Door-to-door time: the comparison that actually matters
The advertised flight time and ferry crossing time don't tell the full story. Here's what each option actually costs you in hours, start to finish.
Flying: 1 hour 15–20 minutes in the air, plus airport time. Budget 2 hours before a domestic flight and 30–45 minutes to collect luggage and get moving after landing. Realistically, that's 4 to 4.5 hours door-to-door from leaving home in Melbourne to being on the road in Hobart.
Ferry: The crossing itself takes 9.5 to 11 hours, most commonly overnight, with some daytime sailings added during the December–April peak season. Boarding opens 1.5 to 2.5 hours before departure and closes 45 minutes prior — budget 1.5 hours for check-in and loading. Disembarking takes around 30 minutes once you arrive. All up, that's roughly 12 to 13 hours from arriving at the Geelong terminal to driving off in Devonport.
There's one more factor that catches first-timers out: the ferry lands you in Devonport, on Tasmania's north coast — not Hobart. From Devonport, it's about 4 hours (280km) to drive to Hobart, or 1 to 1.5 hours to Launceston. If Hobart is your base, add that drive time to your total. Flying into Hobart, by contrast, puts you exactly where you want to be.
Bringing a car: why the ferry usually wins here
If you're planning to drive around Tasmania — which most visitors do, since the island rewards a self-drive road trip — the ferry has a real advantage: your own car comes with you.
That means no rental car excess, no rental restrictions on gravel roads (a real issue in parts of Tasmania), and no daily rental fee stacking up over a one- or two-week trip. For a family or a couple staying 10 days or more, a return ferry fare with a car ($500–900) often works out cheaper than flying plus a week or two of car hire.
It also means you can bring camping gear, bikes, surfboards, or a full boot of groceries and wine without worrying about baggage limits — a genuine advantage if you're doing a longer Tasmania road trip.
When flying makes more sense
Flying wins clearly in a few scenarios. If you're a solo traveller or a couple not bringing a car, hiring one for a shorter trip (3–5 days) is usually cheaper than paying for a return ferry crossing with a vehicle, and you save 8+ hours of travel time each way.
Flying also makes sense if your trip is short. A long weekend doesn't leave room to burn a day and a half on ferry crossings — that's real time you could be spending in Tasmania instead of getting there. Our 3-day Tasmania itinerary is built around flying in, precisely because the ferry's time cost doesn't make sense for a trip that short.
It's also the better option if you're arriving from Sydney, Brisbane, or further north — the ferry only connects to Geelong, so anyone not driving through Victoria anyway is adding significant extra driving just to reach the terminal.
New Spirit of Tasmania ships: what's changing from late 2026
Two new ferries, Spirit of Tasmania IV and V, are set to join the fleet, with sailings currently scheduled to begin around 31 October 2026. They'll bring more capacity and pet-friendly cabins — a genuine gap in the current ships, which don't allow pets in cabins.
The new vessels depend on Berth 3 at the Geelong terminal being finished; that completion date has recently been brought forward to October 2026, ahead of the 2026–27 summer season. If you're booking a ferry crossing for summer 2026–27, it's worth checking the official Spirit of Tasmania site closer to your travel date, since capacity and scheduling may shift as the new ships come online.
In the meantime, the current ships — Spirit of Tasmania I and II — continue running nightly, year-round, with extra daytime sailings added during peak season.
Best time to book each option
For flights, the cheapest fares tend to show up when booking around 40 days ahead, and November is typically the cheapest month to fly Melbourne–Hobart, with school holiday periods and August pushing prices up.
For the ferry, demand is heaviest from mid-December through March and over Easter in both directions, and the Tasmania-to-Victoria return leg gets especially busy in April and May as Tasmanians and travellers head to the mainland ahead of winter. If you're bringing a vehicle — especially anything long or tall, like a caravan or camper — book as early as you can. Vehicle bays are limited, and demand for the ferry increases every year.
What to know before you travel
If you're taking the ferry: Bass Strait can be rough. If you're prone to seasickness, book a cabin rather than a recliner, and consider taking seasickness medication before boarding rather than after symptoms start. The crossing is calmest, on average, between December and May.
If you're flying: Standard domestic baggage rules apply, so check your airline's limits if you're bringing hiking gear, camera equipment, or anything bulky — Tasmania's national parks and coastal walks tend to make people pack more gear than a typical weekend away.
Which should you choose? A verdict by traveller type
Couples or solo travellers, no car, short trip (under 5 days): Fly. It's cheaper, faster, and a rental car for a few days plus a flight still beats the ferry with a vehicle.
Families doing a longer road trip (7+ days): Take the ferry. Bringing your own car, camping gear, and luggage without excess baggage fees adds up to real savings and convenience over a week or two.
Anyone arriving from Sydney, Brisbane, or interstate (not via Melbourne): Fly. The ferry only makes sense if you're already driving through Victoria.
Budget travellers with flexible dates: Either can work — fly in shoulder season for the cheapest airfares, or take the ferry as a foot passenger in shoulder season, which keeps the return fare in the $200–300 range.
FAQ
Is the Spirit of Tasmania cheaper than flying?
It depends on whether you're bringing a car. As a foot passenger, the ferry is usually more expensive than a discounted flight. With a car for a week or longer trip, the ferry is often cheaper once you factor in the cost of a mainland-to-Tasmania rental car.
How long does the Spirit of Tasmania ferry take?
The crossing itself takes 9.5 to 11 hours, mostly overnight. With boarding and disembarking, budget 12 to 13 hours door-to-door from the Geelong terminal to driving off in Devonport.
Does the Spirit of Tasmania go to Hobart?
No. The ferry lands in Devonport, on Tasmania's north coast. Hobart is a further 4-hour, 280km drive from Devonport, so factor that into your total travel time if Hobart is your destination.
Is it worth flying instead of taking the ferry?
Yes, if you're not bringing a car or your trip is under a week. Flying takes around 1 hour 15 minutes versus 9.5–11 hours sailing, and often costs less once ferry vehicle fares and cabin upgrades are added.
Can you fly directly to Hobart from Sydney or Brisbane?
Yes. Jetstar, Qantas, and Virgin Australia all operate direct flights from Sydney and Brisbane to Hobart, in addition to the more frequent Melbourne route.
When is the cheapest time to book the Spirit of Tasmania?
Shoulder season — April, May, September, and October — is cheaper than the mid-December to March and Easter peak, when fares rise 25% to 50%. Booking well ahead matters most if you're bringing a large or tall vehicle.
Are the new Spirit of Tasmania ships running yet?
Not yet. Spirit of Tasmania IV and V are scheduled to begin sailings around 31 October 2026, pending completion of the new Berth 3 at the Geelong terminal. Until then, the current ships continue operating as normal.
The honest verdict
If you're not bringing a car and your trip is a week or under, fly — it's faster and usually cheaper. If you're doing a longer road trip and want your own vehicle, camping gear, and no rental car bill, the Spirit of Tasmania earns its place, even with the extra travel time.
However you arrive, once you've landed, take a look at https://touringtassie.com.au/ how we can help you make the most of your time on the ground— from Hobart day trips to multi-day adventures across the island.
