Tasmanian Devils - of the Camping Kind
 

We are going to Australia for 3 :) months this Nov for the first time and have been able to do most of research and planning on the Internet but we need a Wizard for one portion of our trip to Oz - we are wondering about "Devil Campervan" rental for Tasmania (this is a Hobart based company we have been having a devil of a time finding any feedback from past clients. Also, we keep coming across references to "hoons" that plague campgrounds in Tasmania. Didn't even know what a "hoon" was but now that we do, we are wondering about camping in isolated wilderness spots as we had intended. We are looking foward to seeing some Tasmanian Devils but only of the small marsupial kinds, not the big two legged kind!

Hi
I can't give you any feedback on 'Devil Campervan', but I can on wilderness camping in Tasmania.

First of all, a 'hoon' is a loud youth with a fast noisy car and I would be very surprised if you'd come across one at a campground in Tasmania.

Secondly I'd recommend a tent rather than a campervan, as a lot of the best wilderness camping spots are in National Parks and are a fair walk (or paddle) in from the end of the road e.g Wineglass Bay, Franklin Gordon River, Walls of Jerusalem, South West National Park.

At all of these you will have sensational scenery, wildlife, and a good-chance that there will be no-one else around.

If you would prefer drive-in camping Cradle Mountain campground can't be beat, I've seen Tassie Devils every time I have stayed there, quolls, wallabys, wombats, echidnas - the lot.
Lake St Clair campground is excellent for wildlife too - and it's easy to tell how Wombat Flats in the Asbestos Ranges National Park got it's name.

If you are adventurous/active hire a kayak from Strahan and paddle up the Franklin/Gordon rivers(the tour boat will do a drop-off/pick up). You'll have a magnificent wilderness to yourself, and more wildlife than you can imagine, we saw about 20 Platypus in 3 days

The only other advice I'd give is try to avoid Tasmania from the week before Christmas until mid January as that's peak season and accommodation anywhere (including main campgrounds) is hard to find

Good Luck
Mike

Hi

I originally had a booking with devil campervans and we cancelled only because my dear old dear old wanted an automatic transmission...something difficult to find in a campervan.

So we thought maybe we would camp.

Then I read about camping in Tasmania with rats eating your tent from under you and leeches eating you and crawling down your throat and sucking blood till your airway closed and I would not even contemplate camping anymore.

My husband still can't stop laughing at how gullible I am but once you read these stories four walls become necessary to holiday happiness. Even if urban myth and way too much reading internet stories has driven you to this decision.

Anyway I had some emails and feedback with devil and Victor I think his name is and they seem really truly committed to customer service. When I apologised for cancelling our trip they said no ! we should apologise for not having an automatic available for you. Great attitude !!

Well the only automatic camper I could ever find was triple the price so if you can manage manual transmission go for Devil campers. Great value at between $55 and $65 a day and the guys seem really great. helpful and really really funny.

I still wish we had had our devil camper waiting for us as they really sent out great vibes and give really great value. The vans are just a bit older than the full price mobs.

It is not winnebago but if you want a bed, a stove and a fridge you cannot do any better.

Also you can have a break now and then and stay in cabins in the campgrounds or in an on site caravan. Or a historic bed and breakfast. Without breaking the budget.

Meanwhile we have hired a car and booked nightly accommodation. We expect for ten days the cost to be for car and rooms to be about $2,000 AUD compared to $550.00 for a devil camper.

I really would recommend using them if you are after great value and great service even though I never have actually used their van. Never heard a bad word.

I would suggest giving them serious consideration.

Thanks for the tips MikeD. We are ocean kayakers/campers but unfortunately we are coming to OZ (from Canada) for 3 mos. and trying to do "the whole enchilada" (or should that be "the whole meat pie" :> out of backpacks so cannot entertain the idea of bringing tents, swags etc. We will do day hikes at the places you mentioned. Alas, we know we will find ourselves in some places when it is too hot (The Rock) the first week in Nov. and in Tassie when every Aussie is there too (New Years/January) but we accept that for this trip of a lifetime (and escape from our winter!) Tassietwister: Tent eating rats and lung sucking leeches...oh my! And to think it was just grizzly bears that terrified me while tenting. Thanks for your positive feedback re Devil Campervans. I am beginning to think no news is good news since I haven't heard anything negative. Just was wondering why not one client mentioned them on any boards or blogs.

Hi Dorothy and Toto

I have not had first hand feedback either. But then a search for avis or budget or any main service rental car place doesn't turn up either on any travel site. I guess people don't talk about their vehicle rental company on trip reports.

So like you said maybe no news is good news.

I am going next week for my long awaited trip so if I hear or see anything will let you know.

Meanwhile my husband wants to go "real" camping with Mike D !!

Hi Tassietwister! Hope you have...or are having...or had... a great trip to Tasmania. I'm afraid Toto would also rather go "real" camping with Mike D but after too many years of hanging out of a dome tent in the pouring rain trying to get a primus stove to boil water, Dorothy is insisting on something more comfortable over the rainbow in Oz. We would both love to hear about your adventures in Tassie and if you see or hear anything more about those Devil Campervans. We still have lots of time before we book any of our accomodations. Hope you don't get any Twisters Tassie! Not looking good for Greymouth. :(

Dorothy and Toto

I hope you still check in here.

Ony saw the one devil camper and it was next to a line of Britz and Apollo campers and it did seem very small next to them. It would seem you would spend most time outside and use the van essentially for sleeping. The people we saw even seemed to dress outside as I caught a good view of a male behind!!

It would be good though when it is cold compared to a tent. And it got real cold, very much like a Sydney winter in Spring.

So if on a budget, and for a 3 month trip I would imagine you are, (unless you are related to Donald Trump )it is the only option aside from camping.

I would recommend a night in a motel to get laundry etc done and for a nice private hot shower now and then. Some good value rooms are about.

One drive in camping spot I would highly recommend (reserve through national parks ) is at Friendly Beaches off the road into Freycinet National Park. You are away from it all and the beaches were almost empty. (and gorgeous) The only facility is a toilet that I recommend you do not use.

:) Have fun.

Thanks for reporting back Tassietwister! We do have champagne tastes on a beer budget so no toilet in the creepy crawly night, no standup room to change clothes (inflicting our old bums on the Aussies) and having to make our beds before we lie in them every night are giving us real pause. But then, so is the cost of other campervans - triple that of a devil. Maybe we will still go with them though and think of it as a rental car with camping options in good hiking spots or when we can't find any other place to lay our heads.

There are better facilites at holiday camps that also will provide electrical hookup. However you will not feel you are in the wilderness as much. However a restroom without the stink and the flies has it's attraction !

I have written a separate thread that may give some tips for driving around the state.

Cheers.