Bushwalk Australia

Someone may have already posted this but I couldn't see it , the radio for the ferry at Narcissus is not working ("under maintenence"). We had planned to walk out but decided to try for the ferry because one party member had a knee injury, we ended up walking on to Echo Point where we had phone reception and arranged a pick up for the next day. So no big deal (apart from a night fending off the rats) but if you were counting on it to confirm your booking it might be annoying. There was a notice in the hut but it had been covered by another sheet of paper. Also I was concerned when we called to book the ferry they told us they were waiting confirmation from another party at Narcissus when I said it would be hard for them to confirm (unless they had a sat phone) because the radio was not working this seemed to perplex the girl I was speaking to.

If it was broken how could you speak to anyone?

So, it didnt work, but you spoke to someone bout a pick up? Maybe? Sometime? Somewhere? Somehow?

Moderation Edit

They walked to Echo where they got phone reception.
might be worth editing your post

Sorry doing this on my phone. I meant we walked to Echo Point where it turned out we were able to get phone and arrange the ferry however when we did this they said that the ferry would be coming out once a party expected the next day at Narcissus had radioed in a pickup time. I just found it perplexing that the ferry operator didn't seem to be aware that the radio wasn't working. Anyway sorry if that was confusing just meant to say the radio isn't working at the moment in case anyone was expecting to use it.

The only thing that confused me was the fact that ILUVSWTAS was confused by your original post.

Been Broken for at least 18 months and possibly longer.

We took a sat phone when we did it and lots of people borrowed that to make a booking

Edit by moderator - the radio has not been broken for 18 months or more, this is simply not factual. I raise this point to ease unnecessary concern, with no disrespect to the poster.

bailz66 wrote:Been Broken for at least 18 months and possibly longer.

It was working on both of the trips that I went past there over the summer.

The radio worked when we were there in March [2013].

But I also made mobile phone calls from the Narcissus jetty trying to work out why the boat was late.
Folk will need to use Telstra and store the lodge phone number.

Must be up and down a fair bit then.

The update I had back in 2012 was that it hadn't worked for a while.

Early March it wasn't working. From what tell the was sound coming out from it, but the mic wasn't working. They just used their mobile

From what iv'e seen, the radio is rarely down, with daily trips up the lake I would expect they would have a notice up pretty quickly- when they are busy they ignore calls.. (ie it can seem broken, it's happened before).

there is next G reception close to Narcissus hut heading towards the lake.

Hi all. ...umm, this is a concern! Heading down the OLT next week, and the last thing we want is to pop out at the bottom end and be marooned at Narcissus. I have to say that booking the ferry and paying for it was a drama (took 4X for them to recognize we have a paid-for booking!), so it would not surprise me if the radio was broken. Do do we have a definite status? Some folks seem to be saying the radio works, others say it does not. It does however sound that there is mobile phone reception in the nearby area....

Team-Dodgey wrote:Hi all. ...umm, this is a concern! Heading down the OLT next week, and the last thing we want is to pop out at the bottom end and be marooned at Narcissus.

I'd hardly called it marooned - you can still walk out! If the radio/ferry service cannot be relied upon then you just have to allow for this in your planning, which should already allow for unforeseen holdups anyway.

I just phoned Lake St Clair (not Parks, but the ferry people) 62891137 (a handy number in my head).
They tell me the radio at Narcissus is working and it was fixed last week.

Rest easy!

Ah, thanks guys. Only saying "marooned" as we did not really want a 5 hour slog down beside the lake when a cruisy ferry ride was waiting, already paid for.

Its a very beautiful walk from Narcissus to Cynthia Bay. Many Overland walkers miss it thru taking the ferry.

Haha- you PAID already- oh!!
Relax, the radio is simply a UHF in a box hooked to a battery and panel.. not much can go wrong.. besides- you don't need the radio, you just need to be at the wharf on time!
If not a blowing a gale then the ferry will arrive.. If a gale then i'd advise a night at Narcissus rather than walking the lakeside.

In which case you'll probably hear people pleading on the radio in the usual mode- that they deserve a spot even though they haven't booked

tigercat wrote:Its a very beautiful walk from Narcissus to Cynthia Bay. Many Overland walkers miss it thru taking the ferry.

+1

tigercat wrote:Its a very beautiful walk from Narcissus to Cynthia Bay. Many Overland walkers miss it thru taking the ferry.

On the other hand you get really great views of the surrounding mountains from the middle of the lake.

It's amusing how it happens. Lakeside walk is a fine walk but they are booked on the ferry... Paid even!
The view back up the lake well makes up for skipping the lake slogg (Imo)