Bye Tassie Hello Victoria

Big Gorilla · Guru

Bye Tassie Hello Victoria

Big Gorilla · Guru

Tomorrow night (Sunday) I'll be on the 9.00p.m. Spirit to Melbourne. This trip I'll be away 3 months around Victoria. I've been around the State before but I've obviously missed some of the popular spots such as Green Lake that I've read so much about on this Forum. Hopefully at some of these attractive sounding camp spots I'll meet up with some of the GNs from the Forum. At this stage, I don't know anyone. I expect to be at Green Lake mid April, but I'll post updates. If you see my Iveco, picture below, with a Grey Nomad sticker on the back window, come say hello.

Grams · Guru

Hi BG,

How exciting. My one wish is to go to Tasmania. I have seen so many beautiful pictures of it, when we go we plan on spending a few months there just going slowly. How much is the trip on the Spirit?

Good luck and have a great time.

werkin · Veteran Member

Hi .

we live n Tassie at present and have done for 10 years . We are now moving on to next stage as in permanent travels. We love Tassie and in a way will be very sorry to leave as we won't be able to afford to come back once gone. It is a beautiful place with many different aspects and need at least 3 months to see most of what's on offer. Keep Tassie on list of must do

I have heard green Lake is beautiful we to will go and see for ourselves

Safe and happy travels

Di

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Big Gorilla wrote:
Yes Grams, Tassie is a beautiful place. It's unfortunate it's the financial basket case of Australia. I've travelled right around the State and it's certainly an exciting trip. Lots of old architecture from the penal settlement days all around the east coast. Beautiful green grass, all reminds me of the countryside in New Zealand. On the Spirit, I no longer take a cabin, I prefer the Ocean Recliner chairs. They tilt back like Business Class seats in an aircraft. My cost is $184.00 one way, which includes $99.00 for my MH, which is 6 meters long. In the off season, I've paid as low as $69.00. This rate applies for MHs up to 7 meters. Once you start adding the length of a caravan, costs go up. This is the web site for the Spirit. Put in some travel dates and your MH or caravan details and see what it comes up with. If you're a CMCA member, you get a little discount on the seat or cabin. http://www.spiritoftasmania.com.au/bookings/terminal-locations.html

Hi Di,
I'm in Launceston, where are you ? I've been here about 10 years also. I'd like to be like you and stay on the road, but I still have commitments here and in the Philippines where I previously lived, so I'm content to spend a few months of the year travelling. I've been up as far as Mackay in Qld, throughout NSW and SA, across the Nullabor, and it's certainly an exciting and enjoyable way to go. Hope you enjoy yourselves on the road as much as I do.

-- Edited by Big Gorilla on Saturday 30th of March 2013 10:25:20 AM

Hi Grams - you also get a discount as an aged pensioner on the Spirit - and the recliner lounges are quite comfortable, they provide a small pillow and a light blanket.

At Greens Lake at the moment - with about 8 other GN members - a beautiful spot indeed - make sure you get the right one - it is between Shepparton and Bendigo.

Good luck with your travels.

Big Gorilla - hope you have a good trip over on Sunday night - so much to see in Victoria - used to live here, and have been all round, but now on the road permantently, but Victoria will always be "home".

Big Gorilla · Guru

Thank you Jules. Yes, I like Victoria, it's my second choice. Tassie is hard to beat which is probably why I am still here. Originally from Brisbane but no real yearning to go back, only once in a while to vist a son and his family, and my sister who lives at Mapleton. In case you don't know Mapleton, it's on the mountain overlooking the Sunshine Coast.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Yep, know Mapleton - lovely spot - I spend a lot of time in Qld, so know it pretty well. Enjoy Victoria!!

Grams · Guru

I just picked an off peak date to travel, then returning in off peak and for the Prado and the caravan, plus two pensioners sitting in the recliners it will cost us $1,188 return...ghee that's a lot of money.

Big Gorilla · Guru

Grams wrote:
I just picked an off peak date to travel, then returning in off peak and for the Prado and the caravan, plus two pensioners sitting in the recliners it will cost us $1,188 return...ghee that's a lot of money.

A lot of complaints about the charges. If you are towing a caravan, the cost is assessed by the length of the vehicle, tow bar and caravan. This is where a MH has the advantage. Cost for a MH is almost the same as a car up to a length of 7 meters. The Spirit, State owned, is subsidised by the Federal Govt. as it is part of the national highway system, highway 1. The State needs to tip in more on the subsidy to attract more tourists but the State is a basket case, cutting Police numbers, Hospital beds and so on. With that scenario, I don't see much chance of a State subsidy for the Spirit.

Grams · Guru

Yeah I agree, I think we will make the trip at least once, but spend quite a while seeing all the sights before leaving. Then it won't be a wasted trip and we have to go back. I still want to go and see Tasmania, it has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. I want to be there during the sunnier warmer months and through the winter when it snows. One day we will go, thanks again.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Grams, we went over on 1st November and came back early March - so four months - we have a motorhome that goes in to the next catagory to BG's motorhome, cost os $667 return, using the Ocean Recliners. We actually booked to come back in April, but decided to come back early, and actually got a refund of $21 when we rebooked the date on line.

Great place to travel to and around - we only stayed in caravan parks about 4 nights - mostly in Hobart (Glenorchy Showgrounds), getting stuff done to motorhome. The rest was in free, or low cost camps - wonderful places.