Bookings for Three Capes Track now open

[Mechanic-AL]

Could PWS management really have mis-cued this one so badly or is this the work of bumbling politicians pulling the strings in the background and leaving Parks management to sort out the mess ?

[Hallu]

Once the three capes are in it's gonna be worse. Because if it's 650-750 $ instead of 500, people are gonna riot or something, and if it stays at 500 $ what are the people who payed 500 for only two capes gonna say ?

[cajun]

Could PWS management really have mis-cued this one so badly or is this the work of bumbling politicians pulling the strings in the background and leaving Parks management to sort out the mess ?

Yep - marketing at the target demographic, I'm guessing without consultation of PWS staff on the ground. Marketers often discount non-target reaction - often to their benefit as more hype / awareness is created.

[tasmaniac]

My only concern is how it may adversely affect the experiences of proper bushwalkers. It seems as though it's meant to appeal to the more money than sense, package deal buying, time poor yuppie looking for a soft option. Anyone who likes value for money and a more authentic experience won't be interested. The advantages of a reliable water source and toilet facilities at Cape Pillar could be balanced out by the extra visitor numbers, but hopefully the price of hutting it will keep those numbers at a reasonable level.

[photohiker]

Many overseas tourists pre-buy their experiences at the travel agent. I don't think there is much bushwalking in the offer mix, so perhaps this one is targeting people who don't think of doing a walk on their tour because it's not usually offered.

It's still stupid expensive, and the whole exclusivity thing is downright silly. This is Australia!

[Azza]

Could PWS management really have mis-cued this one so badly or is this the work of bumbling politicians pulling the strings in the background and leaving Parks management to sort out the mess ?

My understanding is that its been effectively taking out of the hands of Parks - Tourism Tasmania is calling the shots.

I think the whole marketing strategy has been developed by a mainland agency, hence why we have something that leaves the locals scratching their head(s).
We've been told this is what people from Sydney want...

Now we see a bit of policy on the run / making it up as you go along by the Government trying to deal with the local backlash...

[wayno]

if its anything like DOC in NZ, they will be having to get corporate sponsorship next to pay for the McWalks...

[Hermione]

We've been told this is what people from Sydney want...
I'm from the mainland (not Sydney though) and it's certainly not what I want. Did they actually ask anyone or listen?? I vaguely recall getting sent some sort of questionnaire about this walk when it was still in planning stages. I also remember answering that I had no interest in this kind of hut based walk. I'm not sure who the target demographic are because it seems either too expensive for a lot of people or not appealing to your average bushwalker. People I do know who spend a lot on their holidays would be more likely to opt for something like Cradle Huts, more expensive again but even less for them organise themselves.
Anyway i guess it will be "interesting" to see how it all pans out.

[frenchy_84]

The proof will be in the puddling though. We may think 500 bucks is outrageous etc but if at the end of the day they are able to fill up the bookings then great. If they struggle for bookings we will most likely seem them drop the price, but at the end of the day its a pretty good thing for the state, as it was mainly paid for by the Feds and yet its the state that will see the benefits.

[RichB]

"as it was mainly paid for by the Feds and yet its the state that will see the benefits."...Are we in Australia or yank land for heavens sake...and the only people that will benefit in the state as you put it are the useless state Govt, not us..

[frenchy_84]

Sorry if "feds" offends Rich, of course i should have written The Australian Federal Government. My apologies.
And your right its terrible to think of money going to PWS what a waste. And of course tourist operators on the pennisula wont benefit from it either.

[Nuts]

Now that the money is spent i'd like to see some success. The concept, as it stands so far, of government backing themselves and providing services is the next best thing to not needing development. A private operator would be charging more i'd expect. The idea of a cheaper option, and perhaps a dearer one, is good, the price point mostly by and by (to me) if different options are available, tricky to get right?

There is an obvious question about the vast sum of money spent no matter which taxpayer paid. I also find it unsettling that nothing is said about the private 'sponsorship' or support and viola! a corporate model, apparently seamless acceptance in packaging our parks for others. These new visionings will set a base from which it will only get easier to take such incursion to a new level, next round.

[north-north-west]

SNAFU
Disappointing, but not surprising.

Back to doing Cape Pillock as a daywalk. Fun, but will miss camping at HH.

[bumpingbill]

From Sunday Tasmanian. http://www.themercury.com.au/lifestyle/ ... 7556271418

State Government in talks with secret preferred tenderer for Three Capes Track

A PREFERRED private operator is in negotiations with the State Government for an exclusive licence to run tours on the Three Capes Track in the state’s South-East and build its own huts along the walk.

The Parks and Wildlife Service is in talks with the unnamed firm, selected after tenders for the licence closed in October 2013.

The successful business will be the only commercial operator allowed to offer the full four-day trek.

It will be expected to offer its own high-end accommodation along the route, part of a luxury package that will also include food and wine.

“A single private operator will be offered the opportunity to build accommodation and run a full hut-based guided walk along the Three Capes Track,” Environment Minister Matthew Groom said.

“The PWS is still negotiating with the preferred proponent.”

The deal will mean just two options for completing the track — a costly private tour, or PWS’s self-guided $500 package, which includes accommodation in its new huts.

The exclusive licence will be offered despite two walking companies already advertising Three Capes experiences on sections of the track and using existing local accommodation.

Local company Tasmanian Expeditions offers a three-day Three Capes Walk and Tasman Peninsula tour that takes in Cape Hauy and Cape Raoul and a Tasman Island cruise.

Sydney-based Life’s An ­Adventure will begin a 3 Capes Escape in February.

Several tenders were received for the licence, with premium operators The Maria Island Walk and Tasmanian Walking Company said to have been among them.

The original Three Capes concept included an expectation that $8 million in private investment would complement government spending of more than $30 million.

Tasmanian Expeditions’ Heidi Smith said she had hoped her company could offer a camping option along the track similar to its Overland Track package.

“I would hope that we can have communications with PWS to see how this does ­affect us,” she said. “It would be disappointing if we’re squeezed out of utilising these areas due to capacity or restrictions.”

Mr Groom said he was aware other operators were offering services that could “intercept” with the track, due to open in December, and all businesses working in national parks needed approvals.

“As with any new popular product, there will be businesses that seek to leverage off that product to advertise their services,” he said.

“We expect any commercial operator to be careful in advertising material to not in any way mislead in the nature of the services being offered.”

[stepbystep]

You will be able to walk the old cape Pillar track and camp before the junction with the new track or conceivably beyond. It seems PWS, Tourism Tas and the Government aren't singing from the same songbook. Bit of panic has kicked in. Some form of logic will settle with the dust!

[Nuts]

Exclusivity! meet you new partner, Protectionism.

[north-north-west]

Some form of logic will settle with the dust!

This is the government you're talking about, remember?

[Lophophaps]

Messy business. What appears to be minimal consultation with those that could advise, corporate values instead on nature-based values, excessively expensive costs (the comparision above to the OLT is very useful), confusion about camping, management taken away from PWS (maybe), limited trip flexibility. This could be another Windy Fridge fiasco. We shall see. In a few years the result will be clearer, but for now I'm not enthused. PWS need to be made aware of any concerns immediately, before they become entrenched.

[geoskid]

There will be a legal, adequate, overnight tent based option for independent walkers for this whole walk.
Or there will be trouble.

[Lophophaps]

There will be a legal, adequate, overnight tent based option for independent walkers for this whole walk.
Or there will be trouble.

+lots. Concerns need to be made known to management and your state MP immediately, if not sooner.

[vicrev]

There will be a legal, adequate, overnight tent based option for independent walkers for this whole walk.
Or there will be trouble.

+lots. Concerns need to be made known to management and your state MP immediately, if not sooner.

If you are going to make your concerns known to your local State/Federal MP,do it by snail mail & register the letter...in political speak,one handwritten reg letter has the impact of 200 phone calls to a couldn't give a stuff secretary & a few hundred unread emails.....letters they do read ( the literate pollies do!)..........

[aloftas]

17 000 helicopter trips to build it.

I wonder what that cost....


Welcome to Wilderness Inc.



A carbon footprint bigger than bigfoot herself...



*sigh*

[weetbix456]

What an experience...

[Nuts]

Flight services, pilots and support staff, Track Services and staff, Artists and those of the bent (I do appreciate thoughtful art but really..), Brow beaten parkies who just want this going, 'Preferred' Operators and bright eyed guides (there's someone for any job). Locals with an interest given hope..

Add in all the families and friends (do we all know someone?) As happens, we could see the most muddle headed mistakes stack up, taken to fruition and urban planning mindsets bloom down here before anyone has time for a questioning thought (in the process).

Look at that Sprawl! I'm guessing the Exclusive huts will be similar (while, yes, outa sight ).

[Lophophaps]

While I was sceptical about the OLT private huts, they and their parties are fairly unobtrusive and have not detracted from my OLT days. The picture above is horrible, quite out of place. What troubles me is that this will be seen as the new norm. The plans for the private hut or the like on Halls Island on the Central Plateau south of the WOJ is a case in point. A little bit here, little bit there and gradually the WHA becomes the West Hobart Asylum, with moving footpaths, enclosed plastic tubes to give shelter from the weather, and holographs of Bennets wallabys.
Don't it always seem to go,
But you don't know what you've got til it's gone
Pave paradise, put up a parking lot.

[Nuts]

While I was sceptical about the OLT private huts, they and their parties are fairly unobtrusive and have not detracted from my OLT days.

Mine neither, and until recently, reasonably ambivalent.
I do recall some eyebrows raised at the 5th, which does seem a bit more of a sprawl and just a bit more 'in view'.
(but I agree it's about a much broader issue, 'the new norm')

[Strider]

Where is the location of that photo?

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

[weetbix456]

Where is the location of that photo?

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

Surveyors Cove hut site Strider. From what I can gather the only feature that will be removed once operational here would be the tiny builders camp hut behind the ranger station (small building at front). The sprawl will remain. Some people I've talked to bring up the idea that the burn-off (& the complex for that matter) do not actually take up that big of an area...and that it is an obvious safety precaution - I mean sure it would be wise to protect investments such as this against natures will - I wonder if all this alteration somewhat enhances "the view"??

Deputy Premier Jeremy Rockliff said bushwalkers were voting with their feet, with more than 2000 bookings.

“The fact is there have been camp sites and other visitor infrastructure in and around that area for decades,” he said.

I'm a little bewildered how a visual eye sore such as this can be compared to low impact camping sites that could be tucked away beneath the trees.

As Lophophaps has mentioned - my biggest concern is the current drive for more of these luxury style experiences popping up all over the WHA. This entire project seems to have been underpinned with a purposeful veil of secrecy. Does not give one much confidence in area conservation.

[Nuts]

http://tasmaniantimes.com/index.php?/ar ... ilderness/
(Always some interesting comments on TT)

[Lophophaps]

http://tasmaniantimes.com/index.php?/article/three-capes-track-takes-the-wild-out-of-wilderness/
(Always some interesting comments on TT)

Nuts, many thanks. That's dynamite. I liked:
“The Three Capes Track has been and continues to be a large drain on tax-payers. Already $25 million dollars has been spent on the eastern half of the Three Capes Track and, because income from walkers will not cover the operational costs, tax-payers will be subsidising the operation of this luxury tourist attraction.”

This is not too far removed from what is propsed in Victoria, a "new" walk between two ski resorts, Falls Creek and Mt Hotham. That quote above and much of the rest of the report can be used to counter any government advice that Three Capes is booming and working well.

If Three Capes cost $25 million, I venture to suggest that a remote development such as Halls Island south of the WOJ will be similar. Big Tassie govenment huzzahs on completing Three Capes, less so on the economics. Does Tassie have an independent auditor? I strongly suggest that the abysmal economics be hammered. See my final (I hope) submission of today in the Falls-Hotham thread in the Victorian forum and look at:
Conflicts between the ANP draft plan and the proposed Falls-Hotham walk starting at point 9 and
Economic analysis starting at point 23.
These are the sort of arguments that should be made for Tassie.

I've never been to Three capes, and now I don't really want to