Tag Archives: Tasmania

Free Tassie ferry fares may be coming soon

The Federal Government is soon expected to announce free or discounted ferry fares to Tasmania to promote tourism after the island closed down during the pandemic.

However, it is not clear whether motorcycles will be included in the tourism promotion.

The move was first mooted in May, but the borders have been closed for longer than expected.

Tourism Industry Council Tasmania CEO Luke Martin has been calling on the Federal Government to temporarily extend the Bass Strait Passenger Vehicle Equalisation Scheme that covers the gap between the true cost of taking a vehicle on the ferry and the ticket price.

That would make fares attractively cheap or even free.

The proposal has been supported by Premier Peter Gutwein and the Motorcycle Riders Association who had asked riders to email the Premier to show their support.

Hobart-based MRA spokesman Damien Codognotto says mainland and overseas motorcyclists have made “significant contributions to Tasmania’s economy”.

“Over a million Australians are licensed to ride. Encouraging riders to holiday on the Island by carrying motorcycles and scooters free on the ferries makes financial sense,” he says.

Damien says it would be foolish to exclude motorcycle riders from any fare promotional offers.

“On-board riders spend as much as tourists in cars, vans and recreational vehicles,” he says.
“Bikes weigh less and use less space and weigh less than cars, vans and RVs. You can fit four bikes in the space of a car.

“Touring bikes are often two up so a car space can yield up to eight spending tourists. A car can yield up to five tourists but mostly doesn’t.

“By not charging $238 return for bikes you encourage more riders to visit Tasmania. That means more dollars spent on food, drink, cinemas and souvenirs.

“The $238 saved will be spent on the holiday so per square metre, motorcycles are worth more than cars on the ferries.”

He also claims motorcycle riders are good tourists, travelling light and spending well on accommodation, bike hire, retail sales and services.

“Tourists on motorbikes spend more per kilometre than tourists in cars and RVs because they travel light,” he says.

“A bonus is their machines cause less wear and tear on our roads, kill less wildlife and pollute less, even less as electric motors replace petrol engines.”

Motorcycle tourists have often been claimed to be among the most desirable for local businesses, spending more than other motorists.

For example, Tourism Queensland estimates motorcycle tourists spend up to $160 a day in local communities on food, drink, accommodation, fuel and necessities, while caravaners are more self-contained and only spend about $40 a day.

“Hospitality businesses and attractions like MONA, Port Arthur, Bruny Island, the West Coast Railway and more benefit from rider spending,” Damien says.Free ferry fares to Tassie Tasmania

A Spirit of Tasmania spokesperson says the current motorbike fare starts at $69 each way in the low tourist season.

It can rise to $99 in the high season or $109 for a flexi fare. Sidecars and trailers can lift the price to as much as $139 each way.

A discount or free fare would encourage more riders. Not that riders need much encouragement to head to Tassie. Charley Boorman rates it one of his favourite riding destinations.

The Tasmanian Government loves to welcome visiting motorcyclists, but also promotes important road safety messages about roads and riding conditions in Tasmania.

They have produced a Tasmanian Motorcycle Travel Guide video which is given to all motorcyclists when they board the Spirit of Tasmania.

It is one of many motorcycle-oriented tourism videos they have released.

In 2015, they produced a video featuring multi-Australian Superbike Champion Malcolm Campbell and interstate motorcycle club member Lester Knowles riding around the state and pointing out the features and dangers.

Each year the video is updated.

Road safety billboards and posters are also displayed on popular riding routes.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Watch Tassie custom motorcycle film

Custom bikes and Tasmania’s scenery feature in a new 60-minute film called Wide of the Mark which the makers hope will be released on one of the streaming channels next year.

Filmmaker Jake Ashe says the film idea was to send six riders around Tasmania with road bikes that they’d custom-built into off-road bikes.

“We spent two weeks traversing around the rugged landscapes of Tasmania and essentially living off the backs of the bike, pushing them to the limit and taking them where they’re not meant to go” Jake says.

Film inspiration

The inspiration came from Jake and two friends creating a 50-minute motorcycle film last year called Handcrafted which they put out on YouTube for free.

“That was a trip down the east coast of Australia, and we dug into some of the garages and best custom bike builders in Australia,” he says.

“We wanted to keep the adventure going and we were really inspired to push the limits.”

This short film shows some of the more adventurous riding on Benders Track.

Jake says the trip was challenging.

“We were posed with all kinds of new and exciting opportunities and things we weren’t expecting,” he says.

“So many things went right, and we had so many amazing destinations. But a lot of things went wrong, too. It was really challenging in so many different ways.

“The name of the film, Wide of the Mark, comes from the idea of aiming for a point but essentially missing it, in a good way.”

Jake was the director of photography, cinematographer and editor. It was directed by his friend Cameron Grant and another friend, Tom Gilroy, was one of the main riders.

Five other riders were also involved.

The film was recorded just before the lockdown and the makers are now negotiating distribution.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Free ferry fares to Tassie after pandemic?

Tasmania wants to encourage domestic tourism with free or discounted fares for all vehicles including motorcycles on the Spirit of Tasmania ferry when the state reopens its borders after the pandemic closure.

Tourism Industry Council Tasmania CEO Luke Martin has called in the Federal Government to temporarily extend the Bass Strait Passenger Vehicle Equalisation Scheme that covers the gap between the true cost of taking a vehicle on the ferry and the ticket price.

That would make fares attractively cheap or even free.

Ferry proposalFree ferry fares to Tassie Tasmania

The proposal has been supported by Premier Peter Gutwein and the Motorcycle Riders Association (MRA) in Victoria who asks riders to email the Premier to show their support.

Luke says tourists spend an average of $2400 in the local economy.

Motorcycle tourists should be among the most desirable for local businesses, spending more than other motorists.

For example, Tourism Queensland estimates motorcycle tourists spend up to $160 a day in local communities on food, drink, accommodation, fuel and necessities, while caravaners are more self-contained and only spend about $40 a day.

A Spirit of Tasmania spokesperson says the current motorbike fare starts at $69 each way in the low tourist season.

It can rise to $99 in the high season or $109 for a flexi fare. Sidecars and trailers can lift the price to as much as $139 each way.

A discount or free fare would encourage more riders. Not that riders need much encouragement to head to Tassie. Charley Boorman rates it one of his favourite riding destinations.

Safe travels

The Tasmanian Government loves to welcome visiting motorcyclists, but also promotes important road safety messages about roads and riding conditions in Tasmania.

They have produced a Tasmanian Motorcycle Travel Guide video which is given to all motorcyclists when they board the Spirit of Tasmania.

It is one of many motorcycle-oriented tourism videos they have released.

In 2015, they produced a video featuring multi-Australian Superbike Champion Malcolm Campbell and interstate motorcycle club member Lester Knowles riding around the state and pointing out the features and dangers.

Each year the video is updated.

Road safety billboards and posters are also displayed on popular riding routes.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Charley Boorman rates favourite Tassie road

Charley Boorman rates the 230km road from Hobart to Strahan in Tasmania one of the best stretches of tarmac in the world in a new tourism video.

“It’s a country lane that travels up and down mountains … and never stops twisting,” he says.

The video is one of three released this year by the Tasmanian Road Safety Advisory Council (RSAC).

In 2015, they produced a video featuring multi-Australian Superbike Champion Malcolm Campbell and interstate motorcycle club member Lester Knowles  ridging around te state and poi ting out te features and the dangers.

This year the video has been updated.

It is now joined by the Charley Boorman video and another video about riding the West Coast with local rider and Regional Chief with the Tasmanian Fire Service, Jeff Harper, on his Victory Cross Roads Cruiser. 

RSAC provides all riders with information and videos when they board the Spirit of Tasmania. They also produce billboards and posters displayed along popular Tassie riding routes.

You can get more travel information on their Touring Motorcyclists web page.

Charley rates Tassie

Charley Boorman rates Tasmania one of the best in the world for riding
Charley leads a Tassie tour

In his video, Charley rates Tasmania highly for riding. He says it has a “huge heritage of riding motorcycles”, “the roads are beautiful, the landscape incredible and the tarmac is just wonderful”.

“There are not many straight bits,” he says.

Charley provides some safety riding and gear tips remarking that it is important to feel comfortable.

He also talks about his tours in Australia which take in Tasmania, as well as his African tours and he praises his ride, a Triumph Tiger 1200.Charley Boorman rates Tasmania one of the best in the world for riding

Although gaining notoriety riding a German BMW around the world with actor friend Ewan McGregor, Boorman has been an ambassador for the British brand for several years now.

Click here to read our interview wth Charley at the Bike Shed in London at Easter this year.

In it, he answers many of the questions posted by our readers, including his next trip wth Star Wars star Ewan McGregor, his regrets, riding tips and more.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com
https://motorbikewriter.com/charley-boorman-rates-tassie/