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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: vagabond on August 06, 2010, 09:14:06 PM

Title: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: vagabond on August 06, 2010, 09:14:06 PM
Just thinking about doing a trip to Tassie next year.  I had a look at the Spirit of Tassie website confirmed that trailers, caravans and even motor homes can be brought onboard. The site mentions that the owner of the vehicle drives into the vessel and parks in a bay.  Anyone tell me how this happens logistically - how big does the vehicle queue get at Port Melbourne ?   How early do you have to queue ?  How tight is the parking ?  How are the vehicles arranged and what happens at Tassie first car in last out (eg filled from back to front) ?  How long does it take to get the car out ?
Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: davo69 and the Nurse on August 06, 2010, 09:18:04 PM
Great question!

I have never gone on the boat... but my Dad (Spike45) is also looking at taking Goldie the Goldstream on the red boat at Christmas to visit my sister... he would be interested in the same details!

the Nurse
Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: JCAT on August 06, 2010, 09:21:17 PM
The last time we went on in 2008, it took between 30 - 45 minutes to get on at Port Melbourne. On the way out they send you by the level you are parked on, which is usually fairly quick.
If you were to allow an hour at each end that should easily cover it.
Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: Postie on August 06, 2010, 09:47:33 PM
If you do the night crossing,  make sure you are awake and ready to drive out. That's where the delays Happen...  sleepy heads not ready to drive out at the right time!
Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: grubbadoo1 on August 06, 2010, 11:03:26 PM
And the parking is like a sardine can packet tight as :cheers:
Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: speewa158 on August 07, 2010, 06:17:02 AM
Dont forget that ship is an enclosed RORO ( roll on  roll off ) ,that means NO gas can on CT or any other type container . Haz chem , if a fire breaks out just something else to go bang . Have a chat to your insurence company to see if you are covered for damage in transit onboard . The crossing can be a hairy , I have seen the results of loads shifting on trucks , makes them hard to deliver at the other end . In transit the car decks are locked so you cant go there . From time to time at either end of the trip Plod will have an RBT set up just for fun . Sounds like fun but due to cronic sea sickness can never do . Used to be involved it freight to Tas from Melb . :cheers:
Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: D4D on August 07, 2010, 07:41:33 AM
Something else to consider, when I looked into it, it was the same price to hire a camper at the other end as it was to take the camper on the boat. It's expensive.
Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: Bushman on August 07, 2010, 08:39:58 AM
I Heard from a mate that did the trip a few years back that the vehicles are also strapped down from the vehicle tie down or recovery points, in his case a Navara Ute and Jayco

Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: darren on August 07, 2010, 08:49:04 AM
I took the cruiser and jayco across a few years back. Gas bottles are fine full as long as they are mounted on the camper. They just use chocks behind the wheels if its smooth and if the weather is bad then use those tyre straps like car transporters use . The que is fine at each end, The parking is tight but fine, There are all sorts of trucks on there too. Its a bit like a shopping center car park with ramps etc. It is suprisingly fast to get off.
 I went across from melbourne and came back to sydney. The trip across was a lounge one and was very boring. There isnt even much room to find a comfy seat.
 But hey, once you get off your in tassie, how goods that.
Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: graham on August 07, 2010, 09:21:58 AM
gidday i took the two youngsters  across on the boat 2009 xmas time(peaktime) costing around $1900.00 return.went during the day on the melb-devonport run. you could have waterskied behind the boat.like a millpond. we also booked cabins for both trips $80-90 for the day trip and about $110 for the return trip home at night. the cabins were a great idea because during the day you could wander around let the kids burn off a bit of energy,have a look at the bay,the heads ,then they can retire to the cabins for a serious bit of colouring in. i know i said bass strait was as flat as,  but it is quite windy out on the decks, as the boat is travelling along at about 30-35mph. food on board wasnt to bad and well priced and we all had a sleep during the day   the return trip at night was even better, park the rig,up to the cabin ,hot shower. down for some tucker back up to the cabin ,for a comfy sleep.a buzzer alarm sounds off in your cabin about 3/4 of a hour before docking,hot showers for all ,get dressed jump in the car and home. cabins are good.from memory i think the car/camper/trailer had to be under 2.5 meters high and under 11.5 meters long. exceed these limits and the price changes accordingly. i made it by a 100mm (patrol and a kk). must see places in tassie would be anywhere on the coast,east coast is fantastic, and anywhere in the middle.  the facilitys in the parks in a word. brilliant. free bbq, running water, clean toilets/showers great place.  also i did not have to unhook the gas bottles from the camper as they are fixed in place  boarding the boat is just a matter of getting there at the agreed time, line up in the que, then drive on when directed, easy peasy cheers Graham
Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: Fivid on August 07, 2010, 10:33:55 AM
We not taken the camper yet but plan to do so next year.  When we went in 2008 they had special trolleys that you had to put all gas bottles into.  We had a couple of coleman cannisters that had to go in there but a guy in the line beside ours had to take his off his CT.  Same deal with firearms, have to be handed in for secure storage during the voyage. 
If booking on the web site, be careful as once you say 4wd with bull bar it puts you over the 5m length and into a higher price bracket.  I booked for 4 vehicles when we went, the only vehicles in our group over 5m were the Patrol wagons at about 5.150m from memory.  The Patrol tray was just under 5m and the 80 series cruiser was about 4.800m so I had to ring up and get refunds.  Be aware of vehicle heights though, if over 2.2m I think it is they will put you on  deck with more height clearance so if travelling in a group you can get broken up and put on different parts of the ship.
We had 6m swells on the trip back, no vehicles on our deck were tied down but there is certainly facility for it to be done.
Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: Barry G on August 07, 2010, 01:43:22 PM
All those vehicles have fuel tanks, but can't carry a 'sigg' bottle of metho / shellite in your camping kit.  ???  Know some folks who took a VW Type 3 wagon across once for a family camping trip.  Check of the rear luggage area, all clear.  Camp fuel travelled safely in the 'front boot'.  ;D
Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: Cloud Basher on August 07, 2010, 07:58:42 PM
Vagabond,
As others have said, no dramas taking pretty much any vehicle/trailer on the boat.  Here is a piccy of my hunjy going over on the boat in the vehicle deck garage thingy.  As you can see not too squishy.  Well it wasn't on my trip!

(http://www.myswag.org/gallery/d/17465-1/DSCN0110.JPG)

I have other photos from the bar on the way over, but no one wants to see them!

Cheers
Dave
Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: speewa158 on August 07, 2010, 08:03:14 PM
Did you run through a flock of Galars on the way to the boat ? Nasty mess on the bullbar   :cheers:
Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: Cloud Basher on August 07, 2010, 08:09:19 PM
Your not wrong, it made a hell of a mess of that "galah's" face! ;D

Hey hang on a minute...

Cheers
Dave
Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: KM4 on August 07, 2010, 09:40:21 PM
We did this crossing a few years ago when we had a '98 Disco and a plain old 7x4 box trailer closed in with a tradesman's canopy.  At that time before we had a camper trailer we used to roll our swag out in the trailer because it was weatherproof, warm and actually quite comfy! We had to pay by the linear metre of our combined vehicle/trailer length, because our trailer was not classed as a camper or caravan if it didn't have bed fixtures in it.  Apparently at that time caravans & campers, but not box trailers, were included in the price of the towing vehicle fare at certain times of the year.

Anyway, we had a great trip (overnight Melbourne Devonport return) even though the voyage was rough as guts. The vehicle and trailer were tied down with webbing straps at each corner.  The meals and entertainment were great - much like good value pub counter meals. We expected expensive prices being a captive market but were pleasantly surprised.

One caveat though, If carrying firearms, you're better off not declaring them. Just make sure they're secure in your vehicle and out of sight. The less said the better. Why? When I enquired from Qld and declared we were carrying firearms when I paid for our passage (for a sport shooting event) before we even got to Melbourne, we were assured our firearms would be "securely stored and returned to us at disembarkation". No details were given, but i naively assumed they would be secured in the office on board the ship in a secure storage. Nuh!  Secure storage actually means locked in a cage with numerous gas bottles, paints, and other "dangerous items" in the open tray of a ute parked on the bow deck of the ship totally exposed to the ocean and spray!!!  Now, each of our competition shotguns are worth more than the ute they were "secured" in.  If we'd known this was how they would be "secured", well... 'nuff said.
Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: Red1 on August 08, 2010, 08:36:05 PM
Hi Vagabond,
We went over fro Xmas 09 and had a ball. Our car is a 200 series and we have a 09 Swan. Some things to keep in mind_
- there is no parking at the ship area in Melbourne. We had to park about a KM away along the waterfront. This isnt all bad though as it was a great place to take the kids for a walk
- the line takes about an hr to get through onto the ship
-there is HEAPS of room in the car decks., we were able to open the doors easily to get out of the car.
- the trip over was fairly flat, but the way home was rough, the outside decks were closed. The car didnt move at all and easnt tied down.
- It was quite expensive to take the car & camper over, $2400 return, but worth it to have all of our own gear in our own camper. Our kids were able to be in familiar surroundings fromthe day we arrived.(they were 6 & 7)
-everyone we spoke to said it was wise to take the night trip & get a cabin. There is not a lot to do on the ship, so you might as well be asleep and not wastingvaluable holiday time.
- all in all it is a great experience and only adds to the complete Tassie experience.

Enjoy
Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: vagabond on August 16, 2010, 11:21:11 PM
Thank all that have replied
Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: 2 Brutal on August 17, 2010, 08:29:06 PM
I think there is peak and offpeak times as well which can either add several hundred $$$ to the trip or make it a few $$ cheaper.
Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: GU Rich on November 16, 2010, 09:12:09 PM
Can anyone tell me what the Vehicle height restrictions are for the boat.

Cheers
Rich
Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: D4D on November 16, 2010, 09:15:13 PM
Can anyone tell me what the Vehicle height restrictions are for the boat.

Judging by the trucks I've seen some off it I think your height will be fine. Now your length with the camper, I hope you have deep pockets.
Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: LC on November 16, 2010, 09:31:34 PM
realise this is probably totally irrelevant but here are a couple of pics from from our trip on SPOT 1 last year - Linda, Jaiden and myself were the only 3 passengers onboard!

(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss231/lcandlp/SPOT2009-07-18003.jpg)

(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss231/lcandlp/SPOT2009-07-18006.jpg)
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss231/lcandlp/SPOT2009-07-20049.jpg)
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss231/lcandlp/SPOT2009-07-20075.jpg)
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss231/lcandlp/SPOT2009-07-26_006.jpg)
Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: CRW on November 16, 2010, 09:39:15 PM
Be like a bus mans holiday for you. Did you resist going to the bridge  ;D
Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: GU Rich on November 16, 2010, 09:44:23 PM
Judging by the trucks I've seen some off it I think your height will be fine. Now your length with the camper, I hope you have deep pockets.
Without anything on the roof I'm close to 2200mm.
Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: CRW on November 16, 2010, 09:48:12 PM
I have a mate who regulary takes a pan tech truck over to Tas so they cater for all sizes
Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: D4D on November 17, 2010, 06:16:24 AM
See this pic from earlier in the thread, you'll be fine it will just cost a fortune as you'll be over height and width, 2.1 is the standad height i think.

(http://www.myswag.org/gallery/d/17465-1/DSCN0110.JPG)
Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: WogsRus on November 17, 2010, 06:53:25 AM
I just did the ferry picking up my camper, i really don't mind it, i tend to be the only one going over and buy a recliner seat. I then sleep on the upper deck in my swag.

It cost me about $400 all up as it was off peak season each way for one person, camper was about $230 or so each way.

unless you have a VERY big snorkel, your going to have to get on the boat. LOL.
Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: LC on November 17, 2010, 07:47:07 AM
Be like a bus mans holiday for you. Did you resist going to the bridge  ;D

Hey Carl - I had to go to the bridge, we got on in Devonport, came up the coast to Sydney, then I put the ship in the dry dock for them!
Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: CRW on November 17, 2010, 07:51:59 AM
Hey Carl - I had to go to the bridge, we got on in Devonport, came up the coast to Sydney, then I put the ship in the dry dock for them!

You just cant keep some people away ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: Wandering Tassie on November 17, 2010, 08:04:57 AM
Hi, living in Tassie we do the trip across on the boat every year.
You will not have any issues and gas bottles are ok.
In Melbourne you drive on the front of the ship and in Devonport you drive off the back. Or should that be the pointy end and blunt end.
This means no turning around or reversing to worry about.
It usually takes about an hour in the que to get loaded but all runs smoothly.
Hope this helps.

Trevor
 
Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: austastar on November 17, 2010, 02:03:24 PM
Hi,
  I flew to Melb in May to pick up a new Defender and came back on the SpoT. Being early in the queue, I got stuck down stairs in the very pointy end with some other small cars. Needed about a 15 point turn to get back out as down there you come back up to the main deck the same way as you go down.
Travelling by myself for the first time on this series of ferries, I wasn't too sure of the layout for the lounge chairs and was going to take a lilo, but at the last minute didn't. - Error!
There are safety signs every where saying you can't sleep on the floor, but a lot of people do, the chairs, though comfy to sit in, are not easy to sleep in, and there are always noisy people in the lounge area.
If you are by yourself, swag it on the 5th deck I think it is, lots of empty space and benches up there.
Don't take too much stuff for the trip upstairs with you if you don't have a cabin, there is no where to store it except on your seat, which is behind locked doors, every body with a seat though has a pass card.
Seated passengers don't have access to showers either, or at least I was unable to find them. The showers were open to all on the other boats, SpoT has en-suites in the cabins.
Check the prices of various options, cheaper in winter, bit more in spring/autumn, peak season is summer.
Check prices of cabin for 4 if you have family with you, it may be cheaper to fly them down to Devonport or Launceston and travel solo as a lounge chair seat.
You will have a ball down here, distances are short, plenty of variety in the landscapes.
cheers
Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: blaze on November 17, 2010, 02:26:47 PM
Hi,
  I flew to Melb in May to pick up a new Defender and came back on the SpoT. Being early in the queue, I got stuck down stairs in the very pointy end with some other small cars. Needed about a 15 point turn to get back out as down there you come back up to the main deck the same way as you go down.
Travelling by myself for the first time on this series of ferries, I wasn't too sure of the layout for the lounge chairs and was going to take a lilo, but at the last minute didn't. - Error!
There are safety signs every where saying you can't sleep on the floor, but a lot of people do, the chairs, though comfy to sit in, are not easy to sleep in, and there are always noisy people in the lounge area.
If you are by yourself, swag it on the 5th deck I think it is, lots of empty space and benches up there.
Don't take too much stuff for the trip upstairs with you if you don't have a cabin, there is no where to store it except on your seat, which is behind locked doors, every body with a seat though has a pass card.
Seated passengers don't have access to showers either, or at least I was unable to find them. The showers were open to all on the other boats, SpoT has en-suites in the cabins.
Check the prices of various options, cheaper in winter, bit more in spring/autumn, peak season is summer.
Check prices of cabin for 4 if you have family with you, it may be cheaper to fly them down to Devonport or Launceston and travel solo as a lounge chair seat.
You will have a ball down here, distances are short, plenty of variety in the landscapes.
cheers
I also sleep on the benches, Just take a sleeping back and a small bag with a towel etc. There is a shower up on the 9th deck that is common access, thats what I use.
Normal do 3 or 4 trips a year, 90% would be smooth sailings
cheers
blaze
Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: GU Rich on November 17, 2010, 02:55:50 PM
Great info guys.
Cheers
Rich
Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: austastar on November 17, 2010, 08:54:26 PM
There is a shower up on the 9th deck that is common access, thats what I use.

Hi,
   thanks for the info. Is the shower in the Gents down the back on the Left side? I'm just looking at the Ship Directory that came with my ticket.

cheers
Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: blaze on November 17, 2010, 09:50:34 PM
Hi,
   thanks for the info. Is the shower in the Gents down the back on the Left side? I'm just looking at the Ship Directory that came with my ticket.

cheers
Been a while, starboard side about mid ship, 9th deck (the highest public access deck, I think its 9th). There is a bar right up the front (seems to only be open some trips) slight to port side of centre. Then there is quite a large seating area with with lounge and bench type seating that goes right across the vessel. Then the building/ rooms ect start and this is where they are, about 20 foot into them. Havnt been for a trip this year but booked for 27th january for a 10 -12 months trip on the island to the north.
 When the wife travels on the boat with me we then use a cabin but I sleep better on the benchs on the 8th deck, I settle down in my sleeping bag 10 and security leave you alone then, so if looking for me its on the long benchs just near the toilets on the port side
cheers
blaze
Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: Cloud Basher on November 21, 2010, 11:13:11 AM
Just came over to tassie in the hunky on Thursday night/Friday morning to pick the family up and take them back to Sydney. Going back on Sunday night. I got the recliner chair ticket and what a waste. About as comfy as an economy seat on Qantas although it does recline a bit more. About 2am after not being able to sleep I went down to deck 7 and slept on a couch. Won't be wasting my money on one of them again. It was also the roughest crossing I have been on with 4m seas. A few people were sick. As for height of vehicle they ask if you are less than or more than 2.1m in height. We are taking my truck and a trailer back along with wires car and motorbike trailer. And we are getting a cabin. Might even get some sleep this time.

Cheers
CB
Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: Yoda42 on November 21, 2010, 07:28:42 PM
Pretty much everything has been said, although I can add something about taking your dogs over.

They have cages on the decks to put them in, but they are not lockable, and you are not permitted onto the car decks once on board. SoT claim they check on the dogs during the cruise, but there is no allocated cage system just a first in first served, so if something went wrong there is no way for them to contact you!

And as it's madness for departure, you have to hope like hell nobody is going to do the unthinkable and steal your dog, or think it a bit of a laugh to get them out to have them run amok. >:(

We didn't know this on the way over, and as a precaution on the way back we added our contact details to the boys' collars that included our room number, seeing that a mobile phone is going to be useless once out of the harbours. We weren't at all impressed at how SoT handle this, but I suspect it's done like this because they don't actually WANT you to bring your dogs over, without prohibiting it ???
Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: LC on November 21, 2010, 08:01:48 PM

seeing that a mobile phone is going to be useless once out of the harbours.

Telstra 3g network covers all of bass straight i.e. your phone will work for the entire crossing (or at least mine does!)
Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: austastar on November 22, 2010, 01:18:34 PM
Telstra 3g network covers all of bass straight i.e. your phone will work for the entire crossing (or at least mine does!)


8<------------------------
"Passengers can now use ATMs, shop with EFTPOS and get uninterrupted mobile
coverage and fast wireless broadband during the Melbourne to Devonport
journey,"

8<------------------------

Link (http://www.news.com.au/mercury/story...2-3462,00.html)

I'm not sure how far inside the ship this applies to. On the vehicle deck in Melbourne (2004) we had no CDMA coverage till the doors were opened.

cheers
Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: WogsRus on November 22, 2010, 02:05:54 PM
you can call on the boat until you leave the headlands on any phone, after that nothing. The ATM only works whilst in dock.
Title: Re: Anyone taken their camper aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ?
Post by: Cloud Basher on November 22, 2010, 02:50:52 PM
On Thursday night on the way over my iPhone worked the entire way on the boat over. However I was not in the middle of the ship. I was either in the chair part at the stern or the lounge on level 7. Couldn't believe it!

Cheers
CB