Hi all;

        We traveled over to Tassie last August 2015, special price as the spirits had just had a referb. That was our 3rd trip over. We had a cabin over and back, 2 adults, 2 small dogs and 12 mtrs of 4x4 and caravan ( pop top ). Cost about $ 1300.00 return, stayed for 1 month.

On other times when we have looked at going over the cost was again well, north of $2000.00 and this is before you have spent $1.00 in Tassie. Don't get me wrong we love Tassie and have even looked at living there. But have to agree maybe to get more people over is not to charge for the trailer/caravan.

Something for the been counters to think about !!!!

We fly down, rent a car and stay in motels. Cheaper, more comfortable and few worries.

We have done Tassie both ways - just our car and cabins, and taken the caravan with us. We needed to stay at least 3 weeks to justify the cost of taking the van, but for us, it would be the van every time. It is not the the cabins were bad, simply that out van is better for us. We have our own beds, and the convenience of not having to pack and unpack outweighs the disadvantages of taking the van.

Tassie is a delightful place to visit. I found that with the van, I rarely went over 80 km/h - not because it was unsafe to go faster, but simply because it is so much more relaxing. Even without the van, I rarely went over 90, and very few locals overtook me. Life is so much simpler there. I am sure that they have their problems as every other place has, but they don't surface like they do in outer Sydney and inner Melbourne.

Perhaps DD meant the Asians were driving on the wrong side for them!

Like if they normally drive on the right and in Tassie they are driving on the left, then it would be the wrong side of the road. Or perhaps they come from Hong Kong and they drive on the left same as Australia does so maybe they are driving on the right and are on the wrong side.

Aww heck, now I'm confused. My head hurts. I think I will have a Bex and a lie down. 

Which side of the bed should I be on?

 

The Phantom

Magnarc wrote:

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I note the story on the Grey Nomad news re the the re-furbishment of the ferries. They state that passenger bookings are up some 15%. I would venture to say that their bookings would be up a lot more if the rate for caravans was not so high.

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 Waiting for a special to come on sale at the moment. Last year 13m in July was approx $1600, this year approx $1800. I hope they don't get too busy, there may be no specials.

We're in Tassie now - MacIntosh Dam out west tonight (on way to Zeehan) no neighbours no $ just great.

I was coming over for RSL national Bowls carnival and that would have cost me $1500 for airfare and accom AND heaps for Booze if Iwas on my own, so wife and I are here with van for extra $500 ish, cabins both ways and 4 months in Tassie. Yes we are very lucky to be here.

Found some places a rip off but others just great. Found the best Park Ranger ever in Tassie = parks pass for our entire trip at good price.

People very friendly in parks etc and will be doing some free camping after we do the Gordon River and the Steam Train.

John ---- heaps of tenters in vehicles.

Heaps of good advice from locals on how to save $ etc. Very happy trip for us.

Understand that the TT Line shipping company that runs the ferries are sponsored/subsidised by the Tas Govt and as such deliberately price fares to stamp out anything that means you won't spend money in Tas.

Cheap for a car and person but taking a van means you have your own sleeping accomadation and therefor you won't be spending enough money in their hotels and motels and for that you will be penalised to balance out the subsidised passenger fares.

 

Current caravan rates are based on the total 'combination length' of vehicle and caravan for the vehicle fare, and then you add the passnger fare, and then you add the sailing accomadation fare.

 

Quite frankly, it plainly appears obvious that the Tas govt does not really want nomads, we don't spend enough.

 

Go talk to a trucking company, there are other ships that go there.

the standard vehicle fare is subsidised under the national highway scheme. When you add trailer, van etc it is then classified as general freight. But lets get real about the fare, how much does it cost to go to kangaroo island for the same vehicle per km travelled. If you come across and free camp for 6 weeks, that just about sorts the fare out. The plus side is it helps keep the tight arses and bloody ratbags on the big island to the north. some people are never happy and only see the negative things their whole life, wake up in the morning with a smile on your dial and the world will smile with you. I have travelled to ever state and territory (except cambera)Your right, I love Tassie.
cheers
blaze

blaze wrote:

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~~~SNIP  If you come across and free camp for 6 weeks, that just about sorts the fare out. The plus side is it helps keep the tight arses and bloody ratbags on the big island to the north. some people are never happy and only see the negative things their whole life, wake up in the morning with a smile on your dial and the world will smile with you. ~~~SNIP.
cheers
blaze

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 Gday...

Understand your drift blaze  However, I already "freedom" camp on the "big island to the north". So the $2,000 fare on the ferry goes a long way when I remain on the "big island".

Not sure if I am a tight arse or a bloody ratbag - and I thought I was a pretty positive sort of bloke who always wakes up with a smile .... 'specially when I wake up at a camp beside a creek in the bush on the "big island to the north" - and I still have $2,000 in my bank.

Interestingly six weeks in a van park @ $30/night would work out to $1,260 - so still cheaper than the ferry fare - IF I stayed on the "big island to the north" and stayed in van parks each night - rather than paid a ferry fare and free camped on the "little island to the south".

However, liked I said earlier, I would love to see Tassie - but I reckon I will just go over in the Landy and me tent and rough it for a month or so.

Cheers - John

Hypothetical!

Two travellers both in a similar vehicle towing similar vans, both in Melbourne. A decides to go to Hobart for a look costs a tad over $2000.00 return. Including fuel from Devonport/Hobart/Devonport 508klm.

B decides to go to Perth for a look cost approx. $2000.00 return for fuel alone AND He/She has to drive all the way. Fuel for 6850klm.

My last trip to each of these cities leaving from Brisbane were towing with a V6 petrol. I know which was the cheapest trip.

Mike 

We enjoyed our 15 nights staying in cabins, taking only our car to Tassie from Melbourne. This year we've booked an 18 night trip to Darwin, Kakadu, Top End etc. flying from Melbourne & hiring a car, staying at lodges, hotels & resorts. CHEAPER than our Tassie trip! A ''no brainer''! The ferry to Tassie was a very ordinary travel experience to say the least.

PeterD wrote:

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I think the $2,000 fare is a generalisation, it's the fare for those who are not looking at optimising their fare. It's possibly the minimum for full fare paying passengers. There are three levels of fare. There is the Red Hot Fare which I have not investigated, it has a cancellation fee of 75% of the fare for prior cancellation. There is the Spirit Fare that has a 25% cancellation fee. Thirdly there is the Flexie Fare which has no cancellation fee. Read about them here.

I have done a dummy run on booking fees, do it yourself on this page   scroll to the link at the bottom. My fares are based on a Navara D40 towing a van with an overall length of 7.2 m. The fare to Devonport is a day fare and the return is a night trip in a double inside cabin. Both are off peak for two pensioners. I have calculated both Spirit and Flexi Fares. I am going Spirit Fare as the 25% cancellation fee is $397.50 which is a bit less than the $608 difference between the two fares. Just open the .DOC file for the details.

 

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 Totally agree with PeterD. Do a dummy booking, and see when is the best time to travel, when is the best time to return, day or nigh sailing. We booked online 11 months prior to our departure from Melbourne. One month before we sailed, we rang to see if we could apply pension concession.  They advised us that as we booked 11 months out, we actually got a better rate that we could one month before with concession. WE were able to upgrade at that stage from recliners to an inside cabin exclusive use for an extra $100.00.  Our return journey was also booked 11 months out on line.  We have since changed our booking extending by 2 months - no penalty.

It is a beautiful island, so much to see and do, we are here for 8 months, only been her for three so far, and getting worried that we may have to extend again.  Definately has my vote as a grey nomad destination. Everyone is friendly (not just the GNs)

Hi Mike, may see you on the ship, we are booked on the same voyage! We are staying over their for 2 months, breaks the fare down to about $35 a day, I can live with that. I did look at hiring an RV but it is cheaper to take the van.

"Happy Sailing" Colin

Shall do Mike, we're in a Crusader, probably catch you in the queue, I hear can be slow at times.

Colin&Liz