http://www.ambmag.com.au 63VANLIFEmountain bikers, with some fun options on the trail for
those with an eye to spot a good gap.
The harder trails tend to utilise a combination of
man-made features like huge berms, and the natural rocks
as well. This can mean lines are more committing, and
therefore some trails won’t be able to be just rolled down
to try it out. If you’re not sure, ask the people behind the
desk when you book your shuttles.
We were in Derby for about 4 days and we did not hang
around our van. We rode all day, whether we shuttled with
Vertigo or rode up the trails. You don’t need to use a shuttle to
ride most of the trails in Blue Derby, but for some like Blue Tier
and Atlas it is a huge saving on time and energy. The network
is quite spread out and that’s part of the appeal. If you really
want to try your hand on the harder trails then the Black Stump
shuttle point will be your pick.
With dirt being turned on the trails
down to St Helens while we were in
Tasmania, this visit was yet another
case of “next time you come”. Blue
Derby, like Maydena Bike Park, is
continuing to expand. And with a
long descent from Blue Tier to the
coast, and another trail network
near St Helens, Tasmania looks like
it won’t be disappearing from the
mountain bike radar anytime soon.
I can’t wait to go back. The only
challenge in the future is how long
to spend in Tasmania. This week
went rely fast, and soon enough two
weeks will barely fit it all in.
#VANLIFE
A van or camper can be the
best ways to see Tasmania.
Bring your own or rent one.
We booked a 3-berth van and
as most campervans don’t have
a bike rack option, we figured
the extra room would help for
fitting them in.
Our van had power to
charge via USB and for the
lights and water pump when
not connected to mains, but
not heating or for 240V power
to charge a laptop or an eMTB.
Plan your trip and book the
right kind of van for what
you’ll need.
We had a shower and toilet,
but never used the toilet and
the shower was tiny. You might
be better renting something
smaller, cheaper, and staying in
campsites for those facilities.
Read the full insurance
policy. We had to have close to
$8000 sit on a credit card as
a security deposit before we
could get the keys. That’s a big
chunk of change, so make sure
your #vanlife trip doesn’t end
before it starts.
For a list of campsites
around Tasmania, visit
discovertasmania.com.au