We’re finally doing it!
We have booked the ferry, and some of the accommodation, and we’re gearing up to do our tour this December!
I wavered between just updating this post or creating a new one, and decided upon the latter.
With international borders closed (for Australians, anyway) until god-only-knows-when, and a nice local trip looking very attractive as an introduction to touring for my partner Danielle, we’ve been planning a Tasmanian East Coast cycling trip for a few months now.
We’re hoping to take the trip next year. Danielle is a native Tasmanian, so we’ll finish the tour by staying with/near her parents in Sandy Bay, a suburb of Hobart. The Spirit of Tasmania ferry berths in Devonport, so with our start and finish points decided, it was simply a matter of working out the route. I found a good PDF guide on the Discover Tasmania website, but the link has since disappeared into 404 heaven. Using the outline detailed in this guide, along with a Hema map of Tassie, we’ve outlined a nice 15-leg route that will take us 13–14 days in total riding, across perhaps three weeks (given rests and sightseeing).
Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.
A broad outline of the trip
Devonport
Catching the Spirit of Tasmania from Port Melbourne to Devonport, arriving in the evening.
Sheffield
Riding to Sheffield (27km) in the evening that we arrive, staying at a B&B.
Cradle Mountain
A big long climb to Cradle Mountain, where we’ll stay over for a day or so to both rest and visit/fish at Dove Lake and other nearby attractions.
Deloraine
Our longest leg, from Cradle Mountain we’ll double back towards Sheffield, then turn down to Mole Creek and through to Deloraine. We’re hoping to ride it in one day as we’ll be nice and rested, but otherwise we’ll tackle it in two and camp along the way.
Launceston
Avoiding the A1, we’ll ride through Bracknell, Longford and Perth to Launceston, where we’ll check in to accommodation to clean up, charge batteries, check gear, etc.
George Town and Bridport
My partner is from Hobart, and amusingly isn’t overly fond of what she calls
The North
, but I’m hoping a few days leisurely ride in the area will overcome a lifetime ofSoutherner bias
and help change her tune. I’m looking forward to riding along the Tamar River and checking out the various wineries in the area.St Helens
Riding from Bridport through Scottsdale, Derby, and on to St Helens, we’ll be weaving through the forest reserves in North East Tasmania, which I’ve never visited but heard a lot about.
Swansea
Now hugging the coast through Bicheno, we’ll detour to the picturesque Coles and Wineglass Bays, then double back to Swansea.
Maria Island
Danielle adores wombats. We couldn’t do the trip without a detour to Maria Island. We’ll stop near Triabunna/Orford and catch the ferry across for a day trip.
Dunalley and Richmond
Skipping Port Arthur — we’ve been plenty of times before — we’ll meander around via Dunalley and Dodges Ferry to Richmond. If we feel like it we’ll stop for the night in Richmond, otherwise we’ll press on the last 30-odd kilometres to…
Hobart
Finishing in Hobart, we’re planning to arrive via the B35 and Glenorchy rather than tackle the traffic on the Tasman Bridge, then stay with the folks at Sandy Bay.
Route Distance
Total Climbing
Approximate Riding Time
Photo of Cloudy Bay headland by Stephen Mabbs on Unsplash. Photo of cyclist on switchback by Beardy McBeard (I think), used by Darryl from Loving The Bike, reproduced here without permission.
