I've done a comprehensive search but can't find the post. Some time back, could have been 1 year or 3, there was a tread on Spirit of Tasmania. One Member posted that he traveled with his MH or Caravan on one of the private freight ships. I have contacted Toll. They will take my MH, but not me as a passenger.
Does anyone have any info on the private freight shipping ?
I'm planning to take my MH to Melbourne sometime early March. I will keep checking out the freight shipping myself and will post any good news i receive. But if someone has traveled this way and can enlighten me, I'd be grateful...
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Retired Airline Pilot and Electrician..
I'm not old, I've just been young a long time....Ken
Since light travels faster than sound, some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
I know this is not the answer you are looking for but might be of interest to you
I am taking our car and van over in Feb and returning in April on day time crossing each way and the all up cost for us and vehicles will be $1200 pension rates, overall length of rig is 11 metres.
If your MH is under certain size it goes over for the car rate which I think is $85 each way.
Cheers
David
I've done a comprehensive search but can't find the post. Some time back, could have been 1 year or 3, there was a tread on Spirit of Tasmania. One Member posted that he traveled with his MH or Caravan on one of the private freight ships. I have contacted Toll. They will take my MH, but not me as a passenger.
Does anyone have any info on the private freight shipping ?
I'm planning to take my MH to Melbourne sometime early March. I will keep checking out the freight shipping myself and will post any good news i receive. But if someone has traveled this way and can enlighten me, I'd be grateful...
I recall the thread BG, in fact sent a query off to Toll to enquire. They never responded. We have since booked for 1st October 2015 one way on line for $812.00. We are 14.5m long, car and caravan, sleeping in recliner. At the time of booking, we were not entitled to pensioner rates, but our return trip will be when we book it. We are booked "off peak" and will book "off peak" for our return. Booking on line is only available at 11 months before the cruise date.
Spoke with someone today who went for 6 months, but did not book return, and ended up having to stay for 10 months before they were able to get a return cruise.
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Pay it forward - what goes around comes around
DUNMOWIN is no longer on the road and still DUNMOWIN!
I would have thought you would have come under the "Freight" catagory mate, being a "Big Gorilla".
Now I too remember that topic but like you can't find it. I remember speaking to someone about it though when in Tassie earlier this year and was told that the freight ships will transport your rig but not people due to Insurance etc. They are only covered for crew and freight.
It will be interesting what you come up with mate.
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Live Life On Your Terms
DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
I've done a comprehensive search but can't find the post. Some time back, could have been 1 year or 3, there was a tread on Spirit of Tasmania. One Member posted that he traveled with his MH or Caravan on one of the private freight ships. I have contacted Toll. They will take my MH, but not me as a passenger.
Does anyone have any info on the private freight shipping ?
I'm planning to take my MH to Melbourne sometime early March. I will keep checking out the freight shipping myself and will post any good news i receive. But if someone has traveled this way and can enlighten me, I'd be grateful...
We looked into private freight shipping and it doesn't add up. The shippers were very obliging and friendly to deal with. However the inconvenience of separate travel dropping off the vehicle and picking it up again would not justify it even if it were cheaper (which it wasn't). We also had the situation where the tow vehicle and caravan would be separated and may even travel on differing ships! Spirit of Tasmania have it all sewn up. However if you go for a couple of months the overall cost is not unreasonable.
I think you'll find the motorhome is cheaper overall than a similar overall length tow vehicle and caravan.
Try Travel with a Cause they offer a small discount for the ferry trip or if you're a member of Big4 there's also an offer.
It always amazes me when people worry about the cost of travelling e.g. Fuel, Caravan Parks, Ferry to Tassie, National Parks etc. My question is - why did you buy a Motorhome or Caravan when it seems you can't afford to enjoy what is offered with that lifestyle. Bit like travelling overseas - if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. Just get out there & enjoy your Grey Nomad lifestyle.
Yep, there is a private freight company that will take you, your car and 'van. I emailed with them about 3 months ago and after giving them all the dimensions, they were about $100 cheaper than the Spirit and hard to get a booking on as they cater for containers and prefer to fit you on when they have the space, rather than the other way round. They reckon they are bringing a larger container ship into service early 2015 and will offer a better service, but no mention of prices going down. If someone is really keen - PM me and I will see if I kept their email address.
In the Australian a couple of days ago the Tassie Govt (who owns the Spirit) announced they will be reducing fares across the board to get more tourists into Tassie. No mention again of how much but apparently will take affect early 2015. They are going to look at dropping prices and increasing facilities right across the island to boost flagging visitor numbers
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Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
It always amazes me when people worry about the cost of travelling e.g. Fuel, Caravan Parks, Ferry to Tassie, National Parks etc. My question is - why did you buy a Motorhome or Caravan when it seems you can't afford to enjoy what is offered with that lifestyle. Bit like travelling overseas - if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. Just get out there & enjoy your Grey Nomad lifestyle.
I don't worry about the cost of travelling with our van, but I do seek out savings so our dollar can go further and we can do more with what we have, but by shopping around there are often significant savings to be made, one example we were planning a trip to Hawaii and I came across a special air fare, 2 for the price of 1 a saving of $1100 then came across a special hotel deal $75 a night for a 4 star hotel one block back from the beach, if I had booked the same holiday thru a travel agent it would have been at least double the cost.
If we had unlimited funds I would probably lash out and travel 5 star but we don't but we still get about and enjoy our caravanning and holidays and have a great time and all this on the full age pension supplemented with a small superannuation pension.
Just heard back from SeaRoad. Price for Motorhome is $585.02 and they don't take passengers. I checked online with TT Line (Spirit of Tasmania) for the date I intend travelling to Melbourne in March 2015. For myself, in a Recliner seat where I usually travel, $100.00. Motorhome $83.00, total $183.00. My MH is 6 meters long and goes for the same rate as a car. Looks like I'm stuck with the Spirit. It maybe worthwhile sending your rig by SeaRoad if you have a tug and caravan, as this is where the big cost comes in on the Spirit. but then you have the problem of traveling yourself as you can't be accommodated on a SeaRoad ship.
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Retired Airline Pilot and Electrician..
I'm not old, I've just been young a long time....Ken
Since light travels faster than sound, some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
You are so right. Hilux & Tvan ( just on 10.5m in length), is costing $1130 return, and that's the pensioner concession fare.
No recliner chairs, as travelling by day & they advertise that there is plenty of seating around the boat, so I didn't see the need to pay the extra $100 each per trip.
