Ferry to Tasmania

Everything you need to know to catch the Tasmania ferry, in simple FAQ form

 

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How to get the ferry to Tasmania

There is only one ferry to Tasmania that carries both passengers and vehicles – The Spirit of Tasmania.

To get the ferry to Tasmania you need to first travel to Port of Geelong. Geelong is a satellite city of Melbourne exactly an hours drive from the Melbourne CBD.

You can catch the ferry to Tasmania as a passenger, or with your car, caravan, motorhome, trailer, motorbike.

Taking a vehicle on the ferry to Tasmania is easy and very well organised. I was intimidated when I first did it, but actually the process was very smooth. You simply drive through a check in point with your e-ticket, wait in line in your car, and then follow the instructions of personnel stationed along the boarding route to drive onto the boat.ย 

It’s like a procession – you just follow the car in front! Spirit of Tasmania staff show you where to go, and where to park. After parking your car, you put your car in ‘park’, put the handbrake on, turn off your car alarm, grab your gear, lock your car and go find your cabin.ย 

It’s all well signposted and nothing to be nervous about if you’ve never taken a barge or ferry before.

Can you catch a ferry to Tasmania?

Absolutely! You can catch the Spirit of Tasmania passenger and vehicle ferry to Tasmania.

The Spirit of Tasmania departs from Geelong in Victoria nightly, and arrives in Devonport in north west Tasmania.

How do you get to Tasmania by ferry?

To get to Tasmania by ferry, book a ticket on the Spirit of Tasmania which departs from Geelong just outside of Melbourne to Devonport in Tasmania’s north west.

You can bring your car, caravan, motorhome or motorbike and enjoy the convenience of travelling overnight.

Checklist of what to take on board

You are not able to access your vehicle during the journey, so make sure you have an overnight bag packed and ready, with everything you need.

There is no time or space to pack this bag once you’re on the boat.

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Your e-ticket

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Passport or photo ID

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Carry on bag

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Medication

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Credit Card (no cash accepted)

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Bottled water

What can’t you take on board?

Some things are restricted on the Spirit of Tasmania for safety. Check it out down below ๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿฝ

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Where to get the ferry to Tasmania

Is there a ferry to Tasmania from Melbourne?

The ferry to Tasmania no longer departs from Melbourne.

This changed a few years ago.

The ferry to Tasmania now departs from Port of Geelong, which is an hour outside of Melbourne city.

Is there a ferry to Tasmania from Geelong?

Yes! The Spirit of Tasmania passenger and vehicle ferry departs from Port of Geelong in Geelong and sails to Devonport in Tasmania.

 

Is there a ferry to Tasmania from Adelaide?

Unfortunately, there isn’t a direct ferry service to Tasmania from Adelaide. Your best bet is to drive to Victoria and catch the ferry from Port of Geelong outside of Melbourne

Is there a ferry to Tasmania from Sydney?

No, there isn’t a ferry to Tasmania from Sydney. The Spirit of Tasmania stopped operating it’s Sydney to Tasmania route in 2006.

To get from Sydney to Tasmania by ferry, your best bet is to fly or drive to Geelong in Victoria and catch the ferry to Tasmania from there.

There are multi day passenger cruises from Sydney to Tasmania.

Is there a ferry to Tasmania from New Zealand?

Currently, there is no ferry service from Tasmania to New Zealand. Flying to Tasmania from New Zealand remains the best option.

Is there a ferry to Hobart Tasmania?

Unfortunately there is no ferry to Hobart Tasmania from the Australian mainland.

There are passenger cruises to Hobart Tasmania from Brisbane, Sydney and Adelaide.ย 

Is there a barge to Tasmania?

Yes, the Spirit of Tasmania that sails Geelong to Devonport is both a passenger ferry and a vehicle ferry.

You can take your car, caravan, motorhome or motorbike on the Spirit of Tasmania.

Vehicles are parked in the cargo hold for the duration of the journey.

ย Spirit of Tasmania route

The Spirit of Tasmania leaves from the Port of Geelong in Geelong Victoria, and sails to the Port of Devonport in north west Tasmania.

The ferry sales out of Port Phillip Bay, past Mud Island and around the point at Port Nepean National Park. It then takes a south east tack towards the city of Devonport in Tasmania.

Spirit of Tasmania Route

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How long is the Spirit of Tasmania trip?

How long is the ferry to Tasmania?

The ferry to Tasmania takes between 9 and 11 hours sailing time to get to Tasmania.

It’s also important to add boarding time and disembarking time, to get your total trip length from Melbourne to Tasmania.

To know long the ferry from Geelong to Tasmania takes from boarding to disembarking, add around 2.5 hours to the ferry trip. It takes around 1.5 to 2 hours to board the ferry to Tasmania, and another 30 minutes to disembark.

Total Spirit of Tasmania travel time from Melbourne (Geelong) is around 13 hours.

What is the Spirit of Tasmania arrival time in Geelong?

The Spirit of Tasmanian sails from Devonport to Geelong at three different times a day (not every day). So arrival times are different for each trip.ย 

Spirit of Tasmania arrives in Geelong at:

6am, for the boat departing Devonport at 6:45pm the previous evening

8:30am, for the boat departing Devonport at 10pm the previous night

7pm, for the boat departing Devonport at 8:30am the same mourning.

Is Spirit of Tasmania day sailing better?

Spirit of Tasmania does offer day sailing from September to April, which is the busy season for travel to Tasmania.

Day sailing on the Spirity of Tasmania may suit you if you want cheaper ferry tickets.

Day sailing tickets on the Spirit of Tasmania can be cheapers because the overnight ferry is more popular and in demand.ย  ย 

You can also save money day sailing on the Spirit of Tasmania because during the day time you don’t need to book a cabin. You can save around $200 compared to the overnight ferry.

We didn’t sleep well on board the overnight ferry to Tasmania with the rocking motion of the boat. You don’t need worry about this either with Spirity of Tasmania day sailing.

If you’re happy to roam about the ship and make the most of the onboard entertainment (like the cinema or live music),ย  then day sailing is a great idea.

Ferry to Tasmania how long

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Spirit of Tasmania cost

Spirit of Tasmania prices are confusing. So we break down all of your questions about Spirit of Tasmania fares including costs for a person, a cabin, a car and a caravan.

We also share how to make the Spirit of Tasmania cheap and how to get discount tickets.

We recently worked out whether it’s cheaper to fly or boat to Tasmania. You’ll find the answer in our article ‘Melbourne to Tasmania Ferry Price: Is it cheaper to fly or drive to Tassie’.

What is the fare to Tasmania by ferry?

ooThe passenger fare to go to Tasmania by ferry is between $69 and $289 per adult.

Pensioner fares on the ferry to Tasmania are between $59 and $224.

Child fares are between $35 and $132.

That’s a big variation right?

Well you just have to look at the Spririt of Tasmania pricing ๐Ÿ‘‰๐Ÿฝ to understand why. The Spirit of Tasmania price their passenger fares based on two basic factors – the time you choose to sail and the market demand for tickets.

You can choose to sail either overnight or during the day. Becuase the journey takes 9 to 11 hours, it’s always more expensive to sail at night. That’s when everyone wants to take the ferry.ย 

High market demand for tickets will also push the fare up. So if you’re travelling in peak season (summer) expect to pay at the top of this price range.ย 

 

How much is a pensioner fare on the Spirit of Tasmania?

A penioner fare on the Spirit of Tasmania range from $59 in very low demand seasons, to $229 in peak season.ย 

This does not include the cost of your vehicle or your cabin, if you choose to book one.

How much does it cost to go to Tasmania by ferry?

The total cost to go to Tasmania by ferry depends 5 factors ๐Ÿ‘‰๐Ÿฝ that make up Spirit of Tasmania prices.

1) the time you sail

2) seasonal demand

3) your passenger fare

4) vehicle costsย 

5) cabin costs

A couple with a car in a cabin will pay around $1300 return.

A family with a car in a 4 bunk cabin will pay around $1550 return.

Howeve, price varies – A LOT day to day because of the pricing model ๐Ÿ‘‰๐Ÿฝ

If you want to know more about much the ferry to Tasmania is in 2024, read this article “Melbourne to Tasmania Ferry Price – Is it cheaper to fly or drive to Tasmania”ย 

Why is Spirit of Tasmania so expensive?

The Spirit of Tasmania is expensive because it is the only passenger and vehilce ferry that operates betwen mainland Australia and Tasmania. There is no competition in the market to create price tension or put downward pressure on Spirit of Tasmania prices.

How much is a cabin on the Spirit of Tasmania?

There are 3 different cabin types on the Spirit of Tasmania. Cabins are either ‘inside’ or ‘porthole’. Prices vary based on time of sail and demand.ย  This is how the pricing works:

Inside cabins (no windows)

Bunk beds (4 persons) – $159 to $179 per room

Porthole cabins (with window)

Twin (2 persons) – $209 to $229 per room

Bunk beds (4 persons) – $209 to $229 per room

Delux (2 person queen bed) – $369 to $499

There are also accessibility cabins available but you need to phone Spirit of Tasmania on 1800 634 906 (in Australia) to find out the pricing.ย 

 

How much does it cost to take a caravan to Tasmania?

Taking a campervan or motohome less than 2 meters wide cost between $179 and $377, one way.

Campervans and motorhomes more than 2 meters wide cost between $215 and $452, one way.

Cars towing a caravan cost between $224 and $452.ย ย 

What's the Spirit of Tasmania price with a car

The Spirit of Tasmania price with a car is around $1300 return.ย 

To work out the Spirit of Tasmania price with a car the formular is:ย 

$/passenger + $/car + $/room.

Per passenger prices vary from between $69 amd $289

Car prices range between $215 and $452.

Cabin prices range between $159 and $500.

2 passengers with a car in a twin cabin return averages around $1300.

Spirit of Tasmania discounts

The Spirit of Tasmania offers last minute discounts for ‘walk-on’ fares (travelling without a car).

RACV membership gives you a 10% discount for passenger fares on the Spirit of Tasmania. That’s a saving of around $20 per person on peak season tickets. Vehicles are not included. You have to be a member and book through this page. Same goes for RACT, NRMA and RACQ members.

Big4 Holiday Park members receive a 5% discount.

Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia (CMCA) members can also get discounts up to 25% on fares from time to time. You have to be a member and log in to the CMCA portal to access these deals.

 

 

Spirit of Tasmania price model

The Spirit of Tasmania charges by passenger, by vehicle and by room.

The base charge for each of these 3 services depends on two main factors.

1) the time you sail, and

2) seasonal demand for tickets. We’ve illustrated how it works below ๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿฝ

Ferry to tasmania cost

Spirit of Tasmania cheap tickets

How to make the Spirit of Tasmania cheap?

You can make the Spirit of Tasmania cheap by being flexible with your travel period, travelling on the day ferry, and not booking accommodation on board.

You can also take your own food and drinks onboard (you can’t consumer your own alcobol though). Just make sure you follow the baggage allowance limits for your journey.

If you want to know how to book cheap Spirit of Tamania tickets, keep reading below ๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿฝ

What are the cheapest Spirit of Tasmania tickets?

The cheapest Spirit of Tasmania tickets are:

– tickets on the daytime ferry

– with no accommodation booked (there are free seats in common areas)

– in off peak, low demand seasonal periods

– on a ‘Red Hot Deal’ fare (if you can find one). You do lose more money if you cancel with these tickets.ย 

How do you book cheap fares on the Spirit of Tasmania?

You can book cheap fares on the Spirit of Tasmania by looking out for these things on their website and in their booking engine:

– Red Hot Deals. These are discount fares but you lose more of your money if you cancel.

– low demand seasonal periods. Spirit of Tasmania uses demand pricing. So off season fares are cheaper.

– day tickets. It’s often cheaper to take the ferry to Tasmania during the day because more people prefer the overnight ferry.

You can also book tickets – day or night – without any fixed room allocation. You’ll save the cabin fee which can run to hundreds of dollars.

On the overnight ferry, you’ll be allocated a recliner seat for the night (free). A day ticket comes with no allocated seating, but there is free seating around the ferry you can use.

 

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Vehicles on the ferry to Tasmania

Taking a car on the ferry to Tasmania is straight forward. But there are some things you need to know before you go:

  • to make sure you measure your car correctly, ๐Ÿ‘‰๐Ÿฝ
  • know what items are restricted (like fuel or gas bottles attached to appliances),ย  ๐Ÿ‘‰๐Ÿฝ
  • follow the Spirit of Tasmania boarding times.
What is the Spirit of Tasmania vehicle cost?

The Spirit of Tasmania vehicle cost ranges between $179 and $377 one way. T

his is for a vehicle no more than 2 metres wide, 2 meters high and 6 meters long (most cars).

Larger vehicles have to pay more.

Spirit of Tasmania prices are set based on time and seaso๐Ÿ‘†๐Ÿผnal demand. If you want to know more about how they charge check out the illustration above ๐Ÿ‘†๐Ÿผ

Is there a barge to Tasmania

Yes, the Spirit of Tasmania that sails Geelong to Devonport is both a passenger ferry and a vehicle ferry.

You can take your car, caravan, motorhome or motorbike on the Spirit of Tasmania.

Vehicles are parked in the cargo hold for the duration of the journey.

What is the cheapest ferry to Tasmania with a car?

The Spirit of Tasmania is the cheapest ferry to Tasmania with a car.

That’s because it’s the only vehicle ferry to Tasmania from the mainland.

There are ways to save money on your Spirit of Tasmania fares. To find out how, take a look at the FAQย  ‘How do you book cheap fares on the Spirit of Tasmania’ above ๐Ÿ‘†๐Ÿผ

How to take the ferry to Tasmania with a car from Adelaide?

If you want to take the ferry to Tasmanai from Adelaide you’ll need to drive the 8 hours to Geelong in Victoria and take the ferry to Tasmania from there.ย 

The ferry to Tasmania departs Geelong at either 6:45pm or 10pm on days when there is a daytime sailing.

Cars can board the ferry from 2 hours before it departs – so from 4:45pm. You must be finished boarding 45 minutes before departure – so boarding closes at 6pm.

This all means if you leave Adelaide in the morning, you should make the ferry comfortably with a stop for lunch along the way.

What are the Spirit of Tasmania vehicle height restrictions?

Standard vehicle restrictions are < 2 meters wide, < 2 meters high and < 6 meters long.

Above this you can still bring your vehicle on but have to pay extra.

You can bring your vehicle on even if you’re towing another vehicle, campervan or trailer.ย 

Spirit of Tasmania will calculate the cost based on the total length, width and height of your vehicles (including all add ons like towbars and roof racks)

Vehicle Ferry to Tasmania

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Cabins on the Spirit of Tasmania

Here’s the key things to know about booking a cabin on the Spirit of Tasmania.

There are 4 cabin types in order from cheapest to most expensive:

  • Inside bunk cabin (no window) – 4 bunk ends
  • Porthole bunk cabin (with window) – 4 bunk beds
  • Porthole twin cabin – two single beds
  • Delux cabin (with twin windows)

There are also accessibility cabins on board – contact Spirit of Tasmania to book these.

Our cabin experience

We booked the twin porthole cabin on the Spirit of Tasmania. The cabins are clean but small. Two single beds felt crowded, so I can only imagine what 4 bunk beds would feel like as the rooms are similar size.

The bathrooms are modular, tiny, but very clean. We loved having our own private bathroom as drive to the board ferry was a long one.

Do you have to book a cabin on Spirit of Tasmania?

No, you don’t. You can choose to reserve a recliner on the overnight ferry to Tasmania. There is no charge to use a recliner overnight.

On the day sail Spirit of Tasmania, you don’t need to book a cabin or a recliner. You can simply spend your time in common areas on the boat – the bar, resaurant, cinema etc. There is a charge to reserve a recliner on the day sail ferry.

What are the Spirit of Tasmania cabin facilities like?

All cabins have bathrooms with a shower and a toilet, adjustable air conditioning, a 230 volt power point to charge devices and reading lights, and hanging space.

Your bedding, towels and soap is provided.

If you are travelling with an infant Spirit of Tasmania will supply a cot automatically, but you must supply the linen.

Spirit of Tasmania porthole cabin - is it worth the extra money?

We booked a porthole cabine on the overnight trip on the Spirit of Tasmania.ย 

If you’re strapped for cash, it’s not really worth paying extra for the porthole cabin and here’s why.

It all comes down to the Spirit of Tasmania sailing schedule. By the time you get on board and make it to your cabin, it’s dark.ย 

If you do want to watch the lights recede into the background as you set sail, you can do this from the deck or the restaurant anyway.ย 

There’s nothing to see out of the porthole for the rest of the trip on the overnight boat to Tasmania. Just a sea of black, excuse the pun.

The same for the morning. You’ll get a wake up call 45 minutes before disembarking, which is usually around 6:30am. You have to pack up and get to your car in this time. There’s no time to dilly dally looking at views out the porthole. Plus, this far south it’s still dark at 6am.

Spirit of Tasmania cabin map

Source: Spirit of Tasmania

New Spirit of Tasmania dog friendly cabins

There’s good news for dog lovers taking the ferry to Tasmania. Spirit of Tasmaniaโ€™s brand-new ships are set to transform the way you travel with your furry companions across Bass Strait.

There will be 18 dedicated pet-friendly cabins on each ship, so you can keep your pet by your side throughout the trip. There have been incidents with animals travelling on the Spirit of Tasmania in the past, so we imagine there’s a lot of relieved pawrents out there. Including us!ย 

We look forward to more trips to the mainland knowing we’ll be relaxing in a cabin with our two Hungarian Vizslas Baily and Boston, instead of worrying about them in kennels below deck.

We can even walk them on lead in a new designated outdoor area. ๐Ÿพ๐Ÿพ

If you prefer a kennel, the new ships will apparently have a state-of-the-art, climate-controlled kennel areas with top-notch security features. Only you and the crew can access your petโ€™s kennel, with security technology ensuring your pet’s safety. We had to supply our own padlock when we came! So this is a great upgrade.

And if you’re worried about checking on your pet during the trip, donโ€™t stress โ€“ you’ll have access to visit them for the first time! Something we were not allowed to do when we bought Bailey and Boston to Tasmania.

The new ships are due to set sail in 2025. We say, it’s about time!

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Taking pets on Spirit of Tasmania

Taking your fury baby on Spirit of Tasmania can be a worrying experience. We took our two pups on the ferry to Tasmania with us and were full of anxiety.

So to help you, we share our experience here and answer all of your questions about pets on the Spirit of Tasmania.

What does it cost to take pets on Spirit of Tasmania?

ย It costs $22 to book a kennel one way on the Spirit of Tasmania, with a requirement of one kennel per dog.

We booked 2 kennels for 2 dogs, but actually put our dogs together in the one large kennel. We thought they would cope better being together.

You can take your pet on Spirit of Tasmania free by leaving them in your car. You assume liability for their well being if you do this and Spirit of Tasmania will require you to sign an indemnity.

What pets can you take on Spirit of Tasmania?

You can take domestic animals on Spirit of Tasmania – dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets and birds.ย 

You can’t take pigeons, rodeents, doves, reptiles, amphians, water based animals or wildlife.ย 

How do you board the ferry with your pet?

Boarding the Spirit of Tasmania with your pet is easy. You simply drive on board with them in the car.

When you reach the check in point, you must declare your pet. The check in staff will give you a yellow tag to hang on your rear view mirror inside your vehicle. This lets staff know you have a pet and you’ll be directed to park on the deck with kennels.

You’ll also getย a white tag to attach to your pet’s kennel onboard.ย 

When you park, its up to you to get your pet settled into their kennel if that’s what you choose.

Kennels are not alloted, so its a good idea to check in early for more choice of kennels.

Where are pets kept on the Spirit of Tasmania?

Pets are kept in kennels, which are located on a ventilated vehicle deck on the Spirit of Tasmania.ย 

Kennels are located on aseparate deck to cabins.

Can you check on your pets during the ferry trip?

No you can’t check on your pets during the ferry trip. Spirit of Tasmania does not allow access to the vehicle decks during sailing, which is where the kennels are located.

Spirit of Tasmania staff check on pets during sailing.

”Can

Spirit of Tasmania advises not to leaveย  your dog in your car during the ferry journey.ย 

They will require your to sign an indemnity if you do.

We know from online groups and forums that some pet owners prefer to take the risk and leave their dogs in their car instead of putting them in a Spirit of Tasmania kennel. Some pawrents consider it less stressful for their pooch to stay in the car for the duration of the trip.

Dog owns that do this leave the windows down for air, leave water for their dogs, and lock their cars.

The choice about whether you do this or not is personal. For us, we put our two Vizslas in the Spirit of Tasmania kennels on our first journey over.

We will never do that again. If forced to choose between the kennels and our car, we would chose to leave our dogs in our car every time.ย 

Spirit of Tasmania pet checklist

How to prepare to take your dog on Spirit of Tasmania:

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Make sure your dog is treated by your vet for hydatid tapeworm and checked for ticks

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If your pet is anxious discuss sedation with your vet

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Feed your pet at least a few hours before boarding the ferry

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Exercise your pooch before boarding

What to bring for your pet on Spirit of Tasmania:

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Water to fill up the bowls inside kennels provided

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A padlock to secure the kennel

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Bedding for inside the kennel

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A shirt or cloth with your scent on it

pets Spirit of Tasmania

Courtesy: Spirit of Tasmania