Is it cheaper to fly or drive to Tasmania for a holiday? It’s a question we get a lot from budget travellers. How does the Melbourne to Tasmania ferry price with a car compare to flying? The question is not straightforward. Ticketing on the Spirit of Tasmania is a complicated nightmare. So we’ve done some research and lay out the answer out for you below, as simply as we can. The result may surprise you.
Melbourne to Tasmania Ferry Price – A Summary
Here’s a summary of the Melbourne to Tasmania Ferry Price, based on travel for a couple and for a family, with and without a caravan. Price depends on so many factors, so take a read down below before you book your journey 👇🏽
- Couple with a car in a cabin: ~$1300 return
- Couple with a car and caravan in a cabin: ~$1700 return
- Family with a car in a cabin: ~$1550 return
- Family with a car and caravan in a cabin: ~$2350 return
Other findings – is it cheaper to drive or fly to Tasmania?
- Compared to flying, it’s almost always cheaper for couples to take a car on the ferry from Melbourne to Tasmania if your stay 5 days or more.
- Its cheaper for couples to fly to Tasmania if you can find a rental car around $120 a day and are staying less than 5 days.
- It’s always cheaper for families to take the ferry from Melbourne to Tasmania and drive their own car.
All in all, if time is on your side, the ferry is a cheaper way to travel.
Check out how to save money on the Spirit of Tasmania below 👇🏽 . And if you like this content you’ll love our self-drive Tasmania itineraries and curated Tasmania Maps ready made for adventurers just like you!
How long does The Spirit of Tasmania take?
The Spirit of Tasmania from Victoria to Tasmania takes around 11 hours for the boat trip itself. But then you need to add to that time taken to board and disembark the ship.
Check in (in this case, driving onto the boat and parking your car) opens 1.5 to 2.5 hours before the boat departs and closes 45 minutes before departure. So lets add 1.5 hours for boarding.
Disembarking at the other end (driving your car off the boat) is a 30 minute process.
Total time from Port of Geelong to Port of Devonport – 13 hours approximately.
How to get to Tasmania from Melbourne
For first timers, lets clear up how you get to Tasmania by car. Because Tasmania is an island off the south coast of Australia and you can’t drive direct. You have to take a boat across Bass Strait to get here.
The Spirit of Tasmania operates a passenger ferry between mainland Australia and Tasmania, departing daily.
You can drive your car onto the Spirit of Tasmania, and park it in the belly of the boat for the duration of the trip. You can also take caravans, trailers, motorbikes, motorhomes and even live animals (like pets).
The Spirit of Tasmania used to depart from Port of Melbourne in Melbourne, but this all changed in 2022. It now departs from Port of Geelong, an hour from Melbourne.
The ferry arrives Tasmania in Devonport, a small town on the coast of North West Tasmania.
It’s here that your Tasmania trip begins if you come by ferry. Devonport is an easy one hour drive to Launceston, 1.5 hours drive to Cradle Mountain, 3.5 hours to the Bay of Fires, and 4 hours to Hobart.
Now that we have the logistics out of the way, let’s talk ferry prices.
What is the Melbourne to Tasmania ferry price?
Spirit of Tasmania pricing is like a crap shoot. A guessing game. A game of musical chairs where if you don’t book when you look, you may miss out or pay a completely different price when you do.
Why?
Well, here’s what to know about the Melbourne to Tasmania ferry price, before you book:
- There is a day ferry and an overnight ferry. The pricing is different for each. The overnight ferry is the most popular.
- All Spirit of Tasmania ferry pricing uses a ‘pay per item’ pricing model. They charge per person, per car, per caravan, per cabin, etc.
- Prices for individual items also vary. It seems indiscriminately. As far was we can tell, prices depend on type of item, ferry departure, ticket demand, time of year, ticket type, ferry route etc.
- The Melbourne to Tasmania ferry price can sometimes be more expensive than the Tasmania to Melbourne route.
- This makes it difficult to know what you’ll end up paying until you actually book.
- The per person price on an overnight ferry includes the cost of a recliner.
- There is no seating allocation on the day ferry. You can pay extra to book a recliner.
- Because of all of these pricing variables, you may pay more for the same item on your return home.
- The wait to book a caravan on the Spirit of Tasmania is obscene. 4 to 5 months, if you’re lucky.
All in all, the ferry operator couldn’t make the Melbourne to Tasmania ferry price more complicated if they tried. And that’s frustrating for travellers trying to budget a dream trip to the apple isle.
So to help clear things up, here are the 2024 prices per individual item allowed onboard.
Overnight ferry from Melbourne to Tasmania:
| Item | Return Price | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | $216 – $270 | |
| Child | $54-$67 | |
| Standard car | $442 – $490 | Larger car costs more |
| Car towing caravan | $500-$900 | 6 meter caravan |
| Accommodation options | ||
| Recliner | included | |
| Internal cabin | $159 – $179 | Sleeps 4 in bunks |
| Porthole cabin | $209 – $229 | Sleeps 2 in twin or 4 in bunks |
| Delux cabin | $369 – $499 | Sleeps 2 in queen |
To get the total cost of your journey across Bass Strait you need to add all of the relevant costs for your journey. Lets look at some real world examples of what it will actually cost you to travel from Melbourne or Geelong to Tasmania on the ferry.
Spirit of Tasmania price with a car
Ferry prices vary most with your choice of a accommodation. For the cheapest ferry price, select ‘Recliner’ for your overnight pad and you’ll pay no extra. If you want the cheapest cabin, pick the ‘Internal cabin’.
Families can save money sleeping 4 to a internal cabin in bunk beds if kids in recliners overnight don’t work for you.
For a couple -Spirit of Tasmania prices with a car
| Ticket type | Overnight ferry return | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest ticket | $874 | Recliner only |
| Standard ticket | $1312 | Porthole cabin |
| Delux ticket | $1612 | Delux cabin |
For a Family – Spirit of Tasmania prices with a car
| Ticket type | Overnight ferry return | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest ticket | $1194 | Recliner only |
| Standard ticket | $1542 | 4 bed internal cabin |
| Delux ticket | $1966 | 2 x 2 bed cabins |
How much does it cost to take a caravan to Tasmania?
The price to take a caravan to Tasmania is $446 one way, or $902 return. This price covers both your car and caravan, but not the passengers in the car or caravan. These are extra. We do an all inclusive cost below.
The cost to take a caravan on the Spirit of Tasmania depends on the size of your caravan, as well as all of the other variables above. We’ve used the average caravan size in Australia, which is 6 meters and >2.1 meters.
Melbourne to Tasmania ferry price with a car & caravan
Here are the costs to take a caravan to Tasmania from cheapest to most expensive, for both a couple and a family of 4:
| Ticket type | Couple | Family of 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest – includes car & caravan (no cabin) | $1324 | $1893 |
| Standard – includes a car, caravan and standard cabin | $1752 | $2341 |
| Delux – includes car, caravan & delux or 2 twin cabins | $2492 | $2789 |
Is it cheaper to drive to Tasmania?
You need your own transport to travel around Tasmania conveniently. With only half a million Tasmaniacs, there’s a definite lack of public transport. Which means for most travellers, a car is the best option.
So how does bringing your own car to Tasmania compare with hiring a car here?
Is it cheaper to drive or to fly to Tasmania?
To answer this question we need to compare Spirit of Tasmania prices with a car alongside the cost of flights + car hire. Here goes…
Couple
| Fly & hire a car | 3 Days | 5 Days | 10 Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flights from Melbourne return | $800 | $800 | $800 |
| Rental car @ $180/day | $540 | $900 | $1800 |
| Total | $1340 | $1700 | $2600 |
| Ferry price (standard twin cabin) | $1312 | $1312 | $1312 |
Family of 4
| Fly & hire a car | 3 Days | 5 Days | 10 Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flights from Melbourne return | $1600 | $1600 | $1600 |
| Rental car @ $180/day | $540 | $900 | $1800 |
| Total | $2140 | $2500 | $3800 |
| Ferry price (standard 4 per. cabin) | $1542 | $1542 | $1542 |
Is it cheaper to drive or fly to Tasmania – THE RESULTS!
From Melbourne – Coming from Melbourne, it’s almost always cheaper for a couple to take the Spirit of Tasmania and bring your own car, provided you book a standard cabin or cheaper and stay for 5 or more days. There’s one exception, we outline below 👇🏽
From other Australian airports – its cheaper for a couple to drive and take the Spirit of Tasmania as opposed to flying from Sydney also. And likely cheaper from Brisbane, provided you stay in Tasmania more than 5 days. The only limiting factor is your drive time to Geelong.
Families – it’s always cheaper for a family of 4 to drive to Tasmania than it is to fly. The longer you stay, the more economical it is. The biggest limitation to realising this saving is your drive time to Melbourne, and the 12 hour ferry journey.
When should you fly to Tasmania, not drive?
It’s cheaper for a couple to fly if you can get return flights for around $400 per person, and a rental car around $120 per day and provided you’re staying less than 5 days. It’s also more time efficient.
What is the cheapest time to visit Tasmania?
The cheapest time to visit Tasmania is in the off season. That’s officially from April to October.
The very cheapest time to visit is like July and August – which is mid winter. It’s cold, there’s snow, and there a bit of rain about. But winter is also one of our favourite times of year here! Check out our post on ‘When is a good time to visit Tasmania’ to find out the best time to visit, and when not to.
What’s next for your Tassie trip?
If you’re bringing a car or caravan to Tasmania save time painfully planning your trip with our:
- self-drive Tasmania itineraries and
- curated Tasmania Maps ready made for adventurers just like you!
FAQs
How long is the ferry from Melbourne to Tasmania?
The overnight ferry from Melbourne to Tasmania takes 11 hours and 15 minutes from departure to arrival in Tasmania. It departs Port of Geelong at 6:45pm. It arrives in Devonport Tasmania at 6am the next morning. u003cbru003eThe return overnight ferry leaves Devonport at 9:30pm, u003cbru003eu003cbru003eThe day ferry departs Devonport at 8:30am and arrives in Geelong at 7pm, taking 10.5 hours for the entire trip.
How much is the ferry to Tasmania?
The ferry to Tasmania costs around $1300 return for a couple with a car if you stay in a cabin overnight.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eFamilies of up to 4 people with a car will pay around $1550 for the ferry to Tasmania. This assumes you book the 4 bunk cabin.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eYou can save on your ferry cost to Tasmania by staying in reclining chairs overnight. It is free to stay in these chairs on the overnight ferry to Tasmania, but not on the day ferry.
Is it cheaper to fly or boat to Tasmania?
It’s always cheaper for a family of 4 to boat to Tasmania than it is to fly. u003cbru003eIt’s cheaper for a couple to boat to Tasmania if they’re staying more than 5 days. If you’re staying less than 5 days and can find a cheap rental car in Tasmania, it’s cheaper to fly here.
Is there a car ferry to Tasmania?
There’s a passenger ferry to Tasmania that also transports cars and caravans. The ferry is called the Spirit of Tasmania and it departs from the Port of Geelong in Victoria and arrives in Devonport, Tasmania. u003cbru003eu003cbru003eYou can travel on the ferry with your car, caravan, bike, motorbike, trailer and even your dogs.
How much is a cabin on Spirit of Tasmania?
A cabin on the Spirit of Tasmania ranges from $159 – $179 for an internal cabin (no windows) to between $339 and $499 for a deluxe cabin (queen bed with window). An internal cabin sleeps 2 (twin beds) or 4 people (in bunks). A deluxe cabin sleeps 2 people max.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eA standard porthole cabin (with windows) ranges between $209 to $229 and sleeps 2 people (in twin beds) or 4 people (in bunks). The bunk cabins are an economical way for families to travel to Tasmania.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eCabin prices vary by time of year and ticket demand.u003cbru003e
How much does it cost to go to Tasmania by ferry?
The cost to go to Tasmania by ferry varies by the time of departure, time of year, type of ticket, and ferry demand. u003cbru003eu003cbru003eForgoing a cabin on the overnight ferry and sleeping instead in recliner chairs will secure the cheapest overnight ferry ticket price. The cheapest overnight ferry price for a couple with a car is ~$900. u003cbru003eu003cbru003eFor a family, the cheapest overnight ferry price with a car is ~$1200 but you’ll have your kids in recliners overnight. If you want a cabin that sleeps 4 in bunks, the ferry price is around $1550.
How much does it cost to transport a car on the Spirit of Tasmania?
It costs between $658 and $760 to transport a car on the Spirit of Tasmania. This is the cheapest price, which assumes:u003cbru003e- One personu003cbru003e- travelling with the car (drive it on and off the boat)u003cbru003e- on the overnight ferryu003cbru003e- no cabin accommodation included – only a recliner seat.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eThe cheapest price with a cabin is around $817 – $919
How to go to Tasmania from Melbourne?
There are two ways to go to Tasmania from Melbourne: 1) on the Spirit of Tasmania Ferry from Geelong to Devonport. 2) or via plane. u003cbru003eu003cbru003eThe Spirit of Tasmania is best (cheapest) if you want to take your car to Tasmania and spend more than 5 days there. It also takes 12 hours one way so you do need some extra time. Read our post above 👆🏼 for details.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eYou can fly from Melbourne to a few different airports in Tasmania – Hobart in the south, or Launceston, Devonport and Wynyard/Burnie in the North. So decide first u003ca href=u0022https://tasmaniatrails.com/great-getaways/u0022u003ewhere you want to go in Tasmaniau003c/au003e, and then pick the most convenient flight. u003cbru003eu003cbru003eOh, and if budget is important it’s generally cheaper to fly from Melbourne to the bigger airports (Launceston and Hobart) than to the smaller ones.
