Journeys June/July 2021 by ract-journeys

Journeys YOUR RACT MEMBER MAGAZINE // JUN / JUL 2021

This issue

TASMANIA’S ROAD SAFETY CRISIS

Our call for safer roads The all-new MG ZS EV The revival of the Sorell region

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contents.

JUN / JUL 2021

Welcome note

Inbox

The latest from our Group CEO

Our members share what’s on their minds

Changing gears

The urgent need to rethink road safety in Tasmania

lifestyle

Photos: Adam Gibson; Julie Hall / The Black Hen; The Truffledore

inside

See you in Sorell

Overlooking Marion Bay, Van Bone restaurant is one of many reasons to revisit this region. on the cover

Our branches are open Mon–Fri 8.45am–5pm For customer service, call 13 27 22 For roadside assistance, call 13 11 11 anytime Visit ract.com.au Email journeys@ract.com.au

travel

Travel news

The pit stop

What’s on

Happenings on our island

Wellness

A group singing session

A mile in their shoes

29 30

Spend a perfect day in St Helens

The big chill

How to embrace Tasmania’s most bracing time of year

Stay a little longer in Sorell

Why Sorell and surrounds deserve more than a day trip

community

Foodie finds

All hail the Tassie scallop

drive

Everything on our radar in the local travel scene

We meet a pair of Tasmanian truffle farmers

Hobart-based photographer Lochie Bevis (@lochie.bevis) captured the drama of The Hazards from road level near Coles Bay.

Auto news

Safety developments in the car world

0-100 review

Road test

The nifty new MG ZS EV

The safety-focused Toyota Yaris

The latest

News from the RACT community

Member rewards Member savings available right now

Puzzles and road safety quiz

Tackle the crossword and our safety quiz

Rear view

See your snap of Tasmania here

Have your say on Member Hub and social media

To unsubscribe from Journeys, visit ract.com.au/update

ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

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Straight

Curved

welcome. ABOUT YOUR RACT PRESIDENT Kathryn Westwood VICE PRESIDENTS Alison Flakemore, Jenny Richardson BOARD Josephine Archer, Peter Dixon, Ralph Doedens, Jude Franks, Phil Jones, Risden Knightley, Pieter Kolkert, Sue Smith

A word on road safety from our Group CEO

RACT GROUP CEO Mark Mugnaioni JOURNEYS MANAGING EDITOR Zoe Cooney

Journeys is published for The Royal Automobile Club of Tasmania by Hardie Grant Media, Building 1, 658 Church Street, Richmond VIC 3121 hardiegrant.com Managing Director Nick Hardie-Grant

Photo: iStock

WHEN IT COMES TO ROAD SAFETY,

nothing should be off the table. Now that we’re through the State Election, we need to re-examine everything that is and isn’t working, and implement a holistic approach to ensure that everyone gets home safe. All levels of government need to make road safety a priority. We know Tasmania has the oldest vehicle fleet in the country. We also know that we need urgent upgrades to our roads, which will be facilitated by the new State Government’s commitment to long-term plans for major highways. New technology is being embraced and incorporated into road safety strategies nationally and internationally. For example, through new-generation speed cameras and phone-detection technology, communities as close to home as New South Wales and as far away as Sweden are seeing a dramatic reduction in fatalities and serious injuries on their roads. It’s time we saw these kinds of changes and tools in Tasmania. We know they can

save lives, but we need the commitment, resources and capacity to make them a reality here. The most critical piece to a holistic approach to road safety is the behaviour and attitude of drivers. As road users, we all need to look at ourselves and the way we act on the road. Behaviour and culture can be hard to change, but we saw last year during the COVID-19 lockdown how we can band together as a community to keep each other safe. Road safety should be treated no differently. Every time the road toll increases, that’s another person who is no longer coming home to their family and friends. The impacts are devastating, which is the exact reason why we all need to demand more action on road safety.

Mark Mugnaioni // RACT GROUP CEO Have your say at hub.ract.com.au or on social media @ractofficial

Deputy Managing Director Clare Brundle Managing Editor Krysia Bonkowski Art Director Dallas Budde Design Katrina Mastrofilippo Advertising Sales and Partnerships Director Lauren Casalini laurencasalini@hardiegrant.com Senior Account Manager Amanda Travers amandatravers@hardiegrant.com Printer Ovato Mailhouse D&D Mailing Services Distribution Australia Post Australia Post No. 100003899

Competition terms and conditions can be found at ract.com.au/competitions. No part of Journeys may be reproduced without permission. Copyright 2021 RACT. The opinions contained in this publication may not be shared by The Royal Automobile Club of Tasmania Limited or its related bodies corporate (together “RACT”) or any of its directors or employees. Advertisements in Journeys are the responsibility of the advertiser. No person should act or rely upon such opinions or advice and RACT accepts no liability for them. Any rewards or rights provided to a member cannot be transferred, assigned, sold or redeemed for cash. Inclusion of a product should not be construed as an endorsement by RACT.

ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

inbox. LETTERS

Thank you Just a big shout out to one of your roadside angels, David, for his fast and professional service. On Easter Monday we headed out for a drive until our car battery gave up the ghost. Within no time at all we had a new battery and were on our way. Bathurst 1000 pit crews eat your heart out! Thank you RACT Roadside. Kelvin Ball // Claremont

Passing lanes In response to your article about the increasing level of traffic accidents in Tasmania despite the improvement in the quality of vehicles and the government spending a massive amount on the major highways (‘Rethinking road safety’, Journeys, April–May, p. 58). I think a portion of the money allocated for road improvement should be allocated to developing passing lanes on some of the state’s most winding roads. Take, for instance, the Channel Highway between Woodbridge and Cygnet. There is not a single passing lane, which means that if you’re stuck behind a slow-moving truck or campervan or a towed caravan or motorist crawling under the speed limit there are very few opportunities to pass. After a considerable number of kilometres this brings about frustration, leading to people taking risks. Further to that, an education campaign should be mounted on driver courtesy. If people wish to meander well below the road speed limit, they should observe the traffic stuck behind them and pull over to let them pass. I always do this when I have my utility well laden, and I wish others would give people this simple courtesy.

Do you know your road safety?

Q If you look at your mobile for two seconds when driving 60km/h, how much distance do you travel?

Howard Wilcockson // Garden Island Creek

It all starts with spirit spiritsuper.com.au Advice on Spirit Super is provided by Quadrant First Pty Ltd (ABN 78 102 167 877, AFSL 284443) and issuer is Motor Trades Association of Australia Superannuation Fund Pty Ltd (ABN 14 008 650 628, AFSL 238718). Read the PDS at spiritsuper.com.au before making a decision.

JOURNEYS // JUN / JUL 2021

Flip to p. 58 for the answer.

CAR

Rethinking road safety

MEDIC

Congratulations on bringing this topic to the forefront of our efforts this year. You are right in saying that if our thinking and actions don't change then the results will not either. However, in the short term could we consider heavily increased speeding fines together with mandatory loss of licence based on the number of kilometres over the prevailing speed limit on the road where caught? For example: • For 10km over, a fine of $1000 and loss of licence for three months. • For 20km over, a fine of $1500 and loss of licence for four months. • For 30km over, a fine of $2000 and loss of licence for five months – or some variation thereof. Since cars are getting more refined, better handling and faster overall, could we look at governors limiting all cars to 120km/h? There must be a lot more that can be done in the technology area to help keep the road toll from getting any worse than it already is.

Q My car has a space

saver spare tyre – how safe are these wheels to use if I get a flat tyre?

Michaela Williams // Riverside

A There are two types of space

saver spares in vehicles. The first, referred to as a ‘temporaryuse spare’, is generally a fullsized wheel that differs in size and appearance to wheels normally fitted to the vehicle. These can be fitted on any corner of the vehicle, should you have a flat. The second type is known as a ‘space saver’. You may have seen one of these odd-looking, often brightly coloured wheels on a car. There are restrictions on some vehicles as to where this tyre can be fitted. If it can only be fitted to the rear wheel of your vehicle and you have a flat on the

front, you’ll need to swap a good wheel from the rear to the front and then use the space saver on the rear. For both types of spares, maximum speed is limited to 80km/h when fitted and they are only intended as an emergency replacement to get your vehicle to a place of repair. RACT expert // Darren Moody

Jim Pawson // Blackstone Heights

WRITE TO US

journeys@ract.com.au

Photos: iStock

We’re keen to hear your thoughts on any motoring or travel-related topics and auto questions. Please keep them brief – we reserve the right to edit.

Elly and Natalie Spirit Super members

@ractofficial

Advice on Spirit Super is provided by Quadrant First Pty Ltd (ABN 78 102 167 877, AFSL 284443) and issuer is Motor Trades Association of Australia Superannuation Fund Pty Ltd (ABN 14 008 650 628, AFSL 238718). Read the PDS at spiritsuper.com.au before making a decision.

ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

community

Changing gears

Where to next for

REDUCING TASMANIA’S ROAD TRAUMA requires a unified approach by governments, organisations and the community. It’s a journey we must all take together, writes Alex Luttrell.

road safety?

ver the past decade we have failed to reduce death and serious injury on our roads. Even in a pandemic we had a disastrous 2020, with 36 fatalities and 284 serious injuries. At 6.6 deaths per 100,000 people, Tasmania had the worst road safety record of any Australian state in 2020. If this trend continues, 175 Tasmanians will die and 1500 will be seriously injured on our roads in the next five years. Yet, if Tasmania matched the death rate of the best performing state, Victoria (3.17), 19 lives could have been saved last year. Sadly, that looks a tough task in 2021 with fatal and serious injuries continuing. There have already been 10* deaths and 103* serious injuries here this year, forever changing the lives of many families and friends. However, we know what works to protect Tasmanians on the road. It’s about building safer roads to prevent human error, encouraging Tasmanians to buy safer cars, introducing the latest enforcement technology, making road safety a whole-ofgovernment responsibility, as well as changing the attitudes and behaviours of Tasmanians through better education and training.

JOURNEYS // JUN / JUL 2021

Police stats

Tasmania Police statistics from 2019-2020* show that many motorists are still breaking the rules, putting themselves and others at risk. The following offences occurred despite the COVID-19 lockdown:

36,719 2657 2070 1638 1542 Speeding offenders

Drug driving offenders

Mobile phone offenders

Non-use of seat belts

Drink driving offenders

*Figures accurate as of 7 May

*From Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management Annual Report 2019-2020

In the lead-up to the State Election in May, we put forward two key priorities: • Reinvestment of speed camera revenue into road safety, specifically the latest mobile phone and speed detection technologies. • Development of 10-year plans and longterm funding for Tasmania’s key roads, including the Tasman, Bass, West Tamar, Huon, Channel and Arthur highways, plus increased road maintenance funding. There has been a groundswell of community support for these priorities. We saw both the Liberal and Labor parties commit to the development of 10-year plans for key roads, a priority that was also supported by the Greens. Our next step is to ensure the new State Government lives up to its promises by funding and developing these long-term plans, including a range of corridor upgrades. We called for a unified approach across the political spectrum in tackling road trauma but, disappointingly, only the Greens offered support for our road safety priority, which focused on speeding and mobile phone use. Reinvestment of speed camera revenue into road safety is a vital tool in enforcement, deterrence and education and we will ramp up our push for this initiative by building partnerships to force change. However, we also need to look forward to a range of other issues impacting road safety. One look at our crash statistics (right) shows the various factors behind Tasmania’s consistently high fatal and serious injury tallies. This includes the Fatal Five, road user type, crash type and location, speed limits, age and gender. Tasmanians must take greater responsibility for their own safety and the safety of others who share the road. We know the risk when we get behind the wheel. For most of us it is the most dangerous thing we do each day. Do your part by always driving to the speed limit and the conditions, paying attention and leaving your phone alone, never drinking and driving, wearing your seatbelt and not driving when fatigued. If you’re a passenger and the driver is acting irresponsibly or being distracted, speak up. Your life is in their hands. Road safety is everyone’s responsibility, and it’s time we all started treating it that way. Online Keep updated with our road safety advocacy at ract.com.au/advocating-change

Crash stats

The Fatal Five causes of fatal and serious injury crashes in Tasmania are speed, drink/drug driving, distraction (particularly mobile phone use), non-use of seatbelts and fatigue. This is how much they contribute to fatal and serious crashes in Tasmania each year*:

29% 24% 24% Speed

Drink/drug driving

Distraction

Non-use of seat belts

Fatigue

ROAD USERS

Vehicle drivers and passengers make up 59% of fatal and serious injury crashes on our roads each year, with motorcyclists making up 27%

AGE

CRASH TYPE Run-off-road crashes (43%) and head-on crashes (19%) make up the top two fatal and serious injury crash types in Tasmania each year

Those aged 16–25 make up around 25% of fatal and serious injury crashes in Tasmania each year, despite comprising only 12% of the population

LOCATION

58% of fatal and serious injury crashes occur on rural roads, compared to 42% on urban roads, each year

AGE

Those aged 26–49 make up the largest proportion of fatal and serious injury crashes each year (close to 35%), but also make up the highest population at 30%

SPEED ZONE More than 60% of fatal and serious injury crashes occur in 80km/h and above zones

GENDER

Males make up 65% of fatal and serious injury crashes each year, compared to 35% for females. Men and women each make up 50% of the Tasmanian population

*From Department State Growth’s Towards Zero Action Plan 2020-2024

ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

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lifestyle 14/ 17/ 19/ 22/

Photo: Natalie Mendham

Wassail with us

WHAT’S ON WELLNESS A MILE IN THEIR SHOES FOODIE FINDS

Reviving the spirits of the West Country migrants who planted the Huon’s first apple trees – giving rise to Tasmania’s ‘Apple Isle’ moniker – Willie Smith’s Apple Shed brings back the ancient British tradition of the wassail for the Huon Valley Mid-Winter Festival. In the depths of winter (17 July 2021), the wassail sees revellers dressed in their pagan best roaming the orchards banging pots and pans and generally causing a ruckus to scare off bad spirits and usher in a bumper crop next season. Job done, it’s back to the bonfire for a night of singing, feasting and storytelling.

P For more, visit huonvalleymidwinterfest.com.au

ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

what’s on. YOUR NEW TO-DO LIST OPEN NOW

LITTLE ART LOVERS The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) has recently unveiled its new children’s gallery, titled mapiya lumi | around here. Designed for children aged up to seven years old, this immersive exhibition is inspired by the unique beauty of Tasmania.

10–31 JULY 2021

CHRISTMAS CHEER

Pull out your daggiest jumpers for Christmas in July at Cradle Mountain Hotel. In what is likely the closest you’ll get to a white Christmas Down Under, this alpine resort is throwing festive dinners with all the trimmings on Saturdays from 10 July. 22–25 JULY

For 20 years now, the Devonport Jazz Festival has filled the northern city with music every July. Headlined this year by vocalist Katie Noonan, with gigs by Paul Grabowsky, Ingrid James, Nichaud Fitzgibbon and many more, the program features hundreds of performers and an array of genres in venues across the city.

16–22 JUNE

INTO THE DARK Hobart prepares for a little madness as Dark Mofo returns to warm the depths of winter. From world-class musical acts to boundary-busting art and epic banquets, the one thing you can expect is the unexpected.

4–11 JULY

RAISING THE FLAG NAIDOC Week celebrates the cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. On 5 July, the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre welcomes one and all to flag-raising ceremonies at piyura kitina/Risdon Cove in Hobart, and the Launceston TAC carpark.

Due to the ongoing impacts of the global pandemic, we recommend you research any event before heading off to make sure everything is going ahead as planned.

Photos: Paul Pichugin; TMAG; Rémi Chauvin; Alastair Bett Photography; Kelly Slater; bodhiimages, Maggie-Jean Douglas / NAIDOC

JAZZ UP WINTER

lifestyle Want to tell us about your event or product? Reach us on journeys@ract.com.au

Made in Tas The historic Waverley Mills is embracing the future with its Recycled range. Made with excess wool and factory offcuts, these super-soft rugs offer the same luxury feel we’ve come to expect from this iconic Tassie brand, with extra virtuosity woven in.

Make a note

Read Born Into This is a short-story collection from pakana/Tasmanian Aboriginal writer Adam Thompson – the debut release from this Launceston-born emerging author.

Whale of a tale From May, our waters get more crowded as the annual whale migration begins. Tasmania is the first stop for southern right whales and humpbacks swimming north to calve in tropical waters, and the last before they return to Antarctica between September and December. Whale populations have rebounded over the decades since Australia stopped whaling, with the last few years bringing record numbers. The east coast is the best place to spy these marine giants, from the turquoise waters of the Freycinet Peninsula to Bruny Island’s calm Adventure Bay. Wrap up warmly, grab your binoculars and train them on the horizon.

Watch Revist some Tassie noir TV rugged up on a cold night with a binge session of The Gloaming or The Kettering Incident, both by local showrunner Vicki Madden.

Plant Have a sapling ready to help regreen the world on Planet Ark’s National Tree Day, 1 August. So far, plantings are planned in Oldina and Margate.

WHAT’S BLOOMING?

with SADIE CHRESTMAN from Fat Pig Farm in the Huon Valley We love winter on Fat Pig Farm. We head to work on frosty grass, tucking our cold fingers under our arms. The workday is short: darkness falls early and it’s not long until we have to hang up our secateurs and hoes and head home for slow-roasted dinners in front of the fire. All the planting has been done and it’s time to reap the rewards: savoy cabbages and white cauliflower as big as a gardener’s head, dense florets of emerald-green broccoli, frilled English kale, red Russian kale and, our favourite, long stems of brussels sprouts. There are plenty of carrots and beetroot and the first parsnips, too. Regular frosts encourage all these hardy winter plants to turn starch into sugar, which means everything tastes sweeter in winter. There is nothing tastier than a tray of winter vegetables baked in the oven with a little olive oil and salt caramelising all those chilly sugars. Sow now Green manures for summer fertility Harvest now Brassicas and root vegetables ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

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lifestyle

Photos: Tourism Tasmania / Lusy Productions

Sing it out Nola James puts performance anxiety aside and discovers the therapeutic benefits of song at a Hobart community choir.

love singing, but I don’t usually volunteer to do it with a room full of strangers. However, after a year of living with COVID-19 restrictions interstate, I jumped at the chance to join Glee Club – a singing group held each Monday at Irish Murphy’s in Salamanca, Hobart – for a cheeky pint and a warble. All bravado aside, I was terrified. “What if everyone laughs at me? What if I don’t know any of the words?” Amanda Hodder, Hobart Glee Club’s enigmatic leader, had assured me that I was in for a low-key evening with a few “very forgiving” regulars. Imagine my surprise, then, when I walked in to find a large group of rowdy sailors, freshly docked from a week-long tour of the Franklin River, ready to belt out some show tunes. “Brilliant,” I thought, “I won’t find myself the centre of attention with this crew!” As we worked our way through a little Dolly Parton, a little Oasis – classic combo – it became clear that

Glee Club isn’t about being the best, or the loudest, or even in tune. It’s about having fun, singing along with a roomful of Elton John fans. (My fears of forgetting the words were unfounded – handy print-outs are provided.) “People tell me it’s the one time in their week they don’t look at their phones,” says Vicky Jacobs, who started the first Glee Club in Melbourne 15 years ago. She explains you don’t need to carry a tune to enjoy the health benefits, either. A natural release of endorphins (the body’s feel-good chemical) when we sing makes us happier, Vicky says. Plus, the controlled breathing required is akin to a yoga or meditation class. “You’ll walk out feeling better than when you walked in.” In celebration of Festival of Voices, Tassie’s winter singing fest (30 June to 11 July), Hobart Glee Club has Queen, ABBA, the Beatles and Hamilton tributes planned for July: check gleeclubsinging.com/hobart. For festival info, visit festivalofvoices.com

DID YOU KNOW? The scientific community is fascinated with the benefits of song. A 2015 University of Oxford study dubbed the fast social bonding created by group singing ‘the ice-breaker effect’ and other studies have credited singing with improving everything from wellbeing to the immune system.

TOP TO BOTTOM

The Festival of Voices takes to the stage; Hobart Glee club convenes weekly.

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What’s on

AT TH E TH E ATR E ROYA L

a monkey baa theatre company production

PRODUCTION

CA R M EN

based on the book by jackie french + bruce whatley adapted for the stage by eva di cesare, sandra eldridge + tim mcgarry

1-3 July

14-17 July

11-12 August

25-28 August BOO K N OW VISIT

theatreroyal.com.au BOX OFFICE

(03) 6146 3300

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truff le farmer A mile in THE SHOES OF A

Photos: The Truffledore

THE COLDER MONTHS usher in a busy harvest season for a pair of truffle farmers, Krysia Bonkowski writes.

i nte r S at u rd ays on Cradle Country Farm st a r t e a rly fo r I n a Ansmann and Timothy Noonan. The flaming autumn leaves on the oak trees lining the driveway have long since fallen and it’s officially harvest season on the couple’s truffle farm. The sun is still lifting the night’s frost from the grass as they venture into the orchard with truffle hound Cody to start their hunt. Two-year-old Cody has the boundless energy – and short attention span – of a pup, but the Tasmanian Smithfield cross has known how to sniff out the precious fungi since he was two months old.

Former marine biologist Ina and paramedic Timothy decamped to this idyllic property in Lower Barrington from Brisbane in 2019, craving a treechange. With no truffle-farming experience, they were initially just looking for land where they could start a bed and breakfast, raise animals and grow some crops. But after a tough day at their respective jobs, the real estate listing for The Truffledore and its 135-year-old farmhouse popped up and that was that. “We said, ‘It can’t be that hard, right?’ Famous last words,” Ina laughs. It’s been a steep learning curve – truffle farming, she explains, is still a young industry and ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

lifestyle

JOURNEYS // JUN / JUL 2021

taste one of the culinary world’s most expensive ingredients, the black winter (Perigord) truffle, fresh from the soil. The crop might be high-end, but Ina and Timothy want to share how accessible truffles can be. “We try to show people that you don’t need to be a Michelinstarred chef to cook with truffle. You can use it in your own home cooking and enjoy it,” Ina says. Truffle loves humble pairings, – think butter, cream, cheese; Ina favours a truffle and cheese omelette, Timothy a steak with truffle butter. By the time the last guests have devoured their truffle-infused lunch, and every unearthed truffle has been cleaned, stored or couriered to expectant buyers, twilight is gathering. It’s a long day, but Ina wouldn’t have it any other way. “The work never stops, but it’s extremely rewarding when you’re working for yourself and see what you achieve every day,” she says. “It’s a very lovely lifestyle.” Truffle Hunt and Harvest tours run at The Truffledore every Saturday throughout June, July and August. Bookings essential; truffledore.com.au

“Smelling a truffle fresh out of the ground is like no other smell you’ve ever smelt before.”

Photos: The Truffledore

involves a lot of trial and error. But the gamble paid off in their very first winter. “It was very exciting to actually see the first truffle in the ground and smell it. That was the best part, probably, smelling it,” Ina says. “Smelling a truffle fresh out of the ground is like no other smell you’ve ever smelt before.” Today, they sell their truffles at an on-site seasonal farm gate, as well as to local chefs and mainland ‘truffle brokers’. Outside harvest season, the pair are kept busy by their farm stay and tastings using homemade products such as truffle oil and truffle salt. But winter is what it’s all about. “It’s a very exciting place to be during truffle season,” Ina says. “I think it’s a little bit like Christmas every morning, because we don’t really know what we are going to find on that particular day.” Back on the farm, inspection of the morning’s haul is paused to welcome guests on the harvest tour. Fortified with mulled wine beside The Truffledore’s fireplace, the small group join Ina and Cody for the final hour of their weekly hunt as Tim ducks into the kitchen to prepare the fourcourse lunch that awaits them. For harvesters, it is a chance to

FOODIE finds

The

isle

The winter scallop season is the best time to sample Tasmania’s world-class molluscs, writes Nola James.

Photos: Name Here

scallop

lifestyle

Photos: iStock; Chris Crerar; Shutterstock

IT’S NO SECRET THAT TASMANIA IS BLESSED WITH TOP-QUALITY SEAFOOD. Wintertime on the island is scallop season – right now, the plump, juicy molluscs can be scooped up fresh and by the bucketful at fishmongers and local markets. But while scoring scallops is easy, they have earned a reputation as a “difficult” seafood due to their whip-fast cooking time. “The worst thing you can do to a scallop is overcook it,” says Phil Gordon of Wild Thyme Kitchen, a Hobart-based stall known for barbecued seafood. He’s not trying to put you off. “You just want it warmed through,” he says. Grill each scallop 30 seconds either side, if that, and you’ll be all set. Phil marinates his scallops (always with the roe, he says) in soy sauce, sake, ginger and garlic before searing quickly. They also star in a bouillabaisse-style fish soup that he sells at Hobart’s Farm Gate Market through winter – pick it up by the litre to reheat at home. Michael Nowakowski, who runs the DooLishus seafood van at Eaglehawk Neck, has a few simple rules for scallops, too. “We get all our scallops locally, and all we do is crumb them, fry them and sell them,” he says. One of Doo-Lishus’ most popular menu items is a fisherman’s basket of “at least 12” crumbed scallops. Michael goes through almost a tonne every season. “We like the beautiful bite-sized ones. You don’t want to have to cut [a scallop] in four pieces before you eat it,” he says. “About the size of a 50c piece, with the roe extra. That’s nice.” Michael also sells about 100 scallop pies a day during his September to May trade, although “mostly to tourists”, he says. Given that the scallop pie – a pastry casing filled with scallops in a bechamel-based sauce – is a Tasmanian icon

The title of Tasmania’s best scallop pie is hotly contested. THIS PAGE

(top to bottom) The scallop pie is a Tassie icon; Wild Thyme Kitchen at Farm Gate Market in Hobart.

it’s not surprising that people travel from all over the world to try it. Whether you love them or loathe them, the title of Tasmania’s best scallop pie is hotly contested. The winner is announced at Bridport’s annual Tassie Scallop Fiesta (Sunday 1 August this year), and Scot Postlethwaite of Oliver’s Bakery & Cafe in Ulverstone currently holds the title. “Tassie used to be the Apple Isle, but now I believe it’s better known for its scallops,” Scot says. He opened his bakery nearly 40 years ago and has been making scallop pies for 20 years. “I blatantly refuse to use a scallop sourced from anywhere [other than Tasmania]”, he says. “It doesn’t matter what it costs.” Scot does avoid one well-known Tasmanian ingredient, however. He makes his own spice blend for his curried scallop pies, instead of using the traditional (some say essential) Keen’s Curry Powder. “The trick is not to overpower the scallops,” he says. And you’ve got to cook ’em right, of course. “A scallop doesn’t deserve to go in a microwave; 180°C for 20 minutes is all a pie will ever ask for.” Find out more about the Tassie Scallop Fiesta, including tickets and times, at tassiescallopfiesta.com.au

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Photos: Name Here

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Photo: Mercedes-Benz

A class act

26 / AUTO NEWS 29 / 0–100 REVIEW: MG ZS EV 30 / ROAD TEST: TOYOTA YARIS

The all-new S-Class, the seventh generation of what Mercedes-Benz calls the “world’s best-selling luxury saloon”, debuted in Australia in April. The luxury flagship continues a long tradition of introducing major safety innovations, many of which trickle down to other Mercedes-Benz models. For the new S-Class, this includes for the first time front-facing airbags for rear-seat passengers, along with an augmented reality head-up display that claims to reduce driver distraction. The S-Class also features more advanced computing power that enhances its semi-autonomous driving capabilities, taking the German luxury car a step closer to its eventual goal of fully autonomous motoring. Initially available in two models, the S 450 4MATIC and the long-wheelbase S 450 L 4MATIC (both powered by a 270 kW/500Nm turbocharged 3.0-litre, inline six-cylinder engine), the new S-Class is priced from $240,700 (manufacturer’s recommended list price).

P For more details, visit mercedes-benz.com.au ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

auto news.

The latest developments in the car world

The long road to safer cars

Safety features, by numbers

reduction in serious

crash injuries that threepoint seat belts, first introduced by Volvo in its 1959 PV544, are estimated to contribute to.

THIS PAGE

(Clockwise from left) Volvo engineer Nils Bohlin and his three-point safety belt; Volvo helped pioneer the introduction of headrests.

It may seem hard to believe today, when cars are promoted extensively on their safety credentials, but safety hasn’t always been a primary consideration in vehicle development. Back in 1965, lawyer Ralph Nader’s seminal book Unsafe at Any Speed delivered a sweeping indictment of the US automotive industry and its focus on profits over safety. His best-seller helped usher in a new era of consumer activism and corporate accountability, and indirectly helped make the cars we drive now safer. Since the 1960s, the automotive industry has introduced hundreds – if not thousands – of safety innovations, including crumple zones, seat belts and airbags, all of which provide vital protection in a crash. Today’s cars add to this a raft of modern activesafety and driver-assist technologies that can help prevent crashes occurring.

JOURNEYS // JUN / JUL 2021

reduction in multi-vehicle crashes that anti-lock brakes, launched by Mercedes-Benz on the W116 S-Class of 1978, are estimated to contribute to.

reduction in the risk of neck and head injuries that headrests, developed by Volvo in 1968, are estimated to contribute to.

drive

Work safe on-road Released last year, the latest versions of the Isuzu D-Max and Mazda BT-50 are hardworking mechanical twins. The dynamic duo can take a bow for helping to establish a new era of safety for work utes. Both vehicles boast a comprehensive array of active and passive safety features that earned them a five-star ANCAP safety rating in 2020. One headline feature is centre-mounted airbags, which join frontal, side and curtain airbags as an additional protective device in a collision. The technology is designed to provide cushioning between the heads of the two front-seat occupants in sideimpact or rollover crashes. A growing number of passenger cars, including the Toyota Yaris and Kia Sorento, now also include centre airbags.

Cyber tyres for a super car British supercar maker McLaren is readying its radical new high-performance hybrid (HPH) Artura supercar for launch, with the first Australian deliveries expected by the end of 2021. While much of the focus will be on the coupe’s dramatic styling and hybridised twinturbo V6 powertrain (500kW/720Nm), the clever stuff is happening down at road level, courtesy of Pirelli P Zero Cyber Tyres. The cutting-edge tyres feature embedded chips that communicate directly with the Artura’s world-first ethernet automotive electronic architecture. The chips monitor temperature, road and tyre conditions, pressure and the presence of water, instantly signalling a loss of traction to the driver assistance system, which then reacts to maintain traction and stability.

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The Solar Experts

Introducing the all-new 2 in 1 EV charger/Solar inverter SolarEdge offers a solar inverter that also acts as an EV charger. This world first solution reduces installation costs and can charge an electric vehicle up to four times faster than a standard Level 1 charger by using grid and solar power simultaneously. Get EV ready and pop into our showroom for a demonstration today.

• Solar panels and battery storage • Free in-home consultation • Electric vehicle chargers • 100% Tasmanian owned and run RACT members receive a Free Smart Meter for monitoring a new solar system purchase from I Want Energy. Value $450

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0 -100 review

MG ZS EV SUV

Chinese cars remain a curiosity for many Australians, but this affordable and impressive electric SUV could help propel them into the mainstream. Story Harry Weller

Photos: MG Motors

FOR MOTORING ENTHUSIASTS OF A CERTAIN VINTAGE, the MG nameplate is synonymous with a line of classic British sportscars built between the 1920s and 1970s. The brand has had a long – sometimes chequered – history and was in receivership in 2005 when purchased by China’s Nanjing Automobile Group, which subsequently merged into the SAIC Motor Corporation. MG has prospered under SAIC ownership, including in Australia, where the company markets three distinct models, among them the medium-SUV MG ZS and MG ZS T. The ‘T’ refers to the latest version of the MG ZS, with the new and old models selling alongside each other. Across the ZS and ZST line-up, there’s a choice of three internal combustion engines, plus the battery electric powertrain reviewed here. The latter is fitted exclusively to the MG ZS EV which, at $43,990 drive away, is

THE SPECS PRICING • Driveaway $43,990 SAFETY • ANCAP 5 Stars (2019 Euro NCAP) ENGINE TYPE • Synchronous electric motor, 44.5kWh liquid-cooled, lithiumion battery MAX. TORQUE • 353Nm MAX. POWER • 105kW TRANSMISSION • Reduction-gear single speed DRIVE TYPE • FWD DRIVING EFFICIENCY • (WLTP combined); 18.6kWh/100km 0-100KM/H • 8.2 seconds

currently Australia’s most affordable electric vehicle (EV). The 44.5kWh battery is charged via a plug point hidden behind the MG logo on its grille, with charging cables stored in a sub-floor of the 359-litre boot space. Charging times vary according to the charge point type, from seven to 20 hours on a household socket, to 45 minutes on a DC fast charger (from 0 to 80%). When fully charged, the MG ZS EV has a combined cycle range of 263km, which compares favourably with the Nissan Leaf. The electric motor delivers outputs of 105kW and 353Nm, which translates to a brisk 8.2-second 0-100km/h sprint. Put your foot down from rest or at road speeds and the MG surges forward with instant, linear acceleration. With good levels of cornering grip and ride quality absorbent enough for most road conditions, the MG ES EV also boasts a roomy and attractively styled interior that accommodates four adults. A comprehensive array of active and passive safety features ensures an ANCAP five-star rating. With a five-year unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty, five-year roadside assistance package and eight-year 160,000-kilometre battery warranty, the MG ZS EV presents Australians with a compelling and reasonably affordable entrée to the world of electric motoring. ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

Photos: Chris Crerar

drive

TEST

TOYOTA HAS MOVED the hatchback up several notches in safety and style with the ultra-

cute new Yaris. Fiona Stocker puts it through its paces on the West Tamar Highway. Photos Dave Groves

N Photos: Chris Crerar

ot everyone in rural Tasmania drives a ute – most of us have a small car for everyday family use. Here in the Tamar Valley, we’re looking to be safe and steady on rural roads, as well as economical. Our teenagers like their cars a bit sassy and, guess what, some of the grown-ups do too. For a test drive in Toyota’s new Yaris, I’m bringing my daughter Daisy. She’s adopted a ‘your car is my car’ approach since passing her driving test, and there’s every chance she’ll be sticking her P plates on a Yaris – especially when it looks this cute. She’s here to give me the Gen Z perspective, and to make sure I can work the technology.

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art

drive

THIS PAGE

(Top to bottom) The Yaris has a two-tier deck board in the boot to help divide cargo; Tamar Valley farm gate buys.

The first thing we notice is the quietly snazzy interior. Even in the mid-range SX model, it’s sleek, matte and all-black. There’s also that thing I’d call a ‘nice feel’, and which David at Toyota calls New Global Architecture. He tells me it’s a one-piece chassis and bodywork, for safer structure and better handling. I tell him that as a woman, I often find cars are not designed with me in mind. The Yaris, however, fits like a glove. With a push of the start button, we’re off and heading up the West Tamar Highway, where there’s everything you want on a test drive – city traffic, highways and rural roads, with inevitable roadworks thrown in for good measure. The first corner onto the highway is a sharp right angle. The Yaris takes it like a tiny dancer – neat and steady – and silky automatic transmission has us at 70km/h quick smart. As the River Tamar glints alongside us, I get comfortable with lane trace assist and speedlimit indicators on the compact screen between the speedos. Discreet but helpful, it is part of the Toyota Safety Sense suite now added to the Yaris as standard – measures that helped win it ‘safest car for under $30,000’ in RACV’s inaugural Safest Car Awards last year. I’m told it also has software that detects likely collisions with other road users and even pedestrians, and radar cruise control. So far, it feels like this little car is working very hard on my behalf, and doing it with style and aplomb. I wouldn’t normally do my shopping during a test drive, but Muddy Creek Apples is just off the highway at Legana and multi-tasking is a hard habit to break. The Yaris makes light work

So far, it feels like this little car is working very hard on my behalf, and doing it with style and aplomb. ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

drive

ROAD SAFETY TIP The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) is Australia’s top independent vehicle safety authority. Turn to p. 58 to learn why we advise purchasing an ANCAP five-star car.

of backing up to the shed, and even does a little off-roading in the orchard. As a storage-nerd, I instantly loved the splitboot feature of the Yaris. I’ve got my laptop out of sight in the lower compartment. Now we’re adding baskets of Jonagolds on the shelf above. It’s a neatly designed space to keep your valuables secure. We’re crossing the river after a quick stop for coffee, and there’s always a frisson of excitement and sometimes lusty crosswinds on the Batman Bridge. Today, the gusts from Bass Strait slip unnoticed across the Yaris’ streamlined curves. Even as trucks rumble past on the narrow twolane A-roads, the little car holds its course, and nobody inside turns a hair. It’s an easy cruise back to town along the East Tamar Highway in a roadwork-free world. I pick up speed, and the three-cylinder engine sees us flying over Dilston Hill in the sunshine. The Yaris has proven it can pack a punch as well as having integrity, and I’d add one of these to our family fleet in a heartbeat. Back in the city we make a quick stop at Launceston College for Daisy, who tells me she wouldn’t mind if I rocked up at the school gate in this. Guess it gets the Gen Z vote too. On the road Need help? Roadside assistance is there, 24/7, on 13 11 11. Test drive Find the new Toyota Yaris at Launceston Toyota, Devonport Toyota, Burnie Toyota, Hobart Co-Op Toyota and Kingston Co-Op Toyota.

JOURNEYS // JUN / JUL 2021

THE SPECS PRICING • Driveaway $30,386 SAFETY • ANCAP 5 Stars (2020) ENGINE TYPE • 3-cylinder in-line VVT-iW petrol ENGINE CAPACITY • 1.5L MAX. TORQUE • 145Nm @ 4800– 5200rpm MAX. POWER • 88kW @ 6600rpm BODY STYLE • Hatchback TRANSMISSION • Direct Shift Continuously Variable (auto-CVT) DRIVE TYPE • FWD SEATING • 5 FUEL CONSUMPTION • 4.9L/100km (Combined) 0-100KM/H • 11.4 seconds

Motors. Tasmania’s Home of Hyundai.

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Launceston Motors Hyundai

Devonport Motors Hyundai

Cnr Margaret & York St Launceston TAS 7228 (03) 6332 9101

Don Road Devonport TAS 7310 (03) 6459 2608

Motors. Since 1910.

motorshyundai.com.au/contact-us/

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travel

Photos: Glen Huon Dairy Co.

How now?

38 / TRAVEL NEWS 41 / THE PIT STOP

42 / THE BIG CHILL 47 / STAY A LITTLE

LONGER IN SORELL

Nick Haddow of Bruny Island Cheese Co. has found a second home in the Huon Valley. The acclaimed cheesemaker took over a small Glen Huon farm in 2016 and set out to establish a sustainable dairy. Today Glen Huon Dairy Co. is a thriving organic farm that has just started welcoming visitors. The Farm Shop has thrown open the barn doors for sales of fresh milk on tap, local produce, just-baked bread, newly laid eggs and, of course, some of Australia’s best cheese – all available for an on-site picnic. Book ahead for the new small-group farm tours, which will let you get out into the fields to meet the cows and fluffy calves, feed the pigs and more. Pack the gumboots.

P For more, visit brunyislandcheese.com.au

ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

travel news.

Inspiration for exploring our state

3 TO TRY

must-visit list

DEVIL MAY CARE Beloved winery Devil’s Corner has shut the cellar door for renovations. Until the big reveal in summer, visit the The Little Devil pop-up in its place.

HOT FOOT IT Swing by popular Spanish restaurant and tapas bar The Black Footed Pig at its new home in the Hunter Street Precinct on Hobart’s waterfront.

NEW LIFE AT LINDA Check out the ongoing restoration of the Royal Hotel Linda ruins outside Queenstown and visit the new Linda Café next door for artisan baked goods. 38

JOURNEYS // JUN / JUL 2021

SEE TASSIE THROUGH SCIENTIFIC EYES The bright minds behind Beaker Street are taking their mix of science and art island-wide with the Tassie Science Road Trip (8–13 August). Setting off after the Beaker Street Festival in Hobart on 6–8 August, the inaugral event is a self-drive tour giving access to some of Tasmania’s most fascinating scientists. The road trip takes in four stops – RACV Hobart Hotel, Strahan Village, Cradle Mountain Hotel and Freycinet Lodge – with prominent scientists at each offering talks on local issues and one-on-one conversation sessions. Hit one or hit them all and expand your mind as you meander. For more, visit beakerstreet.com.au

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Country charms Shaded by old-growth oaks and elms and wrapped in a lush country garden, Calstock Estate is northern Tasmania’s newest luxury stay. A landmark Georgian mansion and former racing stables set against the backdrop of Quamby Bluff in Deloraine, the lavishly renovated property is now taking bookings for its individually styled suites, with guests able to arrange extras such as private dinner parties and catered picnics if the fancy strikes.

It’s been over a year since Par Avion suspended its aerial transfers to Strahan on the west coast, but with travel recovering the service is now back in the air. Cutting out the four-hour drive from Hobart, the three weekly transfers take just 45 minutes – and offer stunning scenes of the Central Highlands and the wild west from on high.

Wild ride What’s hot on two wheels? Tasmania’s mountain biking scene. Run by biking fanatic Rohan Sheehan (pictured), new MTB specialist Into the Wild helps riders discover the island’s booming trail network with all-inclusive tours offering transfers, meals and accomodation. If you can’t wait until spring to test it out, the Night Rider tours operate through winter, with headlamps and hot drinks provided for twilight sessions on the trails. For a bucketlist option, check out the Fly and Ride packages, run in cahoots with Tassie aerial tour company Above and Beyond.

HOST FAMILY & FRIENDS WITH YOUR RACT MEMBER DISCOUNTS Enjoy a 35% accommodation discount year-round when you book a Gordon River Cruise and stay two nights or more at Strahan Village. When travelling with family and friends, you can book up to five rooms using your RACT discount.

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Photos: Kelly Slater, Matt Glastonbury; Julie Hall / The Black Hen; Tourism Tasmania

Wheels up for Strahan

BOOK NOW

PHONE: (03) 6471 4200 OR VISIT STRAHANVILLAGE.COM.AU

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A bustling harbour town with a laidback vibe, St Helens is a gateway to the iconic Bay of Fires coastline. Renowned for the plumpness of its oysters, there’s bounty on land and at sea, writes Fiona Stocker.

St Helens The PIT STOP

Photos: Alisha Roper Photography; Tourism Tasmania / Flow Mountain Bike / Rob Burnett

EAT Furneaux is a blend of French and modern Australian fine dining, with a distinct nod to its owner’s Michelin-starred background. The menu abounds with French classics such as confit of duck and crepes Suzette, but with strictly Tasmanian ingredients. The elegant rooms and dedicated team welcome diners for dinner daily. Book well in advance. DRINK For a convivial place to sample local craft beers, wine and spirits, The Social Tasmania beer garden has nailed top spot. With street food and tapas served from the on-site caravan kitchen, it’s tempting to let

the afternoon slip into evening – especially when there’s live music, fairy lights and a quirky, retro-style interior to enjoy.

SHOP Artist Kerry Agius displays her colourful native flora-inspired work – as well as ceramics by Australian makers – in her weatherboard cottage studio. There’s fine timber wares and collectables next door at The Lifebuoy Cafe & Quail Street Emporium. With the clink of coffee cups from a leafy courtyard out back, this is the coffee, arts and homewares hub of St Helens. SEE Just 10 minutes’ drive north of St Helens is Binalong Bay, the start of the spectacular Bay of Fires region. Bay of Fires Eco Tours helps you see it from its best vantage point – on the water. Pristine white sandy bays and lichen freckled granite boulders, bird and sea life: it’s well worth wrapping up warm and getting aboard. Tours daily. STAY Nestled into the hillside at the top of town, Tully Cottage is a boutique home from home. Self-contained and beautifully appointed inside, it’s surrounded by lush gardens filled with birdsong. With breakfast and treats from the region at hand, and a chiminea crackling on the covered deck, it’s the perfect sanctuary.

ESSENTIAL STOPS • Furneaux Restaurant & Comptoir • The Social Tasmania • Kerry Agius Gallery • The Lifebuoy Cafe & Quail Street Emporium • Bay of Fires Eco Tours • Tully Cottage

BINALONG BAY MOUNT PEARSON STATE RESERVE

ST HELENS

THIS PAGE

(Top to bottom) Boats bob on Georges Bay; The Social’s courtyard; Bay of Fires.

ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

The

BIG CHILL

WINTERTIME IN LUTRUWITA/TASMANIA isn’t anything to be afraid of, so get those layers on and that body outside. The island doesn’t shut down over winter, Elspeth Callender finds out, and neither should you.

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Bush base Don’t forget about the wild and woolly west coast. A cottage at Corinna, nestled in bushland, is a great base for daytrips to takayna/ Tarkine and Queenstown. There’s also plenty to do at Corinna in the winter months such as cruising or kayaking on the Pieman River. Hot meals are available at the cosy Tarkine Hotel. Corinna’s Wild Stay Deal, from May to August, is a two-person package that includes three nights in a Queen cottage, breakfast daily, a dinner pack and wine.

Photos: Tourism Tasmania / Melissa Findley / Laura Helle; Corinna Wilderness; Blue Derby Pod Rides

Alpine scene If you visit Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park in winter there’s a greater chance of seeing snow and wombats than at any other time of year. Not because wombats get out more in winter, but because they’re much easier to spot against a white backdrop. Cradle Mountain Highlanders offers cute self-contained cabins, most with wood-fire heating. For high-end accommodation, there’s the roomy Cradle Mountain Lodge and Cradle Mountain Hotel.

There’s hot chocolate on demand, fullbodied wines, hearty meals, drying racks and steaming showers.

On your bike Due to popular demand, Blue Derby Pods Ride is peddling its three-day experience right throughout winter. This fully supported mountain biking and eco-accommodation adventure in the north-east is perfectly set up for the crisper months. Riding warms you up and cold weather keeps you alert. The communal hub is woodfire heated, the pods are toasty and there’s hot chocolate on demand, full-bodied wines, hearty meals, drying racks and steaming showers. Factor in time one afternoon for a session in the Floating Sauna on Lake Derby. ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

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Island time

A day on the farm Pull on your Blunnies, throw on a Bluey and stay at working farm Curringa in Hamilton. This 300-hectare, family-owned property has working farm dogs, 3000 sheep, opium poppies and cereal crops. The range of cottage and studio accommodation is set in bushland overlooking a lake. For evening meals, you can take your own supplies or Curringa provides barbecue hampers to prepare using the provided cooking facilities or an outdoor gas barbecue. Farm tours can be arranged when booking. 44

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On track There are many exceptional short walks in the Meander Valley and kooparoona niara/Great Western Tiers region that are accessible year-round, including Westmorland Falls, Liffey Falls and tulampanga/Alum Cliffs – a sacred place to the palawa First Nations people. Up on the Central Plateau, a wheelchair-accessible boardwalk winds through gnarly pencil pines to Pine Lake. For a hike that’s equally challenging and rewarding, Meander Falls Track is 10 kilometres return. Stay at Mole Creek’s Wandering Trout – a small-batch craft brewery with a taphouse serving superb tacos. Glendalough, in Deloraine, is an Edwardian homestead offering accessible facilities. At Cedar Cottage in Meander, enjoy the hot tub and mountain views.

Photos: Tourism Tasmania / Kevin O’Daly / Evolve Spirits Bar and Adam Gibson / Scott Sporleder, Matador; Sean Fennessy / Maria Island Walk

Instead of coming to a standstill in winter, Maria Island Walk simply adapts to the season. The twonight Winter Escape gets you onto the island for hiking, spotting wildlife and learning about history at a time when annual visitation is at its lowest. Choose to do short walks or longer hikes. Evening meals and overnight stays are in the heritage-listed Bernacchi House. On a clear night you may catch Aurora Australis.

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Sweet & salty Sleep beside the Inglis River at Coastal Pods Wynyard on the north-west coast. These wellinsulated, up-cycled shipping containers share an outdoor fire pit and offer north-facing decks. Port Pod has been carefully designed with ramped access. Within easy reach are fish and chips from Wynyard Seafoods on the Wharf and the riverside boardwalk. For a day out, head west to Sisters Creek for morning tea at Cuppa, Cake & Collectables. Go inland to Mawbanna to one of Tassie’s oldest family-owned commercial apiaries, Blue Hills Honey, where the on-site Colony Cafe serves truffle-infused toasties and mead. Carrry on to see the Big Tree and hexagonal basalt columns of Dip Falls.

ROAD SAFETY TIP Although car maintenance is important all year round, it’s vital in winter when wet or icy roads and low light are common. Turn to p. 55 for some tips on how to get your car winter ready.

Photos: Name Here

These well-insulated, up-cycled shipping containers share an outdoor fire pit.

City slickers On a cold day in Hobart, visit kunanyi/Mount Wellington to see what the mountain has prepared for you. You may be able to drive to the Pinnacle or, if there’s ice and snow, park at the Springs and walk in a winter wonderland. Hobart festivals and events run throughout winter. The new Home Hearth Market, every second Sunday at the LongHouse, is hosted by Nayri Niara. It unites First Nations people’s ancient knowledge with modern innovation of all practices and cultures to show what’s working in the world. Take your appetite. Alabama Hotel has a groovy retro lounge thing going on for afternoon drinks. Hang out on the docks at MACq 01. Book ahead for dinner at Templo or Bar Wa Izakaya. On cold evenings Preachers has music blasting and an open fire roaring. The state’s winter conditions, especially at higher altitudes, can affect best-laid plans, so keep an eye on the weather and always have a Plan B up your windproofed sleeve.

ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

WINTER ROAD TRIPS MEASURED IN MOMENTS, NOT KILOMETRES

A frosted windshield signals the promise of a classic Tasmanian winter road trip. Coffee stops. Lunch at a local bakery, or a pub with a log fire. Walk to a waterfall. Visit a winery, or take a detour or two and simply explore. Whether it's a day, a night or a week away, it’s as simple as packing a coat and a beanie and getting out there. Winter isn’t for everyone, but it is for us.

discovertasmania.com.au/road-trips

It’s our Off Season.

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TOO OFTEN RUSHED through by visitors on their way to other, big-name destinations, the Sorell region is deserving of much more than a day trip, Amanda Vallis discovers.

Photo: Driftwood Cabin

Stay a little longer in...

SORELL

ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

SORELL

LEWISHAM DODGES FERRY

BREAM CREEK

MARION BAY

PRIMROSE SANDS DUNALLEY

Local flavour An exciting new dining destination that fuses food with the surrounding landscape of Marion Bay, Van Bone is the new kid on the block in Tasmania’s culinary scene. Offering a set menu of up to 14 courses across a four-hour period, chef Timothy Hardy’s food is intended to challenge and excite, utilising ingredients grown locally or in the on-site garden, designed in collaboration with Hannah Moloney of Hobart’s Good Life Permaculture. The immersive experience has been painstakingly curated by Timothy and co-owners interior designer and architect Laura Stucken and garden manager Joe Nalder. 48

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Photos: Adam Gibson; Tourism Tasmania / Andrew McIntosh, Ocean Photography

he Midway Point Causeway is a mere 20-minute drive from Hobart’s CBD but, with expanses of water either side, traversing it feels like driving across the ocean. Beyond the bridge is Sorell, the gateway to an area of Tasmania often overlooked in favour of the East Coast or Bruny Island. While the local hamlets of Lewisham, Carlton Beach, Primrose Sands and Marion Bay have long been prized weekend shack locations for locals, its close proximity to Hobart has meant that visitors often relegate the region to day-trip territory. But with a growing number of notable food and accommodation offerings, all minus the crowds, setting aside a week or so to explore this little pocket of south-eastern Tasmania is well worthwhile.

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THIS SPREAD

(Clockwise from left) On the plate at Van Bone; vintage finds in Sorell; fresh baked at Bream markets; Dodges Ferry; Van Bone’s founders.

Twenty-minutes down the road, on a hill overlooking a popular surfing spot in Dodges Ferry, Park Beach Café offers a deliberately low-key menu. Pick up an omelette roll with goats cheese and greens or a bowl of piping hot porridge for a post-beach brekkie along with killer coffee by Hobart-based roaster Straight Up. Launched by ex-Franklin restaurateur Ben Lindell and recently taken over by Will Kingston, there are plans to launch Thursday and Friday night dinner service, plus monthly pop-ups featuring local produce from the peninsula. For a no-frills affair, it’s hard to go past Dunalley Fish Market. Forget prawn cutlets or potato cakes, there is only one item on the menu at Dunalley Fish Market: the fisherman’s basket. A lucky dip of whatever was caught that day, the paper package typically consists of battered white fish, calamari and squid piled on top of a mountain of crisp hot chips with a couple of lemon wedges thrown in. It’s best enjoyed at one of the outside tables while watching boats pass by. Venture just on to Dunalley Bay Distillery’s new beachfront Tasting Hut in Murdunna, for craft gins blended with native botanicals.

Shop and stretch There are plenty of ways to fill the time between meals while visiting the region. Bream Creek Farmers Market operates on the first Sunday of the month and is the best place to get your hands on quality produce grown in the area. See out a leisurely morning at this community-

Bream Creek Farmers Market is the best place to get your hands on quality produce grown in the area. run farmers market and grab a coffee or a glass of wine, catch some live music and meet local growers, farmers, cooks, brewers and makers. If all the rolling hills and coastal views don’t leave you feeling blissed out enough, turn up the zen-factor with a visit to Horizen Yoga Studio. Part of the Healthy Horizons fitness centre at Dodges Ferry, this inviting studio is located between Lewisham and Carlton Beach. Complete with a state-of-the-art infrared heating system, classes here are the perfect antidote to chilly Tassie winters. Combine it with a cold dip in the ocean before or after a session. For the antique lover, Sorell is a goldmine and well worth a stop on the way back through to Hobart. The town is dotted with a number of antique and thrift stores, with Sorell Antiques Centre the highlight. Housed in the town’s original 1862 School of the Arts building, this antique lovers’ paradise is operated by 12 independent Tasmanian antique dealers. With a full 300 square metres of antique furniture, china, glassware, collectables, militaria and books, allow enough time for idle meandering. ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

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The Pod at Lewisham is the ultimate modern coastal shack. #Shacklife is a way of life for many Tasmanians and thanks to platforms like Airbnb, the weekend shack tradition is now easily shared. The Pod at Lewisham is the ultimate modern coastal shack. Described by Grand Designs Australia TV host Peter Maddison as a ‘'love letter to Tasmania”, this 40-square-metre retreat is owned by Hobart-based creative and author Alice Hansen. Featuring floor-to-ceiling glass and a Huon pine bathtub with sweeping views across Frederick Henry Bay, this is tiny-house living at its best. Just around the bend at Dodges Ferry is a more traditional shack accommodation option, Cliff Top on Park. This cosy shack is decorated with foraged treasures and local artworks and boasts ocean views across Carlton Beach. Beds are decked out in beautiful French linen and 50

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(Left to right) Panoramic views from The Pod; the fire pit beckons at Driftwood Cabin.

the outdoor tub is perfect for luxuriating with a good book and glass of wine. Head to nearby Primrose Sands and you’ll find the home of celebrity chef Sarah Glover, Driftwood Cabin, now available for shortterm rental. This waterfront property is ideal for cooking enthusiasts who fancy catching their dinner (fishing and diving for scallops is encouraged). Cook outside over the fire pit or make use of the Traeger Grill and fully equipped chef’s kitchen. Take a stroll along the beach, read a book on the deck, and settle into the relaxed beach lifestyle this region does so well. Road safety tip With any road trip, make sure you take your time and have a rest from driving. Luckily, in the Sorell region there are lots of beaches that are perfect for stretching the legs and getting some fresh air.

Photos: Adam Gibson; Driftwood Cabin

Shack up

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Follow the 20-20-20 rule - every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Specsavers optometrist, Matt Bennett says, “While these exercises won’t save you from wearing prescription glasses or contact lenses, they can be especially useful to help with digital eye strain if you spend a lot of time in front of screens.”

Wear sunglasses that block out UVA and UVB radiation from sunlight. “Polarised lenses also help reduce glare reflecting off surfaces and can be used in prescription sunglasses,” adds Matt.

EAT THE RIGHT FOODS There are certain vitamins that contain antioxidants that may be beneficial for good eye health. Eat broccoli, strawberries, spinach, carrots and citrus. Why? They contain vitamins A, C and E or zinc, which are great for eye health, as are foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon.

Your place of work, or around the home, you could be exposed to chemicals, sharp objects or materials such as wood shavings, so it’s important that you look after your eyes with appropriate eye protection. GET TO KNOW YOUR FAMILY

QUIT SMOKING

Sight threatening conditions such as glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration can be hereditary. Find out if your parents or grandparents experienced them, so you can take precautions early.

If you smoke, you’re more likely to develop Type 2 Diabetes, increasing your chances of developing a sight threatening eye conditions. For help in quitting, call Quitline on 13 7848 or visit quit.org.au.

While these tips are great for everyday use, it’s a good idea to get your eyes checked regularly by an optometrist, just like regular check-ups with your doctor. Visit specsavers.com.au to book now.

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Heartlands Set off on a

road trip

eritage and history meet on a Heartlands road trip. From an ancient gathering place for Tasmanian Aboriginals to carefully preserved convict sites, a journey into Tassie’s heart offers countless ways to connect with the past. Winter is one of the best times to get out and explore it too, offering misty lakes and rivers, frost-touched landscapes and cosy stays in historic cottages.

Hitting the highway Drive back through time as you follow the Heritage Highway. Running between Launceston and Hobart through the heart of our island, this 200-year-old thoroughfare offers glimpses into Tasmania’s early colonial history with every quaint village and grand estate it passes. The Georgian streetscapes, heritage bridges, antiques stores and historic charm of the townships of Kempton, Oatlands, Ross, Campbell Town, Perth, Evandale and Longford beckon any history buff. 52

JOURNEYS // JUN / JUL 2021

Photos: Tourism Tasmania / Rob Burnett / Brian Dullaghan / Heath Holden / Chris Crerar / Graham Freeman / Adam Gibson

brought to you by Tasmania – Make Yourself at Home

A captive audience

Wild heritage

A Heartlands road trip may be leisurely these days, but its convict sites tell of darker times. Brickendon and Woolmers estates, found down a hedgerow-lined drive near Longford, are World Heritage sites where convicts laboured under the care of the Archer family (whose heirs still live in the Georgian manor). Sleep in convict cottages and roam the stunning gardens. Further south is Ross Female Factory: once home to convicts building the Ross Bridge and later to convict women and their babies.

The Central Highlands is a stretch of alpine moors, peaks and waterways dubbed Tasmania’s ‘lakes district’. Winter snow makes this rugged place in the north of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area even more otherworldly. Settle in at Thousand Lakes Lodge – an Antarctic training base turned boutique lodge – and get back to nature. Or go underground in Mole Creek Karst National Park with its geological wonderland of sinkholes, gorges and caves, including the glow worm-lit Marakoopa Cave and King Solomons Cave with its surreal shimmering rock formations.

Make sport of it The trout-filled waters in the heart of our island lure many a keen angler. Nineteen Lagoons, Little Pine Lagoon and the Meander River are three of Tasmania’s prime fly-fishing spots for wild rainbow and brown trout. Local fishing guides such as Trout Territory and Rainbow Lodge can lead you to the best spots. Check in with Trout Guides and Lodges Tasmania for a full list of accredited guides. For another genteel sporting pursuit, Ratho Farm offers old-school charm and Australia’s oldest golf course. Get cosy in Ratho Farm’s restored convict cottages and barns beside the Clyde River. And don’t forget your rods – there’s trout here, too.

Ancient experience

A matter of industry

For a cultural experience millennia in the making, visit tulampanga/ Alum Cliffs. The veins of ochre running through the rock first drew the pallitore people here and over time it became an important ceremonial and meeting place. Take the easy 45-minute hike – one of Tasmania’s 60 Great Short Walks – to the viewpoint over Alum Cliffs Gorge. Better yet, visit with the knowledgeable guides from Kooparoona Niara Tours, who provide a modern understanding of Aboriginal Tasmania before sharing this place of ancient significance.

Trace the merino industry back to its Midlands origins at the Tasmanian Wool Centre in Ross. Admire the southern hemisphere’s largest collection of steam engines at Pearn’s Steam World in Westbury. Or follow the Highlands Power Trail out of pretty Bothwell to discover the birthplace of Tasmania’s hydroelectric scheme in the Central Highlands, stopping at Waddamana Power Station to pace the turbine hall where hydroelectricity was first generated more than a century ago. To plan your Heartlands road trip, visit discovertasmania.com.au/heartlands

ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

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Drive safe this winter

There are so many incredible spots around Tassie to explore in winter, but it’s important we get to and from our destinations safely. Before you hit the road, take some time to check your car is in good shape – particularly the tyres, windscreen wipers, lights and seatbelts. These kinds of things are relatively easy to fix, but if left unattended can lead to bigger problems and contribute to serious crashes or even fatalities. You also don’t want to get caught out in the cold with a flat battery, or with low oil and coolant levels, so regularly check under the bonnet as well. When out and about, drive carefully in wet, icy, dark and foggy conditions and adjust your travels as necessary. Watch out for road hazards such as excess water and black ice. And always remember to keep a safe distance between you and the car in front.

Photos: Tourism Tasmania / We Are Explorers

P For more, visit ract.com.au/drive-safely-this-winter

ROAD SAFETY TIP Ensure your car is winter ready by booking in for a service at AutoServe. Members get 10% off labour costs – call 1300 127 684. If you’re out and about, our roadside team conducts free battery checks – call 13 11 11. ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

the latest. Slow down for emergency vehicles Our roadside teams are out there every day, making sure Tasmanian motorists are safe. It’s time that we returned the favour.

We want to see our roadside vehicles and tow trucks included in slow down for emergency vehicles legislation. The law, introduced in December 2019, means drivers must slow to 40km/h when passing stationary emergency vehicles with red and blue or magenta flashing lights. The State Government is currently reviewing the rule, and we’re calling for it to be extended to cover the flashing amber lights of roadside assistance vans and tow trucks. The evidence shows these workers experience the same risks as those in the emergency services: 56

JOURNEYS // JUN / JUL 2021

• In 2019-20, RACT Roadside attended 12,000 callouts to locations where the speed limit was 90km/h and above. • The latest survey of our roadside patrols found 75% experienced a near miss in the previous 12 months, with 60% of those experiencing more than one near miss. • Anecdotal evidence also suggests that drivers/riders are often distracted when there’s a road incident or breakdown.

As part of the review, members of our patrol teams took part in interviews to help the government learn more about their experiences on Tasmanian roadsides. We’ve also provided a submission to the government outlining how the laws in Western Australia and New South Wales cover roadside assistance vehicles and tow trucks. We’re expecting the review to be completed, along with any changes, over the coming months. Let’s help keep our patrols safe, before it’s too late.

community

YOUR BOARD

Sue Smith, Ulverstone Over the next 12 months our members can expect… continued good service, but at the same time I think they’ll recognise that we’ve got to be a little bit futuristic and we’re always looking for new opportunities to offer them. I enjoy being on the RACT Board because of… the collective spirit of the Board. Our Board members are all

highly experienced in different aspects, which gives us the diversity we need for the issues that arise. Particularly as a north-west coaster, I enjoy being a voice for the region. To me, road safety means… arriving at our destination safely on good road infrastructure. For a Tassie holiday I like to go to… the east coast. I don’t have a favourite spot in particular, but I think the advantage is that you can roam up and down. My favourite thing about Tasmania is… the people. There’s something to be said for a population of half a million people. It’s more localised, it’s friendlier. The smallness of it makes it special. Outside of RACT… I’m currently the President of the Ulverstone Rotary Club. I’ve always had an interest in local government and, as such, I’m a member of the Code of Conduct panel for local government in Tasmania. I’ve also had a past life on the Legislative Council and on the Tasmania Farmers and Graziers Association. My first car was… a small VW – it was an interesting colour, between a lemon and a green.

For a good cause

School’s back! Planning for term three? Our road safety experts would love to present interactive workshops at your school. Yippee! with RACT encourages children up to six years old to think about being safe in the car and on the road. Students join a group reading of our Yippee! story book, complete a ‘spot the dangers’ activity and get a copy of Yippee! to take home to the family. Our online program RACT RoadSafe helps grade three and four students explore road safety through activities, videos, games and quizzes. Ready for the Road is a presentation for grade 10s with a focus on getting a driver’s licence, safe driving tips and vehicle safety. Distracted Driving is a practical session for grade 10, 11 and 12 students. Supported by our professional instructors, students navigate a course in a dual-controlled driver training car while attempting to text, wearing vision-impairment goggles that simulate driving under the influence and travelling with passengers. For more information, visit ract.com.au/education

With the Vinnies CEO Sleepout fast approaching on 17 June, our Group CEO Mark Mugnaioni is getting ready for a cold night outside at Launceston’s UTAS Stadium – all to raise much-needed funds and awareness for those in our community who need support. If you’d like to help fight homelessness in Tasmania, all donations are greatly appreciated. Head to ceosleepout.org.au/fundraisers/markmugnaioni ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

community

How new cars keep us safe

Did you know Tasmania has the oldest vehicle fleet in the country? It currently sits at 13 years, which is particularly concerning given the average age of passenger vehicles involved in fatal and serious injury crashes is about 12 years. Vehicle manufacturers here and overseas are introducing a range of advanced safety technologies, with many helping to reduce road trauma. This is why we always encourage people to buy the highest ANCAP-rated car that they can afford. Let’s take a look at some of the features on offer:

Autonomous emergency braking systems use electronic stability control and sensors to detect the distance and speed of objects in your path and automatically brake to avoid crashes. Technology that uses Bluetooth and various apps to stop mobile phones from using the internet, sending texts or making non-handsfree calls while you’re driving. Intelligent speed adaptation uses GPS to alert you if you’re over the speed limit and can limit your speed automatically. Intersection collision warning uses radar systems to detect if a vehicle is approaching from your side at an intersection and alert you of a possible collision. Cameras and sensors can monitor head and eye movement to detect fatigue and distraction, such as mobile phone use.

3 4 5

Learn more about modern car safety features at ract.com.au/safety-features

Road safety quiz (p. 8) – Mobile A If you take your eyes off the road for two seconds

when driving 60km/h, your vehicle will travel more than 33 metres.* Using a mobile phone when driving can result in serious injury and fatal consequences for you and other road users. We all know that bad habits are hard to break, but it can be done. Visit our website to train your brain to drive in the moment. You can build a plan to help you respond to the temptation of checking your mobile and keep your eyes focused on the road. Visit ract.com.au/dangers-of-distracted-driving Flip to puzzles on p. 65 to test your road safety knowledge even further.

JOURNEYS // JUN / JUL 2021

* Solution source: StreetSmarts, Queensland Government, streetsmarts.initiatives.qld.gov.au/driver-distraction/factsheet

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Save up to 10% on GT Radial tyres when you show your membership card in store or enter the promo code ‘RACTTEN’ at the online checkout.* Check out ract.com.au/tyreright

Save 10% on all participating parking spots when you make a booking with Kerb. Receive 50% off Kerb’s transaction commission for the first year when you rent out a parking spot or driveway.* Download the app from the App Store or Google Play. Visit ract.com.au/kerb

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Get everything you need to keep the engine humming and everybody in your car protected with more than 20,000 products stocked at Repco. Save 5% when you show your membership card in store or enter your membership number at the online checkout. Plus, members enjoy access to exclusive offers and discounts.* Go to ract.com.au/repco

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STRAP IN RACT Child Seats Keep everyone safe on the road with expert help choosing and fitting the right seat for your littlest travellers from the team at RACT Child Seats. Save 5% when you buy a new child car seat (with fitting for free), plus $10 off on fittings for all seats.* See ract.com.au/car-seats

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Treat yourself to a day at the movies at Village Cinemas in Hobart, Launceston, Eastlands and Glenorchy and save on a general adult ticket. Pay $13.50 for a general adult ticket when you purchase an RACT Movie eVoucher through our partner Experience Oz.* See ract.com.au/village-cinemas

10% HIT THE ROAD Apollo RV Holidays Get a taste of van life with Apollo RV Holidays’ wide range of campervans, motorhomes and 4WDs. Get 10% off the daily rental rate of Apollo vehicles or on top of specials.* See ract.com.au/apollo

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Choose from more than 3000 iconic experiences in Tasmania and across Australia and New Zealand with travel expert Experience Oz. Save 10% when you book online through Experience Oz and enter your membership number.*

Save 10% on burgers with soul when you show your membership card at any Burger Got Soul restaurant in Tasmania.*

Go to ract.com.au/experience-oz-tas

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Visit ract.com.au/burger-got-soul

Located in leafy East Melbourne opposite the famed MCG, Quest East Melbourne is a stylish boutique hotel with serviced apartment-style rooms and a rooftop terrace offering Melbourne city views. Get 12% off the best flexible rate on your stay at Quest East Melbourne when you book online and enter the code ‘RACT’.*

SAVE

12% Ms Jane Person Card number

1234 5678 9123 4567 Member number

01234567 Member since

2018

Find our more at ract.com.au/quest-

east-melbourne

Visit ract.com.au/member-rewards for more

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10% WRAP IT UP Oakley Textiles Based in the centre of Hobart, Oakley Textiles is Tasmania’s top supplier of wholesale bedding, towelling and table linens. Get 10% off the Alliance Textiles range of pillows, doonas and mattress toppers when you show your membership card in store.* See ract.com.au/oakley-textiles

*Terms and conditions apply. Please see ract.com.au/member-rewards for more details.

Photos: iStock; Wineglass Bay Cruises

EXPLORE MELBOURNE Quest East Melbourne

art

advertorial

Go on, indulge Get out and about or treat yourself to something special with these products and experiences. THEATRE'S BACK

CRUELTY-FREE HAIR CARE

Theatre Royal Main Stage and Studio Theatre are open with more shows on than ever and a huge program including drama, dance, comedy and music. Don't miss Opera Australia's Carmen, with its live chamber orchestra and enigmatic femme fatale. Call on 6146 3300 or visit

De Lorenzo offers a full spectrum of Australianmade, vegan-certified hair colour and home care products that leave your hair nourished, beautified and brilliantly coloured. Naturally. delorenzo.com.au

theatreroyal.com.au

GET OUT THERE Australia’s leading small-group tour operator, Outback Spirit, has just dropped its 2022 touring season, full of extraordinary adventures everywhere from Arnhem Land to Tasmania and beyond. outbackspirittours.com.au

PAIN-FREE, NATURALLY

GOING WILD

Struggling with pains, cramps, restless sleep, osteoarthritis or PMS? Abundant Natural Health Magnesium is the perfect pain-relief package for the entire family. Order a free sample today.

One of the joys of travelling is seeing wildlife. So, when touring our beautiful state, look out for native animals: pademelons, wombats, echidnas... even a Tassie devil! Explore your wild side.

abundantnaturalhealth. com.au

worldanimalprotection. org.au

FLAMING GOOD

A CAPITAL STAY

Traeger invented the Original Wood-Fired Grill over 30 years ago in Mt Angel, Oregon, and continues to lead as the world’s top-selling woodfired grill, perfected by decades of mastering the craft of cooking with fire.

Stay at Forrest Hotel and Apartments, indulge in a cocktail inspired by Botticelli or Van Gogh at King O'Malley's and sip a free glass of sparkling on an art tour with Nancy.

traegergrills.com.au

JOURNEYS // JUN / JUL 2021

kingomalleys.com.au forresthotel.com nancysevergallery.com

puzzles

hgc004 1

Road safety quiz

9 10

16 17

19 22

2 Are there any scenarios when it’s legal to cross double continuous lines when driving?

1 At what height is it safe for children to move from a child car seat into an adult seatbelt?

3 Are motorcycle and bicycle riders allowed to ride two abreast within a single lane? 4 What colour is the P on a Tasmanian P2 plate?

5 Do you need to indicate when reversing?

Crossword

228 Ranking A new and servant in a royal Australian/A Aboriginal woman who passed or improved noble household (6) away in Hobart in May, 1876 (9) merican actor 9 Australian/American version (6) actor 4 Unconsciousness due 28 A form Basic monetary Mel _ _of graffiti _ _ _using _ paper Mel _ _ _ _ _ _ (6) to seizure (8) 2315 The unit of (9) and paste (5-3) UnableSI to do or achieve units of (6) 10 Award-winning Aboriginal 29 Diminish (6) 17 magnetic Select carefullyflux with a artist Albert _(8) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (9) Honduras particular purpose in mind density (6) 11 An introduction (colloq.) (5)15 Unable Down to do or (4-4) Angry and 12 Cut corners (5) achieve (9) Relating to Venice or its 2518Interlace threads 1 Completed (8) 13 Transparent adhesive tape agitated (colloq.) people (8) 2 Basic monetary units of 17 Select carefully so as to form (trademark) (9) (3,2) 20 Oppressively constant; Honduras (8) 14 Dodging (7) with a particular fabric (5) relentless (7) 3 Angry and agitated 16 Leaf (4) Famous purpose 21 Period or act of preparation (colloq.) (3,2)in mind 19 Glance over (4) racehorse whose for a match (4-2) (4-4) 5 Famous racehorse whose 21 Disposed material that's 22 A new and improved heart is now on display in been misused heart is on or unused (7) 18 Relating to version (6) Canberra (4,3) 24 Something display in that's 23 The SI unit of magnetic flux 6 A weapon or usedits by the Venice unexpectedly enlightening (3,6) Canberra (4,3) density (6) German army in WWI, 25 Having one thick end and people (8) 25 Interlace threads so as to now banned (6,3) tapering to a thin edge (5) Wepon used by 26 Without prior planning (2-3) 7 Ensnare (6) form fabric (5) 20 Oppressively the Germans in constant; WW1. Now Want to find out how you did? Find the relentless (7)answers online at ract.com.au/puzzles banned (6,3) 21 Period or act of Ensnare (6) preparation for a

Down

Across 1 Completed (8) 1 Squalid (6)

27 Prominent Tasmanian

6 What’s the minimum safe passing distance to pass a bicycle rider when travelling in speed zones higher than 60km/h? 7 What is the maximum legal blood-alcohol level to drive? 8 How far away from another car do you need to be to use your high beam headlights? 9 What’s the default speed limit in built up city areas without speed signs? 10 Are bicycle riders allowed to ride on footpaths?

WIN Put your safety knowledge to the test and go into the draw to win one of two $50 Woolworths WISH Gift Cards. Please complete the online form to make a valid entry. T&Cs apply. Good luck! ract.com.au/competitions

ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

rear view.

Tasmania as captured by our talented members

PICTURED (clockwise from left) // @azra_lee_photography conquered Ben Lomond’s famed Jacob’s Ladder; @iron_explorer caught the turning of the fagus at Cradle Mountain; an Eastern Spinebill busy feeding at Strahan paused long enough for David Cooke to get his shot; a still day greeted Derri Gundry in the Huon Valley.

Want to see your photo here? Send your shots of our beautiful island to journeys@ract.com.au or tag us with both @ractofficial and #yourjourneys on lnstagram, Facebook or Twitter.

JOURNEYS // JUN / JUL 2021

Will you leave 1% to give them a life worth living? Your legacy is important to them. With just 1%, you can make a world of difference. Scan the QR code for more information

Journeys June/July 2021

Articles inside

Tasmania’s most bracing time of year

Travel news

and our safety quiz

Group CEO

Our members share

in St Helens