What is it like to win the ultimate Tassie road trip?

In 2016 Places We Go viewer Jeremy won the Ultimate Tasmanian Experience competition – giving him and his partner Megan the opportunity to sail to Tasmania on board Spirit of Tasmania, and spend two weeks on the road-trip of a lifetime. With vouchers for BIG4 Holiday Parks, car rental, several incredible Tasmanian experiences and Anaconda to stock up on all the adventure gear they needed, Jeremy and Megan could plan the Tassie road trip of their dreams. 

We recently caught up with Jeremy to find out all about their adventure – and what it was really like winning such an incredible prize!

First tell us how you felt when you found out you had won this amazing prize!

Absolutely on top of the world! We had both been very keen to explore Tasmania for a long time, so knowing that we would not only be doing so, but doing so in style thanks to Places We Go, was just incredible!

Now, we would love to know what your ‘Ultimate Tasmania Experience’ was – where did you go and what did you do?

After stepping off the Spirit of Tasmania and into our set of wheels from Budget, we explored some of the Northern areas of the state before heading to the Cradle Mountain region, where we did some bushwalking and visited the Tasmanian devil conservation centre.

From here we then hiked the Overland Track, something we’d been dreaming of doing for ages. After a week on the trail, we made it to our car again which was waiting for us at Lake St Clair (with clean clothes!).

We then drove through the centre of the state, following the Derwent River east, and then made a leisurely trip up the beautiful eastern coast of Tasmania, stopping for a few days at Freycinet National Park and the Bay of Fires regions.

What was the highlight?

For us the Overland Track was an amazing experience and met all expectations, in terms of immersing ourselves in sheer natural beauty. On one day of the hike, the notoriously unpredictable weather conditions permitted a climb to the top of Mt Ossa, the highest point in Tasmania, which offered us fantastic views over the rugged countryside.

Although the going was quite tough at times (including one morning where we woke to a snow-covered track!), we absolutely loved every minute

How did the adventure gear from Anaconda come in handy on the trip?

Having stocked up with brand new gear including tough hiking boots, a portable camping stove, waterproof layers and lightweight day packs, we were all set to take on whatever Tassie threw at us!

Tell us three things you learned on your adventure!

• The same chunks of granite that form the amazing geography of Freycinet National Park, are part of a huge stretch of rock that runs beneath Bass Strait to Wilson’s Promontory in Victoria.
• The Bay of Fires is punctuated by many smaller coves and rocky points, which all make for a fantastic day’s exploration by foot. The bright orange and red hues seen on the rocks along this coastline is produced by a lichen on their surface.
• Tasmanian seafood is surely the best in the world!

If you were asked what one experience you would recommend in Tasmania, what would you say?

Pulling on some bushwalking shoes and doing a hike somewhere – there are so many options for walking tracks, with some only an hour or two and others stretching for multiple days, so it won’t be a problem finding one that suits.

What was the best thing about doing a road trip in Tassie?

Having the flexibility to explore Tassie at our own pace, and to change plans if we came across something interesting nearby.

Which BIG4 Holiday Parks did you stay at and what were the highlights?

Iluka on Freycinet in Coles Bay, and St Helens Holiday Park. The unwaveringly friendly customer service we experienced was fantastic, and we were given many suggestions for things to do locally.

What would you tell people who were thinking about planning a road trip in Tasmania?

Don’t put it off any longer! Also, try to avoid driving between dusk and dawn, as there is a lot of local wildlife lost on the roads, and make sure you drive slower if you are doing so.

Finally, any tips or tricks to making a road trip a successful one?

Leave some extra time in there to make sure it’s a relaxed trip, and so you can be flexible if you decide to do some other activities. Enjoy!

Thank you!