Just found this great link from todays News.com
Looks like a few great road trips here that I ma sure some of you have done.
http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/0,28318,21249323-5006180,00.html (http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/0,28318,21249323-5006180,00.html)
I have done the trip around Tassie, also Jarvis Bay to Melbourne along the coast and finally Melbourne to Adelaide all the way along the coast.
Merry xmas and safe holiday motoring.
We have done the Esperence to Albany (and all the rest of the way back to Melb with three kids in the back of the car), and recently this year did both the Melb to Syd on the coast and Melb to Adelaide on the coast.
Both are awesome drives with many breath taking places and lots of great pubs :-) On issue is we did it in a Rav 4 not an Alfa :-(
Planning to do up to Darwin some time this or next year.
Catch ya
Shane
Look like some great drives. I have done the Sydney costal trip over a two week period and there are some great coastal stops and fishing opportunities. I have also done the tassie east coast. down to Hobart and thru to Strawn (west coast) and back up to Launceston. The mixture of beautiful beaches, rain forests and wilderness areas is spectacular. Unfortunately like Shane they have been done in family cars rather than the trusty Alfa, however I am hoping to do the Melbourne Sydney run in the Alfa next year in the Italian connection rally, so the Alfa is being progressively upgraded as we speak.
1750GT
I was fortunate to go from Jarvis Bay to Melb in my 164. It was a great trip and we took a week to come home with a stop over for a few days in Lakes Entrance.
Trying to book a week off in the East Coast of Tassie but will have a hire car again - never mind.
Happy Holiday.
Nothing like a roadtrip. I did the Pacific hwy trip down from Sydney to Melbourne via Lakes entrance and Philip Island last year after buying my JTS 156 Sportwagon last year. A really enjoyable trip.
I am very familiar with the road trip 1750GT mentions re Tassie, since my work has over the years required me to travel most of these at some stage. The trip from Hobart to the West Coast and up to the NW on many times, but likewise not in my Alfas. The Cradle Mountain link road is also another really enjoyable one.
Actually there are many really enjoyable road trips one can have over here, and thankfully over the years have done these in either my Alfas or Fiats.
Just did the trip down to Port Arthur on Saturday but in wifey's BMW 318is. A good trip and in perfect weather.
Further to your Marysville trip mentioned in the "Top Gear" thread, I can really agree that this is one of the simple but rewarding day trips out of Melbourne.
Once you get out of the metro area and get out thru the Black Spur it's a great drive. The club had an EMR thru there about a year or so ago and finished in Warburton. I know that one of the register captains previously mentioned a similar trip, I like going thu Hurstbridge, Kangaroo Ground, Yarra Glen & Healsville.
Now I am sure we can find a nice pub for a fine winter roast ???
Hopefully we will lock it in mid next year we will keep you up to date. Barry has a good point with writing this down for a magazine conribution.
Cheers.
Repeated this on another thread, thought I would reply as well.
Hey there
I also just did the Healesville/Black Spur drive this Christmas break in my Alfa, about the same time as 1750GT. Saw one or two other Alfa's out too.
Went through Warrandyte/Eltham first, onto Healesville (coffee/breakfast) then Black Spur then up to Lake Mountain back to Marysville (lunch), back along Reefton Spur and home via Warburton. Even the wife and kids liked the drive and didn't mind the V6 noise, it was rather noisy, Remus muffler.
Fantastic drive (220 km round trip, but do it early in the morning only. Any time after, and no matter how you go about it, you will always be caught up behind a Toyota on L's or driven by someone wearing a bowls hat doing 50 km/h, not much fun then.
The drive up Lake Mountain is the best fun.
Any register captain planning an EMR along similar route, I am there.
Neil
Hey Neil,
I will be running my EMR through the same area next year. I look forward to seeing your growling V6 there.
Cheers,
Marco.
Marco, your enthusiasm is once again welcome. Doing a bit of planning here so hope to heare from you.
Just diverging a short distancefrom the Black Spur & Marysville route, finalising plans for a EMR mid February.
Details to be posted soon !
That sounds great, like some others have done the Healsville black spur Marysville run 3 times in the last 2 years, unfortunately not in an Alfa.
First time was in a Toyota (Err!!!! - company car not by choice!!!). The last 2 times was in our recently departed Honda Accord Euro which was fun - yeah the Euros a great car. (Only non Italian car Ive ever owned) and the spurs a great drive. As John mentioned we got to Healsville via Hurstbridge, Kangoroo Ground which is another enjoyable stint.
Many (many) years ago theres was a drive through somewhere (have to confirm where, it was 12 years ago) up to Falls Creek in my 82 GTV what a hoot that was (and it made it up and back no dramas after spending 3 days on the mountain!) and a late night blast from Apollo bay to Geelong in the same GTV as we were late for something and the good thing was we werent held up by some baboon driving at 4.2 km/h which usually happens.
Hopefully can try and do the EMR in the 105 if its ready by then.
Great I am looking forward to getting the details on the Feb EMR. I think everyone agrees it would be a great day.
Thanks
1750GT
Hi guys, I would like to gauge your ideas if I may on the concept of an EMR, as I am proposing running one over here in Tassie for our club in March or April.
So, please feel free to give me some advice on say what time do you normally head off on a EMR, would you normally have a meetup point before heading off, typical duration or distance covered and would you say plan on having breaky somewhere before finishing the run. Anything else what I may not have thought of.
Sorry to pinch the thread for a moment but your views would be appreciated. Dave
David, some thoughts/hints on planning your event:
1. It's good to time your start time based on your lunch location so if your lunch/picnic location is say three hours away then you should start at say 8/8.30am to give yourself three hours plus some freeboard time for late start and a couple of stop overs for sight seeing etc.
2. You should always have stop overs at sight seeing or point of interest locations along the way with driving stints of say 45min - 1hr at a time so that it doesn't seem a chore to dirve to the location.
3. Always meet at a location at a designated time with say half hour freeboard. So if the time is 8am then at 8.30am you take off otherwise if your not regimented you will go crazy waiting for everyone. It's also good to give an itinery of all the places your going, stopover times, maps etc. so that if someone decides to go off on there own or they get lost again you dont go crazy trying to wait for them, find them etc.
4. Make sure you have a couple of mobile numbers that people can call so that if someone gets lost or is running late etc. they can contact someone.
5. Make your starting point interesting so that if people are early or choose to arrive early then they can do something, get a coffee etc. theres nothing worse than starting in a carpark in the middle of nowhere. I haven't been to Tassie for a while so bear with me, but say in the north a place like Sheffield (which then leads to a great drive - Elephants Arse, sorry pass) in the north, on the east coast one of the nice coastal towns, in Hobart at the port or Salamander market etc. (all these places are good stopover points as well) or your favorite place.
6. You may also consider a rally type event which is also fun, eg. you provide clues to the first location and then once someone reaches there they get there next clue etc. to the next location etc. with a prizes at the end for the winner, the funiest stuff up, nong of the day etc. the trick here is to make it easy but not to easy and to ensure that theres the get out envelope or contact for those who are not the sharpest at working out clues.
7. Always do something special for the girls, that way we married men can convince the other half to get involved.
8. If you really want to get into the spirit select a dress or other theme for the day.
9. And finally make sure theres plenty of twisties, after all we dont like Alfa's for straight road driving and make the final stopover an interesting location, organise a barbe etc.
Thats all I can think of for the moment. Hope this helps.
1750GT
About 20 years ago, my wife and I visited a friend and his wife in Hobart.
The four of us were going to tour the island for three weeks and at the time he owned a silver grey GTV6. We hired a Commodore for the girls and luggage and he and I took off, leading the way, in the Alfa. Over the 21 days, we stopped at Lake St. Clair, Strahan, Stanley, Cradle Valley, Launceston (via Mole Creek and Deloraine), Bicheno, Coles Bay, Port Arthur and finally Hobart as we wound our way clockwise around Tasmania. During the time, it rained, sleeted, snowed and every now and then the October sun came out but despite it all, the Alfa kept blasting along - nothing broke or fell off and we didn't hit anything (apart from the rev-limiter).
It was a great holiday - the boys had a hoot and the girls enjoyed each others company during the day, plus the shopping, tourist sites, bit of bushwalking, the food, the wine, the history and heritage also kept everyone entertained. It remains one of my favourite road trips.
I must add that the Commodore also performed flawlessly, though not as much fun.
One day I'll get my 105 down there and go for a drive.
Chris
Hi 1750GT, Many thanks for the sound advice it is really helpful. It has been quite a few years since I last organised an EMR and so hence was most interested to see if my thinking on the intent of such a social/driving event was ok or alternatively I was missing something.
I had actually been thinking of say starting around 6 or 7 am to enable say about an 1-1.3 hour driving to allow for a stop for breakie and a coffee and there after a little more driving for say a BBQ lunch before heading home. Hence the idea of an EMR, but perhaps not many would be interested in turning up that early for such a run. I think I might need to check with our members to gauge their opinion before planning too much.
I actually like the idea of taking the GTV out for a really early morning run (leaving around 4-30- 5 am) but perhaps that is one for a solo journey !!
I also like the idea of the cryptic car rally though this will necessitate a little recce to find clues etc but nethertheless definitely worth while making it more inclusive for wifey, and therefore more of a fun event. I have taken on board all your other excellent suggestions re a meetup point before heading off and sufficient stops etc.
A run up the east coast from Hobart to Swansea via Richmond was what I had been thinking of, with a return via Campbell Town and then through some back roads to Hobart. Most definitely we will be wanting plenty of winding roads since this is Nirvana for Alfas !
Hey Chris, I am well familiar with the country you mention in your memories of that road trip in Tassie. Definitely some superb country and great roads. Luckily I have managed over the years to have taken a number of my Alfa's and Fiats over them. High in the enjoyment factor. Cheers Dave
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
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.
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 !!
Hi Davidm1750,
I think she may have taken pity on me ;D
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
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
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.
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
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.