The New Spirit of Tasmania Ferries (and What It Means For Road Trippers)
For generations of Australians, taking the car across Bass Strait has been part of the Tasmanian adventure. Even before the Spirit of Tasmania started operations in 1993, the Abel Tasman was getting mainlanders to the “Apple Isle”.
You might be wondering: What’s the appeal of the ferry when you can fly so easily, efficiently and affordably? For us, it’s the fact you can bundle everything (and everyone) into the car or camper, including tents and eskies, surfboards and bikes….even pets!
Rather than the fuss of hiring a vehicle after landing in Hobart or Launceston, your Tassie adventure begins the moment you drive off the ferry (or the moment you drive onto the ferry, depending on how you look at it).
But there’s a catch. If you’ve ever tried to book space for a campervan, caravan or motorhome on the Spirit of Tasmania, you know how hard it can actually be to nab a spot. With the current ferries, spaces for larger vehicles are limited and they often get snapped up months in advance.
But that’s (hopefully) all about to change with the bigger and far more spacious new ferries, which are scheduled to launch on 31 October 2026. And from our perspective, it could have a significant effect on the way people holiday in Tasmania.
More Room for the Road Trip
There’s a lot that's different about the new Spirit of Tasmania ferries, but the most fundamental change is the fact they are designed to carry more vehicles.
Spirit IV and V are both 212 metres long and 31 metres wide. In comparison, the current ships are about 195 metres long and 25 metres wide. The new ships also have 4,098 lane metres, compared with 2,565 on the existing ferries. That’s a lot of extra room!
Crucially, all vehicle lanes on the new ships will have extra height to accommodate caravans and campervans. Why does this matter? Because height can be (and has been) a limiting factor when vehicles are being loaded onto the ferries. Essentially, without that extra height across all lanes, there are only a certain number of spots that can accommodate larger vehicles.
If you’re travelling as a foot passenger (without a vehicle), that increase in lane metres and height might be interesting. But at the end of the day, it’s not going to affect your journey. You can still walk onboard the ferry at one end and walk off at the other, ready to start your Tassie adventure by public transport, tour or private transfer.
But for someone arriving with a 4WD, caravan, motorhome or campervan, the difference will be noticeable. You won’t be competing with so many others for limited “large vehicle” bookings and there’s greater flexibility when it comes to locking in your dates. That said, we’d still recommend booking as early as possible, particularly if you’re travelling during school holiday periods.
The New Ships Are Bigger, But the Crossing Isn't Faster
One thing that isn't changing dramatically between the existing and new Spirit of Tasmania ferries is the duration of the journey.
The new ships have a maximum speed of about 26 knots (48 km/h), similar to the current vessels. And (unsurprisingly) the distance across Bass Strait between Devonport and Geelong isn’t changing - it’s still around 242 nautical miles (448 kilometres).
So you won’t get your car to Tasmania faster on the new Spirit of Tasmania ferries. But the journey itself is set to be more comfortable and accommodating. We’re talking improved restaurants and bars, cinemas and shops, as well as video gaming and arcade facilities to keep kids (young and old) entertained.
There’s also a slight increase in cabins on the Spirit IV and V, up from 222 (on the current ships) to 301. In total, the passenger capacity is rising from around 1,400 to up to 1,800, meaning more people can get to our beautiful island state every day!
The new ships have also been designed specifically with Bass Strait conditions in mind, including an enhanced hull design and large stabiliser fins. If you’ve ever done a “rough” crossing to Tassie before, you’ll be very happy to hear this!
Instead of: “We have to endure the Bass Strait crossing before the holiday starts,” it becomes: “The holiday starts when we drive onto the ferry.” Personally, that’s a mindset shift that we love!
Greater Options for 4WD Travellers
The new ships could also encourage more people to take 4WDs to Tasmania and get out to explore the island’s unsealed roads and remote camping areas. The additional height available on the new ships is great news for people who have modified touring vehicles with roof racks, rooftop tents or other accessories.
It means more opportunity to bring all of your camping and outdoor equipment, as well as bikes, kayaks and surfboards.
There’s also peace of mind having a 4WD you know - and have already set up for your preferred style of travel - rather than hiring one you don’t know on arrival.
Could This Change the Tasmanian Road Trip Itself?
We think so! If more visitors can bring their own camper vans and recreational vehicles to Tasmania, the island could see more demand for longer, self-drive holidays.
We know from experience that people are more inclined to travel for longer periods if they aren’t paying for a hire car and accommodation every night. There’s also greater freedom to explore according to the conditions and weather if you don’t have accommodation bookings locked in.
We also think the new Spirit of Tasmania ferries open up more opportunities for cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts, who can bring specialist equipment without worrying about airline baggage limits. Essentially, you can load all you could ever want or need into your vehicle and Tasmania is your playground!
And it could also be a big plus for Tasmania's regional tourism, with longer road trips naturally spreading spending across a wider area. That said, there are questions as to whether the island’s regional campgrounds, caravan parks and attractions can keep pace with the extra capacity. Only time will tell!
In other words, the new ferry isn't simply a larger transport link. It could change what sort of visitor Tasmania attracts and how that visitor moves around the state.
If you want to experience the new Spirit of Tasmania ferry but don’t want to bring a vehicle, you can take advantage of our Tasmania Weekend Escape adventure. It includes return travel from Geelong to our home base in Devonport, plus a visit to Cradle Mountain and a day touring the Cradle Coast Tasting Trail.