:

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Thanks Blaze the The Wall at Derwent Bridge was already on our list and I have been checking out your other 2 suggestions on the tourism sites. Do you think that we would have enough time to do the Tarkine drive, visit the Dismal Swamp, Arthurs River and places along the coast like Stanley, Smithton etc. on a day trip from Burnie ? 

Cheers

BB

-- Edited by The Belmont Bear on Sunday 13th of January 2019 02:21:06 PM

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 The simple answer is NO, you could do the tarkine drive in a day (have done a few times with visitors, Burnie to Stanley is about 50 minutes drive, then you could spend 4 hrs at least there. maybe if you come to Stanley spend some time, have lunch, bit more of a look,

Now head back toward burnie but about 10km on the highway there is a turnoff to Marbanah, there you will find dip falls, Nice falls, steps to the bottom or over the river an easy walk to a top look out. Then travel a bit further until you come to the big tree (easy access track) amongst some local rain forest.

cheers

blaze

Thanks Blaze thats what I was afraid of.  Pity I didn,t know more about the area out past Smithton when we were booking our accomadation or we probably would have spent a night somewhwere in that area. We were even thinking of going to Strahan via the Arthur River but it appears that there is a bit of dirt road that way and Im not sure that I could convince the wife to take her new car on it.

Nice part of the world to grow up in Craig the reason we are going down that way is to catchup with friends in Burnie who moved down there to work on the Savage River project 35 odd years ago and never came home.

Cheers

BB