So we started planning this trip a few years ago, and unfortunately events at home (and not just the pandemic!) have transpired to keep us off our bikes for the most part, with a few exceptions such as my Great Ocean Road trip, but I had to do that one solo. In that time I’ve started a new job, Danielle bought a beautiful custom Velo Orange Pass Hunter gravel/touring bike and importantly, my children have continued to mature to the point I can now leave them for a few weeks to go a‑touring!
As with our original plan, we’ll finish the tour by staying with Danielle’s parents in Sandy Bay, a suburb of Hobart, for Christmas. We’ve booked the Spirit of Tasmania ferry — which now departs from Geelong — and we’re skipping the Cradle Mountain and Launceston legs of our original plan (which complemented Danielle’s Hobart-bred antipathy towards Launceston 🤣). We’re still using the same Hema map of Tassie (ours is 10th ed.), and we’ve condensed the ride to about 10–11 days’ riding in total.
If you are alone, then the country is not your playground, it is your companion; and nature becomes Nature, a person, someone to whom you can almost talk. You do not only walk through measured miles; you sit, dreaming, contemplating, absorbing it all, through unmeasured minutes.
A broad outline of the trip
Devonport
Catching the Spirit of Tasmania from Geelong to Devonport, arriving in the evening and staying at the Abel Tasman Caravan Park.
Exeter
We will ride from Devonport across to Exeter, passing the forest reserves on our way east to the Tamar River.
George Town
From Exeter we’ll visit some of the Tamar Valley wineries on our way to George Town.
Bridport
From George Town we’ll ride past more wineries on our way to Bridport on Bass Strait.
Binalong, Bay of Fires
Riding from Bridport through Scottsdale, Derby, and on to Binalong via St Helens, we’ll be weaving through the forest reserves in North East Tasmania, which I’ve never visited but heard a lot about, camping at the Bay of Fires.
Bicheno
Now hugging the coast through Scamander to Bicheno. I’m keen on Bicheno as a fabled fishing destination.
Freycinet N.P.
From Bicheno we’ll ride down to a luxury stay at Freycinet Lodge at Coles Bay, and spend a day to check out the National Park and Wineglass Bay.
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 few days camping on the island.
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 on 23 December then stay with the folks at Sandy Bay for Christmas.
Route Distance (approx.)
Total Climbing (approx.)
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.
