Great Road Trips

[1750GT]

No worries david, glad to be of assistance and let us know the details, never know? I definitely think the 4am thing might be a stretch and definitely left for a few of the guys who are for real when it comes to early morning starts. It's a good idea to check with club members but I would think that around 8am starts wouldn't get too much resistence.

Good Luck

1759GT

[njh1964]

Growing up in Tasmania, my first car was a 1974 Alfasud TI.

Twenty-odd years ago, my then girlfriend/now wife was utterly convinced of my motoring madness on a trip up the East Coast of Tasmania in the 'Sud.

I won't have to explain this to fellow Alfista, but there is a particular stretch of road south of Swansea on the East Coast. The road is literally carved into the cliffside with spectaular views over the ocean... or at least I'm told the view is spectacular, as I'm generally more interested in the road ahead and the tacho in front of me... scenery is for passengers!!

Anyway, this magnificent section of road has a series of mild uphill s-bends... kind of like the pattern a snake makes in the sand. The best approach is third gear, throttle to the floor and a series of slight steering wheel twitches left and right up through the consecutive bends. It's the closest I've come to the sensation of flight with four wheel (most of the time) on the ground.

And the reason my girlfriend thought I was mad?? Well, that would be because I stopped at the top of the hill, pulled a u-turn, drove back down the hill so that I could do it all again. As I say, I'm sure I don't have to explain this entirely reasonable response to fellow Alfista, but my girlfriend thought this was odd coming from someone how doesn't like stopping on a road trip because passing the same vehicles again is boring.

[Davidm1600]

Hi mjh1964. I not only know precisely that section of road but as well just how fantastic it is to drive it in a car that really handles. Have done the East drive many times and it is always a really enjoyable one in an Alfa.

I reckon you did well to convince the girlfriend just how special that experience was. And she married you so you must have done well !! 

[njh1964]

Hi Davidm1750,

I think she may have taken pity on me

Anyway, she's since indulged my "Alfa illness" (yet again) by allowing me to buy a 1969 GT 1300 Junior, which I'm currently restoring.

As soon as I've finished the restoration, it's onto the Spirit of Tasmania and back to that stretch of road on the East Coast... it beats Victoria's Great Ocean Road hands down.

Cheers,


Nick

[shane wescott]

Guys

Make sure you come along to the Jan EMR 25th. It builds on top of the great run we had last year from the same start location, and adds some spectacular views and roads.

The pubs we are visiting are also great :-)

Catch ya

Shane

[John Hanslow]

Tasmania has a variety of Roads and the East Coast Swansea experience is fantastic.  Thanks for mentioning it as it is a classic Aussi road trip and a must see and do.

The only downside to the road trip around Tassie experience I think is going from the West Coast across the mountains to Queenstown, Franklin River & finally Strahan to Hobart.  Bit of a challenge on those roads and not that enjoyable - it just seemed to go on and on for about 6 hours to Hobart.

I would loke to know if a front heavy v6 would meet the East Coast challenge or just go with the flow with a twin spark?

As for the EMR, thanks Shane and Kerrie for your good work and I am really looking forward to this drive.

Cheers.

[Davidm1600]

Indeed true it is good to know about all the various great Aussie road trips.  I would like to take one of my Alfas down the Great Ocean Road, let alone some of your Alpine roads etc. Ditto must get across one day to South Australia.  I do know what you mean John about the West Coast trip and yes there are a lot of bends, hills etc to contend with.  If I might make a suggestion, if one was heading down to Tassie sometime via the Spirit, what I would do rather than to try to do too much in one day is split the journey up, via either on leaving Devonport traveling to Strahan via the Hellyer Gorge and spending a night or 2 in Strahan before making the journey onto Hobart.  Or alternatively travel up to Cradle Mountain for the night before tackling the road to Strahan.

The scenery is spectacular, besides the roads and so it makes good sense to stagger your trip.  A side trip off to lake St Clair on the way from Queenstown to Hobart is worth it, or say a trip to Mt Field, and plenty of other good places to stop.  Another option is the side trip just south of Hamilton (on the Lyell Highway) to Bothwell in the Central Highlands before travelling down to the Midlands hwy to Hobart.  Just did this one the other day with Wifey in her BMW. 

As to the East coast trip, given if you are approaching it from either end of the State there are a lot of bendy sections, so long as you are not in a hurray I am sure the 164 would be an extremely pleasant way to go, especially with a side trip to Freycinet and some of the vineyards around the Swansea area etc.  Alternatively, if you were after the more sporty trip, especially over the Sidling (Lonnie to Scottsdale) and Weldborough pass (Scottsdale to St Helens) than perhaps the Twin spark might be the car to take. Hope that helps.  Cheers Dave

[Mr Frog]

Bliss is my 1969 GTV from home in Warrandyte (Vic) - Kangaroo Ground - Yarra Glen - Yea - Maindample - Benalla - Cobram - Newell Highway to  Moree - left to Mungindi - St George - Carnarvon Highway/Development Road to Roma - Rolleston - left on Dawson Highway to Springsure - Emerald - Gregory Development Road - Belyando Crossing - Charters Towers - Flinders Highway - Townsville - Bruce Highway to home in Cairns. A great drive, apart from the Newell Highway (but in any case the Newell is a thousand times better than driving the coast road).

If you have more time, it's worth cutting across from the Newell to Bathurst via Grenfell, Cowra and Blayney, thence to Muswellbrook via Ilford to Mudgee, up to Ulan and Cassilis and finally to Muswellbrook via Merriwa on the Golden Highway. Once at Muswellbrook great drives through Tamworth, Armidale Glenn Innes and Tenterfield open up, with opportunities for side trips into the Tablelands.

You can continue up to Warwick in Queensland on the New England Highway then head for the coast road and Brisbane, or do like I have done and go up the Burnett Highway - Kingaroy - Murgon - Mundubbera - Monto and Biloela. From Biloela you can choose to head for the coast at Rocky, or back inland via the Dawson Highway (my choice).

It's basically a minimum of three days (it can be done in two with careful planning), but a much more leisurely drive will pay dividends. The car loves it.