Dates locked in, leave approved, car nearly packed in your head, and one question keeps nagging: how do you actually get across Bass Strait? For most people driving to Tassie, the answer is the Spirit of Tasmania, and it just got an upgrade. Two new ships started sailing on 31 October 2026.
The Geelong to Devonport ferry leaves at 6.45pm and docks in Devonport around 6am, so you sleep your way across and wake up with a full day ahead. This guide covers ships, cabins, prices and biosecurity rules, plus where to point the car first, so your Melbourne to Tasmania road trip starts easy.
The route, the new ships and sailing times
Think of the crossing as a night in a floating hotel rather than a cruise. Spirit of Tasmania IV and Spirit of Tasmania V replaced the old ships on 31 October 2026, and each carries up to 1,800 passengers with 301 cabins. Both sail nightly at 6.45pm in each direction and are due in around 6am, about 11 hours at sea.
The old Spirit of Tasmania day sailings, which ran in summer, have stopped for now. The new ships run one overnight service each way, so check the live timetable if a daytime crossing was your plan.
Geelong's terminal is about 75 km from Melbourne, roughly an hour's drive without traffic. Devonport now has the new Spirit Quay berth, built for the bigger ships.
Address: Spirit of Tasmania Quay, 136 Corio Quay Road, North Geelong VIC 3215
Address: Spirit Quay, 112 Wright Street, East Devonport TAS 7310
On board, you'll find the Tasmanian Market Kitchen with five food stalls, the Mersey Café and Bar for barista coffee, and the Maatsuyker Bar's undercover deck. The first crossings had teething troubles, including slow food service, so pack snacks that aren't fresh fruit or veg.
Spirit of Tasmania cabins vs recliners
Eleven hours at sea is long enough that where you sleep matters. Standard recliners are included in your fare, but you'll sleep upright in a shared lounge. With a big driving day ahead, that's a real trade-off.
Option | From | Suits |
|---|---|---|
Standard recliner | Included in fare | Tight budgets |
Business recliner | 49 AUD | A bit more comfort |
4-bed internal cabin | 125 AUD | Couples, small groups |
4-bed porthole cabin | 185 AUD | Natural light |
Pet-friendly cabin | 225 AUD | Dogs, cats (up to two pets) |
Family cabin | 275 AUD | Families (sleeps six) |
Deluxe cabin | 549 AUD | A proper treat |
If two or more of you are sharing, a cabin is worth it, and linen is provided. The downside is that internal cabins have no window, and fares rise on peak nights.
Klook Tip: Travelling with a baby? Book an internal cabin, because the free cots fit better there than in a porthole cabin.
Spirit of Tasmania prices in AUD
Fares swing with the date, so treat these as starting points, not a quote.
What you're paying for | From |
|---|---|
Adult passenger (recliner included) | 49 AUD |
Child passenger (aged 3–15) | 25 AUD |
Standard car, up to 6 m long | 49 AUD |
12 m car and caravan | 643 AUD |
At the cheapest end, two adults and a standard car in recliners come to 147 AUD each way, or 272 AUD with a 4-bed internal cabin. Pet kennels sit on Deck 7 and are priced per sailing, so check the live quote.
Taking your car to Tasmania is priced by length, so measure it before you book. Get it wrong and you may pay extra at check-in, or be refused if there's no space.
Fares climb in peak periods: late December and January, Easter, and Victorian and Tasmanian school holidays. Victoria's summer break starts on 19 December 2026 and ends in late January 2027, while Tasmania's runs into early February. In 2027, Easter falls on 28 March, and Victoria's autumn and winter holidays run 26 March to 11 April and 26 June to 11 July. Tasmanian dates overlap but don't match, so check both calendars.
Your before-you-sail checklist
Sailing day runs smoothly when you sort a few things the night before.
- Check-in: opens 2.5 hours before departure and closes strictly 45 minutes before. For the 6.45pm sailing, that's 4.15pm to 6pm, so aim to arrive by 5pm.
- ID: bring your e-ticket and photo ID.
- Biosecurity: Tasmania biosecurity rules ban fresh fruit, vegetables, plants, honey, fish and soil. Declare or bin them before boarding, because inspectors check at Geelong and run random checks in Devonport.
- Dogs: you need a signed declaration and proof of tapeworm treatment within 14 days of arriving.
- Overnight bag: vehicle decks are closed during the crossing, so pack medication, valuables, chargers and toiletries in one small bag. Photograph your deck number so you can find the car at 6am.
Klook Tip: Eat or bin your fresh fruit and veg before you reach the Geelong terminal. Anything left in the car gets removed at the biosecurity check.
Book early for peak dates: bookings open about a year ahead, and busy sailings fill first.
Spirit of Tasmania vs flying from Melbourne or Sydney
Sometimes the smartest way to start a Tasmania road trip is to skip the boat. Flying from Melbourne takes about an hour to Launceston or Hobart, and Sydney to Hobart takes around two. A hire car in Tasmania typically costs roughly 50 to 130 AUD a day, and a couple's return flights from Melbourne often sit around 300 to 700 AUD.
That makes flying and hiring the simpler, often cheaper option for a long weekend. The ferry tends to win at five days or more, or when you're bringing camping gear, bikes or a pet. It's also the only car ferry linking mainland Australia with Tasmania, and Geelong is roughly a 10-hour drive from Sydney, so most Sydneysiders will fly unless they're towing a caravan.
Whichever way you go, sketch your route before you book. Our Tasmania road trip drive guide is a good start.
Your first stops after Devonport
Cradle Mountain | Image credit: Didier B (sam67fr), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
You roll off the ship around 6am, a bit stiff and hungry, with the whole day open. Grab a coffee in Devonport and walk out to Mersey Bluff Lighthouse to shake off the crossing. Want a base for a night or two? Launceston is about 100 km east, roughly an hour and a quarter's drive, and our things to do in Launceston guide covers what's there.
Cradle Mountain is the classic first stop, about 1.5 hours' drive from Devonport. The trails sit around 1,000 metres up, so pack layers; snow in January isn't unheard of.
If you'd rather not drive, the Cradle Mountain tour from Launceston costs 175 AUD for 12 hours in a group capped at 10. You can choose the 6 km Dove Lake circuit or the tougher Marion's Lookout climb. Lunch isn't included, so buy it on the way.
Wineglass Bay is the east-coast highlight most road trips are built around. The Wineglass Bay day tour costs 175 AUD for 12 hours from Launceston, with a swim stop at Honeymoon Bay. The walk to the lookout is about an hour uphill, so it's a proper hike, not a stroll.
Port Arthur anchors the southern leg, and its historic site is the main draw. Pair it with the Tasman Island cruise, 190 AUD for three hours, departing at 10am or 2pm. It's windy, bumpy and cold even in December, so skip it if you get seasick.
Still building the loop? Our top things to do in Tasmania guide has plenty more to slot in.
FAQs about Spirit of Tasmania
How long is the Spirit of Tasmania crossing?
About 11 hours. Both ships leave at 6.45pm and are due in around 6am, though rough weather in Bass Strait can add time.
How much does it cost to take a car on the Spirit of Tasmania?
A standard car starts from 49 AUD each way, plus passenger fares. Price depends on date, sailing and vehicle length, and a 12 m car and caravan starts from 643 AUD.
Where does the Spirit of Tasmania depart from?
Spirit of Tasmania Quay in North Geelong, about 75 km from Melbourne. Ships also leave Spirit Quay in East Devonport at 6.45pm, and check-in closes 45 minutes before departure.
Is it worth getting a cabin on the Spirit of Tasmania?
Yes, if you're sharing and have a big driving day ahead. A 4-bed internal cabin starts from 125 AUD, while recliners cost nothing extra but you'll sleep sitting up.
What can't you take to Tasmania on the Spirit of Tasmania?
Fresh fruit and vegetables, plants, honey, fish and soil can't come in. Declare or bin them before boarding in Geelong, because inspectors check at the terminal and run random checks in Devonport.
Is it cheaper to fly or take the Spirit of Tasmania?
For a long weekend without your own car, flying and hiring is usually cheaper and quicker. Once you're staying five days or more, or bringing gear or a pet, the ferry tends to come out ahead.
Ready to roll onto the ship?
It's 6am, the engines slow, and the first coffee of your Tassie road trip is ten minutes away. Sailings fill early over school holidays, so check live fares for your dates and lock in a cabin today. Your first-stop tour will be waiting on Klook.
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