Hitching

Tasmania is has a very warm and open community supportive of hitch-hikers. Wait times are not excessive and there is sufficient local and tourist traffic on most roads to provide you with exposure to both local Tasmanian culture (via your hosts - the drivers who pick you up) and other tourists stopping in at all the little sights along the way.

One or two hitch-hikers have gone missing over the years, so exercise the prudence and caution that hitch-hiking anywhere demands, but the greatest risk you are likely to face along the way is that of road accidents (objective research into the risk factor is lacking alas).

You should always bear in mind that Tasmania has a very variable climate and can on occasion subject you to over 30 degree heat one day and snowfalls the next. So make sure you pack the clothing to suit these conditions if you plan to be standing outdoors by roadsides. Keep an eye on the weather report and the sky when negotiating where you'll be dropped off.

In many parts of Tasmania however, hitch-hiking is the most efficient way of getting around short of having your own car (as public transport can be thin on the ground) and will expose you to the local populace like nothing else can. You may well find yourself invited home for tea or to stay a while ...