Hi all. I am new to all this. I am a mature age single female & will be travelling to Tassie in October/November with my British made caravan & 2 dogs.... so National Parks are out except for those times I board the dogs for a few days. I will be using a Prado as a tow vehicle. I would like to be able to free camp at times but am wondering if there are places I can do this close to bitumen roads as I don't want to beat the van about too much...it has pretty good clearance but is not " off road". I am not sure at this stage I would be confident enough to camp in an isolated area by myself any way. I think I will head down the east coast first....are there non-commercial camping areas along that coast where I may be able stop? Thanks for any help
Download Wikicamps. It's the best $8 you can spend. There are many free, donation and low cost camping options in Tassie that are in small towns and communities all with good access. The only spots we stayed which required high clearance or had lumpy bumpy access where inland near hydro dams. Take it slowly when on unsealed roads/tracks and you won't really have any issues.
Plenty of free or low cost camping opportunities over most of Tasmania and there are a few that offer free electricity, hot showers, water and dump point.
Yes, Wikicamps is all you need and you can use the filters to select the facilities you want. Rarely need to travel more than 50km to go from one to the other. Choice is limited in hobart
Increase your budget to $10 a night and that gets you in to all of the private campsites although they are mostly little more than a paddock but usually in a quiet scenic area
Welcome to GN's Cathy, I'm sure you will enjoy Tasmania in the Spring.
As already mentioned, Wikicamps downloaded will assist in finding free-donation camps www.wikicamps.com.au/
Another great resource is Camps 11 book, which allows you to better plan your trip using maps, pictures and relevant camp information www.campsaustraliawide.com/
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You can download campsaustralia App, as good if not better than the others. We found it exceptional when travelling Tassie.
I looked at it this morning for Android.
It appears to be a subscription model and no will I ever pay a regular subscription for software. Also the reviews are really quite poor and highlight many significant bugs. Finally it is a large (memory wise) programme but cannot be moved to and run from a memory card.
I don't know what its database is like but it will need to fix the above before I consider it in addition to Wikicamps.
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I spent 3 months in Tas towing an 18'6 van. The roads are great - but then I dont do off roading. There are really good camps everywhere. Just need to remember that Tas is not like the mainland. It has real hills and winding roads so you just need to drive slower! But wonderful lakes and bush. It is small enough to leave the van and do day trips into less accessible place. Loved the whole place!
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I spent 3 months in Tas towing an 18'6 van. The roads are great - but then I dont do off roading. There are really good camps everywhere. Just need to remember that Tas is not like the mainland. It has real hills and winding roads so you just need to drive slower! But wonderful lakes and bush. It is small enough to leave the van and do day trips into less accessible place. Loved the whole place!
This type of travel is just one of the reasons i will be taking my motorbike with me.
I did Tassie in 2013 on a bike, but only for a week. So much more i want to see.
When i pick up the new caravan next year from Melbourne, after seeing my kids in Geelong, the first proper trip i will be doing is Tassie.
No time frame whatsoever, if it takes me a year, then so be it.
Around half way between Hobart and Launceston is a small Town, Kempton. Probably a little closer to Hobart than Launceston. Off the main street is a free camping ground. Power is available and you put a donation in a box. I usually put $5.00 for a night. If you go to the Council Office opposite the Camping Ground, and pay a refundable $10.00 deposit, you will get a key to toilets and hot showers. Also has a shelter and BBQ area. Good value and a nice little Town.
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Thanks....I am due to go in less than 4 weeks & need to come back to SA so it's not looking hopeful, but thanks for the idea, if I get there it sounds like a good site
re (Tas is not like the mainland. It has real hills and winding roads so you just need to drive slower!)
Agree, driving/towing up a hill say at 60-70Km/hr come to a 270 deg corner, speed sign prior 35km, change down to go around the corner with a 1 in 3 gradient hill climb on the other side of the corner.
A must see state, have lived there for 10 years and visited 5 times since.
I have just joined Grey Nomads and this is my first post to say thanks for all the tips on Tassie Roads. I am booked to go over on the ferry in December for two months (or so) to explore with my little JPod Outback. I am taking my kayak and looking forward to getting back to places like Lake Pedder, where I first fell in love with kayacking on a little plastic hire-model.
Of all the states and territories, tassie really understands the value of providing free camping.
They are everywhere and some are just for 48 hrs and as per normal human behaviour, some ignore the time limits. But dont worry because theres always another one nearby
As said, get wikicamps and set your requirements and start searching.
Set up a trip and make your way around.
Remember that although distances are short,m travel times are much longer than you expect on the big island
There are lots of bends and hills
Dont be in a rush to see the place
Enjoy
I will be in Tas at New Year. Born in Scotland, so it is compulsory that I be somewhere lively on New Years Eve (preferably on the north coast) Any suggestions?