melbourne to tasmania by car

You can’t drive across Bass Strait unless your car moonlights as a ferry, so the trick is simple: roll onto the Spirit of Tasmania.

Drive to the Geelong terminal, board with your car, and wake up (or roll off) in Devonport—crossing time is roughly 10–11 hours depending on the sailing.

Prices swing with season and cabin choices, but expect a few hundred dollars each way for a vehicle plus passengers, with peak holidays charging like a wounded bull.

Book early for summer, grab a cabin if you value sleep, and mind the quarantine rules—no fresh fruit, veg, or honey unless you fancy a chat at the checkpoint.

Once you’re in Tassie, the roads are gorgeous and twisty, so take your time and watch for wildlife at dusk; the locals do.