Hobart to Deloraine
8 November 2016
Click on the image for a detailed map
In all my planning for this ride, I had intended to ride back to the ferry via the rugged west coast of Tasmania. I had a similar plan when I last made the trip in 2014. The road to Queenstown is beautiful and challenging and, although I’ve driven it any number of times, I’m yet to ride it on a motorcycle.
The weather stymied me again. There was a forecast of rain; it was cold and I did not want to have to deal with the faint possibility of snow or ice on the section of the road between Lake St Clair and Queenstown. So I decided to have a look at the north-east of Tasmania and, if I could manage it and the weather was OK, visit Cradle Mountain and bits of the north west coast before catching the ferry the following day.
I was underway reasonably early and made good time to Orford via Richmond. I kept going to Swansea and then on to Bicheno where I had coffee and decided to visit the Bicheno Motorcycle Museum.
I’ve always enjoyed the final stretch of road which runs alongside the Prosser River into Orford. There’s a sharp turn at the top of the hill ahead in this picture, but otherwise it’s a gentle weave that can be taken quickly.
Pretty cottage at Lizdillon south of Swansea
South of Swansea
As for this place, the photos can tell the story.
Such an unassuming wee shed it was too.
Back on the bike, I refuelled and continued my journey north to Elephant Pass a winding stretch of road that strikes dread into the hearts of Tasmanian motorists and joy to those motorcyclists with an abhorrence of straight roads. One does, however, have to be on the lookout for caravans and log trucks.
Up the pass I went and, having enjoyed myself all the way, arrived in St Marys looking forward to the ride down St Mary’s Pass.
Elephant Pass
St Marys Pass was closed for repairs and while, when I was young, that would have derailed my plan as it was pretty much the only way to St Helens from the south, there has for many years been a road along the coast.
Not altogether unhappily, I retraced my steps down the hill and turned north at the bottom.
The old Scamander Bridge
Other than stopping for a quick photo in Scamander, I kept going until I reached St Helens where I stopped for a quick lunch.
It’s been many a year since I’ve driven from St Helens to Scottsdale, and I’ve never done it on a bike, but I have memories of it being the sort of road a biker would enjoy. It winds its way up hills and through lush Tasmanian forest and farmland through Derby to Scottsdale. I refuelled at a tiny service station in Derby.
Between St Helens and Scottsdale. For no reason I can recall, I decided to play with the panorama function of my phone camera on this corner. What a brilliant piece of software trickery that is!
From Scottsdale, the road to Launceston—Tasmania’s second largest city—takes one through the Sidling, also known as being treacherous to motorists. Like the Elephant Pass, it’s a great deal of fun for a bloke out for a ride on a CB1100.
A lookout on the Sidling. I’m looking towards the north east
Once through the Sidling, it’s a pleasant run to Launceston through a relatively quiet and good-quality road. On Day 23, Mrs Cormanus and I rode to the top of Mt Wellington in Hobart and could see all the way to Ben Lomond near Launceston. On this day, I rode behind the range containing Ben Lomond. My camera battery ran out at Derby so there are not many photos as I didn’t want to stop to take them with my phone.
I had thought to stay in Launceston for the evening, but it was a pleasant enough afternoon and, being so far south, the twilights are long, so I decided to press on to Deloraine to put me nearer where I wanted to go in the morning. Anyway, it’s prettier than Launceston and it would be easier to find the sort of accommodation I wanted.
For one of the few times while I was in Tasmania, I took to the main highway and rode quickly to Deloraine where I settled for the night at the very comfortable Empire Hotel.
