Spirit of Tasmania

Take your time and arrive in Devonport in style aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ferry.

The Spirit of Tasmania travels Bass Strait year round, between Station Pier in Port Melbourne and Devonport on Tasmania’s north coast.

Onboard accommodation ranges from airline-style seating to private deluxe cabins. Regardless of which style you choose, you’ll travel in comfort. All cabins feature private facilities, adjustable air-conditioning and a 220-volt socket.

If you have decided to pack everything, including the family pet, vehicles and trailers of all sizes can be accommodated onboard, and kennels are available.

If you have hired your campervan or car from one of the major car hire companies for the duration of your holiday in Australia, you can rejoin Highway 1 as you leave the boat in Devonport. And for just $A8.00 each way you can bring your mountain or road bike along with you.

More information about the Spirit of Tasmania schedule.

Tasmania’s Island Ferries

Visit our islands off the Island and discover another world of adventure.

Two of our most unspoiled are Maria and Bruny islands. Maria Island is a national park and is a haven for the Forester kangaroo, wallabies, potoroos and Cape Barren geese. Bruny Island is about the size of Singapore, but most of the roads are unsealed and only 500 people call it their permanent home.

Ferries operate to both islands. The Bruny Island Ferry is a regular car ferry, while the Maria Island Ferry carries passengers and their gear only. No cars are allowed on Maria.

Maria Island Ferry

Maria is a popular family camping spot and during the summer the ferry is often laden with camping gear and bicycles. Parks and Wildlife Tasmania provides trailers (requiring human ’horsepower’) to carry equipment to the campsites and the Penitentiary dormitories.

Contact Parks and Wildlife for information on the ferry timetable. Or telephone Triabunna Visitor Information Centre:  Cnr Esplanade, Charles Street  Tel: (03) 6257 4772   Email triabunna@tasvisinfo.com.au

Bruny Island Ferry

The car ferry to Bruny Island operates on a regular daily schedule from the wharf near the Bruny D’Entrecasteaux Visitor Information Centre in Ferry Road, Kettering (a 35-minute drive south of Hobart). Foot passengers travel free, but it’s a very long walk from the ferry wharf on the island to the nearest town. The fare per car is about $25 return in the off-peak season and $30 return in the peak season

Contact: 61 (0)3 6273 6725 for details.

Take the Ida Clair to and from the Overland Track

You can take the Ida Clair ferry from Cynthia Bay, at the southern end of Lake St Clair, to Narcissus Point at the end of the Overland Track.  Lake St Clair is Australia's deepest high altitude lake and takes you for more than 18 kilometres past Mount Olympus and the mountains of the Traveller Range.  

Timetables vary with the season and booking is essential.  

Flinders Island cargo barge service

This service is primarily utilised by locals to move stock to and from the island. Visit Southern Shipping for more information.