National Park Pass

The Belmont Bear · Guru

National Park Pass

Dougwe · Chief one feather

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 biggrin biggrin

Keep Safe on the roads and out there.

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

Thanks BB - It's handy to get some good info that can save our $$

Whenarewethere · Guru

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!

Cape Hauy to Cape Pillar 3.jpg

Cape Hauy to Cape Pillar 4.jpg

Whenarewethere · Guru

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!

Nevd · Senior Member

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).

The Belmont Bear · Guru

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

-- Edited by The Belmont Bear on Thursday 10th of January 2019 09:34:27 AM

The Belmont Bear · Guru

Nevd wrote:
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).

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

Nevd · Senior Member

That's great BB - must have been holding my mouth wrong. Enjoy the trip!

Craig1 · Guru

All you Tassie visitors, Please go to Stanley and Climb or Chair lift to the top of the NUT. ( she was a hard nut to crack). Cheap camping near the Golf Club or a great little Caravan Park. Take out a mortgage and buy a Tassie Crayfish, just a bank loan for Fish and Chips at Hurseys( just jokin), have a look at Historic Highfield from early 1800's. The list could go on.

The Belmont Bear · Guru

We have been to Stanley a couple of times over the years I,m not really that big a fan of crays but fresh fish and chips in the park on the waterfront is our usual go. I agree Craig the view from the top of the nut is worth going up there but the chairlift is my method of travel then a bit of a walk around once you get to the top. We will be using Burnie as our base for a few days so no doubt we will revisit a few places along that north west coast probably get as far out as Smithton.

Cheers
BB

Craig1 · Guru

Be a devil BB and go to Edge of the World, Arthur River on West Coast, maybe bit over an hour past Smithton. The fresh air comes from Madagascar

rockylizard · Guru

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 -

Tassie Parks Pass 01.JPG

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

Cheers - John

The Belmont Bear · Guru

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

blaze · Guru

The Belmont Bear wrote:
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

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

The Belmont Bear · Guru

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

blaze · Guru

The Belmont Bear wrote:
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

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

Craig1 · Guru

G'day again BB, I must post that I have a vested interest, grew up in Stanley, left when I was 18, parents there until 2010, 2013.
Blaze, That's Mawbannah , and ure right , t is a very big tree

The Belmont Bear · Guru

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

Craig1 · Guru

G;day BB,
Yeh as part of my penance for some imagined wrong doing, I was sent to Savage River to work in the ANZ Bank. Then went back to work in the mine for a short while. 1st time I had ever seen snow and here I was up to my armpits in the rotten stuff, trying to work. At the very least then " do the Hellyer Gorge" , not that far from Burnie.

LUCKY LOZ · Veteran Member

A must do IMHO is Kelso caravan park,
When you pull up in daytime you think How boring..,
But on Sunset it is like a mini Serringetti plains.
There were so many Wombats ,Possums ,Wallabies ,and Potteroos as to amaze you.
Also one white rabbit, They are all feeding on the grass.
In QLD I have never seen possums grazing on grass,
You need a good torch to view, But highly recommend.
A great stop on the way to the Nutt