Ride Summary

If you’re an avowed day tripper, a self starter who prefers to go it alone, here’s a great one day ride you’ll like.  It’s about 161 kilometres all up and runs (mostly) the Lake Hwy from Deloraine to Longford in Tasmania.

Ride Description

The ride begins in Deloraine where you take the Lake Hwy to the Great Western Tiers.  A hard climb of about one kilometer and viola, you’re on the Roof of Tasmania.  Once there, there is a stretch of mostly gravel road, but light traffic and few people (mostly fishermen).  Glancing right, there is a hill called Rats Castle, and on the left is the Great Lake. This is a great spot to chill for a bit.

On the road again, continue on toward Liawenee where you’ll find a Park Ranger Station but not much else, and further on you’ll pass through Miena.  Nothing of note here either, but at least the road is once again tarred, not gravel.

Thanks to the Tassies’ concern for tourists, you’ll find signs everywhere.  When you think you might be lost, don’t panic; just keep going and soon you will see a sign.  Speaking of which, when you’ve put a few kilometres behind Miena, you’ll see a sign for the B51 Highway.  Hang a left onto the B51 heading North.  This pleasant ride will take you around the opposite side of the Great Lake.

Now, you’re back in the Great Western Tiers again, with Mt. Blackwood on your right.  Now, the Poatina esses down to the Coastal Plain (tons of fun with fantastic corners).  Before you know it, you will arrive in Longford.

Directions

This ride begins in Deloraine, heading out of town along the Lake Highway, then continue on past Miena to the B51 (Left turn) to Longford.

View TAS – Deloraine to Longford in a larger map
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Best Thing About This Ride

In one word – variety. This ride offers it all: S-bend corners aplenty, challenging turns, good tar interspersed with bits of gravel, uphill, downhill, km after km of gorgeous scenery.  You can put yourself through the paces, and still have that serenity of aloneness.

What Else To Look Out For

Make sure you are fuelled up before departing Deloraine. Finding fuel around the region of the Roof of Tasmania is near impossible.