By Jessica Palmer,
May 11, 2023
Dragging your caravan or camper around Tasmania continues to be a bucket list item for many Aussie RVers. This is not due to clever marketing hype. To put it simply, Australia’s island state is stunning and everyone who visits falls in love with the Apple Isle.
Once you get your caravan over there, enjoy free camps, uncrowded roads, amazing scenery and the freshest air in Australia. Those with a 4WD can delve even further into Tassie with great off-road tracks and remote camping.
Actually getting your caravan over there though is proving to be a mission with car and caravan spots on the Spirit of Tasmania booked nearly solid at least six months in advance. There are a few random spots here and there for smaller vehicles, but anyone with a larger vehicle for towing and something to actually tow is going to find it hard to get a ticket on the dates they want.
Don’t worry! There are more ships coming
The current Spirit of Tasmania I and II, the iconic red-and-white ships that serve as vehicle and passenger ferries between Tasmania and the rest of Australia, were originally constructed in Finland in 1998. They were put to work between Greece and Italy for four years before heading our way to replace the original MV Spirit of Tasmania on 1st September 2002.
In a move that should free up some more spots for RVers, two new ships with significantly larger capacities for vehicles and caravans are set to arrive on our shores next year. In fact, there will be a whopping 59.8 per cent increase in lane metres for passenger and freight vehicles. Dubbed Spirit of Tasmania IV and V, we should see the first ship in the first quarter of 2024 and the second in the last quarter.
Check out the size difference here:
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Bernard Dwyer said the new ships will be a game changer for Tasmania. The increased size of the vessels is impressive and will allow us to accommodate many more passengers and vehicles on every journey.
“We’re incredibly excited about these new ships and not just about the increased size but also the quality and design of the build and the new amenities that we’ll have on board for passengers to enjoy,” Mr Dwyer said.
What should I do?
Plan your Tasmania trip well in advance and book early to avoid disappointment. With the exception of right now, because at the time of writing, there seems to be spots available over the cold winter period in June.
Booking super early is particularly important over peak periods such as school holidays. But in general, the spots tend to fill up quickly over the warmer seasons. Bookings for 2024 departures open 11 months ahead, so the earlier you can make plans and book, the better.
