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Johngqld
X-TRAIL ENTHUSIAST
Date Registered: 02-2011
Location: Caboolture, QLD
TOTAL POSTS: 297
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Tassie 2012
Hi to All,
Our Tassie trip began last Thursday with the drive down the Newell to Parkes. Staying overnight, we continued to Albury and onto Wangaratta for a run up Hotham. The cloud was extremely low and with heavy rain, there was little chance of getting any good photos. We stayed in Albury making it a short run into Melbourne Saturday morning. Melbourne was expecting storms with hail, not something you want while waiting to board the Spirit for the ride over the strait.
Day 4. We left Devonport and headed down to Cradle Mountain. Shock! horror! No snow at Cradle Mtn. We did the Dove Lake walk in pouring rain just to say we could. Onto Queenstown where we stayed overnight.
Day 5. Leaving Queenstown, we had brunch at Lake St Claire then onto Russel Falls and Lake Dobson. The drive out to Lake Dobson, we seen the first snow and the Xtrail started to feel at home in it's new playground. Snow, mud and ice, can't get much better. Back to Hobart for an overnight stay.
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Day 6. Made the run out to Strathgordon and the Gordon dam and power station. Lake Pedder covers some 242 sq kilometres. From the picture, it looks as though you are looking out to see. No off roading, just a day drive amongst some amazing scenary. Back to Hobart.
Day 7. Did the trip up Mt Wellington. Very little snow, but the wind would freeze the hub caps of the Xtrail. From here we made our way up to Ben Lomond. This was nothing short of brilliant, steep climbs, snow every where, one degree tempurature. At the bottom, we had to decide on the 48 klm to Mathinna via a dirt road through the forestry or add a hundred klm or so to go on the hard stuff. We close Mathinna, what a trip. With the recent rain and the constant use by the logging trucks, some parts were just a boggy slush. As good as it was, it was great when the road finally joined some tar stuff. From here it was down to Freycinet lodge for the night.
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Day 8. From Freycinet, it is back up through St Mary' and across to Devonport. There is a guy who does hand washing of cars just beside the entrance to the terminal, did a great job. It was onto the Spirit at 1800 for the trip back across the strait.
Part two to follow later.
John
--- X-1834 (c)
2010 Series 3 CVT Diamond Black. Tow pak, Nissan Nudge Bar, Bonnet and headlight Protectors, Fog Lamps, Radiator Protection, L/H Cargo Drawer,Rear Spoiler, Koason DVD/GPS, Pwr Window Delay.
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20/Jul/2012, 8:14 pm
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cooch t31
X-TRAIL HOLIC
Date Registered: 06-2008
Location: Blue Mountains, NSW
TOTAL POSTS: 5966
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Re:
Nice report.
Thats a big day driving to get to Gordon Dam, very pretty when you get there but there is only the way came in to go back.
--- Tony X-891c
HERE is my D22 Navara
HERE is my old 2008 T31, ST Series1
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21/Jul/2012, 5:58 am
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Johngqld
X-TRAIL ENTHUSIAST
Date Registered: 02-2011
Location: Caboolture, QLD
TOTAL POSTS: 297
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Re: Tassie 2012
Hi to all,
We have done 4568 klm since leaving home and as we are still only in Cooma, probably 1600 or more still to do. The dearest petrol was $1.89, but as I always put premium in, I don't think thats too bad. Coming down the Newell it was doing 8.2 - 8.3 ltrs per 100, but after Tassie and the drive yesterday from Kankobhan through Thredbo it's now running 8.7. Can't complain about that.
One thing for sure is that Tasmania has more Xtrails per population than any other state I've seen. Probably helped by the Hire Car industry as well. Funny thing, I saw only one black one, the guy coming the other way also suitably impressed..
Today, it's back over the Snowy Mountains Hwy to Tumit, and evetually back up the Newell. There is just so much too see in this small country of ours, I don't understand why people go overseas. Also don't think it has been a bumper snow season in either Tassie or NSW, hopefully it will improve into August.
John
--- X-1834 (c)
2010 Series 3 CVT Diamond Black. Tow pak, Nissan Nudge Bar, Bonnet and headlight Protectors, Fog Lamps, Radiator Protection, L/H Cargo Drawer,Rear Spoiler, Koason DVD/GPS, Pwr Window Delay.
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21/Jul/2012, 7:41 am
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jalalski
Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: SUTHERLAND, SYDNEY
TOTAL POSTS: 29100
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Re:
Nice pics John and look forward to seeing the rest. Make sure you share some of these pics on our Facebook page
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21/Jul/2012, 9:45 am
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Johngqld
X-TRAIL ENTHUSIAST
Date Registered: 02-2011
Location: Caboolture, QLD
TOTAL POSTS: 297
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Re: Tassie 2012 Part 2
The second part of the trip begins with us rolling off the Spirit at 0630 Friday morning. As you can see from the picture, they really stack them in. Set Albury as the destination on the Koason and off we went. At one point it did a full restart but came good just in time to announce a right turn in 100 metres. With Melbourne behind us we drove up the Hume to Wodonga.
Waiting to get off.......Ramp to upper Deck...
One of their bridges...
At Wodonga, we left the Hume and went through Cooryon, Khancoban to Tom Groggan's at the foot of the range. No snow here but fitted the POV camera for the drive up to Thredbo. Thankfully the snow was more abundant towards the top as you can see from Dead horse gap. There was a marked difference around Thredbo compared to this time last year.
The Xtrail at Dead Horse Gap , 1450 Metres..
Through Thredbo, Jindabyne and stayed Overnight at Cooma, to awake to a pleasant 3 degrees. Leaving Cooma, we headed across the Snowy Mountains Highway, unfortunately less the snow. It had dropped to -2 degrees outside, the first time I've seen the temp with the minus sign in front.
Minus Two....
Compare the 2 pictures, 2011 and 2012.
August 2011.......July 2012..
August 2011.......July 2012....
From here, it was out to Wagga Wagga, and back up the Newell to home. We did 6500 klm from the time we left home over the 9 days. My only regret was not fitting the POV camera for the drive up and down Ben Lomond, but I guess that gives me an excuse to do it all over again.
John
Last edited by Johngqld, 23/Jul/2012, 3:22 pm
--- X-1834 (c)
2010 Series 3 CVT Diamond Black. Tow pak, Nissan Nudge Bar, Bonnet and headlight Protectors, Fog Lamps, Radiator Protection, L/H Cargo Drawer,Rear Spoiler, Koason DVD/GPS, Pwr Window Delay.
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23/Jul/2012, 3:15 pm
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cooch t31
X-TRAIL HOLIC
Date Registered: 06-2008
Location: Blue Mountains, NSW
TOTAL POSTS: 5966
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Re:
Thanks John.
If you think that car deck was packed on the Spirit of Tassi, when I went they stuck me with all the semi trailers.
I only had a raised MK Patrol, nothing too tall.
--- Tony X-891c
HERE is my D22 Navara
HERE is my old 2008 T31, ST Series1
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23/Jul/2012, 7:48 pm
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Johngqld
X-TRAIL ENTHUSIAST
Date Registered: 02-2011
Location: Caboolture, QLD
TOTAL POSTS: 297
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Re: Tassie 2012 Mt Wellington to Freycinet via Ben Lomond
Hi to All,
I have put together a slideshow of about 30 pictures beginning at Mt Wellington, the bridge at Ross, the climb and village of Ben Lomond, finishing with Oyster Bay at Freycinet on the Thursday morning. Hope you enjoy it.
Click here to view it.
John
--- X-1834 (c)
2010 Series 3 CVT Diamond Black. Tow pak, Nissan Nudge Bar, Bonnet and headlight Protectors, Fog Lamps, Radiator Protection, L/H Cargo Drawer,Rear Spoiler, Koason DVD/GPS, Pwr Window Delay.
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24/Jul/2012, 7:46 pm
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