Scottsdale is fine. It's when you get passed Scottsdale that the road on the way to St Helens becomes narrow hilly and winding. Car & van takes up 60% of the road in places, with a steep drop on one side and a cliff on the other. Fortunately we didn't meet any wide vehicles coming the other way. Would have made it interesting.. It is very scenic though. St Mary's pass (the other way to St Helen's from the north) is often spoken about in fearful tones by caravanners, but it's a doddle compared Tasman Highway. Still worth the trip though, even though you just do it in a car. Very pretty & lots to see.
To all intending travelers to Tasmania. Nearly all the main roads in Tas are a full two lanes wide. The only one I have experienced is the A4 from St Marys to the coast down Elephant Pass. Semi trailers use these roads so they are wide enough for any caravan. Also there are no hills that a properly trimmed rig that is not overloaded that your rig will not climb.
The big hill between Launceston and Scottsdale does not have steeper gradients or tight bends any worse than on the rest of that road to the coast. It is just that it has a longer gradient with more bends than the rest of the road. When ascending the longer hills just remember to select a lower gear manually so as to keep your engine revs above 3,000 rpm. That way your torque converter will not slip as much and thus add much more heat to the engines cooling system. Your engine will suffer less if your engines revs are up around 4,000 rpm and the engine is spinning more freely than if it is slugging at lower revs (yes, the modern engine is designed to run at high revs.) Likewise slow down on long descents and select a lower gear so your engine is holding you back somewhat. This will save your brakes and you will arrive at the bottom without your brakes being hot and smelly.
I suggest that if anyone is not prepared to learn to be comfortable on that stretch of road, they should steer clear of Tasmania. There is a lot of the road around the west of Tas and through the middle that is similar. If you are not prepared to cope with the roads you are not going to enjoy Tasmania.
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PeterD Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top Retired radio and electronics technician. NSW Central Coast.
We have done that trip with 9m motorhome with car in tow. It is not the most practical way to go, the road to the north is a little further but much quicker. When going where you are asking you only need 1st gear and watch for trucks from other direction as a lot of bends are notice enough to pass. There are plenty of pull off places and give way to every truck coming up hill as you can easily see them coming below.
Never had time to enjoy view so went back with just car to stop at all lookouts etc.
Neil
Also vote for the Lilydale route being easier .But a drive with just the car back up the Sidling out of Scotsdale is well worth it. This is also a timely reminder that radios are a usefull tool as the truck on both the Sidling and the St Marys hill call on 40 advising they have started the climb and report where they are on the climb.
