The 2017 “Great Southern Land” ARB Variety Explorer saw 100 people and 45 off-road vehicles complete a ten-day trip through many of Tasmania’s most remote and stunning locations.
Each car-load had spent the previous 12 months raising money for the children’s charity, to qualify to take part.
Leaving Melbourne aboard “Spirit of Tasmania” on an overnight passage to Devonport, the convoy’s first overnighter was at Cradle Mountain and featured a visit to iconic Dove Lake.
From there the vehicles travelled to the port city of Burnie on Tassie’s northwest coast, before settling at Stanley in the shadow of the town’s landmark “Stanley Nut”.
The route then turned west to the “Edge of the World” for a beach run from Gardiner Point, and on through the Tarkine Rainforest to Corinna. The tiny Fatman Ferry transported fourbies in pairs across the Pieman River, so they could drive on to Zeehan.
The once grand mining town of Zeehan is a great base for west coast exploration, and a day was set aside for Explorers to choose one of several nearby off-road adventures. The bravest of them took on the trail to Montezuma Falls and the incredible coastal challenge is known as the Climies.
If you’re interested in being a part of this sort of adventure and doing incredible things for Aussie kids in need, you’ll find plenty of info and photos online. Check out variety.org.au or join the Facebook community at Variety4WD.
You should check with Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania about what permits are required, before heading off-road.
