Snow has been falling in Tassie and for hardy, crowd-avoiding grey nomads that can only mean one thing … it’s time to head south!
As the popularity of caravanning and camping has surged, more and more travellers have been prepared to put up with some excess heat in order to stay north longer and avoid packed-out van parks and camping areas.
No surprise there.
But it seems that, with winter approaching, off-season nomads are just as ready to invest in extra heating as they are in extra air conditioning.
Tourism Tasmania has just launched its off-season winter marketing campaign which seeks to position Tasmania as a ‘must do’ winter experience to drive visitation over a traditionally quieter period … and there is no shortage of takers.
“Winter is our best kept secret, a time when the island comes alive and we embrace the season like nowhere else,” said Tourism Tasmania. “The campaign encourages visitors to experience this for themselves, to find inspiration in Tasmania’s wild places, revel in our festivals and sample our unique creative spirit.”
So, what might grey nomads persuaded by the marketing spin expect in terms of weather?
This month has already seen a massive polar air mass travelling from Antarctica bringing with it a wintry cocktail of hail, rain, and blustery winds through the southern states … and even a bit of snow.
At Ben Lomond in Tassie’s north-east of Tasmania, a 20-centimtre dusting of snow fell a few days ago … a month before the snow season proper opens.
“The early snow has got everyone excited about the season ahead,” said Dane Liepins from Ben Lomond Snow Sports. “Hopefully it is a snowy winter.”
While grey nomads may be as excited as anyone to see a good sprinkling of the pretty white stuff for the first time, circumstantial evidence suggests the novelty might quickly wear off.
Grey nomads Sue Stanley and partner Shane say they are veterans of travelling in ‘cold and challenging’ conditions, and once shivered through a night of -5 degrees.
“In the morning when I tried to get water from the taps on the jerry cans for the billy, the taps were frozen solid, likewise the tap on the Troopy’s water tank was also stubbornly frozen,” said Sue. “I can’t say I enjoy camping in the cold, and always appreciate the warm rays of morning sun to thaw the frost and my numb fingers.”
Of course, as far as winter camping goes, even Tasmanians have it relatively easy … compared to the bone-numbing temperatures reached in Europe, that is.
But the trend is the same there.
According to Germany’s Federal Statistical Office, around 50% more camping overnight stays were reported in February, 2020, than 10 years earlier.
In a survey by the association, many winter campers cited the peace and quiet compared to summer and the opportunity to experience nature in winter as motivation.
Other incentives, of course, might be the extra joy of a warm campfire, the prospect of lower fees at caravan parks and camping areas … and the sheer bragging rights. After all, camping in the sunshine is easy, isn’t it? But camping in the snow. Now that’s hard core!
I imagine that most nomads are looking for the sun in winter. Personally that’s when I’d be heading north.
Tazzie…great place in the summer..
definitely not for me in the winter..!