In a tent with 2 Korean's - Tassie road trip!

Beginning the East Coast I decided after all to finish work a week early providing i could find people to travel with so that i could see more of Tasmania. I still hadn't been to the East Coast and everybody was telling me i had to go there. So, once again i put an ad on gumtree and waited. I immediately got a reply from a German guy but only ever got as far as planning on meeting for a beer in Hobart and then he just seemed to disappear, but we would have needed more people to split the costs of hiring a car anyway. At the last minute i got a call from 2 German girls (Ines and Steph) who had a few spare days and they'd just met 2 Koreans (Sehee and Lee Jung hyun - also known as Elly). At this point it was already Thursday evening and we wanted to set off first thing on Saturday. So, i set about frantically calling every campervan company in Tassie. Everything was booked except for one place that had a couple of 5 seater cars left. A quick discussion with German1 (i still didn't know their names at this point) and we decided East Coast views to go for it and so booked what turned out to be the last car. We'd leave Hobart at 9.30am on the Saturday and return Tuesday night as both the German girls were flying back to the mainland the next day. As we knew absolutely nothing about each other we met on Friday night for a chat and to make some sort of rough plan. Thankfully for me, both the Germans spoke excellent English as did Elly, meaning i could again do the typical english thing and not have to attempt to learn a language. I asked Sehee if she spoke much English and her response was 'no, too lazy'!! That night we came up with a rough route and decided camping would be more adventurous as well as cheaper. The Koreans had a 2-man tent, but as they were so small we figured 3 people could sleep in there with 2 in the car. Things didn't go quite to plan on the first day. We'd aimed to pick the car up at 9.30am and head straight off to the East Coast. Instead, we spent the morning shopping for food, spare sleeping bags, maps and picking up half Myself and Ines posing on a rock the clothes that i'd forgotten to pack the night before, resulting in us not leaving Hobart until near midday. Once we were finally on the road our first destination was Freycinet National Park. The weather on this day was superb so at one point we decided to make the most of it and go for a swim. It was cold. Very cold. And we soon discovered large groups of huge crabs in the sea and that was enough to cut our time in the water short. We drove on further up the coast to Wineglass Bay, and around this area some of the scenery was breathtaking. We've got pictures but you really have to go there to appreciate the views. Part of our original plan was to try and get some hiking done on this trip, but as we'd left Hobart so late by the time we were ready to hike it was getting dark so we kept it short. The first night we found a spot and set up camp in the dark alongside the beach. It was almost a perfect night as we sat drinking beer under the stars on the beach. All we were missing was a Possibly my most dangerous Tassie photo campfire but we didn't have a lighter or it seemed a brain between us as we only realised the next day that we could have used the cigarette lighter from the car. For Day 2 we planned on an early start. We overslept by about 2 hours and i was shattered after having to take toilet breaks throughout the night after drinking too much. Being drunk i'd convinced myself that i was sneaking in and out of the tent but i managed to wake up Elly everytime. Sehee somehow slept through but as time went on we soon discovered that she had the ability to sleep whenever and wherever she wanted. After spending far too long trying to coax myself into a cold shower we packed up and were on our way. Again we headed north up the East Coast towards Mount William National Park where we intended to camp again. Along the way we passed Natureworld, where we stopped to feed Wallabies, and saw Deer, Snakes, Wombats and many other animals. Feeding the Wallabies was great but seeing one almost the size of you bound to towards you was a little bit intimidating as you'd just stand Amazing views! and pray that it'd stop once it reached you. We kept heading North and finally reached Binalong Bay and The Gardens. Again, there were great coastal views and beaches but the weather was not quite as appealing on this occasion. Once we reached the end of the road it was a further 43km of unmade road to get to Mt William Park. It took a good 45 minutes to get there and once we did we found there were no campsites or facilities in the area. For some reason a small town of people had decided to move here - perhaps they were in hiding - but there wasn't even a convenience store for them to use. Slightly disappointed we took a short break on the side of the road where i was amazed to discover that the crisp sandwich has not yet been introduced to Germany or Korea. It was here that i had a huge spider crawl up my back and onto my neck although i never actually saw it, i was informed in no uncertain terms by a screaming Steph. Once we'd calmed down and finished our food we drove back to Binalong bay and after another Wallaby by the car short hike (and a nervous few minutes where i thought our car battery had died) set up camp by the beach. This time we had a flame but a lack of wood so it was small and very smokey and before long we'd ditched the idea and sat in the dark playing cards and drinking by torchlight. On Day 3 (Monday 23rd March), we set off on time and headed straught to Launceston in search of showers and internet access for the girls to book their flights. Along the way we passed through some great scenery on winding roads that never seemed to end. After finding hot showers at a nearby campsite we raced to Mole Creek and arrived at Marakoopa Caves with minutes to spare before the last tour. The tour lasted 45 minutes and was an intriguing if nippy look into caves. It was fairly similar to the ones i visited in China except on this occasion i was able to understand what the guide was saying. From here we drove on through the hills and set up camp at Cradle Mountain. We had to pay to camp but we somehow convinced the woman that we had Wineglass Bay at dusk 5 people in one tent and the cost was only about $60 between us. There were great facilities here and so we were able to enjoy our first hot meal of the journey consisting of pasta and tomato sauce, whilst playing cards and drinking games in the warmth of shelter and a fire. The next morning, our last day, we visited Cradle Mountain and at last got to hike. We set off on a long hike towards the summit of Cradle Mountain. Hiking was almost replaced by climbing at one point but we soon reached 1000m. It was a further 500m to the top but being wary of the descent and the fact we were now in the clouds and couldn't really see anything we didn't venture any further. By the time we returned to the car we'd hiked for over 4 hours. All that was left for us to do now was to return to Hobart dropping the Koreans off in Ross along the way. Heading west and down would take too long, east and to the highway seemed dull, so we opted to drive straight down the middle of Tasmania on the smaller roads. Here the scenery Feeding the Wallabies changed again as everywhere was flat with nothing to see for miles around. We passed the Great Lake and stopped at a small bar for a proper meal before for some reason i decided that $25 of fuel would be more than enough to get us more than 200km. As we drove in the dark our full beam lights lit up so many moths it almost felt like it was snowing. I suppose i should mention also that everytime we drove, especially at dusk or night there was the constant threat of Wallabies crossing the road and a couple of near misses. We dropped Sehee and Elly off in Ross first. There i briefly met an Englishman who told me how he moved to Australia to escape England. I only mention him as i found it amusing that he left only to set up camp in quite possibly the place that most closely resembles an English village that you could find in Australia. The drive from Ross to Hobart was tense as we drove most of the way on near empty. Fortunately, after passing many closed stations we found one in Brighton just outside Hobart that we could use. I A Tassie Devil Definitely NOT like the cartoon don't think we would have made it all the way back. I decided to spend another night in Hobart and then grab a lift home with the J's the next day. So another trip to a bottleshop for beer supplies and off to our hostel. We'd pre-booked a 4 bed dorm between the 3 of us thinking we'd get some peace but arrived to discover possibly the most creepy looking middle-aged man ever and so vacated to the next hostel to drink our beer into the early hours. I'm now back in Midway a little bit sad that the trip is over. Everybody got on well and i've met 4 of the coolest people so if any of you are reading this, then thanks for such a great time!!!!!! Off to Sydney in two days. A Wombat On the rocks at The Gardens Clearing up camp on day 3 Inside Marakoopa Caves Sun shining through the clouds on the way to Cradle Mountain In the warm at Cradle Mountain campsite Heading up into the clouds Taking a rest Heading back down « Previous Entry 0 Comments - Add Public Comment or Send Private Message No comments have been added All Comments

Scary Pinnacles!

written by Ross St Quintin Just a couple of hours drive north of Perth, the capital city of Western Australia, there is a natural wonder well worth your visit. I last visited the Pinnacles about a year ago on a trip north to Cervantes en route to Geraldton via the coastal highway, instead of the inland Brand Hwy. I consider the fastest way to drive north to Geraldton, & beyond is via the Brand Highway, an excellent road, if not somewhat lonely as there are very few towns on the trip north. If you ever travel the Brand highway be particularly careful, as the Brand Hwy is very busy with huge triple tandem trailers being towed by enormous trucks. These huge beasts travel at speeds fast enough to almost blow you off the road as they pass"¦so be very careful, especially during wet, windy weather! Anyway, back to the Pinnacles. We stayed at Cervantes, just north of the Pinnacles overnight, in order to be able to spend plenty of time enjoying the weird, spectacular sights at the Pinnacles. You have to drive about 30 kilometres from Cervantes to get to the Pinnacles National Park region. Last time I did the trip the last few k-s were still unsealed & it proved a bit of a bumpy ride in a normal sedan. Hopefully that last unsealed section is now sealed. Okay, what are these pinnacle thingies? View these photos before reading further as a picture is worth a thousand words. Have a look, then please wander back here, as I have some interesting personal info to improve your trip to the Pinnacles. Hi, welcome back. Well, aren-t they the strangest rock formations? However, the photos can never replace the excitement of viewing these formations up close & personal. Firstly, be aware that at last count the cost of entry into the Pinnacles was $10 per car. A fair enough fee as the council has to maintain the roads, etc; plus keep rangers in the area to keep the crazy folk out who would love nothing better than to attack these wondrous rock formations with a jack hammer or similar. Defacing the country appears to be alive & well! Thank goodness for the Rangers! Secondly, you should know that the tracks through & around the vast region of the Pinnacles are just that. Sand tracks; which are easy to drive on if you have your own car or a hire car. (Make sure your hire car company allows you to drive off road before you leave the bitumen!!). When I arrived on our last visit I remained fascinated at the sight of the aloof appearances of these tall, needle like rock formations. I could really picture many of them as maybe being the result of people being turned into limestone rocks in a myriad shades of whites through to stained yellows & browns. Many of the formations have amazing shapes. One of the great aspects of a personal visit is to make sure you get a friend, or someone, to take your photo alongside many of the more spectacular pinnacles. The best way to enjoy these wonders, I think, is to park your car & walk around the region. Driving through without getting out to wander on foot for an hour or so will not do your visit justice. Walking around the Pinnacles, particularly during very early sunrise or at sunset is an amazing, even a bit scary experience. For that reason try & target your visit to conincide with very early morning or late afternoon as the silhouettes of the formations & shadows in the changing light are amazing. Your photos will be spectacular"¦. certainly they will remain excellent memories of your visit to the Pinnacles. And make sure you provide a couple of hours for your tour"¦you will NOT be disappointed!

Gap Year Travel Insurance Cover

Gap Year Travel Insurance Cover Be it the school leaver, fresh graduates or the professionals; every year thousands of people out from each category takes an extended holiday to explore the new and unexplored vistas around the world. But it is really unfortunate that there are very few people who apprehend the risk factors involved on an adventurous travelling around and takes a travel insurance policy to repress the hazards. Many inexperienced youthful travellers usually set out on their adventurous trip without taking the proper coverage shield and later on make regret over it. According to the latest report it has been revealed that merely 30% gap year travellers carry travel insurance protection with them. Policies available on Gap year cover:- There are exact policies available for gap year travellers. For those aged up to 36 the policy is called backpacker insurance cover and for the above class it is known as long stay travel insurance. Although the policies within do not vary and remain same as far a coverage and other things are concerned. For a person taking in a Gap year cover, it is very important to keep down the point that the holiday will be longer than the usual and thus it is essential to carry a protective measure along with to reduce the trauma and the heavy expenses in case things go wrong between the trips. Sometimes due to lack of proper guiding people take some other policy instead of taking a gap year insurance cover, which is not suitable for such an extended holiday. Let's take an example of Annual-multi trip insurance plan which usually have a limit of 35-40 days and thus not at all suitable for a gap year traveller. So just availing an insurance cover is not enough, it is also important to get the right option to make your safety foolproof. Coverage offered under the policy:- Coverage for medical assistance including all medical repatriation, hospital advantage, funeral overheads overseas, etc Emergency cancellation of trip or cutting it short. Cover for loss of important belongings like important documents, baggage, etc. Personal liability- Financial security if something goes wrong with the person while in abroad. Personal accident or injury assistance. Generally, every travel insurance company provides you with the above mentioned covers but sometimes it may differ slightly. So before taking any cover do remember to read the documents and also specify all your exact requirements to the insurance provider. Things to consider while taking a policy:- Make sure that you are covered for the entire period of your trip. In someone also intends to work while in abroad then don't forget to check whether your policy will also cover it or not. Read every small print present in your document. Buy the travel insurance policy before you leave for the trip. Do not forget to evaluate the prices and polices of different insurance companies online. During your Gap year, if you wants to visit your home once or twice. Ensure that the policy you are taking in have this provision with it or not. Don't forget to carry all the important visas of countries, which are important on your lists. Buy your gap year travel insurance cover with insurancebookers.co.uk on your gap year trip. By: William Catherine

Ways To Plan A Last Minute Travel Trip To Europe

Ways To Plan A Last Minute Travel Trip To Europe admin on Mar 25th 2009 Planning your travel can be a big hassle: you need to know what things to pack, what things you should not miss, and what you should bring in order to have better travel and a good time at your destination. You need to have the best tickets to where you wish to go, and specially if you are going to Europe, you requiregood deals because tours toEurope can be comparably moreexpensive. Moreover, you need to get good deals on the hotels and lodgings that you pick, because Europe is so picturesque, you need days and days to see what makes each city special. The problem just keeps getting bigger if you decide to go to Europe at the last minute. There are many things that can go wrong in your panic. You might not get to your destination on time, which can mess up car schedules, rental schedules, and hotel bookings. You can forget to take a lot of important things if you do not have enough time to pack up, and even you can mess up a lot of things during packing. Moreover, you will not enjoy your trip if you miss a lot of things in terms of packing and transportation. If you want to plan a last minute travel trip to Europe, here are a few tips that you could take into account. - Do not underestimate the power of lists. Making a list, even when you don-t need it, can help you. On off days, when you do not have to worry about last minute things such as travel and packing, take some time to sit down and make a list of things that you would need to bring if you were to suddenly go to Europe. Never forget your toiletries and your passport as you may need them any time! Keep your list in a safe place, so that if the chance for travel suddenly comes up, you won-t miss a thing. Do not underestimate the agent-s power by any means. Talk to your travel agent about advice for last minute plans, and if your travel agent already has a list of discount hotels in Europe. This way, you can always have someone ready and waiting to help you out just in case you suddenly get the urge to go to Europe. - Subscribe or get log ins to discount hotels in Europe. This means that you need to get onto their website and log yourself in regularly in order to see what deals they have. This way, you are aware of what discounts there are, so that when you get to start going to Europe and have to travel at the last minute, you can immediately log on to the website that you need and get yourself discounts on lodging. - Be aware of what your memberships offer in terms of European travel. Some credit cards have discount packages that allow you to get ticket discounts, while some insurance companies or even your car insurance and sales company will have discounts for travel. You may be able to get yourself some great discounts if you know where to look, and if you already have these discounts under your belt! - Subscribe to travel magazines and read about destinations in Europe. Read up on some history as well! This way, if you suddenly get the urge to go to Europe, you already know where to go and you don-t mess up your touring plans. Filed in Airline Travel | No responses yet Comments are closed.

Travel Australia Guide: Tram Trip in Melbourne

	In fact, you can simply use the information on Tramroute.com to plan your trip, select place to stay or find where to visit and choose destination to spend time in each travel moment.