Tas 'E' 2009 > Accommodation

OVERVIEW:
Launceston is a city of 70,000 inhabitants and offers a wide range of accommodation including hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts and camping grounds.  The full carnival involves events spread across 10 days.  Events on Friday and Saturday are close to Launceston and accordingly it is expected most competitors will spend at least Friday night in or around Launceston and many will be based in Launceston for the whole carnival.

The Launceston Visitor Information Centre can arrange accommodation for participants and can be contacted at www.ltvtasmania.com.au

On Sunday and Monday, events move to the Fingal Valley, 95 km south of Launceston.   There is very limited accommodation in this area.  Nearest towns are Avoca, Fingal, Campbell Town and Ross but all have limited accommodation.  The road from Launceston to Royal George is sealed and fast.  Competitors may find accommodation in the area but may also consider staying in Launceston and commuting to day 2 and 3 events.

CAMPING:
There are a number of commercial camping options in and around Launceston. The event organisers have not arranged for an event campsite in Launceston.

However two good camping options have been arranged for Thursday / Friday nights and Saturday / Sunday Nights outside of Launceston.

Thursday / Friday Nights: On a recent site visit we discovered that the old campground at Myrtle Park (30 km from Launceston and only 10 km from Diddleum) has been upgraded. It now has a shop, toilets and showers and room for up to 300 tents. There is a large hall / kitchen which we have just booked for Thursday 9 April and Friday 10 April. We have negotiated a rate of $10 per party per night (party being defined loosely as 2 or 3 people in a tent or a family in 1 or 2 tents) for bookings made through the carnival organisers. There is ample room for campervans but no powered sites. If you are interested just send an email to easter@tasorienteering.asn.au telling us how many nights and how many parties and we will reserve you one or more spots. It is a lovely campground, spread out over many acres along the banks of the St Patricks River. This campsite is only 30 km outside of Launceston on the Tasman Highway and just 100 m from the Diddleum turnoff so is very conveniently located for Day 1.

Saturday / Sunday Nights: The popularity of the bush camping offered at Royal George has resulted in numbers too great for the limited area available at Brookstead property. Fortunately a local landowner who is renting two cabins to the organising team for accommodation on Saturday and Sunday nights has now agreed to accommodate all campers in his adjoining paddock. This is actually a more convenient and scenic location, only about 3 km from Brookstead and half way between the two Royal George events, on the banks of the St Pauls River. The farmer has drinking water on tap and we are arranging toilets. As previously advised, however, there are no shower arrangements. Spaces are unlimited so while booking in advance is preferred, you can still book and pay for this camping at Registration. The fee is $5 per person (children 16 and under free). The entrance to the camping area will be signposted from midday on Saturday 11 April 2009. Sites will not be preallocated but campers are asked to stay within the designated area and to park vehicles and set up tents in such a manner that allows access to others.

MID WEEK EVENTS:
The Wednesday mid week event is being held on the Fonthill property which offers accommodation in dormitories and double rooms for approximately 100 persons. 

We have about 100 people registered for the midweek mini rogaine at Fonthill. In the entry form we advised we would announce accommodation options for Wednesday night 15 April nearer the time. We also advertised a spit roast at $25 per head for which a number of people have paid. The following revised arrangements are in place:

1. Accommodation. Fonthill has an original sandstone mansion, log cabin, old farmhouse and shearers quarters (all refurbished) with a large central kitchen and recreation room in the shearers quarters and a large undercover bar and recreation room in the shearing shed. The following accommodation options are available:
- Camping with full use of facilities including showers and kitchen $10 per person (tents or campervans).
- Shearers Quarters/ Log Cabin / Old Farmhouse $35 per person (about 14 rooms - mixture of 2 person, 3 person, 4 person, doubles)
- Original sandstone mansion $50 per person (3 doubles, 2 twins)
To book an accommodation option send your request to Janet Bush at duckbush@bigpond.com . The rooms will be allocated on a fist come - first served basis

2. Catering: We have had trouble engaging a suitable caterer. Tasmanians who stayed at Fonthill last year after the Tas Relay Championshps will recollect the great evening we had in the shearing shed bar. For this there was an undercover self catering BBQ and we held presentations and had a few competitions during the evening. This was such a great evening that we have decided to refund everyone their $25 Spit Roast fee (this will be refunded to you at registration) and ask everyone to bring along something for the BBQ. For those passing through Campbell Town on Wednesday morning there is a butcher in the main street renowned for his venison sausages, kangaroo patties and other exotic game and specialty meats. Your provisions can be placed in the large commercial fridge in the shearers quarters. The shearing shed bar fits about 100 people and is licensed (with some good wines) and even in an October gale like last year was very cosy inside.

WEEKEND EVENTS:
The Galaxy Sprint is back in Launceston so for most, Thursday and Friday nights will be based in Launceston again.  The last event of the carnival, the NOL / badge event will take place in St Helens, 200 km from Launceston.  Participants have the choice of staying in Launceston and driving to St Helens for the day or moving to St Helens on Saturday afternoon.  There is a wide range of accommodation in St Helens and two camping grounds.

Keep checking this page as information will be added on an ongoing basis.