Still stoked The senior water-sport enthusiasts who love Tasmania’s coastline
Summer secrets Four locals share their special summer place
Meet the wooden-boat restorer pouring his heart and soul into a 1976 Herreshoff Nereia.
Spring Beach in Orford, with Maria Island in the distance.
We acknowledge the ancient history of the traditional owners of Lutruwita, and their continuing connection to family, community, and the land, sea, and waterways. We pay our deepest respects to those who have passed before us and acknowledge today’s Tasmanian Aboriginal people, and their enduring connection to this island. We stand for a future that profoundly respects and acknowledges Aboriginal perspectives, culture, language and history.
family road trip in the
The latest RACT community news
Changing gears
big issues affecting RACT and our members
State growth
road safety for everyone
Member rewards Savings available now
and quiz
welcome.
A word from our GCEO
As we head into our warmest season, it’s the perfect time for Tasmanians and visitors alike to explore everything our beautiful state has to offer.
Whether you’re planning a coastal getaway, a road trip to a hidden gem or an inland escape to enjoy Tasmania’s stunning wilderness, we’re here to help make sure your summer adventures are safe and memorable.
With bushfire season now in full swing, it’s more important than ever to stay alert and heed official warnings to keep yourselves and your communities safe. Bushfires can be unpredictable; monitoring local fire danger ratings and staying informed via the Tasmania Fire Service and emergency alerts is crucial. Whether you’re at home or on the road, being vigilant can make all the difference in safeguarding your loved ones and property during this critical period.
Road safety continues to be at the core of what we do. In October, our team attended the Australasian Road Safety Conference in Hobart, where we joined global experts and thought leaders to share and learn about the latest advancements in road safety. Key topics included rural road design, speed management, crash prevention strategies and ways to improve infrastructure in highrisk areas – insights that are particularly relevant to Tasmania’s unique road conditions. These discussions reinforced our commitment to ensuring the safety of all Tasmanians, whether driving in urban areas,
navigating rural roads, or venturing into remote regions. The knowledge gained from this conference will directly shape our ongoing advocacy and community initiatives, helping us reduce road trauma and protect lives. Looking ahead, we’re also proud to support the 100% Devils campaign, backing Tasmania’s bid for its own AFL team. This campaign represents more than just sport; it’s about Tasmanian pride and bringing our community together behind a common goal. We know how important this milestone is for the future of Tasmanian sport, and we’re eager to see the Tassie Devils take their rightful place on the national stage. As passionate Tasmanians, we’re proud to stand behind this initiative, and we encourage all our members to get involved. You can find more details about how to support the 100% Devils campaign in this edition.
At RACT, our mission is to ensure that our members feel supported in every aspect of their journey. Whether it’s through road safety initiatives, providing reliable roadside assistance, or inspiring you to discover new corners of our beautiful island, we’re committed to being by your side – every step of the way.
Mark Mugnaioni // RACT Group CEO
Alison Flakemore
Pieter Kolkert
Tony Coleman, Mark Grey, Alex McKenzie, Keryn Nylander, Jenny Richardson, Ian Gillespie
GROUP CEO
Mark Mugnaioni
Emma Jackson
LETTERS
SIGNS TO SAVE OUR SWANS
Living close to nature is a wonderful experience, but seeing the unnecessary death of precious creatures is frustrating. Many black swans live and breed near the causeway of the old Bridgewater bridge. Each year l watch delighted as the cygnets grow and wander around my property below the bridge – but a simple sign to inform motorists of the breeding season and to be mindful when driving is something
that no department will entertain. When l lived at Dolphin Sands during the echidna breeding season, we would often see these adorable little creatures wandering across roads looking for their mate. Can we not have road signs giving motorists information on breeding seasons? With so many native animals losing their lives as roadkill annually in our state surely this makes sense.
Kathleen Miller
Footpaths are for people, not parking
Is it illegal to park across a footpath? It makes me angry to try to manoeuvre around cars that park across the pathway. It seems this is not being policed, and the practice is proving dangerous, as pedestrians have to use the roadway. Please make people aware of the dangers of cars being parked illegally. Perhaps some TV advertisements.
Sandra Hodge
Editor’s note: In Tasmania, it’s illegal to park across a footpath, as it obstructs pedestrian access and forces people onto the road, posing a safety hazard. If you encounter illegal parking on footpaths, you can report it to your local council, which is responsible for enforcing this law.
A safer option for wildlife warnings
Referring to John’s wildlife tips in the Autumn 2024 edition of Journeys, he writes about the Shoo-Roo and how effective it is. So much so that the Hydro had them fitted to vehicles, until a vehement complaint came in from a horse-riding club. Riding alongside a road, they were passed by a Hydro vehicle with its ShooRoo activated. The horses were so spooked that they bolted. I haven’t
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.
seen a Hydro vehicle fitted with a Shoo-Roo for years. A while ago I wrote you a letter singing the praises of the whistles (about $6 a pair) that can be stuck on the front of one’s car. I think they work by alerting the animals you’re on your way, and they’re less inclined to panic.
Geoff Iliff
journeys@ract.com.au
@ractofficial
The winners of our RACT Member Rewards ‘Win a $10K Solar Installation’ competition have been announced!
Andy and Corri, from Sheffield, are the winners of an exciting new solar package. They will be getting:
• 18 x AIKO 460W solar panels with a 25 year warranty
• 1 x Fronius 8kW GEN24 inverter made in Austria with a 10 year warranty
• German engineered Schletter railing system with a 25 year warranty
Connect with our solar experts today to discover the ideal solar energy solution for you. We have a winner!
Scan the QR code to find out more or call us today for your free solar and battery quotes!
Winners Andy & Corri, from Sheffield, are delighted and excited to start their solar journey with this fabulous new prize.
RACT members receive a free solar monitoring device with the purchase of a new solar system. T&Cs apply.
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lifestyle
Highland fling
Dust off your bagpipes and don your best kilt for a high-energy mashup of Scottish, Celtic and IrishTassie culture at the Tasmanian Highlands Gathering, held in Miena on 21-23 February. Embrace your inner Highlander and join fellow enthusiasts for a weekend of Celtic music, Tasmanian whisky, Scottishinspired food, Highland hospitality and stunning views of the Great Lake region. Last year’s inaugural event was such a success that the event is back for its second year with an expanded drums and pipes display, hands-on workshops and even a quirky Scottish dog show.
what’s on.
Out and about this summer in Tasmania
31 JANUARY-2 FEBRUARY 2025
FESTIVALE
Under historic elm trees at Launceston’s iconic City Park, this three-day event showcases the best of Tasmanian food, cool-climate wines and local brews. Enjoy live performances, including Fresh Comedy on Friday, plus celebrity chefs.
3-5 JANUARY 2025
Good Gumnuts Festival
Join the crowds as this beloved event returns to the Huon Valley after two sell-out years. Enjoy an unforgettable mix of music, comedy and art suitable for all ages. Doors open at 9am, with performances from San Cisco, Hockey Dad and more.
28 FEBRUARY-2 MARCH 2025
SPOKE Motorcycle Festival
This three-day festival on the East Coast celebrates motorbikes and the joy of racing and riding in Tasmania. The annual event features races, demonstrations, Tassie food and drink, local art and music, workshops, and camping (or glamping if you prefer a bit of luxury).
27 JANUARY Sandy Bay Regatta
Head for the water at this historic yacht race featuring thrilling competitions on the Derwent. Tuck into delicious local food from stalls along the scenic Sandy Bay foreshore.
20-23 FEBRUARY Clarence Jazz Festival
Check out a mix of free concerts and ticketed events at venues around Clarence. Unique features include an ambassador program with renowned jazz artists on show.
22 FEBRUARY Koonya Garlic Festival
The scenic Koonya Valley will celebrate all things garlic with cooking masterclasses, expert talks, a garlic growers’ competition, live music and local artisan produce.
Want to tell us about your event or product? Reach us on journeys@ract.com.au
6-11 JANUARY 2025
Hobart International tennis tournament
It’s game, set and match in the new year at the must-see sporting event of the summer, featuring more than 50 of the world’s top female tennis players. Enjoy waterfront views, local food and a vibrant atmosphere, including kids’ activities and player appearances.
10-12 JANUARY 2025
Cygnet Folk Festival
Get ready for a weekend of folk, roots and world music, with over 100 performances. This community festival is a summer highlight for music lovers and artists alike, drawing thousands to the picturesque Huon Valley. Engage in hands-on workshops and explore the arts market brimming with local crafts.
8-9 FEBRUARY 2025
Tasmanian Wine Festival
In 2025, this annual event features more Tassie food producers and vineyards than ever. The two-day celebration will showcase more than 35 Tasmanian vineyards and winemakers, along with a curated food selection and a lively lineup of local artists, plus the Melbourne Ska Orchestra.
28 DEC 2024-4 JAN 2025
Tasmania’s Taste of Summer
Join the festive fun and kick off the new year with Tassie flair at nipaluna/ Hobart’s waterfront. Celebrate local flavours with over 80 stalls and groove to a stellar program of Tasmanian artists, plus a special Aussie act for New Year’s Eve, complete with breathtaking fireworks.
SOLO STAYS
Road trips with friends and romantic mini breaks are great, but there’s no rule against flying solo on holiday. Nola James rounds up five great getaways that are just the ticket for a little ‘me time’.
1 The Ship Inn, STANLEY
On the doorstep of Stanley’s The Nut reserve, this historic hotel stands out for its mustard-yellow exterior and pitched tin roofs. Inside are elegant individual suites with king beds, full ensuites with Salus amenities and windows overlooking the bay. No kids allowed here, either – just windswept nautical vibes and reliable wi-fi.
@shipinnstanley
2 The Tasman, HOBART
This luxury waterfront hotel is one of only two Australian stays recognised in the World’s 50 Best Hotels 2024. Pavilion rooms have floor-to-ceiling water views, but our pick is the St David’s Park Suite, with its fireplace and soaking tub. Hotel restaurant Peppina, a destination in its own right, has a sensational Italian-inspired breakfast buffet. @thetasmanhobart
3 Cambridge House, GEEVESTON
An 1870s Victorian home turned ryokan-style retreat, Cambridge House is so much more than a bed and breakfast. At restaurant Shio, meaning ‘salt’ in Japanese, chef Kazumasa Yazawa’s degustation
features 14 carefully crafted courses, each highlighting local produce such as hand-dived abalone, bluefin tuna and freshwater eel. Brekky is a must, too.
@cambridgehouse_tasmania
4 Wahroonga on Bourke, LAUNCESTON
This self-contained studio apartment on the bottom level of a Federation home has city views. The space has been lovingly restored by Anthony and Leeroy, who live upstairs with their two charming springer spaniels. The kitchenette is kitted out with locally sourced breakfast supplies, including Bread + Butter croissants. Yum.
@wahroonga_on_bourke
5 The Cove, DEVONPORT
The Cove is an adults-only escape in the state’s far north. Think luxury hostel by the sea with a communal lounge with big-screen TV, a full kitchen, a 16-seat dining table, plus a sunny courtyard with day beds and loungers, and a day spa for massages and facials. When it’s time to retreat, private Cliffside chalets offer unobstructed Bass Strait views, while Cheviot A-frame cabins have skylights for stargazing.
@thecovetasmania
A mile in THE SHOES OF A wooden restorer boat
We speak with Bruny Island’s Alex Jerrim about his lifelong fascination with the water –and his obsession with rebuilding a 1976 wooden boat. Words by Sarah Aitken, photography by Sam Shelley
Alex Jerrim has always just loved boats. He remembers spending hours at the beach at Sandy Bay on his own as a little kid, off in his own maritime world.
“I would have been four or five years old, and even at that young age, I’d go to the beach on my own and I had an apple box stored under a tree. I’d sit in that and pretend I was in boats. I just developed this fascination with wooden boats!” His first real boat was “a glorified square surfboard that would sink within five minutes”. He then moved to a sabot – a small, flat-bottomed sailing dinghy – before trying a 12ft version.
His passion for boats only grew. He was determined to have a bigger boat, and his mum came through with a piece of advice that would change his world.
“My mother always said, ‘Darling, if you can read, you can do anything’. And I said, ‘Can I build a boat?’ And she said, ‘Of course you can.’
“So at age 14, I started to build myself this 16ft sailing boat. I finished that when I was about 18 – so over about a four-year period – and kept that for many years, and introduced my kids to sailing in it.”
Over his school years Alex would spend all his spare time at Jock Muir’s Battery Point boatyard, hoping to make a career of boat building.
“I used to ride my bicycle there nearly every night, and just sit there and look at the boats being built. They offered me a job there, but Jock convinced my father that there was no future in wooden-boat building, because this was the late ’60s, early ’70s – and he was right at the time; they were becoming a thing of the past as everything went to fibreglass and various composite materials.”
Meaning well, they talked him out of his dream career. Instead, Alex had a long, fulfilling one with the police, eventually specialising in driver education then turning to consulting. But he was always making something out of wood with his hands – be it an historic boat or an entire house.
Now living on Bruny Island, and with a little bit more spare time, he is focused on his first love: those beautiful wooden boats.
At last count, Alex and his friend had poured approximately 4000 hours of love and care into Taitoa, a 1976 boat built from kauri wood in New Zealand. A Herreshoff Nereia, she circumnavigated the world with her second owners, New Zealanders Robert and Lesley Swan. They eventually settled on Bruny Island, and after Taitoa changed hands a few times she landed with Alex. She was “a tired, very sad, dilapidated but very beautiful little boat”. He enlisted a shipwright mate, and together they’re restoring it – slowly.
“We worked out at one stage we had done an hour of sailing for every thousand hours of work we’ve done. It’s a labour of love!”
In February, the Australian Wooden Boat Festival returns to Hobart. This year’s theme is the Pacific, and boats from Hawaii, Tahiti, New Zealand, Cook Islands, New Caledonia, Japan and the US West Coast will join locally made ones along the Hobart docks.
Alex will be there, as will the Swans, who will sail up to the festival on Taitoa with Alex and another former owner, a surgeon from Western Australia.
The Australian Wooden Boat Festival is held in Hobart, 7-10 February 2025. australianwoodenboatfestival.com.au
drive
Big car for a big country
Toyota’s big American-style pick-up the Tundra was recently cleared for take-off Down Under after a gruelling development program. Toyota Australia launched the Tundra in November, following final approval of the local re-engineering project by its Japanese parent. The Tundra, like its rivals the RAM and Chevrolet Silverado, has been re-engineered from left to right-hand drive by Melbourne-based Walkinshaw Automotive, which has established itself as the leading player in the booming conversion segment. It’s the first time Toyota has worked with a third-party organisation anywhere in the world, and the Tundra had to undergo a six-year development process to meet
20/ AUTO NEWS
24 / 0-100: HONDA ACCORD E:HEV RS
25 / IN REVERSE: LAMBORGHINI COUNTACH
26 / ROAD TEST: HYUNDAI TUCSON HYBRID
the company’s quality and durability standards. The program included 300 Tundra prototypes being leased to Toyota customers for real-world evaluation. The big ute is based on the same platform as the LandCruiser 300 Series but is powered by a 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 sending a muscular 326kW/790Nm through a 10-speed automatic transmission. Part-time 4WD via a dual-range transfer case is standard, and the Tundra’s braked towing capacity is a mighty 4.5 tonnes. A Limited variant has been launched first, with a more upmarket variant expected to follow in early 2025. The Tundra has hit dealerships and showrooms with a price tag from $155,990, plus on-road costs.
auto news.
Get smart
Once known for its fuel-efficient microcars, Smart has been absent from the Australian market for nearly a decade but has returned as an EV-only brand with two new models. The Smart #1 and Smart #3 are positioned alternately as a small family SUV and a sporty compact SUV but are based on the same platform underpinnings, so differentiated mainly by styling. Described as “German designed and engineered premium electric vehicles”, they’re built in China thanks to Smart being a 50:50 joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Chinese car maker Geely. Both models are available in three grades and arrive brimming with tech and safety features. We like the lower, smoother styling of the Smart #3 which achieves slightly more range than the identically powered #1 thanks to its superior aerodynamics. Pricing starts at $57,900 (MRLP) for the entry-level Pro+, rising to $61,900 (MRLP) for the Premium, and reaching $70,900 (MRLP) for the Brabus. The standard drivetrain for #3 Pro+ and Premium is a 66kWh battery and single electric motor sending 200kW/343Nm to the rear wheels, while the Brabus gets a punchier 315kW/543Nm dual-motor drivetrain. Range-wise, the Pro+ claims up to 435km on the WLTP standard, and gallops 0-100km/h in 5.8 seconds. The Premium matches that acceleration but gets an additional 20km of range (455km WLTP), due to a different invertor and heat pump. But if you really want to go places in a hurry, the natty #3 Brabus looks the goods and stops the clock in a blistering 3.7 seconds, although its range is reduced to 415km (WLTP).
supplied
Photos:
FORD’S AUSSIE SKUNK WORKS
Most people might think that the Blue Oval ceased building cars here when Australian manufacturing shut down in 2016. But that’s not quite right, as a little-known facility at the company’s former Campbellfield, Victoria, manufacturing precinct has continued to make hand-built prototypes of future Ford models. The 1000th example of these Aussie-built future Fords recently came to light with the reveal in Germany of the Ranger PHEV (plug in hybrid electric vehicle),
which is due here in mid-2025. Our Ranger PHEVs will be built in South Africa but they trace their lineage to Ford Australia’s New Model Programs (NMP) facility, located in the old Plant 2 at Broadmeadows. The NMP team works on what Ford says are projects requiring “bespoke craftsmanship and agile manufacturing processes” – such as building engineering prototypes and ‘mules’. The electrified Ranger combines a 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder EcoBoost
petrol engine and 10-speed automatic gearbox with a 75kW electric motor and 11.8kWh battery. The combination delivers an electric-only driving range of more than 45km, while maintaining a 3500kg braked towing capacity and all the off-road capability of its ICEpowered stablemates. Like many of its rivals, Ford Australia is scrambling to have low-emission vehicles ready for when the government’s NVES (New Vehicle Efficiency Standard) kicks in from next year.
auto news.
The latest developments in the car world
THE COOL DUDES
Automotive air-conditioning has become such a ubiquitous factory-fitted option that it’s hard to imagine how its development and installation was once the domain of backyarders and small businesses. Cool Mavericks is a new book that documents the history of automotive air-conditioning in Australia and New Zealand, profiling the mavericks and entrepreneurs who embraced the idea long before the car industry woke up to it. Here are some highlights:
• Before the advent of automotive airconditioning, cars were kept naturally cool through a process known as the ‘four and sixty’ – four windows down at 60 miles an hour.
• When fully enclosed vehicles came on the market (around 1933) nobody thought about air-conditioning them. The flexible hoses that carried the refrigerants hadn’t yet been invented and the rigid copper tubing used in early attempts would often split, with the toxic refrigerant gases posing a fatal risk to vehicle occupants.
• The first production-line airconditioned car was the 1940 model Packard in Detroit, but it was not truly
factory air – the air-con was designed and installed by a company better known for cooling beer, with ice.
• It took a group of aftermarket mavericks in the hot and steamy state of Texas to drive the new industry forward, with Dallas-Fort Worth still regarded as the spiritual home of mobile air-conditioning.
• Aussie innovators weren’t far behind but with no manuals and no training, these mechanics, auto electricians and opportunists had to teach themselves about an accessory that most people, including car makers, branded a onehit wonder.
• By the 1970s and 1980s the demand for automotive air-conditioning in Australia was so great that some workshops had up to 20 mechanics on the floor, busily installing systems in all manner of vehicles.
• Thousands of imported cars were ferried in convoys from the wharves to small aftermarket workshops, to appear on the dealership floor next day sporting “factory-fitted air”. In fact, “factory air” was a common fib told by many dealerships, with most systems fitted by the aftermarket.
• Mark IV was a pioneer car airconditioning system born at the John E Mitchell plant in Dallas, Texas. It also became an Australian pioneer, popularised by the ‘little Aussie bleeder’ Norman Gunston, who appeared in TV ads throwing a bucket of water over passengers in a top-down convertible in a busy Sydney street.
• The global HVAC designer Air International Thermal Systems, now a major supplier to leading car makers including Land Rover, was born in Australia in 1967 when engineer Owen John, annoyed that his brand new Jaguar XJ6 was not airconditioned, bought a stack of parts and did it himself.
Cool Mavericks was authored by Mark Mitchell and Ken Newton as a project for VASA (Automotive Air Conditioning, Electrical and Cooling Technicians of Australasia) and is available exclusively at: vasa.org.au
Photos: supplied and IStock
A quality Accord
There’s a high-quality feel to the Honda Accord that speaks to the car maker’s decades as a top-flight Japanese manufacturer.
Story Harry Weller
Dual-cab utes and SUVs have become so ubiquitous on our roads that many Aussies will have forgotten what it’s like to drive a ‘regular’ car. But a recent stint at the wheel of the latest Honda Accord reminded Journeys of how good a drive a well-sorted medium sedan can be.
The level of polish and refinement on display in Honda’s new Accord shouldn’t really be a surprise, given the brand has been diligently refining the formula since 1976, with this 11th- generation model – the Honda Accord e:HEV RS – arguably the most premium yet.
There’s a hint of Audi in the side view, highlighted by crisp character lines and a roof that plunges down to meet a subtle boot-lid spoiler. From the front, the Accord sits low and wide with slim LED headlights flanking the black cross-hatch grille, with its central Honda logo set in blue to underscore the efficiency of its hybrid drivetrain.
Available exclusively with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine mated to dualelectric motors, the Accord hybrid boasts combined outputs of 152kW/335Nm. That may not sound like much in these days of stupendously powerful dual-motor EVs, but the instant torque of its impressively well-integrated electric powertrain ensures consistently lively performance.
Honda keeps it simple these days, offering the Accord as a single variant, the e:HEV RS, sold via a fixed-price, no-haggle sales model. As such, the Accord eschews the usual entry-level model grades to arrive generously equipped with features like a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, wireless smartphone charger, 12-speaker Bose sound system, 360-degree camera system and panoramic sunroof. The roomy cabin features supple black leatherappointed upholstery with classy red stitch highlights and a level of fit and finish that wouldn’t be out of place in a prestige car.
A drive-mode switch behind the leathertrimmed shift lever provides Eco, Normal, Sport and Individual modes, with Sport providing a satisfying change of personality. Performance here is brisk without being neckstraining, with the petrol and electric motors interacting harmoniously.
Honda has shown pleasing restraint in equipping the Accord with 18-inch alloy wheels and Michelin tyres, where many car makers forsake ride for aesthetics with oversized 19- and 20-inch combinations. As a result, ride quality is well judged and compliant while handling remains disciplined. Noise, voice and harshness (NVH) is well controlled and the steering accurate and well weighted, with a chassis that’s balanced and sure-footed.
Asking as it does a full price in a declining segment that’s dominated by Toyota’s fleetfavourite Camry, the Honda Accord is unlikely to register on the radar of too many newcar buyers. But those who take the time to sample its wares will come away convinced that this legendary Japanese car maker has not forgotten how to build a wonderfully refined and polished passenger car.
ENGINE: 2.0-litre petrol inline four-cylinder, DOHC, i-VTEC, (108kW/182Nm), twin electric motors (135kW/335Nm), combined output (152kW/335Nm)
TRANSMISSION: Electric Continuously Variable (E-CVT) with steering wheel deceleration paddle shifters
DRIVE TYPE: Front drive
KERB WEIGHT: 1609kg
0-100KM/H: N/A
For more visit honda.com.au
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Photos:
MODEL
Lamborghini Countach
ENGINE
3929cc V12 (280kW/365Nm)
CLAIM TO FAME
Fewer than 2000 examples of the Italian supercar were manufactured.
Poster child
It’s 50 years since the production version of the V12-powered Lamborghini Countach made its debut at the 1974 Geneva Auto Show. The extraordinary-looking wedge-shape machine became the definitive supercar of the 1970s and 1980s, and the poster every teenager had on their bedroom wall.
When wealthy Italian tractor maker Ferruccio
Lamborghini tired of finding faults with the expensive gran turismo cars he’d purchased from the likes of Ferrari and others, he decided to create a car company and build what he visualised as “a GT car without faults … a perfect car”. Automobili Lamborghini never did build that perfect car but it did give the world a machine often cited as the most beautiful ever created, the Lamborghini Miura, and followed that with the even more remarkable Lamborghini Countach, the styling cues of which have influenced every subsequent Lamborghini since.
The Lamborghini Countach was the work of legendary Italian automotive designer Marcello Gandini, who brought the house down at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show with his yellow LP 500 concept. Three years later the LP 400 production car arrived with aluminium body panels in place of steel, full tubular space frame, and a 4.0-litre mid-mounted V12 in place of the concept car’s 5.0-litre unit.
The alien-like extreme supercar completely upended the world’s view on
what a performance car could and should look like. Bristling with louvres, vents, scoops and NACA ducts, the Countach’s low, wide stance made it look glued to the tarmac, yet in side view it seemed to be travelling at 200mph even when standing still.
Complete with gull-wing doors to access the hulking beast, the driver first had to clamber over ridiculously wide sills to enter a snug cockpit bisected by a vast transmission tunnel to house the gearbox mounted at the front of the longitudinally mounted V12.
Sitting right behind the driver’s head, the all-alloy V12 was fed by six dualthroat Webers, delivering a thrilling soundtrack on its way to an 8000rpm redline, while propelling the flying wedge from standstill to 100km/h in 5.6 seconds, and onto a top speed of 316km/h.
Later variants of the Countach over the course of its 16-year model life were quicker and more powerful again, notably the 4.8-litre LP400S and the 5.2-litre Countach QV. Yet despite this remarkable longevity, fewer than 2000 examples of the Italian supercar were manufactured, with the best-selling variant being
1988’s 25 Anniversario edition. That car had a starring turn in Martin Scorsese’s film The Wolf of Wall Street, where the sight of the tragically trashed Countach after an ill-advised trip in the hands of an equally trashed Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DeCaprio) is enough to bring a tear to the eye of car lovers. In keeping with the Hollywood director’s legendary attention to detail, the film featured several real 25th Anniversary Countach, including the wrecked car that later sold ‘as-is’ for a cool $2 million.
A notable Tasmanian link to the Lamborghini Countach is Australian expat motoring writer Mel Nichols, who in 1976 wrote a feature story for British CAR magazine and Australia’s Sports Car World titled ‘Convoy!’ The piece, by the man who describes himself as a “Fearless Tasmanian”, features three Lamborghinis including a Countach being driven flat out from the Lamborghini factory in Sant’Agata Bolognese to England, and is regarded as one of the finest pieces of firstperson, experiential motoring journalism ever penned.
Story Harry Weller
ROAD test
Join Sarah Aitken and her family as they pile into the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid for a cruisy day trip from Hobart to Dodges Ferry, Carlton and Dunalley – complete with epic beach views, great coffee and plenty of room for the ride.
Words Sarah Aitken Photos Prime Perspectives
OOne of the best things about living in Hobart is the proximity to so many wonderful familyfriendly beaches, with almost every one of them being a short drive along some picturesque and uncrowded bit of coast.
It’s ideal for family day trips – it’s possible to explore a bunch of different spots in a leisurely half-day and make it home well before dark. On a bright and fresh Saturday morning we’re doing just that after packing all the essentials into the Hyundai Tucson, a medium-sized hybrid SUV really targeting the family market.
Two things immediately stand out in the Tucson entry-level N Line hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) we’re test-driving for the day: it’s roomy. Like littlelegs-couldn’t-kick-our-seatbacks kind of roomy, and the boot space is huge. Plus it has a series of small but significant safety features that make for smoother transitions, such as when using phones to navigate or play music or podcasts.
The long, clear display screen running from the centre of the dash right through to behind the steering wheel is simple and easy to read, even with the sun shining in, and the ability to operate the basics of the stereo system from buttons on the steering wheel itself means you never need to take your eye off the road, your hand off the wheel or your attention from the drive. It might seem tiny, but it makes such a difference when your concentration is already split between the road before you and the busy back seat.
We have a quick potter around the Hobart docks before taking off to the north, crossing the Tasman Bridge as the Mona Roma ferry makes its way up the River Derwent. We do some plane-spotting as we pass the airport then on through Midway Point, before turning off at Sorell to head east to Dodges Ferry and Carlton then Dunalley.
When we arrive in Dodges it almost feels like we’ve entered an advertisement for the perfect family-friendly suburb: it’s buzzing in a Tassiecasual kind of way, with unaccompanied kids on bikes getting themselves ice-cream then onto the beach, living the life. We follow their lead and try Beach Bums, a one-year-old cafe opened by the same crew who dreamt up the iconic mountain cafe Lost Freight at The Springs on kunanyi/Mt Wellington.
Beach Bums, right opposite Park Beach, has a similar vibe to Lost Freight in that the coffee is excellent and the snacks delicious, though all are served with a beachier tone and a decidedly lower chance of snow. For kids and grown-up-kids alike, it’s important to note that it sells scoops of the best ice-cream in Tasmania: Van Diemens Land Creamery (that’s the one served at ‘the ice-cream boat’ at Constitution Dock).
THE SPECS
PRICING $54,395 driveaway
BODY STYLE Wagon
SEATING 5-seater
ENERGY CONSUMPTION n/a
ANCAP SAFETY RATING 5 STAR
ENGINE TYPE 1.6L petrol turbo
BATTERY Lithium-ion polymer battery with 1.49kWh capacity
CHARGING/PLUG n/a – charges from petrol engine
RANGE n/a
TRANSMISSION 6-speed automatic
DRIVE TYPE Front-wheel-drive
MAX POWER 172kW
MAX POWER 367Nm
It’s a little too early for ice-cream so we order great coffee, the best brewed soy chai I’ve had in Hobart in years, seriously good carrot cake that I will be thinking about for quite some time and cinnamon stars we recognise as coming from New Town’s brilliant Jean-Pascal Patisserie. Next time we’ll try the gluten-free fish and chips.
Park Beach is going off for the surfers, and after a little explore there we wind our way behind the beach and houses to the Carlton River wetlands, where it feels like another, quieter world behind the sand dunes with native scrub like flowering banksia, and bird life.
It’s nearly time for lunch so we take off again, really enjoying winding along Fulham Road with some pretty special river and coastal views on the way to Dunalley. The Tucson takes the corners smoothly, sending an alert anytime it notices a speed limit change or if the car verges a little too close to the white lines on either side of the lane. With so many safety features there is some beeping to get used to, but if it gets too obnoxious it’s possible to disable it with a long press of the steering wheel’s audio mute button.
The wind picks up a little as we drive through Dunalley’s mix of sweet old fisherman’s cottages and brand-new buildings that replace those lost in the devastating 2013 fires. We stop alongside the photogenic shallows of Dunalley Beach for a runaround, a kick of the ball and a picnic on the grass.
COMPARABLES
Toyota RAV4 HEV
Priced from $46,560
• impressive fuel efficiency, no frills
• lengthy wait times, no 360-degree camera, slow power tailgate
Priced from $45,950
• cheaper, more fuel efficient
• Front-wheel-drive-only platform struggles for traction
The Tucson seems squarely aimed at families looking to explore a more environmentally friendly and fuel-efficient vehicle as the cost of pretty much everything, including petrol, continues to rise. While a hybrid battery isn’t big enough to save significant amounts of fuel on extended trips, it’s a nice change to drive around town on electricity, switching to use more fuel on the highway for a bit more oomph. With a full tank at the start of the day the Tucson’s fuel predictor stated it could do a little over 800km – about double what our usual family car can do.
Soon it’s time to pack up the picnic and head back to town. Once back in Hobart it’s well and truly ice-cream o’clock, so we find a park right in front of the ice-cream boat (the aforementioned Van Diemen’s Ice Creamery – yes, we are obsessed). Sadly, the classic strawberry and mango have run out, but some scoops of vanilla, hazelnut and pepperberry with leatherwood honey more than suffice, making a perfect end to a lovely little day.
Scan the QR code or visit ract.com.au/ membership/journeys to see this Road Test brought to life on video.
Photo
Van Diemen’s Ice Creamery @vdlc.punt
Kia Sportage HEV
Lakeside retreat
Currawong Lakes, a wilderness escape set on 800ha of native bushland near Lake Leake, has reopened following a quick refresh. New owners Kim and Rod Forge – who also own Still at Freycinet, a luxury Nordic-style retreat in Coles Bay – have brought in local chef Chris Lucas for inhouse private dining while retaining the property’s fly-fishing, clay shooting and quad-biking offering. The Lake House, Currawong’s premium accommodation option, features three king bedrooms, lake views and a beautiful sandstone fireplace. For more, visit currawonglakes.com
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travel news.
Explore our state with Nola James
SPICY NEW ADDITION
Launceston’s first Sri Lankan restaurant, Salt & Chilli, has opened in the Quadrant Mall. The menu is built around kottu (chopped roti with vegetables, eggs and gravy) and aromatic curries made from spice blends sourced directly from the Sri Lankan owners’ hometowns.
MEET THE MAKER
Utzinger Wines, finalist for Best New Winery in this year’s Halliday Wine Companion awards, has opened a cellar door at its Legana winery. The new space, which owners Matthias and Lauren Utzinger largely built and designed themselves, was three years in the making. The 45-minute guided tastings are by appointment only. utzingerwines.com
LIGHT THE WAY
After five years at Hobart’s Farm Gate Market, plus a few more with their food van, Ryan Lynch and Sappho Brothers of Orlando Plenty have opened The Lanterns, a cafe and providore in Dunalley. The menu is all vegetarian, with plenty of vegan options, plus lots of “secret pantry weapons” to take home, Ryan says. The providore has a strong takeaway focus to cater to travellers; expect to see some familiar faces in Bream Creek Dairy, Huon Me Crumpets and Tasmanian Juice Press.
NEW LOOK FOR MURES
On Hobart’s waterfront, Mures Upper Deck has reopened after a significant refurbishment. “You wouldn’t recognise the place,” Will Mure says. The white walls and carpet are no more. In their place are deep-sea-blue hues, polished concrete and a state-of-the-art elevator for improved accessibility. The redesign also made room for Kelp Bar, a new late-night cocktail spot with a patio overlooking the dock. mures.com.au
3 OTRY G IFT STOR S
Alma Supply Store, Hobart
A global selection of hip household goods, from Japanese garden tools to South African textiles, at this city centre emporium.
The Store @ Design Tasmania, Launceston
Shop online or in person for local designs, including works by furniture designer Matt Dikkenberg and jeweller Alison O’Keeffe.
This bright-red store celebrates diversity and Tasmanian design through its range of children’s books, jewellery and homewares.
Red Parka, Hobart
With a village-like calm, Woodbridge is little more than 30 minutes’ drive – and yet worlds away – from Hobart. It hugs the shores of the D’Entrecasteaux Channel, with front-row seats to Bruny Island, writes Andrew Bain.
Woodbridge
EAT
General stores were never as cosmopolitan as the Woodbridge Village Store, where the deep space is largely given over to a cafe serving breakfast dishes and a menu of Vietnamese favourites – banh mi, pho, rice-paper rolls –for lunch. The walls have local art and photography for sale, and the sources of the produce out front can be measured in food metres rather than miles.
SHOP
Peering over its ridgetop paddocks into Bruny Island’s Great Bay, Grandvewe is well named. Ostensibly a food and drink stop with an open-deck cafe, the sheep farm is also the place for sheep-cheese tastings, purchases of Hartshorn spirits made from sheep whey (its vodka was named the world’s best in 2018) and Grandvewe’s own Ewe Care skincare range.
SEE
With a 2km walking trail that loops across bush-covered slopes, Art Farm Birchs Bay would be a lovely short bushwalk in its own right, even if it wasn’t dotted with dozens of open-air artworks. The trail begins through pear orchards and rises into tall native forest populated by an ever-growing collection of artworks
– from mosaics to scrap-metal sculptures – and keyhole views over the Channel.
DRINK
The water and island views at Mewstone’s beautiful timberand-glass cellar door, set among farmland beside the D’Entrecasteaux Channel, have as much character as the wines. Book ahead for a personal guided tasting of eight or nine Mewstone and hughes & hughes wines.
STAY
Backed up against bush on the slopes above town, Hill House Panorama is an eclectic, view-rich holiday rental that doubles in its offtime as a photo studio. The interior could pass as a hunting lodge or museum, and there’s 1.6ha of gorgeous garden wrapped around it. And did we mention the views, even from the bathroom?
ESSENTIAL STOPS
Woodbridge Village Store
Grandvewe
Art Farm Birchs Bay
Mewstone
Hill House Panorama
From top Mewstone; Art Farm Birchs Bay; Grandvewe
WOODBRIDGE
The PIT STOP
stillstoked
Meet the water-sport enthusiasts with a decades-long love for Tasmania’s coastline. Ruth Dawkins dives into the stories of senior swimmers, surfers and paddlers who call the ocean home.
Tasmania’s rivers, lakes and coastlines have long been a source of inspiration and adventure. But for many locals, the ocean is more than just a playground – it’s a lifelong passion, and a place where friendships are formed. What could be better than time spent in and on the water, discovering deep connections with the waves and each other?
Taking the plunge
Jan Hunt grew up in Caveside, a rural settlement at the base of the Western Tiers that’s almost 70km from the nearest beach. In 1957, the community united to build a pool on donated land, and Jan’s love affair with swimming began.
“I was never out of the pool as a little kid,” she laughs. “It was run by volunteers, including my parents. Later, we’d holiday near Devonport, and as an adult I lived in Wynyard where there are beautiful swimming spots. It’s something I’ve always enjoyed.”
When Jan retired from teaching, she moved to Bruny Island – a place she knew well from years of family camping trips. Now the island’s community librarian, Jan is also a member of Bruny Wild Swimmers – a group that meets for ocean swimming three times weekly.
For Jan, the physical aspect of swimming is deeply satisfying: both the calming, rhythmical motion, and the sensation of the water, which during a Tasmanian winter can be very cold indeed.
“It’s the tingle,” she says. “There’s something about that lovely feeling you get on your skin and the dry salt afterwards when you get out of the water. It just feels healthy.”
Clockwise from left Jan in the water; the Bruny Wild Swimmers; warming up with a chat and a cuppa afterwards.
Even more important, though, are the bonds within the group. “Our motto is that swimming saves lives,” says Jan. “There have been people who have experienced loss or had health issues, but the group is always there for them. We’re like a family, and the chat over coffee afterwards is just as important as the swim itself.”
Catching waves
The coastal community of Lewisham has been part of Rachael Joy’s life for almost five decades – first as a childhood holiday spot, and now as her home.
“Back in the 1970s, my family rented a little fibro shack near Park Beach,” she says. “My twin uncles would leave their surfboards on the beach, so I started off just playing around with their boards, teaching myself how to surf.”
Now living a short drive from Park Beach, which remains a popular and family-friendly surf spot, Rachael surfs as often as her schedule allows.
“I’ve passed along my old shortboard – the style of high-performance board you’d use in competition,” she says. “I’ve switched to an 8ft foamy, and it’s so much fun. There’s a lot of volume to the board –
Clockwise from right Jan taking an ocean swim; the dependable surf on The East Coast; Rachael hitting the waves with her board
which makes it easier to stand up – and you don’t need so many waves to head out surfing. You can just get in the water and enjoy it.”
While undergoing treatment for breast cancer two years ago, Rachael found that spending time in the water was an important coping mechanism and a way for her to start regaining a sense of power and control as she healed.
“The water is everything to me,” she says. “It’s a place of connection, beauty and empowerment – where all sorts of weird and wonderful things can happen. The good feelings I get from being in the ocean last for hours after I’ve been for a swim or a surf.”
Rachael says the surfing community has become more inclusive in recent years – especially since COVID lockdowns inspired people to enjoy the outdoors – and she is pleased to see more women and surfers with disabilities enjoying the sport.
“Surfing is becoming available to all people now, as it should be,” she says. “Life is about experience, not performance.”
TASSIE’S MUST-VISIT SUMMER SURF SPOTS
Park Beach, Dodges Ferry
A family-friendly surf beach just 35 minutes from Hobart, Park Beach offers reliable waves suitable for beginners and longboarders, with plenty of space for relaxing.
Cloudy Bay, Bruny Island
The vast expanse of Cloudy Bay provides pristine, oftenuncrowded conditions, with southerly swells that bring powerful surf. Perfect for more experienced surfers.
Clifton Beach, South Arm
Home to a Surf Life Saving Club and a well-established surf academy, Clifton Beach is a top surf beach. Consistent breaks cater to surfers of all levels.
The East Coast
You’ll find dependable surf between Bicheno and St Helens, but the clear waters and steady swells of Redbill Beach put it top of the list.
Marrawah, West Coast
One of Tasmania’s premier bigwave spots, remote Marrawah is renowned for its wild surf. Recommended for experienced surfers only.
Devonport, North West
The north coast has fewer big waves, but Devonport’s rivermouth breaks let surfers catch a wave alongside a cargo ship.
A passion for paddling
Sandy Bay resident Cas Pitt also grew up in the north of the state, but it was kayaking rather than swimming that first drew him to the water.
“My family weren’t kayakers, but my father was always interested in woodwork,” says Cas. “He had all the tools, so when I was 13, I built my first skinon-frame kayak – a 14-footer made from canvas and King Billy pine. It was a good entry point for developing my skills.”
Cas held onto that first kayak until he started university, at which point he stepped away from the sport for several years. But when he moved to Hobart in 1980 and saw there was an active paddling community along the Derwent, he was inspired to build his second kayak – an 18ft red cedar night heron – and also joined a group for the first time.
“When I met some of the guys from the Tasmanian Sea Canoeing Club, I wished I’d signed up a lot earlier,” Cas says. “It makes such a difference sharing the experience with other people. You go to more adventurous places, it’s safer and you can draw on all the resources and knowledge of the group.”
That sentiment is shared by Paul Wilkinson, another kayak enthusiast who organises day paddles through Hobart Walking Club, as well as multi-day group expeditions to locations including the Tasman Peninsula and Maria Island.
“For day paddles, it’s generally an older group, and
kayaking is great for that,” says Paul. “If people can’t bushwalk because they struggle with the weight of a pack, they can still get a workout without straining anything. There’s also a nice social element; some people describe it as a men’s shed on water.”
Longer trips can be more challenging, especially in remote parts of Tasmania like the Southwest wilderness. Paul recalls one occasion when the conditions forced his group to shelter for five days at Clayton’s Corner – a small cottage tucked among the trees on the banks of Melaleuca Inlet.
“It tends to be salt-of-the-earth people who can cope with a bit of adversity that take up kayaking, so we were fine,” says Paul. “We bunkered down and had a very social time, playing games and singing songs until the weather cleared.”
The dragon’s roar
You might not expect dragon-boat racing – a traditional 2000-year-old Chinese water sport – to be a popular activity in Tasmania, but in fact the state is home to seven teams.
Brendan Breen, a member of the Derwent Storms, recently returned from Italy, where the Senior C team (rowers aged 60 and over) competed in the IDBF 14th World Club Crew Championships.
“The Storms have been around for almost 20 years,” says Brendan. “My wife and I lived at Rose Bay, overlooking the water, and we’d often watch the rowers go past. When you see all that activity on the river, it inspires you to get involved yourselves.”
Travel to events and competitions is an important part of dragon boating – Brendan notes that fellow Tasmanians may have seen the distinctive 10m and 12m boats being transported up the Midland Highway to Lake Barrington, where it takes 16 people to carefully unload them from the custom-built trailer into the water.
However, Brendan is also keen to highlight that dragon boating is an accessible option for people seeking a team sport that doesn’t require a lot of lower-body strength.
“If you’ve had a life of crook knees from playing netball or football, dragon boats are ideal,” he says. “It’s the ultimate team sport because you’ve all got to be in sync to paddle efficiently. If one person’s a bit out, then it just doesn’t work.”
From left to right
The break at South Clifton; Cas out with the Tasmanian Sea Canoeing Club; the Derwent Storms dragon boating team on the water
When Tasmania happens.
Introducing Finn.
Our latest insurance campaign has launched, and it stars a local with a bit of a difference. He’s a bit cheeky. He’s a bit sleepy. And he weighs 600kgs.
Meet Finn the elephant seal, who is a great example of Tasmania happening when you least expect it. That’s what this campaign is all about. Our beautiful island can bring us a few unique surprises, but with the right insurance, you’ll be ready.
And while Finn might look realistic, he’s entirely CGI. We sat down with award-winning local animator, Adam Walker, to talk about how he brought Finn to life.
Would you mind telling us about Adam Walker Film?
Sure! I set up Adam Walker film way back in 1999. Coming out of a Bachelor of Architecture, I realised that film design was what I was really enthused by. I started working in production design, then original animations, first of all in Sydney and then back here in Tassie. Over the last 25 years the team has grown, and we’ve evolved from a few small, celluloid projects up to anything and everything digital.
What did you think when you were asked to animate a pesky elephant seal?
We were excited — we love creating animals and creatures, but often they’re cartoonish. It was an exciting challenge to work on a creature much closer to reality. As animators, we can bring personality and character to something that isn’t achievable with a traditional performance, so that was a lot of fun.
It must have been complicated. How did you do it?
We started from the inside out, by using a 3D scan of a real elephant seal skeleton to create our seal’s framework. From there we added musculature, and then a fair whack of blubber, which is fun to animate. Then we refined the balance between realism and a stylised character — we wanted to love the seal as much as we believe him to be real. To make him move, we literally just move the skeleton. The bones drive the muscles, which manipulate the layer of blubber, which wobbles the skin. It’s how real seals operate, after all. So we followed that.
When Tasmania happens.
Whether it’s a dented wheel or rogue seal, we’ve got you covered with our comprehensive car insurance. Get a quote today.
Was it all done in your studio? Or did you get involved on set?
We brought a life-sized, 3D printed version of the seal’s head to set, so the actors had a physical representation of the character to interact with. The most important part of it was the eyes. Having real eyelines between the actors and the seal was vital, so when we animated the seal later on the interactions and performances felt genuine.
It was also really important to get the size right. Elephant seals are huge creatures, and we needed everyone to have a sense of just how big he was (and how much damage he can cause!)
What do you hope Tasmanians feel when they meet the seal?
I hope it reminds them of the amazing environment we live in, and the incredible creatures we share it with. Also, I hope it helps people realise that you can do this sort of work in Tasmania. Digital work travels the same wherever you are, but we get the cultural benefit of living in this place. So many high-end, remote-working artists and technical experts call Tasmania home, and what we’re able to do from down here is pretty exceptional.
“We love creating animals and creatures, but often they’re cartoonish. It was an exciting challenge to work on a creature much closer to reality.”
Scan here to discover more about how we can help ‘When Tasmania happens.’
Adam Walker on location with the life-sized, 3D printed version of the seal’s head.
As the sun pours down on Tasmania, the difficult decisions begin: do you seek out one of the 1,000-plus beaches, scale one of the hundreds of mountains or head for a cellar door, farmgate or berry patch? We ask four prominent Tasmanians for their special summer place on the island. Words Andrew Bain.
summer secrets
Bianca Welsh, restaurateur
IANCAWELS
Launceston’s Bianca and James Welsh have long loved summer walks into Wineglass Bay, but when kids arrived, the owners of Stillwater Restaurant decided that holidays needed to be easy. And for that, they only needed to look up the road to Bicheno.
“The beaches at Bicheno aren’t too vast – they’re nice and small and pretty safe; we just stop on a beach wherever we’re wandering,” Bianca says.
As restaurateurs, Bianca and James instinctively gravitate towards places with great food, which was another ingredient that drew them to Bicheno. In town, they might stop at the Lobster Shack, or venture out on drives to Freycinet Marine Farm or The Waterloo in Swansea. But at day’s end, it’s always back to Bicheno and a few of their eightyear-old son’s fan favourites, be it a swim at Apsley River Waterhole or a wander among wildlife at East Coast Natureworld.
Such has become the family’s connection to this coastal refuge that Bianca now finds herself scrolling through real-estate websites, pondering a permanent summer-holiday base by the Bicheno beaches.
“We’d love to find a block. We’re on realestate. com.au all the time – we’d love to have the Tassie dream of an East Coast shack.” stillwater.com.au
Clockwise from above
Bicheno has Bianca Welsh’s heart; the Lobster Shack in Bicheno; Turners Beach is on Troy Ruffel’s summer must-visit list; Freycinent Marine Farm.
Troy Ruffels, artist
Forth artist Troy Ruffels draws much of his inspiration from the local environment, so it’s little surprise that summers keep him close to home.
“I think we have particularly fantastic summers on the northwest coast,” Troy says. “It stays pretty green in comparison to much of Tasmania. It’s time to spend in the backyard, and it’s about family and friends, playing beach cricket and having barbecues at local public spaces.”
Troy’s connection to Forth is deep – it’s where his parents grew up, where he now lives in what was his grandmother’s cottage with artist wife Anne Morrison, and where he played and swam as a kid at Turners Beach. That same long beach at the mouth of the River Forth is where summer mornings now ritually begin with a swim, and it often calls again at day’s end.
“Turners Beach is our real hangout. Mornings and evenings, we come down to the beach, and it’s a really changeable landscape. Every time you go down there, the tidal currents and the river flow are just continually shaping and reshaping that landscape. It’s a delight to visit almost every day and see it change.
“We collect rocks, we find strange forms. We just enjoy the weather and swimming and water activities. We feel pretty blessed with all that.”
Photos: Tourism Tasmania
Suzy Brett, distillery owner
Suzy Brett has travelled extensively in Australia and internationally, but when it comes to summer, she finds it hard to leave the beach just a few hundred metres from the door of her Spring Bay Distillery.
“We think Spring Beach stacks up with all the international destinations we’ve seen,” Suzy says. “We love spending summers here. My perfect day essentially is taking the boat out from Triabunna, catching a feed of flathead and some calamari, then in the afternoon going down for a swim at Spring Beach and maybe a bit of beach cricket. If we’re lucky, there’s some abalone with our pre-dinner gin and tonic on the deck, and then a whiskey around the fire pit on a clear night marvelling at how amazing the stars are on the coast.”
Spring Beach has been Suzy and husband Cam’s ‘local’ for more than 20 years, and it’s the base from where they venture out to other East Coast favourites. There are days up the coast at vineyards such as Milton and Mayfield Estate, lunches out at Piermont, or even just times mixing things up at neighbouring Rheban Beach.
“Rheban has this wildness to it. It’s not developed in any way, shape or form – it’s just beautiful.”
springbaydistillery.com.au
Clockwise from far right From the summit of Archers Knob there are fine views over Bakers Beach, Badger Head and beyond; Spring Beach, Orford (Maria Island in distance); views of Maria island from Triabunna; the Triabunna waterfront.
“It’s a really special spot, having that low coastal scrub with such a beautiful track that’s only as wide as your feet.”
Steve Howell, tour operator
Growing up in Rosevears, Steve Howell always considered Badger Head something of a summer backyard. It was the spot where his brother surfed, where Steve would head with school friends on summer weekends, and where he took his future wife Tara on their first date in 2009.
“We went there in a Volkswagen Beetle that I’d bought when I was 13 and spent 10 years doing up,” Steve says. “It was a place I’d head once I had my licence – it was just the perfect distance from Rosevears – and it felt like the most freeing kind of experience. So I guess I wanted to share that with Tara.”
Fifteen years on from that first date, Steve and Tara are now the owners of mountain-bike tour
company Blue Derby Pods Ride, but it’s the walk or run into Badger Head from Greens Beach that brings Steve back to his summer favourite.
“I love doing the coastal walk to Copper Cove and jumping in for a swim. It’s a really special spot, having that low coastal scrub with such a beautiful track that’s only as wide as your feet. There’s something epic about that.”
And this summer, he says, is the time he and Tara will be introducing two new people – their young children – to their special place in Narawntapu National Park. “Tara went there recently for a friend’s birthday and we realised we haven’t taken the kids there yet, so we’ve bumped it up the priority list.” bluederbypodsride.com.au
WANT TO LEARN SURVIVAL AND BUSHCRAFT SKILLS? We train all ages in essential, genuine survival techniques through carefully designed training courses in a mixture of indoor and outdoor instruction.
Survival Courses Tasmania’s training will also teach you resilience, self-reliance, resourcefulness, self-discipline, problem solving as well as the core disciplines of survival and bushcraft
As well as numerous other skills you will learn over the series of SCT’s one-day courses, you will also learn how to:
• Make a multi-pronged fishing spear
• Convert undrinkable seawater into fresh drinking water
• Make a disc knife out of discarded items
• Make effective snowshoes
• Construct a Teepee shelter & 4 other natural shelters
• Learn a friction fire method & make a Dakota fire pit
• Learn which plants can be used for tinder
• Improvise a ‘moon boot’ for a sprained ankle / broken leg
• Navigate using the sun, the stars, and the land
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community
Vehicle safety under the microscope
RACT members Kate Lucas and Maggie Veness recently won an exclusive two-day trip to Sydney, gaining rare access to the NSW Crashlab. This stateof-the-art facility is where ANCAP experts test vehicles to ensure they meet the highest safety standards. For Maggie, the experience was especially meaningful, as she lost her daughter in a car accident 30 years ago.
“My daughter Mandi died in a crash in the ’90s,” Maggie shares. “She was a passenger in the car and left behind a young son. Anything involving road safety is close to my heart because of her loss.”
On the day of their visit, Maggie and Kate witnessed a mobile progressive deformable barrier (MPDB) test on a Toyota Camry. ANCAP CEO Carla Hoorweg explained that this test involves a vehicle colliding head-on with a barrier at 50km/h, simulating a realworld frontal crash scenario to assess how well the car protects its occupants.
The crash was swift and jarring, leaving both women in awe. “It was very confronting,” Maggie says. “If the safety technology available now had been around 30 years ago, my daughter might have survived.”
Kate, a Hobart-based motorcyclist, reflects on how the crash reinforced the importance of road safety in her life. “Seeing what happens to a car in a crash makes you realise how critical safety features are,” she says. “The kids in the test car’s safety seats would have walked away without serious injury.”
Since 1993, ANCAP has tested thousands of vehicles, awarding safety ratings from zero to five stars based on their performance in a crash. RACT senior manager Rita Oakley stresses the importance of knowing your car’s safety rating, especially for young drivers. “Education is crucial,” she says. “There’s no substitute for seeing the impact of a crash firsthand.”
Carla recommends always checking ANCAP’s website for the latest safety ratings when choosing a car. “Look for the highest number of stars you can afford, with the most recent date stamp,” she advises.
Scan the QR code or visit ract.com.au/membership/ journeys to view the video of our NSW CrashLab visit
the latest .
A helping hand for a biking blunder
For motorbike rider Linda Manaena, what started as a straightforward call to RACT Roadside Assist turned into a comedy of errors –and a memorable encounter with one of our team members, Josh.
“I hadn’t ridden my bike over winter, and when I tried to start it, the battery was flat,” Linda explains. “Josh arrived, jumpstarted the bike, and off I went, with some sound advice to keep it running for an hour or so.”
Not long after she set off, Linda pulled into a service station for fuel. “Without thinking, I turned the bike off before it had a chance to fully charge,” she admits with a chuckle. “Of course, it didn’t start again!”
Embarrassed and stuck, Linda was preparing to call Roadside Assist once more when, to her surprise, Josh appeared. “I was still on hold when I looked up and saw him pulling in. He’d driven past, saw me, and figured out exactly what had happened,” she says.
Linda couldn’t help but be impressed by Josh’s initiative.
“He even tried calling me before swinging back around, just to check I was OK. No judgement, just help”.
“Josh deserves a shout-out because it’s not often you come across service like that – and I’ll definitely be more careful with my bike battery from now on.”
Do you really need an International Driving Permit?
If you’re planning to drive overseas this summer, it’s important to check whether you need an International Driving Permit (IDP).
Recognised in more than 150 countries, an IDP works alongside your Australian driver’s licence to allow you to drive legally abroad. In many non-English-speaking countries, including popular destinations like Italy, Japan and Thailand, an IDP is mandatory for tourists. Additionally, many rental car companies won’t allow you to hire a vehicle without a valid IDP, and some insurance policies may not cover you if you’re involved in an accident while driving without the appropriate licence. But beware of non-genuine providers offering unauthorised permits that may look legitimate but won’t be accepted abroad. In Australia, the Australian Automobile Association
(AAA) is the only authorised issuer of IDPs, and RACT acts as a sales agent to process these permits. Always make sure to obtain your IDP through an accredited provider, like us, for peace of mind.
Obtaining an IDP is simple: it costs $51 and is valid for 12 months. You can apply online or visit select RACT branches for same-day processing. Before you travel, be sure to check whether your destination requires an IDP to avoid any legal complications while driving.
RACT GOES 100% DEVILS IN SUPPORT OF TASMANIA’S AFL DREAM
RACT is excited to stand behind the 100% Devils campaign, supporting Tasmania’s bid for its very own AFL team. As a 101-year-old Tasmanian institution, we’re thrilled to have all 400 of our staff sign up as Founding Members of the Tassie Devils, showing our commitment to this historic effort.
For all of us at RACT, this campaign is about more than just sport – it’s about Tasmanian pride and community
spirit. Securing an AFL team for Tasmania would be a game-changer, giving our state a stronger presence on the national stage and creating new opportunities for future generations of athletes. We believe this is something that resonates deeply with both our members and the wider community.
Whether you’re a fan of the game or just proud to call Tasmania home, we’d love for the whole community
to get involved in the 100% Devils campaign and show your support for Tasmania’s AFL future. Together, we can demonstrate the passion and pride that make our beautiful state a unique and deserving home for a national footy team.
To learn more and become a Founding Member, visit tasmaniafc.com/ 100percentdevils
Driving innovation for safer roads
In October, RACT attended and supported the Australasian Road Safety Conference (ARSC) in Hobart. The event brought together international road safety experts, policymakers and leaders to explore new ways to reduce road trauma and improve the safety of our roads.
As silver sponsors of the event, we were excited to be part of the conversations that shape the future of road safety. Our GCEO Mark Mugnaioni, along with other members of our team, took part in insightful panel sessions and workshops focused on innovative approaches to road design, signage and speed management. These discussions will help us better
understand the unique challenges Tasmanians face on the road and guide our work to make driving safer for all.
A key highlight was the focus on rural road safety, including the latest strategies in crash data analysis and ways to promote safe driving speeds on regional roads. These learnings will play a crucial role in supporting our ongoing community initiatives, including our $8 million Drive for Life program, designed to educate and protect our young drivers. By collaborating with experts at events like ARSC, we’re continuing to drive forward our commitment to creating safer roads for everyone in Tasmania.
the latest .
Exploring road safety education for Tasmania’s youth
Our Community Engagement and Events team recently travelled to Adelaide to experience Street Smart High, a powerful youth road safety event run by our sister club, RAA. Now in its 15th year, the event offers students a deeply impactful look at the realities of road trauma.
The event allows students to witness a simulated road crash scene, complete with emergency first responders, giving them a real-world perspective on what can happen when things go wrong on the road. They also hear emotional testimonials from young people who’ve been directly affected by road trauma and the lasting impact on their families and communities. The event ends with an unmissable message about the fatal five, the leading contributors to road fatalities: distraction, speeding, driving under the influence, not wearing a seatbelt and fatigue. The message is driven home by a striking, five-metre-tall inflatable elephant in the room.
With over 90 per cent of the 12,000 attending students reporting a significant boost in their road safety knowledge, Street Smart High shows how powerful educational programs can be in shaping safer drivers. It was an invaluable experience that has only reinforced our commitment to bringing this kind of road safety education to young Tasmanians, and we’re excited to explore how a similar program could be introduced here in Tasmania.
Seal safety: what you need to know about our coastal visitors
If you’ve seen our latest insurance campaign, you may have been reminded of a certain celebrity seal who’s been spotted around Tasmania in recent years. While ours was brought to life through CGI, real seals are wild animals that require our awareness and protection.
Southern elephant seals are massive creatures, with adult males growing up to five metres long and weighing up to 3500 kilograms. With that size comes the potential for significant damage to property; vehicles, fences and outdoor furniture can be at risk when a large seal comes ashore.
To help prevent accidents and protect both the seals and your property, it’s essential to follow a few simple rules. First, always
stay at a safe distance. Seals are unpredictable animals, and getting too close could not only put you in danger but could also encourage the seal to enter areas where it could cause damage.
If you see a seal near your home or vehicle, don’t attempt to move or shoo it away. Instead, call the Marine Mammal Hotline on 0427 942 537 (0427 WHALES). The experts at the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania’s (NRE Tas) Marine Conservation Program are trained to safely manage wildlife encounters and can help ensure the seal is relocated if necessary.
It’s also important not to share the seal’s location publicly, as crowds can stress the animal and increase the risk of injury or damage to property.
Photos: Supplied; RAA; NRE TAS
Changing gears
Your guide to summer road safety
As more Tasmanians hit the road for summer getaways, it’s crucial to make safety your top priority. From rest stops to patience behind the wheel, these tips will help ensure your road trip is memorable for all the right reasons.
As the weather warms up, many Tasmanians are gearing up for family road trips and weekend getaways.
Whether you‘re off to the coast, visiting friends or exploring Tasmania’s hidden gems, summer is the perfect time to embrace the freedom of the road. But with more people out and about, increased traffic on the roads means it’s important to think about road safety on every journey.
Allowing plenty of time to get to your destination is important. Many people focus on getting there as quickly as possible, but Tassie’s compact size makes it easy to plan a rest stop. Maybe check out a small town you usually pass through or stop at one of the many short walks offered by local councils or Parks
and Wildlife Services. Stretch your legs, grab a coffee and take in the sights. These short pit stops are a great way not only to discover more of our state, but also to prevent fatigue, one of the leading factors contributing to road crashes.
Summer holidays are a time when many of our newer drivers are taking the opportunity to gain their logbook hours. It is also the time we welcome more visitors to our state; they may not be as familiar with our roads, so patience is key. A little patience can go a long way in ensuring everyone reaches their destination safely.
If you need to leave your car, always take your loved ones with you, even if you’re only leaving for a short time. Children and animals are very sensitive to heat; they can quickly dehydrate and
develop heat stress. Even on mild days, temperatures inside vehicles can rise rapidly, putting them at serious risk of heatstroke or worse.
At RACT, we’re committed to helping you stay safe on the road, not just during summer, but all year round. Road safety is up to all of us. Obeying the road rules is essential, but being a safe road user is also about being mindful of your own wellbeing and those around you. Whether you’re a seasoned local, a new driver or a visitor discovering Tasmania for the first time, we all share the responsibility of keeping our roads safe.
So, as you plan your next road trip, remember to take regular breaks, be patient with fellow drivers and stay alert. Look out for yourself and others, and enjoy the summer.
Safer journeys this summer
As the weather warms up, let’s commit to prioritising road safety, ensuring safer journeys for everyone.
Story Scott Tilyard, Chair Road Safety Advisory Council
With the arrival of summer’s warmer weather and longer days, the outdoors beckon, leading to a surge in activity on our roads. Coupled with the hustle of pre-Christmas and end-of-year events, our roads are about to become even busier, requiring extra care and attention from all users.
Now is the perfect time to remind everyone about the importance of road safety for all. Whether you’re walking, cycling, scooting, riding a motorcycle or driving, you have a role to play in keeping our roads safe. This means being aware of your own actions and showing consideration for others on the road.
In Tasmania last year, vulnerable road users – those on foot, bikes or
motorbikes – accounted for slightly more than one-third of annual road fatalities. Thirteen of the 36 road deaths involved vulnerable users: eight motorcyclists, four pedestrians and one ATV rider.
In our towns and cities, pedestrians and cyclists represent one in four serious casualties. The stark reality is that those on two wheels or on foot are at a much higher risk of serious injury or death, particularly in collisions with vehicles moving at speeds over 30km/h.
The lack of protection for these users during crashes highlights the need for heightened awareness from all road users, particularly drivers.
If you’re driving, stay vigilant. Continuously scan your surroundings, check blind spots, and don’t underestimate the speed of cyclists –especially in slow-moving traffic where cyclists can sometimes be moving faster than cars.
Cyclists, you must ensure you are visible and that your intentions are clear (for example, signalling to change lanes), and be cautious around large vehicles such as buses and trucks which have bigger blind spots.
If you’re riding a motorcycle, stay alert and anticipate the movements of other road users. Always position yourself to be visible, especially around larger vehicles like trucks and buses. Wear the correct safety gear and prepare for all types of conditions when planning a ride.
Pedestrians also need to stay alert, particularly when crossing streets, as distractions can lead to tragic consequences – don’t check your phone when you’re crossing the road. Young children can be unpredictable and special care needs to be taken to ensure their safety around roads.
This summer – and all year round – let’s all make an extra effort to share the road with care and attention. Mutual respect and kindness on the road can create a safer and more pleasant experience for everyone. By working together, we can make every journey safer.
For more information on our road
campaigns, I encourage you to take a look at the Road Safety Advisory Council’s website or head to the RSAC Facebook page
Photo:
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Crossword
1 Rebound (6)
1 Noisy and overexcited reaction to something (8)
4 Cutting instrument (8)
10 Integral instrumental part of a piece of music (9)
11 Form of broadcast transmission (5)
2 Protective canopy against rain (8)
12 Dog-like mammal (5)
13 Researcher; boffin (9)
14 Central governing body of Vatican City (4,3)
3 Porcelain (5)
16 Open-air game (4)
19 Slow, heavy walk (4)
26 Throw out in a violent or sudden way (5)
15 The ocean consists of this (4,5)
27 Inflammation of the stomach lining (9)
28 The property of having poles or being polar (8)
17 Gives the impression of something harmful or evil (8)
29 Scattered pieces of rubbish or remains (6)
Down
1 Noisy and overexcited reaction to something (8)
2 Protective canopy against rain (8)
3 Porcelain (5)
18 Female ogres (8)
5 Effect of making something less warm (7)
8 Trousers that reach only to the knees or thighs (6)
9 Irritating inconvenience (colloq.) (6)
15 The ocean consists of this (4,5)
17 Gives the impression of something harmful or evil (8)
18 Female ogres (8)
20 Prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall (7)
21 Result of something striking or falling into liquid (6)
22 Slumbering (6)
23 Prolonged experience (6)
25 Slow mournful song (5)
1 Which Australian capital city has the longest day on the summer solstice?
2 Which car model was the number one seller in Australia for 15 years?
3 Who won an AFI best supporting actor award for Strictly Ballroom?
4 On which part of your body would you wear a brogue?
5 In which year did Australia switch to the decimal currency system?
6 What is the national flower of Tasmania?
7 Borgward, Gilbern and Alvis were makes of what?
8 In which Australian state is Brisbane Water National Park?
9 What is a cackleberry?
10 Who was the first Australian to win a Nobel Prize in Literature?
5 Effect of making something less warm (7)
21 Sport of riding an ocean wave (7)
24 Unofficial ballot (5,4)
25 Operate and control a motor vehicle (5)
6 Device that sprays water (9)
7 Make (someone) a priest or minister (6)
20 Prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall (7)
6 Device that sprays water (9)
7 Make (someone) a priest or minister (6)
21 Result of something striking or falling into liquid (6)
Want to find out how you did? Find the answers online at ract.com.au/puzzles
rear view.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP // Alice Cerchez snapped Lake Herbert from the Mt Farrell walking track above Tullah; a magnificent sunrise in Devonport as photographed by Paula Lawson; Neil Winters framed this different view of Ross; Melissa Thompson spotted this gorgeous crescent honeyeater on Cape Barren Island.
