GRAND TOURING IN TASMANIA
BY RAY WHITLOCK
A
fter last Camp Coffs in March 2021, which as usual was great. Especially to catch up with friends and the making of new ones, not to mention the great wheeling organised by Jeep Action Magazine and Coffs Coast Jeepers. We went back to the Gold Coast for two weeks to clean up the J10 and make a few adjustments before hooking up the camper trailer to the WK2 Grand and heading to Tasmania for 11 weeks. Having been to Tasmania 27 years ago on a 10 day fly drive holiday and seeing all the normal tourist hotspots, we were more than keen with the Grand and camper trailer to hit the roads less travelled. On the Spirit of Tasmania, we were closely watching the 50 │ JEEPACTION
weather to determine whether we go east or west when we arrived at Devonport. Fortunately for us it looked like the next two weeks were going to have good weather down the west coast so that's where we headed. The 6.30pm docking allowed us to travel approximately an hour to Burnie for a quick overnight stop. From Burnie, along the coast to Smithton and then onto Montagu, we finally got off the black top then south to Marrawah and further along to Arthur River. Being only a couple of days before Easter, we decided to set up camp there hoping to secure a good spot before the locals arrived for the traditional Easter camping. At $6 per couple per night and word from NP rangers of an endless supply of firewood from the beach, we were
surprised there were very few campers or tourists for the entire time. If it had been the mainland, this place would have been packed. We then explored south from Arthur River to Temma and north on the 8km return walk to Church Rock. Highly recommended. While at Couta Rocks, just north of Temma, a local said, “Lap it up, I haven't seen it this good in 30 years.” big call, but the weather was stunning. After four days it was time to make tracks. Heading south from Temma was the starting of the Balfour Track. Not possible for us being on our own and towing a camper, but we did have a little peek and it looked very wet and very challenging. Continuing south, we were told by NP rangers the road to Corinna was in very poor
