The Tasmanian Adventure!
A few weeks ago club member Jonnie got in touch with me to say he wanted to import another LandCruiser from OZ. Hed found one in Tasmania and would I go and get it for him and get it back to Melbourne?
My response
HELL YEAH!!! 
For anyone not familiar with the geography of Australia, Tasmania is the smallest state in Australia and is an island off the South coast and is the largest land mass before the Antarctic!
1 hour plane journey from Melbourne and 11 hours by ferry.
So the plan was to fly to Tassie on the Saturday morning and pick the car up, pick up some supplies and then spend 3 days touring the islands national parks before putting the car on the ferry back to Melbourne.
So I packed a suitcase with my tent, sleeping bag, pillow, pots pans and cutlery, axe, spade and insect repellent.
Not your normal holiday suitcase!
So on the Saturday morning my friend Erin and I got a 6am taxi to Melbourne airport.
One of the few places its socially acceptable to have a beer at 7am.
It was soon time to board our small plane.
We were soon in the air and saying good bye to Melbourne.
We were soon flying over bright blue ocean.
No sooner had we finished climbing it was time to start coming back down.
First impressions of Tassie from the air was that it looked a lot like England. With lush green fields and beautiful countryside.
We landed at Devonport airport and the LandCruiser was waiting for us.
First thing we decided we needed were some cushions for the worn front seats.
Aircon.
We hit the road in search of supplies and then adventure.
We stopped and bought diesel.
Next stop Katmandu a camping shop. Nice view of the boat in the background.
Katmandu proved very expensive so we hit the road in search of cheap camping gear. I didnt actually need any camping gear, but was restricted on how much stuff I could bring in my suitcase on the trip, so I'd already factored in spending some cash on equipment to make the trip more enjoyable.
We went in K Mart and I bought a queensize air mattress, foot pump for mattress, gas stove, 4 cans of gas for stove, cool box, 2 folding chairs, and 2 large cushions (well dog beds actually, but they looked like cushions). All very reasonable, came to $100 (£60).
We then went shopping and bought food supplies for the week.
As the supermarkets dont sell beer in Australia we had to look for a bottle shop (off license).
Beer purchased we were finally ready to hit the road in search of adventure in one of the national parks.
The classic cruiser was soon getting overtaken by everyone else on the road as we chugged along admiring the beautiful scenery.
We stopped briefly for ice creams.
Our luxury dog bed seat cushion.
We soon got to the National park.
I saw the sign for Balfour Track and thought shit I wish I was in LJ!
Balfour Track is quite a well known track on Tassies North West coast. I've seen and been reading about it for years. Theres signs at the start/end saying extreme 4wd track, winches and snorkels necessary!
Anyway we had a camp site to get to...................
We saw lots of signs which are there to try and protect the endangered Tasmanian Devil.
We stopped at our first scenic look out.
We soon continued with our journey to the camp site.
And we soon arrived at the camp site. Not a luxury site with beautiful grassy spots to pitch the tent, but it looked good and was deserted!
And it had picnic benches and fire places.
A few k's earlier before arriving at the camp site we had found a note in the car.
So we would need to disconnect the battery as we were now parked up for the afternoon/night.
Now the 1 thing that would have been very useful on this trip would have been a multi tool/Gerber/Leatherman etc.
But as I didn't have one and their were no tools with the vehicle I needed a solution.
Now fortunately I'm a resourceful sort of guy and after spotting some metal brackets in the back of the car in a box of spare parts I had a plan.
I needed to bend one of the brackets so used the back of the axe and a rock.
Id soon built a very crude looking spanner and got the negative terminal disconnected.
We pitched the tent and again the axe came in handy, this time for knocking my stainless steel rock pegs into the ground/
With the tent up Erin got to work inflating the mattress.
While I supervised!
With the accommodation setup it was time to think about the fire.
Normally I carry a plumbers blow torch in LJ which runs super hot MAP gas!
However as I didn't have it with me and knowing that any firewood may be damp I brought with us, and allowed two 8" pieces of hardwood flooring each night to get the fire going.
While scrabbling about in the undergrowth looking for firewood I got bitten by a bull ant.
Now imagine a normal ant that wed get in Europe, well times it by 10 and thats a bull ant only these buggers are aggressive and bite. It felt just like a wasp sting.
But anyway..................more on bull ants later.
I decided to cook dinner as we were both hungry even though it was only about 4pm.
Normally I would never buy meet of bread from supermarkets! I always go to my local baker and butcher.
But as we were in a rush in Devonport we got supermarket meat.
A very simple tasty meal! Steak and mashed potatoes which I dont even both peeling.
Delicious!
Dinner done we then spent the next few hours relaxing in the sun.
I put some boots on and braved the ants to collect some more firewood.
The night was then spent sat round a roaring fire drinking ice cold beer.
I showed Erin how we have heated seats when we go camping.
The next morning we awoke bright and early.
Breakfast time.
Sausage, egg and cheese sandwiches.
I then reconnected the battery and turned the key. She fired up very easily although was a little smokey at first.
Whenever I base camp I always throw the sleeping bag and pillows in the truck. That way if anything happens and we cant get back to the tent or something happens to the tent while were gone we can still sleep in the car and be warm.
I tested 4wd was working ready for the days tracks.
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Couldn't resist putting the blast lights on.
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Mug of tea in hand I climbed into the old bus for the days drive.
And we hit the tracks.
We drove down to the area we had passed yesterday so we could use the toilet.
A guy pulled in late in the night and camped near us, in the morning after saying hello he drove off, we found his car parked near one of the walking tracks. A nice rare (over here) 24v 80.
The shelf above the windscreen was an awesome place for keeping my Akubra hat.
We hit the tracks again.
We were heading for the Balfour Track, not to drive it just to get some pics and have a look.
Passed an old car.
Sadly when we got their it wasnt THE Balfour Track and was instead a walking track.
I turned off and followed another 4wd track but this just ended up in a big quarry.
So I chose another side track.
It got tighter and more overgrown as we kept driving.
Until we rounded a bend and found a tree across the track.
I decided to do the sensible thing and turn back. Only that meant reversing for 500 meters until we found a suitable turning place to turn the huge 11 seater around.
We got back on the main track and headed back towards the camp site. On the way we pulled over at one of the few places we could get phone reception to check emails/facebook etc.
Half an hour later we were done and ready to leave. I turned the key to start the engine but nothing! The battery must be dead.
I did tell Erin it wasnt a good idea to keep playing with the blast lights.
Fortunately wed stopped going up a hill so I tried to bump start the car in reverse. It didn't go straight away and took a couple of attempts but eventually it was going and we were driving back to camp.
We drove for an hour and I stopped at the top of a hill and turned the engine off and then tried starting it again. Nothing battery was still dead. By this point I knew the alternator wasnt working.
Thinking ahead I knew we would need to bump start the car the next morning so a cunning plan was hatched..............................
We got back to camp and with the engine still running I backed into the spot in front of our tent, and then with Erin sat in the drivers seat with the car in neutral steering I tried to push the truck out and onto the road where the hill was.
Pushed it a little way but then couldn't get up the slope to the road.
So we tried from the next camp spot along, but still I couldn't get up the slope. So then I thought well we might have to camp next to the road, then I had a thought.................
Where we found the firewood the day before had been up a slope above the road.
Sure enough this spot was almost ideal.
Parked up in position ready for the ext morning.
Looking back up the road, the previous camp site was on the laft.
Looking the other way the new spot was on the opposite side of the road.
All that was left was to move the tent. Que comedy timed photo!
Re-pegged the tent down.
We then decided to have a walk down the road to where we had stopped that morning for the toilets where the white 80 was. We wanted to go and explore the walking track along the river.
Across the river.
To the start of the track.
It was a lovely walk through sub tropical rain forest.
These railway sleeper steps had seen better days but blended in well to the surroundings.
We then headed back up the hill to the camp site.
We then spent the rest of the day relaxing.
Built a fire.
Loads of fire wood!
The wood burnt ok but must have been a bit wet as water was boiling and dripping out of the end of some of the logs.
I cooked dinner.
Steak and mash again.
But this time I thought I would experiment and spice things up a bit.
So we had a sausage each aswell. No one can say I'm not adventurous when it comes to cooking.
Was bloody tasty! Although I should probably think of more things to cook while away on trips. Might do pasta next time.
And our night was again spent round the camp fire with cold beer. Its a hard life!
The next morning.
Cooked breakfast.
Back to the subject of bull ants for a moment............................................
I spotted one while cooking breakfast and thought I'd get you a pic, with an object so you can see the size of it.
You really wouldn't want to pitch your tent on a bull ants nest. Their really not nice creatures, but we let him go unharmed.
We packed the tent and all the gear away and were then ready to try and start the truck.
I pushed the truck tot he edge of the slope and off we went.
It didn't go instantly and took a few goes but it did soon splutter into life!
We headed out of the National park and decided to have a look at another look out on the way.
The road was flat so we left the truck running and went for a short walk to the look out.
Lovely view.
As the road we wanted to take was closed we had to go back the way we had come 2 days previously.
The tyres which were all bald and cracked were showing signs of going flat so we stopped to put some air in them.
We stopped for 5 minutes and already had quite a puddle of engine oil developing under the car.
Back on the road. No with no lights, indicators, wipers, flat battery, broken alternator, leaking engine oil and 6 bald tyres.
Eventually we made it safely back to Devonport, despite one worrying moment when I had a police highway car 2 cars back from me for 10-15k but fortunately they turned off.
We then drove around for the next hour trying to find a suitable parking spot on a hill. Not an easy task but eventually we found one about 1.5k's out from the town center.
We parked up and wandered into town and got some lunch.
We walked back to the car and it was soon time to make our way to the ferry.
We passed the ship on the way.
At the security check point the lady spotted the gas stove and said we needed to hand over the gas cylinder which we could reclaim when we got to Melbourne.
No worries I thought, have it take it, thing cost like $2!
But they made us park up and told us to switch the engine off.
Switching the engine off was not an option as wed never get the thing started again. Luckily I managed to keep the engine running while Erin went and queued up to hand the gas cylinder in.
Soon we were moving again, not for long as we were then made to wait for 40+ minutes to board the ship. Thankfully the engine kept going and didn't over heat.
Brand new cars lined up ready to clear quarantine.
Eventually we started moving.
Passed a trailer load of crushed cars.
And down below deck.
We were then instructed to turn around so we would be facing the right way to disembark. Not easy in a huge bus with no power steering. Fortunately a few shunts and we were done and parked.
We then went and found our cabin.
Ensuite.
Ice cold beer and a hot shower just what I needed after 3 days 4wding in the bush!
Showered, changed and ready for dinner.
We then spent the next hour or so exploring the ship.
Bye bye Tassie. Next time I see you I want to be in LJ!
We had a look around the restaurants on board. Now they were all OK but they wernt really what I was after. So in the end we decided to splash the cash and go to the most expensive restaurant and have A La Carte food.
I had steak as I hadnt had it for ages!
And Erin had Trout.
The steak was perfect!
Desert.
We returned to our cabin and I learnt a valuable lesson that night..................
Drinking 4-5pints of beer and then trying to sleep on a boat thats rocking up and down isnt a good idea.
I wasnt sick but my head did not feel good.
Anyway.................................The next morning the captains voice came over the intercom to say we would be arriving shortly in Melbourne.
I had a shower and as we were making our way to the vehicle deck an announcement came over the intercom for the owner of vehicle registration CQ8260 come and move their vehicle as their holding everyone up.
Quick look at our ticket. Shit thats us.
When we got to the car everyone else was being directed around our LandCruiser and they were having to make quite a few shunts and turns to get past us.
The puddle of oil under the truck looked to be atleast a litre if not 2, and of course the battery was dead so the thing wouldn't start.
All the other passengers in their smart reliable cars were looking at us and I'm sure they were all judging us thinking look at those gypos in that old banger.
Fortunately the guys directing everyone out radioed for a vehicle to come down and give us a jump start. Of course that vehicle was a Toyota!
She fired into life and we were soon driving off the boat.
Our saviour, the mighty Hi-Lux followed behind us.
And finally back on dry land!
Nice 60 series.
Bye bye boat.
I had to drive the short distance to Erins house to drop her off.
Felt very good to be back, but I still had to get home myself, so couldnt celebrate just yet.
Gave my screen a quick clean as the wipers wernt working and the screen was filthy.
2 classic Toyotas together!
I left for my drive home. Driving across/through the middle of the city in rush hour traffic with no lights or indicators or wing mirror was interesting to say the least.
By the time I eventually got home the fuel tank was showing empty and the oil pressure had dropped a lot!
But she made it!
Would a 30 year old Lamerover have done that journey with all those mechanical problems? I think not!
The LandCruiser legend lives on!
All that remains now is to get it on a ship bound for the UK for Jonnie.
Thanks Jonnie for giving me the opportunity to have such an awesome adventure.
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All bar the shower photos... The guys in the office just happened to spot that as I was scrolling down & now think i'm a wooftah!!! :-D
