top 5 island escapes The Jeep Gladiator on the road Packrafting through Alum Cliffs Gorge YOUR RACT MEMBER MAGAZINE // AUG / SEP 2022
Journeys ADVENTURETHEISSUE
Tassie’s
www.tamarvalleywritersfestival.com.au A festival for readers, writers and thinkers Your worthtravelspring...astorysharingScantheQRCodeformoreinfo. October14-17th2022 Book now for conversations, workshops, walks, lunches and performances during the Festival. •Crime writing •Environmental topics •Language •Editing •Publishing •Social Issues •Songwriting •Storytelling •Building characters •Romance •YA/science fiction •Mystery Reserve your tickets today. earlybird10%offeruntilAugust29
Beaconsfield Locations of
Indira LauncestonNaidooSeptember 6. You’ve probably admired and respected her as a news journalist and broadcaster, and more recently as a best-selling author. Now you can see and hear Indira at a gala lunch where she will give a key address about her latest book, The Space Between the Stars In this book she writes about the tragic loss of her younger sister, the magical power of nature to heal, and shares her wonderful school-age memories growing up in Tasmania.
Join storyteller Bert Spinks as he takes a trip down memory lane in his childhood town of Beaconsfield through the creative power of words and performance. This is where the Tamar Valley Writers Festival was first held in 2014 - it’s a goldmine of stories you won’t want to miss. An hour-long walk with seated breaks (and a bus if the weather is unkind). Launceston,
Pre Festival Events Festival Highlights To reserve your tickets scan the QR Code. Book and stay at Hotel Grand Chancellor,
Covid-19 is just part of Dr Norman Swan’s repertoire - come and hear him talk about life and his new book to be released this month, So You Want to Live Longer Dr Swan will be in conversation with spiritualist, hustler and author Dr Polly McGee in Launceston, and sustainability advocate and Gardening Australia presenter Hannah Moloney, in Hobart.
A full day’s literary feast in the magnificent grounds and historic barn at one of Tasmania’s finest 1850s homesteads - Waterton Hall - on the banks of the Tamar River at Rowella. Highlights include an “in conversation” with the author of Dictionary of Lost Words, Pip Williams, and Jane Rawson, with gourmet box lunch provided by Moon Lily Kitchen and Cakes. Official Tasmanian launch of award-winning author Robbie Arnott’s latest book, Limberlost, set in the environs of Rowella. Robbie will be ‘in conversation’ with Jock Serong.
TVWF presents award-winning palawa Adam Thompson, author of Born Into This, to share his life-long knowledge of country with Elders and visitors alike. A once-in a lifetime opportunity. Book using the code ‘TVWF’. Hall Launceston wukalina walk Bay Fires, St.Helens Festival to October, 2022
From Script to Screen with Vicki Madden at Octoberhome,15 Books, lunch, garden tours and Watertontastings,Hall, October 16 Walk With Me, Talk With Me, October 14October 16
events From the 14th
walk with us - hear our story Phone 0447 244 www.wukalinawalk.com.au727 Norman onLauncestonSwanandHobartAugust30and31.
Tickets through Eventbrite.
Tickets through Eventbrite and Theatre Royal.
during the Festival and quote FestivalforPassword:theTVWFaspecialrate. To learn more about the event go to our website.
Waterton
A special evening with Logie-winning scriptwriter and producer Vicki Madden, of The Kettering Incident/The Gloaming fame, and the creators and writers of Australia’s Best Street Racer short film series, Dylan Hesp and Michael O’Neill. This talented triumvirate catch up for a sofa chat about all things cinematic, particularly how script converts to screen success. Also performing will be Young Tasmanian of the Year, singer/songwriter Kaytlyn Johnson.
the 17th of
45 mins from Launceston Follow us The stunning Bridestowe Lavender Estate welcomes you to visit this flowering season to enjoy our spectacular lavender fields in December and January with the ‘Festival of Flowers’. Open CELEBRATING 100YEARS TASMANIA AUSTRALIA Foun ded 1922 364 days a year. 296 Gillespies Road Nabowla TAS 7060 03 6352 8182 bridestowelavender.com.au Book now to enjoy your summer visit. / Entry fee of $20 per person ( under 16 free ) applies December and January, during our ‘Festival of the Flowers’. / Free entry February to November.
5 AUG / SEP 2022 07 Welcome note A word from our Group CEO 08 Inbox Our members share what’s on their minds Lifestyle 11 What’s on Your new to-do list 14 Foodie finds Retro pub, The Waterloo, is serving modern dishes 16 A mile in the shoes of Outdoor adventurer Tory Stewart 19 Top 5 islandsTassie Our favourite islands to escape to Drive 23 Auto news Developments in the car world 27 0–100 review Toyota Landcruiser 300 Series Sahara 35 In reverse Ferrari 250 GTO Travel 37 Travel news Inspiration for exploring 40 Packed to the rafters Packrafting through Alum Cliffs Gorge 44 Pitstop A quick refuel in the historic town of Oatlands 46 The outdoorsgreat Local Tassie’s share where they like to explore Community 53 The latest News from the RACT community 57 Changing gears The big issues affecting RACT and our members 59 Combating speed Slowing drivers down 61 Member rewards Savings available now 65 Puzzles Take on the crossword and our road safety quiz 66 Rear view Snapshots of Tasmania 16 19 contents. Our branches are open Mon–Fri 8.45am to 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 Have your say on Member Hub and social media To unsubscribe from Journeys, visit ract.com.au/updateTsclarkeTasmania/LukeTourismCrerar;ChrisPerspectives;PrimePhotos: inside Road test Like to adventure? We think we’ve found the perfect car for you. Meet the Jeep Gladiator. on the cover Mountain biking through Blue Derby Image: Prime Perspectives 28
Augmented Focus - this new technology will change the way you hear the world. Additional microphones enable speech and noise to be processed separately. This creates a clear contrast and then recombines them delivering outstanding speech clarity, even in noise. Free trial with every recommendation. Future proof your home with a stairlift from the specialists: Indoor and outdoor, straight and curved. Statewide installation and service. Checkout our displays at: The Independent Living Centre, 275 Wellington Street, South Launceston 23Mobility4All,DerwentPark Road, Derwent Park Tasmania’s only stairlift specialist Straight Curved Contact us for a quote today: P: 1300 919 406 or 6272 2966 E: W:info@stairlifttasmania.com.austairlifttasmania.com.au WHY MOVE? INDEPENDENT LIVING + www.mobility4all.com.auMOBILITY I 23 Derwent Park Road, Derwent Park Ph (03) 6273 8300 info@mobility4all.com.au
Printer Ovato Mailhouse D&D Mailing Services Distribution Australia Post Australia Post No. 100003899 As we approach 100 years in Tasmania, we recognise that the experiences and value our members are seeking are evolving and, in turn, we need to be able to change and meet those needs over time. To help guide us, the RACT Board and Executives have spent considerable time reviewing our purpose so that we can continue to focus on the right things for our members, and the Tasmanian community more broadly. Our new purpose – ‘we are Tasmania’s shoulder to lean on and voice when it matters’ –will be our defining light. It will be our touchstone when making decisions that affect you and it will influence the way in which we deliver member value, so that we can continue to be there for Tasmanians for another 100 years. We take our commitment to our members seriously and were delighted that RACT was recently named the Roy Morgan General Insurer of the Year for 2021. This is the sixth time that RACT has been awarded this title. Awards like this are a credit to our amazing team who go above and beyond each day. We would like to praise their constant hard work and dedication, even in the face of a global pandemic. Over 60,000 Australians were interviewed to determine the winners of these awards, showing that our member satisfaction is the best in the nation. In this edition of Journeys we talk more about the extension to the ‘See Red and Blue, Know What to Do’ legislation in Tasmania that now includes our roadside patrols and our members who are broken down on the side of the road. Please read the stories of the team working day and night on the side of the road, sometimes in dangerous locations, and take the time to check and consider your speed and driving behaviour as you pass. We’re asking you, to slow down for yellow too.
ract.com.au // JOURNEYS 7 welcome.
JOURNEYS MANAGING EDITOR Amira Vaatstra 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.
Mark Mugnaioni // RACT Group CEO
A word from our Group CEO As a member organisation, RACT has always been led by a greater purpose. It’s what guides us to make the right choices and help the most people.
YOURABOUTRACT
Managing Director Clare Brundle Editor Constantina Demos Art Director Dallas Budde Design Sue Morony, Keely Atkins Advertising Sales and Partnerships Director Lauren laurencasalini@hardiegrant.comCasalini Senior Account Manager Angeline angelinegleeson@hardiegrant.comGleeson
PRESIDENT Alison Flakemore VICE PRESIDENT Jenny Richardson BOARD Peter Dixon, Ralph Doedens, Jude Franks, Risden Knightley, Pieter Kolkert, Sue Smith RACT GROUP CEO Mark Mugnaioni
Journeys is published for The Royal Automobile Club of Tasmania by Hardie Grant Media, Building 1, 658 Church Street, Richmond VIC 3121 hardiegrant.com
LETTERS
JOURNEYS // AUG / SEP 20228
inbox.Speedkills
John Briggs
Doug Willmott // Cygnet
Wow, how impressive is Ella Podmore. To develop such skills as to have McLaren offer to create a materials engineering department then invite her in as a materials engineer is just off the scale as an achievement. To be in a position to encourage other young women in the STEM field speaks volumes of her capability and inspiration. It says much about her passion for materials engineering and science, generally. The future of science and hybrid technology is in good hands with the likes of Ella being an inspiration, and so passionate. Well done Ella. The name McLaren always get my attention as I well recall the late Bruce McLaren’s brief visit to Longford, all those years ago. Great that the name still conjures up images of motoring development and technical excellence.
I heartily agree with Mike Buky in the [Journeys] April/May issue about speed limits. I live on a narrow, winding rural road that starts at 60kph and increases to 100kph with the nearby highway limited to 80kph. There is no way 100 [speed limit] is suitable for the road I live on. Yet the highway could be at least 90 [speed limit] as it’s predominately straight and wide, yet a single lane. I also can’t understand road work signs saying reduce speed to 60 when the limit is 60 or when the road works are nowhere near the road. There needs to be logic and common sense when making rules. Apparently you have to have some kind of degree to be making these decisions. Could’ve fooled me.
Greg Hurford says “Exceeding the speed limit is simply not the root cause of most serious crashes” and he provides figures to show that 13% of crashes are due to speeding. However he omits to include the extra data that “Excessive speed for the conditions is the cause for 25% of serious casualties”. 25+13 = 38% So in fact speed is the biggest cause of serious casualties on Tasmanian roads.
Alan Atkins // Launceston A true inspiration
Johnny Chester // Coles Bay ‘ ... the isinfrastructureroadwaysforeveryonetouse...’ Time or distance? Still proudly Tasmanian Consider the PDS and TMD available at spiritsuper.com.au/pds before making a decision. Issuer is Motor Trades Association of Australia Pty Ltd (AFSL 238 718, ABN 14 008 650 628). Anita Tasmanian member spiritsuper.com.au
I have never understood, nor will I ever understand, why, when we have a perfectly good usable and understandable system of linear measurement, many people insist on using units of time to indicate the distance between two places. For example, “That place is an hour drive from Launceston”. I would venture an opinion that there is no such place that is 10 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour or any unit of time from another place. OK, you might say, but it’s just a guide. Well, a distance in kilometres is a guide, a very accurate guide. It is my belief that the habit of using time units for distance was instigated by people in the tourism and real estate industries to make a destination or property seem closer to populated centres so that a destination is easier to get to or a property is close to major centres with desirable facilities. No matter how it all started, I seriously believe that a guide to a distance given in units of time can effect the way in which some people may drive a car. Consider this: what if someone is advised that “yeah, that’s just a 30-minute drive, mate” and then that someone realises halfway through the journey that it’s going to take at least 45 minutes. What do you think that someone will do? Yes, that’s right ... speed up. Russell Cross @ractofficial 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. journeys@ract.com.au
ract.com.au // JOURNEYS 9
TOWRITEUS iStockImages:
SCOOTER DEBATE In reply to Derek Walter, I support the view that the roadways infrastructure is for everyone to use and it is not solely for the use of drivers of fossil-fuel-powered transport machines. We see scooters parked in convenient places for easy access by travellers and I have yet to be “inconvenienced” by these stations. Nor have I noticed any Councilthewhenmachine,anotherknowledgescooterexcitedinconvenienced.personhandicappedbeing“greatly”IfeelwhenIseeabeingused,inthethatitreplacesCO2andCO-emittingthesamewayasIdoIseeanyotherEV.IapplaudinitiativeofHobartCitytodothis.IonlywishIwasyoungenoughtorideascooter,andhadenoughmoneytoreplacemy(albeitveryefficient)dieselSUVwithanEV.Asforseriousinjury,it’ssafertonotgetoutofbed.
ChopinConcertoPiano Songs from the Musicals FRIDAY 02 SEPT, 7.30PM Federation Concert Hall, Hobart Chopin’s Piano Concerto No 2. Mendelssohn’s Symphony No.4 & more THURSDAY 29 SEPT, 7.30PM Federation Concert Hall, Hobart FRIDAY 30 SEPT, 7.30PM Princess Theatre, Launceston Selections from Phantom, The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins & more TICKETS 1800 001 190 | tso.com.au TASMANIAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
ract.com.au // JOURNEYS 11
Starstruck
P For more, visit beakerstreet.com.au
lifestyle 12/ WHAT’S ON 14/ FOODIE FINDS 16/ MILE IN THE SHOES 19/ TOP 5 ISLANDS
DistilleryFestival/McHenryStreetBeakerPhoto: Australia’s newest and southern-most observatory sits atop Mt Arthur on the site of McHenry Distillery. Here, the night sky is dark and pristine, perfect for stargazing. As part of this year’s Beaker Street Festival, Dinner Whisky and Stars (7 August) will be held at the observatory. The night includes a three-course chefprepared meal, talks by astronomer Dr Martin George and Dark Sky Tasmania president Landon Bannister, and, of course, good whisky.
what’s on.
11–21 AUGUST BRIGHT LIGHTS
25 September READY, SET, GO! Lace up your sneakers as the Hobart Airport Marathon Festival is in town. There’s a full marathon, a half marathon, 10km and 5km runs, and 5km and 2km walks to enter. RACT members are treated to a 15% member discount on registrations.
JOURNEYS // AUG / SEP 202212
From 7 October TO MARKET, TO MARKET
Tasmania,Hobart,Art,NewandOldofMuseumofCourtesyImageHunniford,Mona/JessePhotos: Shelley.Tasmania/SamuelTourismAustralia; All event details are up-todate at time of print, but can change. For updates, consult organisers directly, and support Tassie’s events industry through these challenging times.
LISTTO-DONEWYOUR
8–9 October CHALLENGE YOURSELF If you’re a paddler, road cyclist, runner or mountain biker, the Freycinet Challenge will push your limits in one of Australia’s most beautiful places. You can choose whether to enter as a team or solo and if you want to compete for one or two days. It’s not for the fainthearted but the views are sublime. Till 17 October ART WORLD Artists Fiona Hall and AJ King have teamed up for Exodust – Crying Country, currently being exhibited at MONA. Both artists have much to say about the world we share and what we have done, and continue to do, to it, and this is portrayed throughout their work. It’s a must see.
Looking for fun places you can take your four-legged friend along to? Try the Hobart Twilight Market. The Long Beach Sandy Bay location will launch its ninth season in October and will be on every Friday following. Expect delicious Tassie eats and drinks, plus live entertainment.
The goal of the Winter Light festival? To celebrate the end of winter. The diverse program includes the return of QT Cabaret, a free opening event in Salamanca Square, and a large-scale youth and family program that will host a youth theatre performance and visual art installations created by young locals.
Write Try your hand at a short story for the Tamar Valley andgradestudentsvibe.atheThisStoryFestival’sWritersShortCompetition?year’stheme:goodlifewithTasmanianIt’sopentofromfiveupwardstoadults.
ract.com.au // JOURNEYS 13 lifestyle
The short, Persephone days of slow winter growth have come to an end. It’s still cold but some winter vegetables sense the lengthening days and once sunlight crosses the magic threshold of a ten-hour day (August in Tasmania) they will begin to shift all their nutrients from producing delicious food into setting seed. Our unharvested winter carrots, lettuces, beetroots and leeks are about to bolt. They will soon be woody and inedible but will be beautiful as flowers (in the garden and vase) and soon it will be time to collect their seeds. The lengthening days also mean it’s time to get back into the garden. On rainy days you’ll find us in the nursery, sowing the summer crops in trays and pots, setting them out on the heat mat to germinate. On sunny days, we are carefully weeding around the peas and broadbeans and asparagus getting ready for spring crops. Harvest now the last of the winter root vegetables, leeks and greens Sow now tomatoes, peppers, eggplant in pots
Whisky week is here There’s no doubt that Tasmania is the heartland of Australian whisky, which is why Tasmanian Whisky Week (8–14 August) is a celebrated event. Whisky lovers will relish the Meet the Maker events held in Hobart and Launceston. For those looking to taste the best that distillers have to offer, the Tasmanian Spirit Showcase is for you, with more than 30 distilleries under the one roof, each pouring its best drops. There’re also immersive nights that include food, whisky and entertainment that are more intimate. We’ll cheers to that. Meet You can meet Pip Williams at the Tamar Valley Writers Festival (13–17 October) along with other prominent authors who will be joining for thethebooks.aboutdiscussionsallthingsCheckwebsiteforfullprogram.
Read Aussie author Pip Williams draws on actual events from the creation of the first Oxford English Dictionary in her novel The Dictionary of Lost Words. It reveals a lost hiddennarrative,between the lines of a history written by men. Make a note
BLOOMING?WHAT’S with SADIE CHRESTMAN from Fat Pig Farm Made in Tas We’re currently obsessing over Wise Ceramics’ (@lisawiseceramics) handmade porcelain tableware and objects. Her delicate and vibrant pieces are on display at Salamanca Market and will add a pop of colour to your home. Want to tell us about your event or Reachproduct?usat ract.com.aujourneys@
The Waterloo Inn’s founders didn’t plan on opening Tasmania’s quirkiest beachside restaurant — but that’s exactly where they’ve landed, writes Nola James.
What’s old
JOURNEYS // AUG / SEP 202214
CritchleyAnnaPhotos: lifestyle Alex Sumner and Zac Green took over the ageing ‘surf and turf’ restaurant at Swansea’s Waterloo Point Motel last December, reopening as the 40-seat Waterloo Inn one week later. The building had been sold to local developers mid-2021, which is when the couple swooped in with a proposal to take over the pub, but not the motel. It took some convincing, but they managed to sell the idea. “Knocking it down would have been a real shame,” Alex says of the building’s 80s-era red brickwork and burgundy carpets. “It’s something I find really charming.” The duo has taken it upon themselves to preserve the venue’s kitsch décor and expand on it. Alex, who runs front of house, says people are often surprised to learn what’s new and what’s original. The sound system is a new acquisition, as are the Chesterfield lounges, but the retro placemats and $1 pool table areZacpre-existing.spentseven years at the original Movida in Melbourne before relocating to Tasmania in 2020. He is not just the head chef, he’s the only cook in a kitchen that’s “big enough for eight chefs, which is great, if we could find them”. The oft-changing menu, written up on
is new
FOODIE finds the 1.5m-wide blackboard (also an original feature), wouldn’t be out of place in a hip inner-city wine bar. Think duck cassoulet with smoked sausage; anchovy toast with garlic butter and fried rosemary, or leeks vinaigrette with eggs from the couple’s three chickens, Tina Turner, Tina Burner and Tina Arena. Unlike the décor, the wine list is thoroughly modern. Local drops make up about 60 percent of the list – think: Peter Dredge’s super funky pinot noir, or a Bubb + Pooley chardonnay alongside boutique interstate producers such as Ochota Barrels. “We like other wines from other places, too,” Alex says. Alex says stocking the bar was one of the toughest parts of setting up the restaurant. In addition to convincing reps to send wine to such a remote location in the first place, “If we run out of something, we can’t just pop out and get more,” she says. On that note, bookings are highly encouraged, as is a little patience. “It’s fun, running a restaurant with just the two of us,” Alex says. Coming into their second summer, and with a spruce-up on the cards for the adjoining motel, we’d say there will be more hands on deck before long.
SHOP NOW AT LAUNCESTONDISTILLERY.COM.AU ALSO AVAILABLE AT: AND OTHER LEADING WHISKY RETAILERS
Looking for an excuse to wander A mile in THE SHOES OF AN adventureseeker
ory Stewart has never been about the nine-to-five. “I’ve found every reason to be outside and interacting with people. I followed the things that inspired me and made me want to get up and get out there. Then I was, like, I can figure this out. I’ll make a career somehow.” A Queensland kid, Tory was always in the ocean. “I was a fish and very confident. I’d know where the rips were and get into them deliberately and go out to the shark nets. I loved it.”
After leaving school she trained in Aotearoa/ New Zealand as a ski instructor and carried those skills to Japan and on to Canada where she learnt snow safety, worked as trail crew and guided horse pack trips. Yet Tory always felt strange living in the mountains.
T
LEFT TO RIGHT Tory in her natural habitat, paddling on Tassie waters; Just another day in the office for Tory and her partner Luuk of Roaring 40°s Kayaking.
Most motivating for Tory is being in a position to facilitate unforgettable experiences in nature. “Sitting in three metres of swell folding under your boat, feeling the power of the ocean, can be intimidating for guests.” Typical Roaring 40°s feedback is that people felt safe despite being outside their comfort zone. She also loves sharing her ever-increasing understanding of marine environments, swell profiles and intertidal zones. Although guiding is “an amazing lifestyle choice”, burnout is common. “I find ways to relate to every single person. When you can do that you have far more empathy around what that person’s going through and their perspective on the situation.” Tory also goes on solo trips to reset. Her relationship with the ocean has changed dramatically. “I’ve got a newfound respect for Tasmanian water and the Southern Ocean particularly. I’ve always enjoyed that challenge of stepping into something very uncomfortable. But now the South West feels like a second home.”
ract.com.au // JOURNEYS 17 lifestyle CrerarChrisPhotos: ‘I’ve had trips where I’ve ‘carried’ a person in the front of a heavily laden double kayak’
When she came to lutruwita/Tasmania “for six months”, she left her belongings in Canada. That was 12 years ago. Here she enrolled in an outdoor leadership course at TasTAFE which turned out to be “an excuse to travel around all the national parks and learn from some of the best in the industry”. Students had the option of mountain biking or sea kayaking. “I’m an ocean lover and a water baby so I immediately went to sea kayaking. As soon as I started I just fell in love with it.” That led to some whitewater rafting. Tory’s first guiding season in lutruwita/Tasmania was bushwalking and paddling on Maria Island and at Freycinet. Doing Cert IV in Outdoor Recreation and in Tourism (Guiding) got her into sports like climbing and mountain biking. In 2013 Tory began guiding with Roaring 40’s Kayaking, which operates sustainable trips in Southwest National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage area – and off Flinders Island. With a “lead from the back” approach, Tory guides expeditions and outdoor education groups, and trains staff. Just before COVID hit, she guided in Antarctica for two months. “Paddling is a very particular type of fitness. It’s repetitive and good technique helps.” To be able to respond to emergencies, she says, guides must maintain above-average physical fitness. “I’ve had trips where I’ve ‘carried’ a person in the front of a heavily laden double kayak.” Tory knew that person might not be able to do more than an hour of paddling a day and, although that was a unique situation, she wants to always be able to adapt for guests. “I think if you’re not a people person you shouldn’t really be doing the guiding thing. You can be an excellent outdoors person, and there are people who are way better sea kayakers than me, but that isn’t what we’re doing.”
Tory tries to align her lifestyle and values – one of the reasons she and partner Luuk Veltkamp recently bought Roaring 40°s Kayaking. They plan to make their own impact on the industry. “One of the most sustainable tourism products is being in a kayak but we’ve got a large responsibility where we go. “I’ve been constantly inspired and in awe of people who operate down here in Tassie. For me, now on the cusp on doing it myself, it’s a little bit of a dream.”
599 Tollymore Road, Table Cape, Tas 7325 ● Open Friday to Sunday 12-4pm ● Thursday by appointment, call Sarah 0447619291
Matt and Sarah fell in love with distilling here in Tasmania in 2016, so much so they decided to jump off the corporate bus to build their own distillery and tasting room, allowing them to share their story and their passion with visitors and other lovers of great spirit. Alchymia Distillery create small batch spirit on site, offering behind the scenes tours to experience the process of making Whisky and Gin. They are adding a Vodka, Rum and Apple Brandy to their range soon so why not drop in for a tasting a tour or just a nip or a cocktail and enjoy the amazing views over the Bass Strait. am
Alchymia Distillery is situated on the rugged North West coast of Tassie at Table Cape. It’s only 100m off the Bass Highway and 7km from Wynyard.
Ettrick
Exclusively to RACT members* book your unforgettable King Island holiday by staying at one of our luxury 1-2- and 3-bedroom retreats. Each retreat is fully glazed offering the most spectacular views of the Great Southern Ocean and the magnificent rock formations unique to this location.
*Book direct to save 5% by typing the promo code RACT on the booking page at www.ettrickrocks.com.au or contact us at info@ettrickrocks.com.au plus enjoy full breakfast provisions, a welcoming cheese platter and a Tassie wine included in the fee. Rocks - King Island Not just a destination, it’s an experience!
Alchymia Distillery.indd 6 7/7/2022 9:33
2 SARAH ISLAND Spooky, windswept and remote, Sarah Island — known to First Nations people as langerrareroune — houses the ruins of the Macquarie Harbour Penal Station. As it’s accessible only by boat, your best bet is the full-day Gordon River Cruise out of Strahan. Visitors sail (very slowly) through Hells Gates, the notoriously shallow and dangerous channel entrance to Macquarie Harbour, which gives the journey a thrilling edge. A one-hour stopover includes a guided historical tour of the old prison (which operated between 1822 and 1833) that preserves important stories from Tasmania’s colonisation. gordonrivercruises.com.au
19 1 2 5 3 1 4 2 BathLaurenTsclarke;Tasmania/LukeTourismPhotos:
lifestyle Not ready to dust off your passport? These local island getaways will have you ‘overseas’ in no time, writes Nola James. Tassie islands TOP five ract.com.au // JOURNEYS 1 FLINDERS ISLAND This island has had a tourism boom in recent years. It’s still a rugged wilderness escape with pristine beaches and great fishing, but there’s now a range of bespoke accommodation options and new places to eat. These include Wombat Lodge, Crayshack, and Killiecrankie Beach House — as well as a restaurant showcasing local seafood and produce, The Flinders Wharf. The Flinders Island Food and Crayfish Festival runs in April each year, with tickets and dates announced in December. Sharp Airlines runs flights from Launceston and Hobart, and there’s a weekly barge from Bridport. visitflindersisland.com.au
It’s BYO everything from food to blankets and please, please take your rubbish with you. Basic bunk accommodation is available in the old penitentiary at Darlington, as well as free camping at designated sites. Visitors should carry in their own water, although rainwater tanks at Darlington, Frenchman’s Farm and Encampment Cove will help those who get stuck. The island, both a national park and native wildlife sanctuary, is accessible only by passenger ferry from Triabunna. encountermaria.com.au 5 3
lifestyle JOURNEYS // AUG / SEP 202220 lifestyle
3 SATELLITE ISLAND
GibsonTasmania/AdamTourismGibson;Island/StuSatelliteNeal;Tasmania/LiamTourismPhotos:
Despite prior attempts to build luxury accommodation on Maria Island (called wukaluwikiwayna in palawa kani), this UNESCO World Heritage-listed area remains untouched. There are no cars or shops, and certainly no WiFi, just mountains to climb and wombats to watch.
5 MARIA ISLAND
If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a private island, then Satellite Island is the holiday destination for you. Located in Tasmania’s south-east, just off Bruny Island, it’s the perfect place to get away from the world – literally. Up to eight guests have exclusive use of the threebedroom Summer House, the twobedroom Boathouse and a luxury bell tent (for camping diehards). All come stocked with gourmet provisions, and there’s a kitchen garden and orchard to explore, too. Fishing equipment, kayaks, snorkels, stand-up paddle boards and yoga mats are also on hand. As you might imagine, the experience doesn’t come cheap. Rates start at $3350 a night for two guests, with a two-night minimum stay. satelliteisland.com.au
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4 KING ISLAND Did somebody say ‘cheese’? King Island, located in Bass Strait, has been famous for its exceptional dairy for generations. Visitors can drop in to the King Island Dairy cheese store to pick up supplies or chill out with a cheese platter (check the website for opening hours during winter, as operations are limited). The island is also a popular golfing destination, with three courses available to those willing to tackle windy conditions in exchange for crowd-free play with world-class ocean views. There are lots of places to stay, from bed and breakfasts to holiday cottages, plus new luxury eco retreats such as Kittawa Lodge. Flights to the island depart Wynyard, Launceston and Hobart. kingisland.org.au
‘After my second hip replacement I had the standard hospital physiotherapy which assisted my initial recovery from surgery, but I found that my strength and balance were significantly affected. My walking pace was slow and stairs wereMeredith,difficult.’like most people, was aware of the benefits of going to the gym. She knew that she needed to learn how to walk correctly again in order to look after her hips and back for the long term and be active into her late 60’s and beyond. She also wanted to regain the strength in her legs and hips, improve her balance and stability. Even though Meredith had been a regular walker for many years she wanted to ensure that she was walking with correct posture.
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ract.com.au // JOURNEYS 21 lifestyle ract.com.au // JOURNEYS 21 BACK TO YOUR BEST Conditions apply, offer valid until 30 Sept 2020 Restart, Refocus, Readjust and Reset. • Have you had enough of being in pain, being overweight or not achieving a result. . . • Take advantage of our FREE 1 week pass • Change the way you look, feel and function NOW REAL PEOPLE, REAL RESULTS.
‘I recognized that I needed the support and accountability that Personal Best’s programs and classes could offer me. I needed someone who could improve my fitness, motivate me through the highs and lows of rehabilitation, teach me to walk again and educate me on why and how, rather than just tell me what to do.”
Meredith now feels a great sense of accomplishment at the progress that she has made and is back to walking briskly and climbing stairs with ease.
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August 2022 REAL PEOPLE,
‘I just love the Forever Active and stretching classes as they are tailored to individual needs and abilities. This ensures that we all progress at our own rate.’ These classes are low impact and are specifically designed for people 60+ years whose body don’t allow them to partake in mainstream exercise programs.
OPENING
THE AUSTRALIAN POPULATION is ageing, and the rate of osteoarthritis and other joint pain is escalating with a 60% increase in hip and knee replacements in the last 10 years. After a joint replacement, regaining strength, stability, mobility and learning to walk with confidence can be a challenge. It doesn’t have to be like this, says Amanda Coombe owner of Personal Best Fitness, Tasmania’s most awarded Fitness Business. When Meredith started at Personal Best, she had had both hips replaced in the preceding 12 months after several medical interventions that were unable to determine the source of her back pain. Prior to surgery, exercise was increasingly difficult and painful. During this period Meredith lost significant body strength, muscle tone and confidence in her body and was feeling frustrated.
www.personalbestfitness.com.au conditions
‘It is very relaxed at Personal Best, and no one judges you. All the staff know my name and they take an interest in me. I enjoy the variety of the classes and see my Personal Trainer Fran once every 6 weeks to update my“Myprogram.’results speak for themselves, I have a normal walking gait, feel strong and stable, don’t take any pain medications and have excellent bone density. Personal Best Fitness have helped and inspired hundreds of people to feel, look and function better. Their accredited fitness professionals have simple tips and easy to understand advice that will give you great results just like Meredith.
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ract.com.au // JOURNEYS 23 roadtheF1for 24 / AUTO NEWS 27 / 0–100 REVIEW: TOYOTA LANDCRUISER 300 SERIES SAHARA 28 / ROAD TEST: JEEP GLADIATOR 35 / IN REVERSE: FERRARI 250 GTOdrive
P
After a five-year gestation the production version of the Mercedes-AMG ONE has debuted in Europe. Mercedes-AMG says its new two-seater super sports car brings Formula 1 hybrid drive technology from the racetrack to the road. Producing an epic 782kW from a modified 1.6-litre turbocharged V6 derived from the Mercedes-AMG F1 W07 car, teamed with four electric motors, the street-legal hypercar is capable of a scintillating electronically-limited top speed of 352km/h. Developed in combination with Formula 1 experts at MercedesAMG High Performance Powertrains in the UK, the gull-wing machine brims with motorsport technology, from its carbon-fibre monocoque and body, to the loadbearing engine/transmission unit. Just 275 examples of the €2.8 million (AU$4.1 million) machine will be made, despite Mercedes-AMG reportedly receiving four times that number of orders. For more, visit mercedes-benz.com.au
NUMBER CRUNCH Subaru WRX
fifth-generation
We take a trip down memory lane. 1994 The Year the first-generation WRX launched in Australia, badged as the Subaru Impreza WRX (for World Rally Experimental). 169 The power in kilowatts produced by the 2.5-litre flat four introduced with a 2006 midlife update of the secondgeneration WRX, which launched in 2000. 5.2 The time in seconds the third-generation WRX took to accelerate 0–100km/h. JOURNEYS // AUG / SEP 202224 MORE CAMERAS. Road Safety – Mobile Speed Camery Livery Kia Sorento Option 1 MORE CAMERAS. Road Safety – Mobile Speed Camery Livery Kia Sorento Option 1
The latest developments in the car world Stretching the point Land Rover has expanded its Defender 4x4 range in a bid to target growing families and long-legged adventurers. The new Land Rover Defender 130 joins the established shortwheelbase Defender 90 and mid-wheelbase Defender 110, with the new model adding an additional 340mm in overall length compared to the 110, providing expanded interior accommodation for up to eight occupants. The current 110 offers five- or seven-seat capacity but Land Rover says the 130 can seat up to eight in its expanded cabin. Designers have adopted a distinctive boat tail-style rear end uplift to maximise the 130’s all-terrain capability, but its 28.5-degrees departure angle is still no match for the impressive 40 degrees of the 90 and 110. Prospective owners will likely look past that in favour of the increased cargo and/or rear seating space, depending on whether the five- or eight-seat option is chosen. Available powertrains are the established P400 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol (294kW/550Nm) and the D300 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel (221kW/650Nm), driving all-four wheels through an eight-speed ZF automatic. Retail pricing starts at $124,150 for the Defender 130 SE D300, rising to $131,650 for the Defender 130 SE P400. visit landrover.com.au
and has
Subaru’s WRX has been thrilling drivers for nearly 30 years, just launched it’s model.
For more,
auto news.
ract.com.au // JOURNEYS 25 drive
Already regarded as one of the most competitive new car markets in the world, Australia is set to add another brand to the mix with the arrival in July of Volkswagen-owned Cupra.
While both the Leon and Formentor come in four model grades, with different powertrains and price points, the Ateca sports SUV is a single variant only. Pricing starts at $43,990 for the entry-level Leon V, rising to $64,990 driveaway for the Leon VZx, with its Golf R-rivalling 221kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder petrol engine.
With more resources, including new mobile speed cameras, if you’re driving even a few kilometres over the speed limit the time for excuses is over.
The runnethCuprasover
LESS TOLERANCE.
Volkswagen Australia clearly has higher hopes for the sporty Cupra brand, confirming an initial three-model assault comprising the Leon hot hatch, the Formentor crossover and the Ateca SUV. Specially equipped ‘Launch Editions’ of the three new Cupra models went on pre-sale in April, with the full line-up arriving in July, including plug-in hybrid electric versions of the Leon and Formentor.
Formentor pricing kicks off at $58,490 driveaway for the VZ, rising to $66,490 driveaway for the 228kW/400Nm VZx. Meanwhile, the single Ateca variant, which features all-wheel drive and the same high-performance turbo fourcylinder as the Leon VZx, is priced at $65,990 driveaway. The Cupra brand will be sold online and via a line-up of 10 mainland showrooms, but there’s no Tasmanian showroom in the initial launch phase. For more, visit cupraofficial.com.au
Receive more energy from dawnto dusk with REC’s Alpha Pure Series. Launching now in Tasmania, this solar module combines leading heterojunction cell technology with thin silicon films to provide higher power output (wa s/m2) than traditional solar panels. The innovative gapless cell layout increases the active area of the panel to capture more sunlight, and continues energy production in shaded conditions, resulting in high energy yields all throughout winter. Retaining at least 92% of nameplate power a er 25 years, the REC Alpha Pure Series is in a class of its own. Contact REC Certified Solar Professional, I Want Energy, to take full advantage of solar energy today. Phone 03 6234 7009 • Email support@iwantenergy.com.au • Visit iwantenergy.com.au
ract.com.au // JOURNEYS 27 drive
As before, the ’Cruiser features fulltime all-wheel-drive with a transfer case and a lockable center-differential, and there are six terrain modes to ensure optimal traction whatever the off-road conditions. The new V6 pulls effortlessly, with peak torque available from just 1600rpm, the second turbo kicking in at around 2600rpm to ensure strong acceleration despite the wagon’s 2560kg heft. The gearing range of the new 10-speed auto means the engine always feels to be sitting comfortably within its peak torque zone. Quieter, more powerful, and more capable than its predecessor, the 300 Series is an impressive evolution.
predecessor yet summons a more muscular 227kW/700Nm. The twin turbo system ensures smooth, instant power delivery with drive channeled via a responsive 10-speed automatic.
The combination delivers combined cycle fuel consumption of 8.9L/100km, a modest 0.6L/100km improvement over the V8, but with its 110-litre fuel tanks the 300 Series will still take you far from the madding crowd. Under the skin is a new body-on-frame structure that ensures a stoic 3.5-tonne braked towing capacity, while independent front and four-link rear suspension provide both a pleasant ride and impressive off-road wheel articulation.
Toyota’s new LandCruiser 300 Series feels every bit the king of Aussie roads. Story Harry Weller IN THE STATES IT’S JEEP, in the UK it’s Land Rover, but here in Australia the undisputed king off-the-road is Toyota’s LandCruiser. The latest iteration of the off-road wagon, the 300 Series, launched late last year, some 14 years after its predecessor, the 200 Series. Over the course of its model life the 200 built a reputation as a highly capable off-roader, all-terrain tourer and tow rig, with the 300 adding more features, luxury, performance, and greater off-road ability. There’s familiarity to the look of the 300, including virtually identical dimensions to the 200 Series, although Toyota claims every nut, bolt and panel is new. Prices are up by an average of $9000 over the 200 Series depending on the model. The Sahara tested here sits in the middle of the range, its $131,190 RRP bringing with it a rich level of standard equipment that includes a driver’s head-up display, heated and cooled second-row seats, and more. Behind the grille is a newly developed 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 diesel, which gives away a pair of cylinders and 2.2-litres in cubic capacity to its V8
300LANDCRUISERTOYOTASERIESSAHARA THE SPECS RETAIL PRICE: $139,624 (driveaway) BODY STYLE: Full-size 4x4 wagon SEATING: 7 FUEL CONSUMPTION: (Combined): 8.9L/100km ANCAP SAFETY RATING: 5 Star (2022) ENGINE: 3.3-litre twin turbocharged V6 diesel, 24-valve DOHC, chain drive TRANSMISSION: 10-speed automatic DRIVE TYPE: Permanent AWD with low-range transfer case and centre-differential lock MAX. POWER: 227kW @ 4000rpm MAX. TORQUE: 700Nm @ 1600-2600rpm 0-100KM/H: N/A For more visit toyota.com.au 0–100 review
28 TESTROAD DOES THE perfect adventure car exist? After spending a day on (and off) the road with the Jeep Gladiator, Andrew Bain believes so. Images Prime Perspectives
drive ract.com.au // JOURNEYS 29
In a big ute market, the Gladiator is literally one of the biggest things … one of the widest 4WDs on the market he Jeep Gladiator is a real-life Transformer. On Australia’s only convertible ute, the roof panels pull off in seconds, but that’s just the start of its potential metamorphosis, albeit with a catch. On this big beast, all the doors can also be removed.
“But that’s illegal in Australia,” Launceston Jeep’s sales dealer tells me with a smile. The windscreen, too, can fold down. “But that’s illegal in Australia,” he notes again. On this chilly winter morning, none of these options is a consideration anyway. A pall of fog sits heavy over kanamulaka/Tamar River, and the air temperature in Launceston is -1°C. “Set the temperature to 22 degrees,” I tell the Gladiator, relying on voice command, and it warms quickly, even as ice still coats the ute’s tailgate blanket and our mountain bikes.
In a big ute market, the Gladiator is literally one of the biggest things. At nearly 5.6 metres in T
JOURNEYS // AUG / SEP 202230
… it’s the first ute from Jeep in almost 30 years … it’s a vehicle that has only playtime in mind length, it’s more than 25 centimetres longer than the Toyota Hilux and 15 centimetres longer than the Ford Ranger. It’s also one of the widest 4WDs on the market, with one of the highest cabins, providing a cockpit-like driving experience.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT The Gladiator's techy interior; A comfy ride both on and off the road; Two bikes fit comfortably in the tub; The Jeep handles a variety of terrains with ease; Interiors are durable so there's no need to worry about bringing in dirt; Riding with bikes in the back makes transporting them simple; This Gladiator is both sleek and tough.
Released in Australia in 2020, the dual-cab, petrol-only Gladiator derives heavily from the Jeep Wrangler, at least from the back seat forward. But it’s the tub at the back that defines and distinguishes this vehicle.
Recent surf reports entice us to detour to Tam O’Shanter Bay, but Bass Strait has calmed and flattened. We head on for coffee at the Bridport Cafe, arriving like a barge out front, and then it’s time to test the Gladiator in what should be its natural arena. On the headland beyond Bridport, dirt roads deviate into the Waterhouse Conservation Area, climbing through the dunes towards Waterhouse
ract.com.au // JOURNEYS 31 drive
Gladiator in name, and gladiatorial in appearance, it’s the first ute from Jeep in almost 30 years (since the Comanche was discontinued in 1992), and it’s a vehicle that has only playtime in mind – you’re unlikely to see tradies revving through town in a Gladiator. This is foremost a lifestyle ute, and what says lifestyle and playtime in Tasmania more than a road trip to Derby? In Launceston, we load our bikes into the Gladiator’s tub, which is millimetres shorter than those in the Hilux, Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok, but still ample, and set out for the bornagain mountain-biking town. It would be rude to leave Launceston and not spend time at kanamaluka/Tamar River. With the Gladiator’s remote start, the engine is running before we’re even in the car, and we head immediately north, flirting with the riverbank through Rosevears. In the river mist, yachts hover like ghost ships, and the sun only breaks through as we cross Batman Bridge, the Gladiator’s engine humming its pleasure as we pick up speed past the skeletal winter vines through Pipers River.
JOURNEYS // AUG / SEP 202232 drive Point, where farmland turns to bush and then scrub. For such a large vehicle, the Gladiator rolls smoothly along the tracks – it feels more car than truck – with the vehicle’s long wheelbase holding it steady and comfortable as we head out to Waterhouse Point. Here we stop for a while, staring across Bass Strait to the mountainous silhouette of Flinders Island, with only sea eagles for company. As the drive continues east, across one of Tasmania’s emptiest corners, it’s a chance to settle into cruise control, of which the Gladiator has three modes, including adaptive, which allows us to maintain a pre-selected distance from any vehicle ahead. Multi-zone climate control means that we remain a warm bubble inside a cold world. The playfulness of the Gladiator is reflected in the interior, with its polished dash and retro dials framing the centrally mounted, 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen, which features crystalclear front and rear cameras, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and a range of apps. Most fun of all is a detachable wireless Bluetooth speaker fitted into the rear seatback, providing mobile music in and even out of the car – Jeep jives wherever you are.
THE SPECS PRICING • From $80,094 (driveaway) BODY STYLE • 4-door dual-cab ute SEATING • 5 FUEL CONSUMPTION • 12.4 L/100km (combined) ENGINE TYPE • 3.6L Pentastar V6 with ESS TRANSMISSION • 8-Speed Automatic DRIVE TYPE • Selec-Trac Active OnDemand 4x4 MAX. POWER •209kW MAX. TORQUE • 347Nm
The slot-like windscreen provides a narrow window on the world, though the high driving position negates any feeling of restricted view.
There’s a sense of the ostentatious, pulling up in the colossal Gladiator at the Derby trailheads, where our driving day ends and our riding begins. The bikes lift easily from the tailgate, and the trails beckon. We have reached our mountain-biking Colosseum.
The descent into Derby provides a final chance to enjoy the gentle growl of this benign beast, which feels as grippy and at home on the sealed stuff as it does on the dirt.
LEFT TO RIGHT
The Evoc Tailgate Pad (available from Roll Cycles in Launceston) protects your car and your bike in transit; Derby has become a mountain biking haven. The wind turbines at Poonerluttener/Musselroe Bay and the bald peaks of Mt Cameron rise into view over paddocks brushed green by recent rain, and in Gladstone we turn south to make a final stop at Little Blue Lake, the dazzling former mine pit turned beauty spot.
Test drive the Jeep Gladiator at Launceston Jeep. Learn more at jeeplaunceston.com.au … our driving day ends and our riding begins. The bikes lift easily from the tailgate, and the trails beckon
ract.com.au // JOURNEYS 33
SEE RED AND BLUE, KNOW WHAT TO DO –NOW IT’S YELLOW TOO!
vehicles take longer to slow down. In this case, you must simply slow down as safely as you can. Make sure you are aware of your surroundings before slamming on your brakes. Everyone deserves to be safe at work. Emergency services and roadside assistance workers are there for us when things go wrong and it’s important we all slow down to protect those who protect and assist us and whose workplace is the road. When you see red and blue in front of you, you should already know what to do: you must slow down to 40 km/h.
advertorial
For more information, transport.tas.gov.au/rule79avisit
Tasmanian motorists are required to slow down to 40km/h when passing stationary or slow-moving emergency service vehicles with flashing red, blue or magenta lights or a siren, making sure emergency service workers like police and paramedics are safe when attending roadside emergencies. Since this rule was introduced, emergency service personnel have reported that near misses are down and that they feel safer when attending emergencies. From 1 August 2022 there will be two major changes to this rule. The first change is that this road rule will also apply when you see yellow lights in front of you. Now, motorists will also be required to safely slow down to 40 km/h when passing stationary or slow-moving roadside assistance vehicles displaying flashing yellow lights. This change will apply to RACT and providers of roadside assistance services such as call-out or breakdown assistance, towing, battery replacement and other on-road support services, offering roadside assistance workers the same protection as emergency services. This will reduce their exposure to fast-moving passing vehicles and ensure their safety while they assist at roadside incidents. The second change is to make sure people can comply safely on high-speed roads. On roads over 80 km/h, if it’s not safe to slow to 40 km/h, you must slow down as safely as possible. For example, if you are driving on a highway at 110 km/h and a heavy vehicle is behind you, it may not be safe to suddenly brake to 40 km/h as heavy
“MTHERE’S
So writes Piero Ferrari, the second and only living son of the Prancing Horse brand’s legendary founder Enzo Ferrari, in the preface to Günther Raupp’s sublime 2013 pictorial history of the famed Italian marque. Thumbing through that weighty tome underlines just how difficult it is to choose any single model
BEAUTY IN THIS BEAST in reverse
Regarded by many as the greatest road racer of all time the Ferrari 250 GTO (for Gran Turismo Omologato) was created in 1962 by the Italian sports car maker to compete in the Group 3 Grand Touring Car category, where it raced against the likes of the Jaguar E-Type Lightweight, Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato and AC Cobras. Among its many achievements, the potent road-legal race car brought the GT world championship title to Italy three times in a row between 1962 and 1964 and was raced successfully in Europe and the USA by the likes of Stirling Moss and Phil Hill among others. Powered by a front-mounted 2.9-litre 60-degree V12, topped by 12 trumpetlike inlets feeding six Weber carburetors, the engine made a thrilling 300hp (224kW) at a heady 7400rpm, flinging the lightweight coupe with its windtunnel-refined Scaglietti-manufactured body down the road at a ferocious pace, and on to a top speed of 280km/h. Unlike modern Ferraris which blend shattering performance with high-end luxury features, the 250 GTO’s race-bred origins saw it forgo such niceties as carpets, headlining and even a speedometer in pursuit of weight reduction. Today, due to its racing pedigree and rarity – just 36 were ever made – the 250 GTO is among the world’s most valuable collectors’ cars, with a pristine 1963 version selling for a staggering US$70 million in 2018. ore than anything else, a Ferrari is an artwork in motion, and a masterpiece of engineering as well.”
MODEL Ferrari 250 GTO ENGINE Front 2.9-litremounted60-degree V12 FAMOUSLY DRIVEN BY Tom Cruise in Vanilla Sky Early prototypes of the Ferrari 250 GTO were unkindly dubbed “the anteater” by the press, with even Ferrari’s own workers calling it “Il Mostro” – the monster – due to its ungainly front end. Today, it’s regarded as the most coveted automobile ever built. Story Harry Weller
ract.com.au // JOURNEYS 35 to celebrate from a back catalogue comprising some of the world’s rarest and most exalted automobiles. But it makes things a little easier when calendar year and birth date coincide to mark a significant anniversary, as it does this year for the 60th anniversary of the legendary Ferrari 250 GTO.
Tasmanian Science Centre Ulverstone Planetarium Ulverstone Museum and Art Gallery Visitor Information Centre Community Arts & Crafts Café
ract.com.au // JOURNEYS 37 VanderburghNessPhoto: travel 38/ TRAVEL NEWS 40/ PACK RAFTING 44/ PIT STOP: OATLANDS 46/ OUTDOOR ADVENTURES clubCulture Meet northern Tasmania’s farming families at this year’s agriCULTURED Festival. On 4–7 August chefs, artists, musicians and composers will come together with growers to celebrate the passion that goes into producing, farming and food provenance. Events include curated dinners, talks and workshops hosted by special guests, including Costa Georgiadis. P For more, visit agricultured.com.au
LOW TOURISTHEADPARK
SCAMANDER SANCTUARY
AQUILA BARN
A luxury on-farm retreat at Table Cape on Tasmania’s North West Coast, the Aquila Barn caters for two guests and is appointed with a queen-sized bed, a hay-loft mezzanine and high vaulted ceilings.
Low Head Tourist Park is situated in Northern Tasmania, around 40 minutes from Launceston, and offers a high standard of affordable self-contained accommodation and sites for motorhomescaravans,andRVs.
ON THE HUNT
Experience a taste of the outdoors while camping in true comfort in a heated safari tent or bell tent, or book a powered or unpowered camp site and soak in the stunning surroundings.
While Sirocco South has wrapped up its mushroom foraging season, it’s now time to look forward to asparagus season. Forage with owner Mic for wild asparagus, bower spinach and more before he spoils you with a delicious six-course lunch, which includes your fresh finds. The spring-summer season kicks off on 23 September.
JOURNEYS // AUG / SEP 202238 travel news.
Inspiration for exploring our state 3 TO TRY weekend stays Gone fishing Come November, fly fishing season is well and truly underway with lakes, rivers and creeks teeming with trout so best to get organised early. River Fly offer guided tours to introduce hot spots to experienced anglers or teach beginners the basics. You can bring your own gear or River Fly can supply it all. The majority of tours return with up to 12 trout.
travel ract.com.au // JOURNEYS 39 PerspectivesPrimeBond;Tasman/DearnaTheSouth;SiroccoGibson;Tasmania/AdamTourismPhotos: CREAM OF THE CROP Say hello to a new culinary experience: the Epicurean Explorer. At The Tasman, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Hobart’s Clef d’Ors Concierge will curate a personalised food adventure for you. If you have a sweet tooth, the concierge will organise tastings with a master chocolatier. If brandy is more your bag, then a trip to a distillery to try a house-aged drop is in order. You’ll be chauffeured in the hotel’s fleet of black Audis to discover the best local providores have on offer. Now that’s fancy. ADVENTUREESSENTIAL With stores in both Hobart and Launceston, Roll Cycles offers Tassie locals and Tailgaterentalbikecomprehensivevisitorsretail,bikefit,workshopandservicesstate-wide.TheywerekindenoughtosettheRoadTestteamupwiththeEvocPad,whichisamustforprotectingbothsetofwheels–yourcarandbike. Open 7 days SAVE 10% as a member! Visit the Airwalk, the Eagle Hang Glider or book the Twin River Rafting adventure PROMO CODE RACT
JOURNEYS // AUG / SEP 202240 If you’re looking for a new type of outdoor adventure, Chris Crerar has a recommendation: packrafting. Be one of the first to packraft Down Under, right here in Tassie. rafters toPackedthe
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT The views along the way are worth the effort; Be prepared to carry your weight on this tour; The rapids are full-on and fun for thrill seekers. ract.com.au
// JOURNEYS 41
CrerarChrisPhotos:
“Sitting just below the surface are many large rocks, like a hippopotamus. You’ll need to spot and navigate around them, otherwise it will become a frustrating and exhausting trip,” he warns. We all giggle nervously, relieved it’s not a large dangerous mammal we’re trying to avoid, dig our paddles into the Mersey River and set off downstream. Our group of eight has travelled from Launceston through the countryside to the banks of the river near Mole Creek. Our head guide Dan, sporting a shock of scraggly blonde hair and a Guns N’ Roses T-shirt, leads us into the world of packrafting. He explains how these stable, yet manoeuvrable, inflatables are enabling exploration of wild rivers worldwide. Apparently great for beginners, they also put you in charge of your own destiny. I’m a little sceptical and more than a touch nervous. We pack our gear into dry bags and then into the floats of the rafts, before working up a sweat inflating them. I have signed up to ‘disappear’ for three days into the wilderness of the Alum Cliffs Gorge on an adventure that is Australia’s first guided multiday packrafting trip with Cradle Mountain Canyons. We’ll tackle easy to medium intensity rapids, camp deep in the gorge and use a plastic tube as a toilet – all firsts for most in our group of average-fitness ‘soft’ adventurers, aged between 27 and 65.
’ve climbed in a pack raft for the first time when our guide Dan says that we “need to look out for hippos”. “But this is Tasmania, not Tanzania”, I think when he explains more about the “hippos” and why they’re hazardous.
I
Sitting just below the surface are many large rocks, like a hippopotamus. You’ll need to spot and navigate around them
SjomanBarnbougle/JacobPhotos: travel
travel 42
3 Buy a good waterproof case for your phone and/or camera. You will rue not having a way to record moments in the adventure to show friends and family. 4 Bring some extra thermal clothing layers. The trips may be run during the warmer months (Nov–April), but this is Tasmania, and the Mersey River headwaters are high in the mountains.
JOURNEYS // AUG / SEP 2022
Adrenaline levels rise and stay high as we near each rapid. We learn very quickly whether
2 Hop onto YouTube and watch a few packrafting videos. It will give you a head start in what to expect and how to handle the boats.
Luckily for us, Dan and our second guide, Al, are not only passionate wilderness guides but also wonderful teachers. We learn paddling skills and the language of the river, with both cautious not to swamp us with information.
The gulf between theory and practice means I’m swamped by the river on numerous occasions, getting a little wetter and wiser each time. We paddle through gentle rapids towards the towering escarpments of the gorge, sharing the river with platypus and swans, while black cockatoos soar overhead. Before long the cliffs have closed in and are looming above us. We’ve passed the point of no return and it’s feeling a little like Journey to the Center of the Earth After four hours of paddling, we make camp on a bend in the river, at the entrance to the gorge. Over a simple pasta meal, Dan runs through what lies ahead, while Al broaches the delicate subject of using the “poo tube”. Childish jokes flow as freely as the river. From the moment we begin paddling, day two is a different beast. River levels may be low, but roaring rapids still thunder off the gorge walls.
Ready to join a packrafting adventure? Here are some tips to help you prepare: 1 You don’t need to have tri-athletelevel fitness to join the trip, but some upper-body strength will help out.
Adrenaline levels rise and stay high as we near each rapid
Nearing the end of our trip, Dan paddles past, jokingly calling me a “rock magnet” as I attempt to wriggle my raft off my umpteenth “hippo” landing. I’m definitely feeling a little frustrated and exhausted, but also exhilarated and inspired.
I can’t wipe the smile off my face.
Book now Feeling inspired to adventure into Alum Cliffs Gorge? Secure your spot at cradlemountaincanyons.com.au/packrafting
ract.com.au // JOURNEYS 43 CrerarChrisPhotos:
CLOCKWISE FROM BOTTOM LEFT Moments of stillness between adrenaline-filled rafting; You’ll need to lean on fellow rafters throughout; Alum Cliffs Gorge is not short on breathtaking scenery; Delicious food is prepared and enjoyed in good company. we’ve been listening to Dan’s instructions. Most of us spend the day in damp wetsuits. Everything happens at lightning speed on the rapid. Trying to remember our new skills while descending the churning mass of white water and avoiding rocks means we make mistakes and end up swimming. None of our mistakes ultimately matters, as they’re dwarfed by the spectacular grandeur surrounding us. There’s talk in the group of it being a ‘Franklin River lite’ adventure and a marvellous introduction to rafting in a wilderness environment. The gorge becomes our racehorse blinkers. It’s our entire world and focus while we’re deep in it. The only way out is to keep paddling. We camp, literally, on the walls of the gorge. Rock platforms among the towering cliffs are just big enough for our tents and camp kitchen. Some of us swim in the river below, while others relax and absorb the natural cathedral that’s home for the night. I sleep like I’m on a bed of feathers rather than a precarious rocky platform. With paddling skills on the up, we head downstream and out of the gorge on our final day. In some sections, the cliff walls are only metres apart, while in others the gorge opens to reveal huge, jagged escarpments and room for welcome sunlight to reach the water. At a broad section of the gorge, cliffs soaring above us, we stop, and Dan tells us about the pallittorre, whose traditional lands we’re passing through. Known to them as tulampanga, the gorge remains a sacred place, as it has been for millennia. We paddle on downstream in silent contemplation.
EAT Closed for much of the last decade, the 1832-built Kentish Hotel has been reborn as a quality pub and eatery. The dining experience is more cafe-style than counter meal, ranging from haloumi salads to a winter-warming lamb hot pie and all-day breakfast.
Oatlands The PIT STOP TOP
• The Callington Mill Distillery
• Raffah House
DRINK Set inside a former dispensary, The Imbibers has a simple philosophy: serve only wine, spirits and beer produced within a 60km radius of Oatlands. Settle into the Chesterfield sofa out back, or by the fire out front, and find your way through tipples from the Midlands, Coal River Valley and the lower reaches of the east coast.
HIGHST HIGH ST CallingtonDistilleryMill
• The Kentish Hotel • The Jardin Room
ESSENTIAL
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Peek behind the facades of Australia’s largest collection of Georgian sandstone buildings, and you’ll find that what’s old is new in Oatlands, with the Midlands town now home to a large distillery, a cosy wine bar and one of Tassie’s most curious stores, writes Andrew Bain. TO BOTTOM The RaffahJardinImbibers;Room;House. STOPS
SHOP Ever wanted a sandstone chateau fountain? Or a prune-drying rack and Turkish dough board? Then be sure to call in at The Jardin Room and Provincial Interiors. Tucked off the main street, it’s a curiosity shop of interior wares inside a two-level sandstone barn, and weightier garden items sprinkled between the perfectly trimmed hedges of a formal garden. SEE Callington Mill Distillery has finally opened its cellar door in the grounds of Australia’s third-oldest windmill. It’s a suitable setting, with the mill built in 1837 to grind flour but also for the (then illegal) production of spirits. Take a guided or self-guided tour, led by QR codes and audio and video installations, or grab a tasting flight of four of Callington’s eight whiskies.
DULVERTONLAKE
TheRoomJardin RaffahHouse ImbibersThe KentishTheHotel
STAY High St is lined with more than 80 Georgian sandstone buildings, so feel like a part of things with a stay inside one of these homes. Centuryold Raffah House is a beautifully renovated three-bedroom cottage (and former maternity hospital) that’s classic outside and contemporary inside.
• The Imbibers
JOURNEYS // AUG / SEP 202246
greatoutdoorsThe
A day in the office can look very different depending on who you are and what you do. Here in lutruwita/Tasmania, some people make a living from adventurous nature-based occupations. Three such fortunate Tassie residents talk about what they do for fun after clocking off.
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT Blue Derby Mountain Bike Trails; Hartz Mountain National Park; Hartz Peak Walk.
Franzi Eichler Guide and co-owner of Franklin River Rafting Before kids we would visit all our friends in the industry and try out whatever they ran. Like canyoning at Cradle Mountain and mountain biking in Derby – just trying a variety of all sorts of different fun things. It’s a really nice feeling to be a customer for once. You’re stepping out of that role and actually being guided. You can sit back, get food served, give up that responsibility and fully immerse yourself in whatever you’re doing. This is such a spectacular place. Tassie’s wild. Tassie just feels so raw. Tassie’s got a special spot in my heart. What I love about it the most, coming from Europe, is the remoteness. Its wilderness. None of that is left where I’m from. Everywhere in Austria, there’s phone reception, roads, houses, infrastructure. I especially love the alpine environment here. I have adventures away with a group of girls. We click really well. If you do stuff together it’s so important you have the right mix of humans. We’ll try to walk the Overland Track this winter but other than that they’re all smaller adventures. As a family we walk a lot. We hike a lot. We do a fair bit up at the Hartz area. We haven’t managed the top just yet but walked Pelverata Falls the other day.
Tasmania/RevolutionTourismPhotos:Callender;ElspethWords: GibsonTasmania/AdamTourismWilson;AndrewMTB;
ract.com.au // JOURNEYS 47 travel
Your opportunity to look over the horizon and see what we do in Antarctica. 24-28 August 2022 Hobart Tasmania mawsons-huts.org.au/antarctic-festival Let us launch your journey into Tasmania's Maritime Heritage Celebrate what makes ‘maritime’ such an important part of our Tasmanian identity. Come and see our new exhibitions. Bring the family or your friends. Open 9am 5pm, Monday to Sunday. Discounted entry with RACT card. Carnegie Building 16 Argyle St, Hobart Tas. 7000 (03) 6234 1427 office@maritimetas.org f: MaritimeMuseumTasmania Instagram: @tasmaritime www.maritimetas.org
Derby is more beautiful and I love the huge rock formations there but Maydena just ticks a lot of boxes for me. Plus it’s a huge mountain so there’s just so much different terrain. I love Tassie’s clean fresh air, beautiful landscapes and that you can go to places where there’s no-one around. Those are few and far between around the world these days. I like the open spaces and no people. You can go anywhere and it feels clean and wild.
MTBTasmania/RevolutionTourismGibson;StucourtesyPhotos:
Stu Gibson Freelance photographer I still have a love for surfing but I don’t do it as much anymore, but what I do like doing now is kitesurfing. That’s my main water sport. I do it at home – at Cremorne or South Arm – but my favourite spot is Scamander on the East Coast. Or Bicheno. Mountain biking, though, takes up most of my fun time. There are so many trails around Tassie these days. My favourite park is Maydena. There’s a mix of hardcore trails but also stuff for families and lots of green trails.
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I’m always coming and going from Bicheno. We just chased some surf there today. Not that it’s a wild adventure but we also chased some surf at Eaglehawk Neck this morning so I’ve gone from one end of the state to the other. I really want to get back to the West Coast. My partner has a shack at Granville Harbour so that’s the next little trip I’m going on.
TOP TO BOTTOM Shipstern Bluff shot by Stu Gibson; Mountain biking at Maydena Bike Park.
Chris Symonds Athlete, world champion sailor and Sailability Tasmania mentor I just did a wonderful trip on Greens Point Beach down at Marrawah with my daughter and wife. Thanks to the NDIS I have a nice 4WD wheelchair. This scooter also took me up to the top of the Nut at Stanley, which was very special. The person in the shop said they’d never seen a wheelchair go up there.
In Tassie, I just love the shortness of distance to go to such different and diverse places
I also did Cradle Mountain where we went down to the little boathouse. There were steps to get there but we made that happen. My X8, made by Magic Mobility, opens up a whole lot of opportunities. I live by the beach in Wynyard and now I can just jump in the chair and go down the beach to have a drink or just some time to myself by the waves. I have Kennedy’s disease and I come back to being able-bodied with the scooter. I can do stuff that everybody else can do and that’s really important for my mental health. In Tassie, I just love the shortness of distance to go to such different and diverse places. It’s so easy to get around. We’re very lucky where we live. I just love the West Coast. I love the beaches. There are some lovely ones in the Rocky Cape area. I did Guide Falls and Dip Falls recently. Our waterfalls are pretty spectacular in the winter. All different and unique, and many are accessible. The X8 allows me to do that.
travel
JOURNEYS // AUG / SEP 202250
TOP TO BOTTOM: Chris Symonds at Dove Lake boathouse in Cradle Mountain; Local wombat found at Cradle Mountain; taypalaka/ Green Point Beach
BondeTasmania/JessTourismSymonds;ChriscourtesyPhotos:
Commemorating 200 years BOTHWELL Bicentennial Festival 15 & 16 October 1822 - 2022 Bothwell, nestled in the heart of Tasmania invites you to nudge your sense of time, to journey, explore, visit, and reconnect. To be held across the weekend of 15 & 16 October, the Bicentennial Festival will commemorate the town, surrounds, places, spaces, stories, history, achievements, collections, the wild and the woolly, and the unique ideas that make Bothwell what it is today. Whether you are a past resident, avid golfer, first-time visitor, history buff, vintage car enthusiast, or an adventurer seeking new experiences; the weekends festivities promise something for everyone. Central Highlands Tasmania centralhighlands.tas.gov.au/Bothwell Bi-Centenary Festival 2022 #bothwellbicentennialfest
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
checksWinter
P For more, visit ract.com.au
ract.com.au // JOURNEYS 53 community 54/ COMMUNITY NEWS 57/ CHANGING GEARS 59/ COMBATING SPEED 61/ MEMBER REWARDS 65/ PUZZLES 66/ REAR VIEW
Vehicle manufacturers are extending service intervals, meaning more responsibility is passed on to drivers to ensure vehicle safety. While overheating isn’t a common occurrence during winter, the coolant concentrate level in your cooling system is important. Coolant contains anticorrosive and antifreeze properties, so it’s important to check your levels in both the coolant overflow bottle and the radiator itself. You should also check your battery. While it’s not possible to check the charge level of your car battery, you can check to make sure the terminals are clean and tight. If you’ve noticed some white crystalized build-up on your terminals, tipping some boiling hot water over them will dissolve this residue. To avoid a breakdown, stay on top of your vehicle maintenance. And in those unavoidable breakdown moments, our roadside assistance team is there for you.
Retail Distribution Development Officer, Nikki, recently celebrated her five-year work anniversary with RACT. Since joining as a customer service consultant in our call centre, she has also spent some time at our Rosny branch and in our Roadside team, sending out jobs to our patrols. “For the last few years, I have stepped into a training position at RACT and I enjoy the daily challenges and opportunities this brings.” Before joining us, Nikki worked for a car rental company at Hobart Airport and said she was looking for something Monday–Friday with set hours. Five years on, Nikki says she loves the environment she works in. “I love the opportunities that RACT offers, and the people you meet here certainly become more like family which makes it all the easier to come to work each day.”
While working flexible hours is important, Katie says she also loves the professional development opportunities she’s had. “I’m currently doing a course through work with RMIT,” she says, “Its focus is on building digital marketing campaigns and I’m finding it really helpful in my everyday role. Because it is work-related, I also get time each week to work on it.” With hobbies in hiking, cooking and watching movies, Katie says she has a clear favourite staff benefit.
Marketing Coordinator, Katie, has moved across three different areas of the business since joining us six years ago. What started as a 10-week program led to multiple different roles where she’s been able to develop a range of skills and she says it’s the flexibility she loves most about the“Theworkplace.bestthing about working at RACT is I’ve done all my roles as a part-timer. When I first started, my little girl, Inara, was just two years old. So, I just worked two days a week. As she’s grown up and started in school, I’ve been able to increase my hours and days, flexibly, based on what suits my family.”
JOURNEYS // AUG / SEP 202254 the latest.
RACT, a great place to work
“My favourite is probably the member rewards program with things like Woolworths and Village Cinemas vouchers. One year, Inara wanted a Barbie Dream House for her birthday, and I was able to save quite a bit by buying some WISH cards first. I’ve also saved on a few car seats as well.”
Looking to work somewhere flexible, with super staff benefits and a great workplace culture? RACT has a range of vacancies available. To find out more, head to ract.com.au/careers
With a combined tenure between them of 11 years, it’s fair to say that Nikki Percival and Katie Reynolds are loving life at RACT.
What do you love about our island… The seasons. No matter what the season, there is always something to do and somewhere to go. The blast of fresh air when you come out of the plane onto the tarmac is the best feeling, particularly in winter. Rosy cheeks, scarves, gloves and a smile. If you could describe Tasmania in three words… Safe, exquisite, inviting. Your first car was… Morris 1100. Pale green, four on the floor and a banana skin in the gearbox. Those were the days. Something people may not know about you is… My nickname is Mary. Mary Poppins. I always have the solution in my handbag. On the weekend we’d find you… Sometimes, on a drive down the peninsula way; my favourite gin distiller is there. Often playing golf, visiting friends, out fishing or just relaxing with a good series on TV. You grew up in... I was born in Launceston and have lived my entire life in Tasmania. The best place for families, singles and couples. I have a lifetime of fabulous memories in this state and know that I have many more to collect. You mostly use your RACT card at… United petrol and OPSM. A fromletterTim MyHello,name is Tim. I’m a roadside patrol for the RACT. During my time as a patrol I’ve seen a lot of dangerous driving behaviours and near-misses. Our members rarely have a choice of where they break down. As such, our roadside vehicles have little control of where we need to stop and provide a safe environment to assist them. These dangerous events frequently occur on highways where there’s either a narrow space or no shoulder to pull over on. For me, there’s nothing more frightening and dangerous than a train of cars, buses and trucks travelling at 100km/h and above, just one metre or less from me and my van on the roadside.
community 55 YOUR BOARD
The extension to the ‘See Red and Blue, Know What to Do’ legislation is a fantastic safety initiative for not only me and my colleagues, but for you and your loved ones we’re assisting on the side of the road. Just like you, I want to be able to do my job and return home safely. So please do me a favour: if you see flashing lights, that is where I’m working. Please slow down safely, not to have a look, but to create a safer place for me to perform my job. As road users, you have the choice to be alert, look ahead and safely slow down. It’s the law. – Tim
RichardsonJenny Vice-President RACT
What do you love most about being part of the RACT community… Being able to see how RACT makes a difference. I’ve had the opportunity to sit in with the call centre staff and truly understand just how important our services are when people are in real need, or when they want to have a chat and understand more about their options. The best thing about being on the board is… Helping make decisions that will assist all Tasmanians. Using good governance principles, we are able to ensure that we meet our strategic objectives, remain solvent and implement new technologies, all of which improve the lives of Tasmanians. The board continues to grow and share our personal experiences with discussions that inform decisions. Your biggest goal for RACT is… To remain relevant and accessible to every Tasmanian. Listening to what you say and evolving to meet changing needs. Your favourite place to holiday in Tasmania is… So many places. In the last two years I have stayed at Marrawah, Tullah, Poatina, Southport, Nicholls Rivulet, Cradle Mountain, St Helens, Bridport, Oatlands and Bothwell. Anything with good walking tracks, golf courses and beaches, I am there.
advertorial
It’s time for a spring reset Be prepared Protect your home with a home and contents insurance package that suits you. For more, visit ract.com.au As we hunker down indoors during the cooler months, we can be a little guilty of letting maintenancehomefall to the wayside. But as spring nears it’s time to shake off the winter blues and ensure your home is in tip-top shape again. We call it a spring reset. Here’s a handy checklist of what may need some TLC. Check and clean out your gutters. Blocked gutters can lead to internal and external water Assessdamage.biggertrees on your property. If a tree is unhealthy or showing signs of being unsafe (shifted, dropping large branches, or showing cracks) your home may be at risk of it falling. Spring in Tassie can get windy. Ensure you secure outdoor furniture, play equipment and BBQs so they don’t cause damage to your home. After a frosty winter, clean your heat pump filters to optimise efficiency. No matter the time of year, it’s always a good idea to check your smoke detectors are working correctly and have fresh batteries. Tasmania Fire Service recommend monthly checks. Storm water drains can often get blocked by loose leaves and cause flooding around your home if not cleared. Check to ensure water is not overflowing when it rains. Thinking of moving furniture around the home to give it a fresh look? Then be sure your accidental damage cover* is up to date to avoid any large bills that may be caused in the Duringprocess.yourspring shuffle avoid placing furniture close to heaters.
*Accidental damage is an optional cover available when you take out Home and Contents insurance with us. Additional charges apply. Before buying insurance issued by RACT Insurance Pty Ltd (ABN 96 068 167 804, AFS license 229 076) you should read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) which you can find at www.ract.com.au
• Safety is a key part of Tasmania’s brand.
• The highway is vital for growth in tourism and therefore critical to the economic future of the East Coast, where tourism is the biggest industry.
• Widening and sealing the road verge from the Little Swanport Bridge to Swansea. We also recognise that there are sections of the highway where the views attract visitors and locals alike. Again there have been welcome improvements, such as at Kelvedon Beach, but more are needed. The highly photogenic Rocky Hills section is a popular stop that needs improved roadside rest areas and signage.
• Planning a series of passing lanes between Triabunna and Swansea.
prioritiesOur he RACT campaign to improve the Tasman Highway bore fruit in the federal election campaign – but that doesn’t mean the fight is over. While there is now $131 million to be spent on significant upgrades over the next five years, that should be regarded as just a first instalment.
• Upgrading the highway from the bottom of St Mary’s Pass to Dianas Basin, thereby completing the upgrade to St Helens. That’s at the top of the Break O’ Day council’s list and has been allocated State Government funding.
And, as part of a federal-state agreement on highway funding, the State Budget in May added a further $31 million to the project. This project, while welcome, focuses on safety improvements around key tourism assets – with significant upgrades already completed. The dramatically improved reconstruction of the section between St Helens and Dianas Basin is a great example of what can be achieved – but the state alone can’t finance projects of that magnitude. What’s needed – and that’s why a 10-year plan being developed by the State Government is critical – is upgrading the entire corridor. As any driver will tell you, between the sections that have been upgraded there are sections where the highway is narrow with crumbling edges patched with gravel, so narrow in fact that heavy vehicles often have to have their wheels in the gravel. When you add motorhomes and caravans on this key tourism route, it’s a drive more grinding than great.
ract.com.au // JOURNEYS 57 Keep updated with our road safety advocacy at ract.com.au/advocating-change community
Changing gears
T These are concerns consistently raised by RACT members. They have more concerns about the safety of the Tasman Highway than any other highway in Tasmania. And these concerns have been taken up by both the Break O’ Day and Glamorgan Spring Bay councils and the regional tourism organisation East Coast Tourism. That united voice was key to increasing the funding. That voice will continue to be heard in the decade ahead. The first priority is to complete the 10year plan and identify the priorities (see right). We also recognise that there are sections of the highway where the views attract visitors and locals alike. Again there have been welcome improvements, such as at Kelvedon Beach, but more are needed. The highly photogenic Rocky Hills section is a popular stop that needs improved roadside rest areas and signage. The messages in our advocacy to improve the Tasman Highway are:
forAdvocatingupgrades
• Reducing speed limits on sections where safety improvements are needed.
• Upgrading and realigning the Cherry Tree Hill section between Cranbrook and Devils Corner.
• There is also growth in agriculture and aquaculture that requires a safe and efficient transport route.
With a new Labor government in power in Canberra, we’ll continue to argue that Canberra should help fund a 10-year plan for this critical tourism route. Labor has already committed to the $100 million allocated to the highway’s Great Eastern Drive section by the previous Coalition government in the Federal Budget – so there is support across the political divide.
P r i v a t e P h o t o g r a p h y T u i t i o n a n d T u t o r i a l s W o m e n - o n l y P h o t o g r a p h y E s c a p e s P r i v a t e P h o t oo r i e n t e d D a y T o u r s S c h e d u l e d S m a l l G r o u p E x p e r i e n c e s Find your ideal p h o t o g r a p h y e x p e r i e n c e w w w . s h u t t e r b u g w a l k a b o u t s . c o m . a u h e l l o @ s h u t t e r b u g w a l k a b o u t s . c o m . a u T : 0 4 1 7 5 9 9 2 8 3
ract.com.au // JOURNEYS 59 87% of Tasmanians agree speed cameras set up by the roadside would discourage them from speeding.
s the number of fatalities on Tasmanian roads tragically continues to climb, it seems as if there are no easy answers. But there is one basic factor that is common to so many fatal and serious injury crashes occurring on our roads, and that is Almostspeed.one in three fatalities and serious injuries on Tasmanian roads is linked to excessive speed. It’s simple physics: the faster you go, the harder you hit, the more damage you do. This is why the Tasmanian Government is implementing a new program of mobile automated enforcement cameras, which will begin operating at locations across the state from September this year. You may already have seen the highly visible ‘Over is Over’ cameras being tested on the roadside to ensure that they are operating at the highest standards. Across the world, automated enforcement cameras have been proven to be one of the most effective tools for ensuring road users drive at or below the speed limit, keeping themselves and others safe. In fact, nine out of ten surveyed Tasmanians agree that enforcement cameras discourage speeding. For most drivers, seeing a speed camera on the side of the road provides reassurance that speed limits are there for a reason and being enforced for the good of the community. For others though, the likelihood of being caught and, the threat of a fine and demerit points is the only effective deterrent. That’s why the cameras will be deployed in a mix of highly visible trailers and more covert vehicles.
Camera locations have been carefully chosen to maximise road safety outcomes, taking into account past crash history, current speed levels and road infrastructure. More locations will continue to be identified, with consideration given to sites suggested by the community. The cameras will be positioned randomly across hundreds of potential locations, so speeders will never know where or when they might be detected. The cameras will be located on busy urban highways, on quiet country roads, and along local shopping strips – a mobile enforcement camera could be anywhere, anytime. Utilising current technology, the new cameras employ tracking radar to monitor multiple lanes of traffic travelling in both directions. The cameras are capable of tracking up to 50 vehicles simultaneously and can capture evidence of speeding by all vehicle types, including motorcycles and speed-limited heavy vehicles. When a vehicle is detected above the speed limit, the radar triggers a highresolution camera to capture evidence of the offence. An infrared flash, which is virtually invisible to the human eye, allows for images to be captured in all weather and light conditions –day or night, rain or shine. Mobile automated enforcement cameras are here to deter those who flout the law. There’s no getting around it – those who speed will be caught. The message is clear. Over is Over.
A new program of mobile automated enforcement cameras aims to deter drivers from speeding.
speedCombating community
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3 The closing date for completed nomination forms is 14 September 2022. 4 Eligible members nominating for election will need to identify and substantiate their skills, experience and attributes in accordance with RACT’s skill requirements and participate in an interview to evaluate their candidacy.
THE RACT CONSTITUTION requires a ballot of members at the end of directors’ elected terms where there are more candidates than vacantRACTpositions.isanindependent voice for Tasmanians and consumers, across the areas of its business activity. The RACT Group’s business is increasingly complex and any successful nominee will need to have significant business acumen and be able to understand financial reporting in order to contribute to the Board and ensure the continued successful guidance of the RACT. Our election process: 1 Prior to the election, expressions of interest will be sought. This process will be conducted with the help of external recruitment professionals and provide potential candidates with information about the specific skills and experience being sought by the Board.
7 To ensure the Board can continue effectively should there be insufficient votes, in the event that there is no valid election result in 2022 these recommended candidates will be appointed by the Board to fill what will technically be casual vacancies in accordance with the Constitution.
2 Eligibility to nominate for election and the election process is governed by RACT’s Constitution which can be found on the RACT website. The website also contains information on the expressions of interest and nominations processes.
RACT Annual Board Election Process
5 To produce a valid result, more than 2% of members are required to vote either online or, on request, by post.
6 To improve the information members receive in respect to candidates, the RACT Board will provide additional communication to members regarding the nominees who the RACT Board recommends members elect and why.
JOURNEYS // AUG / SEP 202260
61 A refreshspringSAVEBIGTHIS SPRING Wattyl Paints A feature wall can offer a new look for a tired-looking room. Or perhaps you have little ones with dirty hands who can’t help but touch and stain the walls? Give your place a spring refresh with a new coat of paint or a DIY project. Save 30% off paints and stains and 15% off accessories.* Go to ract.com.au/wattyl-paints FIX UP THE CAR Repco Get your car ready to go this spring with plenty of deals and discounts at Repco. Save 5% every day, plus receive exclusive members offers and discounts.* Go to ract.com.au/repco Visit ract.com.au/member-rewards Card number 201801234567 Ms Jane Person FRESHEN UP YOUR BEDDING Snooze Get a fresh start this spring and treat the family to some new bed linen from Snooze. Save 15% off the regular price.* Go to ract.com.au/snooze KEEP IT CLEAN Planet Goodness From home cleaning products through to health, beauty, food and drink, Planet Goodness specialises in all things certified organic and natural. Save 5% off the entire range.* Go to ract.com.au/planet-goodness KEEP THE FAMILY SAFE St John Ensure your loved ones are safe with a first aid kit at home or in the car while you’re out and about. Save 10% on first aid kits and training courses.* Go to ract.com.au/st-john10SAVE%SAVE5% *Terms and conditions apply. Please see ract.com.au/member-rewards for more details. 15SAVE%Spruce up your home with these member rewards
62 *Terms and conditions apply. Please see ract.com.au/member-rewards for more details.Visit ract.com.au/member-rewards for moreCard number 201801234567 Ms Jane Person RACT rewards Treat yourself and the family PROTECT YOUR EYES Sunglass Hut Protect your eyes from the sun and treat yourself to some stylish shades from the range at Sunglasses Hut. Save 15% off selected full priced Gosunglasses.*toract.com.au/sunglass-hut SAVE15% SAVE5% GIVE A GIFT THEY’RE SURE TO LOVE Woolworths eGift Cards For a simple, waste-free gift for loved ones, choose from Big W, Woolworths, Dan Murphy’s and more. The amount to purchase on the card is flexible. You can load anything from $20 to $500. Save up to 5% off various Woolworths eGift Cards.* Go to ract.com.au/woolworths-egift SPRING INTO YOUR FITNESS GOALS Intersport No matter what sport you’re into, get the gear you need to succeed while staying warm and dry. Save 10% on all sporting equipment, shoes and apparel.* Go to ract.com.au/intersport UPGRADE YOUR CAR Instant Windscreens Want to make some improvements to your car? When it comes to windscreens and car tinting, our partner Instant Windscreens has you covered. Save 10% off the regular price.* Go to ract.com.au/instant-windscreens SAVE10% RUN WITH THE FAMILY Hobart Airport Marathon Festival With multiple running and walking distance options, the Hobart Airport Marathon Festival is fun for the whole family. Save 15% off the cost of Goregistration.*to marathonract.com.au/hobart-airportSAVE15% 10SAVE%
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ract.com.au // JOURNEYS 65 iStockPhotos: JOURNEYS JUNE–JULY CROSSWORD SOLUTIONS
4 What tailgate accessory did the first- and secondgeneration Honda CRVs come equipped with?
28 Orange
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2 How many stars are on the Australian flag?
7 What was the original name of Tasmania?
8 In which year was the first Melbourne Cup run? 9 Where did Mr Squiggle live? 10 Which Australian band sings ‘Never Tear us Apart’? Quiz Want to find out how you did? Find the answers online at ract.com.au/puzzles 1 Without difficulty or effort (6) 4 Invasion and assumption of control (8) 10 Increase to the loudest point (9) 11 Inspire or permeate with (5) 12 Ungracefully thin and tall (5) 13 Preserve by subjecting to rapid cooling and high vacuum (6-3) 14 Affectedly grand, solemn or self-important (7) 16 Trivial prolonged conversation (colloq.) (4) 19 Cease moving or operating (4) 21 Member of Australia’s Rugby Union team (7) 24 Capital of the Provence region in France (9) 25 Praise enthusiastically (5) 26 A gambling game using two coins (3-2) 27 A situation or event which is much less impressive than expected (colloq.) (4,5) 28 Orange or red plant pigment (8) 29 Nocturnal and often highly vocal lizards (6) Down 1 Fast-growing evergreen Australasian tree (8) 2 Breastbones (8) 3 Having, bringing or resulting from good fortune (5) 5 Process where a section of the earth’s crust is folded and deformed by lateral compression (7) 6 Indicating mild or amused puzzlement (9) 7 Include or contain (something) as a constituent part (6) 8 Produce patterns in a garment by tying parts of it to shield it from the dye (3-3) 9 Draw up air audibly through the nose to detect a smell (6) 15 Without any delay; immediately (2-3-4) 17 Easily and quickly earned money (4,4) 18 Subjects in a course of study or teaching (8) 20 A knight renowned for heroism and chivalry (7) 21 Engulfs, submerges or buries (6) 22 Causing vomiting (6) 23 Tough metal layer covering a military vehicle (6) 25 Happen or occur afterwards or as a result (5)
3 The Australian Maritime College is one of the best in the world. Where in the north of the state can it be found?
6
6 Who played the mother in the TV sitcom Mother and Son?
5 Is it the male or female cicada which makes the famous sound?
1 Where were the 1992 Summer Olympic Games staged?
Down
28
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
15
2
puzzles Across
Crossword Across: 1 Fisher, 4 Sorcerer, 10 Blanchett, 11 Links, 12 Annan, 13 Kellerman, 14 Contain, 16 Watt, 19 Hart, 21 Bursary, 24 Split ends, 25 Mason, 26 Aisle, 27 Frock coat, 28 Drysdale, 29 Mystic. Down: 1 Fob watch, 2 Stagnant, 3 Ex-con, 5 Outflow, 6 Collector, 7 Rename, 8 Resent, 9 Reckon, 15 Apartheid, 17 Passport, 18 Hypnotic, 20 Tuneful, 21 Bishop, 22 Island, 23 Fleshy, 25 McKay. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 27 29 or red plant pigment (8) 29 Nocturnal and often highly vocal lizards (6) 1 Fast (Australasianevergreengrowingtree8) Breastbones (8) 3 bringing,Having, or resulting from good fortune (5) 5 Process where a section of the earth's crust is folded lateraldeformedandby Indicating mild or puzzlementamused (9) 7 Include or (something)contain as a constituent part (6) 8 Produce patterns in a garment by tying parts of it to shield it from the dye (3 3) 9 Draw up air audibly through the nose to detect a smell (6) Without any immediatelydelay; (2 3 4) 17 Easily and 18 Subjects in a course of study or teaching (8) 20 A renownedknight for heroism and chivalry (7) 21 submerges,Engulfs, or buries (6) 22 vomitingCausing (6) 23 Tough metal layer covering a military vehicle (6) 25 Happen or occur afterwards or as a result (5)
rear
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Tasmania as captured by our talented members
JOURNEYS // AUG / SEP 202266 CLOCKWISE
FROM TOP // In autumn, hikers were treated to seeing the turning of the fagus at Hanson’s Peak shot by @thomasjckwood; @joshbrown_photos gives us a birds-eye view of Hellyer Gold Mine; @flight_risk_media being greeted by a smiling echidna; @meljferrier was a proud finisher of the 49th City to Casino Fun Run & Walk.
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The all-new Kia Niro EV Range. Find our nearest Kia dealer Kia.com.au or 131 KIA/131 542 The small SUV with more detail than the fine print.
