Dirt Hartog ferry rant
Submitted by fisherking on Mon, 2013-03-18 10:07
My self & a few mates were looking at going to DHI next year until we just found out the return ferry prices.
WTF?? How the hell do they warrant charging $687 return for a fourby & the same for a trailer?
Thats $1374 before any camping fees.
Is it really THAT good??
____________________________________________________________________________
"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go." - Oscar Wilde
dodgy
Posts: 4578
Date Joined: 01/02/10
The more people that think
The more people that think that it's not worth it makes it so much better for those that see the value.
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
wazzbat
Posts: 977
Date Joined: 19/01/10
Seems pretty reasonable to
Seems pretty reasonable to me. Barge from DHI to Denham = approx 1.5 hours? Then 1.5 hours back = 3hrs x 2 for return = 6hrs. Anyones time doesn't come cheap these days and niether does fuel, maintenance etc. That's just the price you pay for travelling to such a remote and awesome place.
I fish for the future - Cause I can't bloody catch anything!
Rob H
Posts: 5806
Date Joined: 18/01/12
I thought the ferry goes to
I thought the ferry goes to Steep Point not Denham?
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
fisherking
Posts: 730
Date Joined: 29/05/08
From Steep point 20mins each
From Steep point 20mins each way= 40 mins x2 + 10mins for weather = 90mins work for $687.
I rekon I gotta get me a job doing that. That's a good hourly rate.
5 cars & 3 trailers = $5500 for 2 days work.
"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go." - Oscar Wilde
sea-kem
Posts: 15016
Date Joined: 30/11/09
What you've gotta remeber is
What you've gotta remeber is he has the infrstructure and barge in place. He probably had to get some sort of special licence to to do it. It's remote, fuel,overheads etc etc and he wants to make money. It's dear but look at what you are getting access to.
Love the West!
tot
Posts: 1162
Date Joined: 31/01/10
its what
2 km each way? seems rich to me.
Reverse cycle a/c supply and install - Ducted and wall splits
sea-kem
Posts: 15016
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Well until someone sets up
Well until someone sets up competition to him, he's got the monopoly. I'm just being devil's advocate.
Love the West!
eziliving
Posts: 876
Date Joined: 30/12/09
just like nanutarra road
just like nanutarra road house. charge what they want and if you dont want to pay dont stop there
Get busy living, or get busy dying!
Goatch
Posts: 1011
Date Joined: 03/07/07
Not defending but at Nanutarra
They also burn through a few hundred litres of fuel a day keeping the Generator going as there is no mains power , add that to your bottom line then think about wages , insurance , everyone is quick to judge but not really weigh up all the cost involved
Just one more cast , honest !!!
Rob H
Posts: 5806
Date Joined: 18/01/12
fuel for that purpose is
fuel for that purpose is subsidised by the government I believe.
However as has been pointed out by a few posters already, its not a case of compare a 2 km trip on a barge and divide it by an hourly rate. It does cost a fair bit of money to keep those sort of vessels in survey and insured, even though you probably sign a waiver they must have P&I insurance etc
Alternative-buy your own boat and scoot over from Denham! Makes a great trip as well!
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
carnarvonite
Posts: 8672
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Subsidy
I don't think he is elligible for the fuel rebate subsidy, its not an emergency vessel, not involved with mining etc or primary production.
Either way, he provides a service and if you want to use it you have to fork out his prices, take it or go somewhere else if you don't like it.
Rob H
Posts: 5806
Date Joined: 18/01/12
not for the barge, my reply
not for the barge, my reply was to the poster about power at Nanutarra
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
eziliving
Posts: 876
Date Joined: 30/12/09
after having guys stay there
after having guys stay there for the last three months, i know that joint is making plenty of money. that place is a gold mine imo if you have the 7 million he is chasing for it.
but like i said if you dont want to pay for it dont stop there just like the ferry to dirt hartog. if you dont want to pay it dont go there.
Get busy living, or get busy dying!
Starbug
Posts: 563
Date Joined: 27/08/09
Heading up there in a
Heading up there in a month..... I'll let you know if it was worth it. :)
fisherking
Posts: 730
Date Joined: 29/05/08
I hope you have a great time
I hope you have a great time mate.
I would be awesome if you could let us all know how you go.
Post some pics up when you get back, it'll be intresting to see.
"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go." - Oscar Wilde
Michael Yoni
Posts: 603
Date Joined: 02/01/11
About the same as going to
About the same as going to rotto (note: LOL).
When you equally divide it between your mates, then its not that bad.
I personally would not pay that much, considering the amount of fish you can bring back for that cost.
fisherking
Posts: 730
Date Joined: 29/05/08
I must admit I'm pretty
I must admit I'm pretty disapointed.
I was really looking forward to it, but I just cant justify that cost.
"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go." - Oscar Wilde
Handi 1
Posts: 151
Date Joined: 27/06/11
Is that why it's called Steep
Is that why it's called Steep point ? ( Ha Ha ) But seriously , add fuel to travel there , supplies , etc , that's a bloody expensive trip . Understand what your saying fisherking .
Dhui on river to sea jig a few years back , 16 kg ! PB for me .
meglodon
Posts: 5981
Date Joined: 17/06/10
perhaps with those prices
May be because of those prices a lot of people are going O/S for holidays and still getting in some fishing at exotic places. When people feel strongly enough about the high prices and boycot the services
fishy fingers
Posts: 1719
Date Joined: 28/04/07
who can blame them
2 years ago we flew to ayers rock direct from perth 3 nights accomodation $1400 for 2 of us inc meals not sure on flight cost as i used some frequent flyer points but I needed 1 day off work as we went on a long weekend, now I just booked again to take my visiting mum and mum in law but theres no direct flight from perth now, our options were fly via sydney/melbourne 10 or 12 hour trip or overnight in alice springs as there's no connection the same day to ayers rock the perth flight gets in about an hour after the ayers rock flight leaves so we're hiring a car in alice and driving to the rock, the alice to ayers rock flight return would have been $1600 between 5 of us the car hire with fuel will be less than $500 and I need 3 days off work (i work for myself) and they wonder why people go over seas for their holidays
personally I would rather pay more and holiday here but I cant blame those who dont.
Georgejungle
Posts: 354
Date Joined: 25/03/09
Go and buy a charter boat and
Go and buy a charter boat and then send it to denham and earn money money on it for 3 months a year ,Pay it survey fees ,stability fees ,fuel fees ,mooring fees and ,,,and ,,and. Why dont you buy a barge and ferry over your own car then you wont have to pay him????FFS think about it. I think thats cheap .
499
Posts: 181
Date Joined: 07/12/08
i think the barge is ussualy
i think the barge is ussualy moored in front of the homestead......its a long slow put-put to steeps then back to dirks and then back to the homestead....and that doesnt include him going back for the trailer if u bring 1 along or piicking up other vehicles............loading cars n trailers takes time.....all fuel comes in on 44's or jerrys....there is alot of fck*()g around that u dont see
its a remote place...it is expensive. it is worth doing once.....not too many palces where u catch baldies of terra firma
and some say its about loading up with fish...(shakes head)....what about the experience hey....if thats the attitude go n load up at fish mongers with all the frozen snot u can carry...do it once mate...good memory
Buz
Posts: 1555
Date Joined: 28/08/07
Go while you can. God knows
Go while you can. God knows when DHI will be eventually closed off to everyone by DEC, but at the rate DEC is trying to get back Pastoral Leases and close them off to 4wd, camping and fishing i imagine it wont be too far off :(
Formerathlete
Posts: 114
Date Joined: 02/04/12
Maybe insurance costs are
Maybe insurance costs are also pushing his prices up? Years ago I saw one of the wheel ramps of the DHI barge drive into the top of a blokes foot after a small wave surged. Bones exposed on the top of his foot through a gaping wound. Then he went into shock and required evac... A few tons of metal will do that.
damo6230
Posts: 2029
Date Joined: 07/06/08
Suck it up champ
We pay $1.92 for diesel here in town.
Going to cost me $550 to fill my boat to do a trip to the Berkley River April neaps. I'm happy to pay the cost to see the country
Got mates doing a trip west of Berkley River over Easter, after us.
$650 for a 44 gallon drum at Faraway Bay pre ordered. Good price considering the remoteness
If you dont like it dont go.
fisherking
Posts: 730
Date Joined: 29/05/08
Love the reply CHAMP. As
Love the reply CHAMP.
As already stated, I wont be going because I can't justify the cost.
I just love how people have to state the obvious. A sign of the times I think.
"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go." - Oscar Wilde
damo6230
Posts: 2029
Date Joined: 07/06/08
Why post then?
If you didn't intend on going then why put a post up?
Bet you've changed your mind now though?
"Dog chasing it's tail syndrome" a sign of the times hey?
Buz
Posts: 1555
Date Joined: 28/08/07
His original post didnt say
His original post didnt say he wasnt going to go because of the cost, more that he had found out the cost and wanted to know if DHI is really worth that cost. S really an answer, of 'Yes the fishing is great its worth it', or 'Nah its not that good to justify that price', i think is what he was really after.
damo6230
Posts: 2029
Date Joined: 07/06/08
Definition
rant
/rænt/ Show Spelled
Given the above I dont think his post was positive!
Buz
Posts: 1555
Date Joined: 28/08/07
Yes definitly not positive,
Yes definitly not positive, even by the percieved tone, but still he hadnt made any statement or hint that he was definitly not going to go because of the price(he did in a later post). Originally he just wanted people to tell him do it or dont.
I for one basically said 'Go while you still can!'
Simple question, Simple answer, no need to start hacking on someone and telling them to 'suck it up champ'. Could have just said, everything in far away, exotic location, fishing trips nowadays is going to cost more than you expect, so just factor it in if you can, if you cant find another option. Just think that there is always a nicer way to speak people and to get a point/opinion across, even if its not face to face.
damo6230
Posts: 2029
Date Joined: 07/06/08
Nicer answer = nicer post
Suck it up means stop whining
Looks like he got what he wanted after all, after his initial post
Goid to see he his happy now, like his signature
fisherking
Posts: 730
Date Joined: 29/05/08
Now the thing is, the guy
Now the thing is, the guy that runs the ferry has miraculously found a way to greatly reduce the costs.
$440 from Denham.
$330 from Steep point.
As you can see that's a huge price drop & is now quite affordable.
Seems he realised the pricing was a bit steep.
"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go." - Oscar Wilde
Buz
Posts: 1555
Date Joined: 28/08/07
Thats an awesome Win!!!Though
Thats an awesome Win!!!
Though i would have thought he would use alot more fuel going from Denham than from Steep Point so thought the cost difference would be more?
bradz
Posts: 693
Date Joined: 29/10/07
Not a miracle
I wouldnt say its miraculous. Like anything in life, you wont get a discount unless you ask.
Just tell someone its too expensive. If they really want your business they will often reduce the price.
There is a lesson there for everyone.
I did then the best that I knew how. When I knew better, I did better.
Willlo
Posts: 1490
Date Joined: 07/10/11
Its a good price whateva you
Its a good price whateva you pay ,great place to fish. I am in the shipping buisness and it costs us $3500 to hire a launch to take gear out to ships in the anchorage off Bunbury sometimes only out for 2 hours (4 hour min) and i would reckon they would be lucky to use 60ltrs of DSL. Make sure you go trip of a life time.
Hey fisherking check out the video post by Chuditch - Hartog Hilton Dirk Hartog Island, it will get you keen to go.
Call Sign - BZ785
Haynes Hunter Prowler CC
carnarvonite
Posts: 8672
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Charter costs
Had a job of taking a Master Mariner from Carnarvon up to Cuvier on a charter boat , wait while he did an inspection on repairs to a ship anchored then bring him back, total of 10 hours, try $7000
When there is no other transport available for the purpose required, they set the rules and others are forced to pay
Buz
Posts: 1555
Date Joined: 28/08/07
Up on the Roper River in the
Up on the Roper River in the NT at a place called Tomato Island there is/was a Veteran named Bruce that basically lived out there in a semi permanate bush camp/tents, he too had a Barge that could hold one vehicle and would help people out with vehicle transport if required(typical Territorian though not surveyed or registered haha!).
On the day we were due to leave there and head back to Katherine via the Roper Bar Crossing there had been a heap of rain and we were unsure if we would be able to get back to the Roper Bar crossing where the road turned good again because a couple of the creek crossing coulod be flooded. He told us to try but if we got down the road a bit(about a 1.5hr shit gravel, muddy, wet track) and couldnt go any further he told us to come back and the next day he would take us back to the Roper Bar with his Barge, one trip for the 4x4, one trip for the boat and trailer. At the time he only asked that the next time we headed out there to bring him a couple of cartons of piss and some more unleaded fuel.
Gotta love Crazy Territorian Veterans living in the boonies! :D
fisherking
Posts: 730
Date Joined: 29/05/08
Sounds like you've done a
Sounds like you've done a fair bit Buz.
Good times & great adventures hey?
I've only been here 6yrs & just starting to do bigger trips away. I've been south a few times but never north any further than Kalbarri.
Planning a couple of bigger trips for next year, so pretty exited about it all.
"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go." - Oscar Wilde
Buz
Posts: 1555
Date Joined: 28/08/07
Hahaha some might say that. I
Hahaha some might say that. I personnally think i havent done enough things and experienced enough places yet :)
I personnally feel that you cant put a price on experience. If you can afford it, go. If you cant, find another adventure you can. There are always options.
Always about the adventure. Go away on a fishing trip and 99% of the adventure is everything but the fishing! Bloody great country we live in to see, to explore and to experience. Sounds like the addiction has got you too now!
I have never been to DHI personnally, but i would love to one day and considering that i already pay to do fishing trips to all other areas of the state, to other states and even some to other countries, i think with a bit of spending restrictions and sacraficing other trips i will easily be able to afford it.
Well thats until the Wife gets pregnant :P
pale ale
Posts: 1755
Date Joined: 02/01/10
Travelling up the Cape York
Travelling up the Cape York Peninsula, you need to cross the Jardine River to reach the Northern most point of Australia.
We were pretty pissed off when we got charged $70 per vehicle to do the 50 meter crossing on the ferry. But after driving hundreds of KM's on corrugated tracks, you are not going to stop short of your destination because you feel ripped off by a $70 ferry crossing.
This was 15 years ago, it may cost $200 now????
keg
Posts: 399
Date Joined: 17/07/07
a bit of subject
but pale ale just reminded me of a story.i was driving up to darwin years ago and came to a flooded river crossing and a huge line up of cars waiting to cross.
got talking to a few people and they had been stuck there for 5 days and no sign of the water receding.there was an old bloke in a front end loader charging
$50 to tow people across the water but they wouldn`t pay him but they had been buying food and drink (probably more than $50 worth over 5 days)from a
shop not far away.we gave him $50 and in 10 minutes we were on our way.i just thought it was funny how people see things differently.