What's it REALLY like? - Spirit of Tasmania
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- Опубликовано: 30 сен 2024
- Hey friends, a Lap of Australia would not be complete without driving around Tasmania. This small state has so much to offer, and we've been looking forward to crossing Bass Strait and checking out Tassie for a long time. This is set to be a highlight of our three year Van Life Australia journey.
But first we have to get there. It's either fly, or take the ferry. Of course, living in a van means driving it onto the Spirit of Tasmania ferry for the 10 hour crossing over Bass Strait.
Due to availability, we had to take a day crossing. Will we get seasick? Will we get bored? What will we do for 10 hours?
Come on board with us as we show you around the ferry and answer some of the most common questions about the Spirit of Tasmania.
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What's it really like to cross Bass Strait on the Spirit of Tasmania? In this episode we answer the most common questions about the DAY sailing from Geelong to Devonport, with a campervan.
Having done the crossing several times on different ships, the Spirits are much faster as it used to be 16 hrs. The night crossing is better as you arrive in the morning and have the day ahead of you but do not buy a recliner. I think the food is too expensive for a captive audience but the facilities are good.
I have been on a few times and enjoyed it , I think if you gave these guys a gold bullion they would complain it was too heavy 😮
100%
😂
It’s a ferry not a cruise liner.
but there are better ferries all over Europe for example.
exactly and the sooner people realise it the better.
@@rivergladesgardenrailroad8834 That's terrific. Tasmania is not Europe. We only have a population of 500,000 people and our state is the poorest in Australia. What do you expect?
@@stuartpattison7597 wtf ? a ferry is a ship that transports people and cargo etc from point a to point be. if you don't like it coz its a little bumpy, expensive, maybe not fancy, then swim
@@rivergladesgardenrailroad8834 Then go to Europe FFS.
Too much whingeing. It's a 10-12 hour crossing with nothing much to do, plenty of previous videos on the subject all of which advise to travel at night (NEVER the chairs), take your food with you, and expect extremely rough conditions (rejoice if you get a smooth crossing). Day crossing wastes 2 whole days which are much better spent actually seeing Tassie. I have crossed dozens of times first on the Taroona and every ship since, have done day, night, and chair crossings. 15 years or so ago the proper restaurant was very nice indeed but they canned that. I have been on 2 crossings where the staff were seasick (Princess and Spirit) and other crossings that were glass smooth. Hopefully on the new boat there will again be decent food in a proper restaurant.
I had seen your comment before the video. I don't think that they winged too much. Some people handle being contained and on the water differently. Otherwise, thanks for the info.
Completely agree. They seem so entitled 🎉 they complained about everything
@@tropicsalt. The opening words were" That was awful. I did not enjoy that voyage" If that's not a whinge, what is?
@einfelder8262 yep. Definitely a whinge. I didn't say they didn't whinge.
@@tropicsalt. Did you see this comment she made "I still have memories of my year 9 school trip on whatever ferry they had on 1981. And those memories are not good!"
I've been on the Spirit and had absolutely no problem.
It really depends on luck and what your used to, if you like the rolly polly ness of the ocean then youl love it, but if youve never been on a bit of a rough ride Your gunna hate it.
Took a few beers got a cabin a sleeping pill..had a great sleep,,got a nice hot shower walked to car and had a smooth exit off the ship,,,,loved it.
lucky you. So you didn't get woken up by 'in the navy' at 4.45am....what a nightmare.
Reviews from people who are drunk and on drugs don’t count
@@rivergladesgardenrailroad8834 boo hoo
So you did not find it enjoyable. Why am I not surprised. Some people are just like that. I have travelled across many times. Never been 'bored'. Always enjoyed the trip. Even in terrible sea conditions. Again, some people are like that.
Yep, If you are bored, you are boring🤣
My partner and I did the trip in November 2019. Day trip out of Melbourne was a fantastic experience, Live music in the bars during the day and we never got bored. We did the return trip at night and upgraded to a cabin. It was the total opposite of the first trip. They locked the doors to the outside deck just after we left Devonport because the waves were so bad, the water was hitting the windows. The bars closed too early and the mattresses were too thin to make a comfortable sleep possible with the constant slamming up and down in the rough sea. Neither she or I suffered any sort of seasickness though. I would still do it again :)
Its worth it for the awesomeness of Tassie!
try the 4hr between picton and wellington nz in july/august its 25 miles of 5 metre or more swells shit food shit prices ie a stubbies ten bucks every bodies pucking up the nasty pies chico rolls plutos and yellow food at 100% mark up and hey its about 60 bucks an adult 300 for your car and if yout towing a van over 5 metre double it !!!!! WTF ... THE TROLLS own the pass and bleed you big time by the bye ive done the cookie x20 over 40 years got robbed every fn time so to be honest ....... the tassie ferry looks PREMO COMPARED to the Cook Srait crossing 1/4 the distance bigger more modern boat 10hrs cheaper ..... pps im a kiwi !!! makes puke and its home soil .. go user pays via coperate run ... public owned assets !!! how clever is NATAS & REFICULE ?
Your return trip could possibly have been the one that we travelled on 18/1/24 and it was frightening, never again for me.
I just did it…. Loved it. The Spirit rocked me to sleep on both night crossings. Two essentials IMO. Get a cabin… do not sit in a seat for the crossing (if it is a rough crossing, you will have people moaning and puking 🤮 near you). On a journey many years earlier we were doing a day crossing…. No cabin. On arrival in the cafe area I ran into a steward who used to work with me on an oil rig (I was the radio officer and used to give him the odd freeby phone call). He said “hi George…. Let me see what I can do for you?”…. I expected a muffin or maybe some coffee?? VIP cabin looking out the front of the ship!!!! 🎉🎉❤
Doing good deeds and favors to others usually receive better deeds and favors in return...
Oh gawd
If you are considering catching the spirit, DO NOT base any decision on this video.
It’s fantastic.
It looks like shit though
@@tc88888888
So you’ve been on it then champ?
I’ve actually been on it over a dozen times, not just pulled my pud while watching videos about it
@@tc88888888 I have seen worst ferries. The Spirit of Tasmania ferries were given a very significant mid-life refit a decade ago. I prefer riding a ferry overnight in a cabin, as every night on a ferry is one less night at a more expensive hotel. At least the ferry transports you across the sea, hotels don't...
Im 11 minutes in and it's not bad yet
Moan groan bloody hell talk about whinging. The reading room use to be an up market restaurant way back when before the refit and turning the big red boat into a slop house. Wait till you're in 5 plus metre seas then tell us how you went. P.S re do this crossing regularly as we are residents of the island.
You must have got lucky with your trip over. I did it from Sydney many years ago. And the crew told me that they had had some shocking crossing between going down and coming back. 6 meter swells would have not been comfortable in bass Strait.
It's sad you two don't have sea legs at all, nor common sense. I hope you didn't want sympathy for our quarantine. I worked on the SPOT 1 & 2 for many years, and now as a traveller, we always have a cabin with a window. Any less is being too cheap. Day sailing sux. And only one cinema dear.
We 100% support the quarantine! We’ve crossed so many state borders where we’ve had to eat, coin or bin our fresh food!
Such a negative review. Your camper van is subsidized by the Australian Government built in to the cost of travel. The food scraps from your plate are not thrown overboard (corn Cob etc). The water to clean your plate and toilet refuse is strictly treated to international MARPOL regulations (MARine POLution). The price of food just doesn't stop after it's cooked. The gas bottle comes under IMDG code.. (International Maritime Dangerous Goods). Go and open a bottle of gas in the designated smoking area! There has been faster vessels doing the crossing but increased speed requires more fuel so higher costs. SPOT 1 and SPOT 2 (Spirit Of Tasmania 1 & 2) burn around 500,000,000 litres (each) of fuel a week. Kudos to the crew who navigate and keep the machinery working and clean up the sea sick mess. By the way these people do the same job of a night when on a night crossing and passengers sleep. Why cant you do a positive review instead of this rubbish.
What a chad🗿
We travelled both day and night and had cabins on each, my wife was definitely pleased we paid for them. We did do our homework before travelling and was aware of the food restrictions to Tassie so no surprises there.
Will have a cabin in the way back, thankfully!!
I have seen peoples bring their own food to eat on the ferry as well as some even had KFC. but make sure you don't take any food of at the end of the trip.
Cross at night in a sleeper cabin, it's lovely to to get rocked to sleep at night, I have fond memories of my night crossing & the massive cooked breakfast in the restaurant in the morning, you guys did it all wrong.
Sadly with a vehicle as big as ours it’s very difficult to book a night crossing, they book out months and months in advance!
@@nigelandsueadventures You've just got a Sprinter Van, it's not that big, it's not a coach, it's not hard to plan ahead, the ferry isn't a bus service where you just turn up & wait.
Once out of Melbourne and into the Bass Straight, I was sea sick all the way there and all the way back. My trip was spent throwing up.
Eventually if you remain at sea you get your sea legs... Sorry you don't have sea legs...
Ive been on the ferry a couple different occasions and loved every minute of it.
Are you sure your name is not Karen
Great vlog! I travel on the Spirit ferry 4-6 times per year. One night crossing was through a storm force 11. That was a bit choppy. 😎
Oh wow! That would have been awful! I’m hoping it’s not worse on the way back. Thanks for watching!
I thought this was great to watch and very informative. Thanks for sharing it.
Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for watching and a friendly comment! ☺️
Been over to Tasmania on the Spirit for both work and leisure, I can honestly say by far the best is to travel on a night crossing and even in an internal cabin if you have to. Not at as good for me now that it leaves via Geelong but from a work standpoint it’s a lot easier.
Hopefully there will be availability for night sailing and cabin when I head back!!
Congratulations guys on making it to the main island guys ! Recommend Bay of Fires east coast, Bruny Island national parks camping (the island off an island off an 7island ) and CYGNET! Free camp at Gordon or stealth camp at Randall's Bay. Enjoy and keep the vids coming. Also Sue I came across from Tassie in my van on my own you will ace it! 😊
Ok will add cygnet to the list! We have most of the others. Loving it so far. Plenty of Tassie videos to come!
Old mate got no hair for a reason 😂 #1st world problems
ALDI, Coles, Woolworths, IGA... all sell the same fruit & veg, shipped to every state, including Tasmania, after importing it from overseas and/or storing it from other states. So the same oranges in Aldi VIC are the same oranges in Aldi TAS. You can also eat that food, cross the sea, walk into a TAS farm and empty your bowels in the local orchard from which fruit flies spring. (And some backpackers do!) So WHY do we have to throw out THE SAME food the supermarkets on BOTH sides of a line carry over? It's ridiculous!
Makes you wonder what they spray the produce with when it comes into the state! And I often wonder about those trucks carrying produce crossing state borders. Interesting
Be sure of you're facts, before you spruke!!!!!!!!
There are NO Aldi stores in Tasmania. That sets the tone for the credibility of all your other rants. Zero.
We enjoyed our trip on the Spirit.
Well Bass Strait is generally considered some of the roughest waters to sail through. Spirit is a ferry so it won’t have the stabilisers like a cruise ship does. When I went there was a theatre which was great and it was a day sailing. I also loved the Cat which is no longer. It was much quicker but I love being on the water so I don’t mind it longer.
Sure your not poms,?
Two trips across to Tas including 1 return. Enjoyed them both except for a run, jump and dodge in order to avoid the projectile vomiting tourists from north of the equator in the ladies restroom. Bit of a heavy swell at 5am in the morning inducing a semi-controlled stagger with half-pike and tuck as i waltzed two cups of hot chocolate back to our seats. Very nice.
Turn back time 18000 years and drive over directly. Without any water to bother.
That was nothing, we went across in our Ford Transit camper in 1978 on the old Empress of Australia, that thing had a pretty flat bottom, it was so rough that one of the chains securing the van broke and the fridge broke off it's mount, the whole ship smelt like vomit, fortunately we had a cabin and you couldn't smell it in there, I slept like a baby.
Make sure you go and see "The Wall" at Derwent Bridge between the west coast and Hobart. It is a rather large wooden wall being carved by hand by one man. Amazing.
There are so many amazing places in Tasmania! Thanks for the recommendation.
I hope they don’t because they will just winge about the roads or whatever they can winge about
If you value your peace, it’s a terrible trip.
Pay for a cabin - day or night crossing - as somewhere to be away from all the kids, bogans and farting old men.
And despite being ‘subsidised’ by the Tas government, it’s still way way too expensive. People I know have flown down to Hobart and rented a car for a week and it’s still cheaper than the Spirit.
You can take all the prohibited food items on board - you just get marked for inspection at the other end, which usually ends up being just a wave through anyway.
Yeah I think for 6 weeks it works out cheaper to bring our van though. Will definitely have a cabin in the way back! The reading room wasn’t too bad. We wanted to experience the day sailing though!
Great, don’t give a shit about Tasmanian Biosecurity.
@@daggydiva4589 What’s your point.
Agree with the whinging. Could you find something good to say? Complaining about the lining up when it is your turn to get your car is a bit too much.
Sue and nigel are not complaining but just giving an opinion of their trip. Well done telling the truth. Happy stay❤❤❤
They are cheapskate wingers, hands down. She especially.
Cheers Sheryl!! We are loving Tassie, well worth the trip over.
@@boriskarloff6356I thought so too! She’s absolutely both of those!
To be fair, that's not really what $30 gets you food wise on the Spirit...you should have been a bit more open as to what was available, not just what you chose, and the fact that you can put as much or as little as you like on your plate....There is a reasonable selection of food, and a good quantity if you choose.
I went on a night trip mid trip the ship started to move so much my 14 year old body fell of the top bunk
I emigrated to Oz with my parents in 1969 on a ship called the Patris.As opposed to a 10 hour journey , we had a 6 week journey my dad says. I was 2 years old .All I can remember is peeing off the deck, the mattresses in the cabin, and the people waving at us as the ship docked at Sydney Harbour.
What a cool story! Thanks for sharing. I emigrated to australia in 1969 too, thankfully we came by plane, but even that took several days!
Why were you peeing off the mattresses at the people waving to you?
@@_Aardvark_ I may well have peed in my pants for all I know,but obviously peeing off the deck, braced hard against the railings in a stiff ocean breeze, was a wonderful experience ,which left a lasting memory on my 2 year old brain.The mattresses were those horrible 3 inch thick vinyl Institution issue.But seeing as we left a poor,rural village in Greece ,where we slept on the floor,they were an upgrade.
@TomLaios
Hey mate, great story😊
Hope your doing well
A really interesting vid. I had no idea at all what the vessel was like, much bigger than I thought and obviously busy. Thanks again guys and keep safe.
Cheers David! Yes it’s very big, and it seems it’s always really busy. Hard to get a booking with a campervan
We did a night crossing out of Melbourne, was great to have a cabin but I spent the whole night over the bowl being sick.. My husband and daughter enjoyed the cinema and the rest of the boat but I just couldnt leave the cabin . Tasmania was lovely though so worth it in the end and we had a few days in the Grampians on our way back to our home in Adelaide.
Bit whingy guys!
Gosh so much whinging! Book a cabin so you can sleep it’s the best. And you didn’t even pile your plate very high just being a drama queen saying the food is expensive. It is delicious and very reasonably priced.
@Travelsandvanlife Didn't you ever learn that if you don't have anything nice to say then don't say anything at all? Personally I thought it was a great & very informative video & super loved it. 😊😊
You should've been on the Princess Of Tasmania during early 70's!
Ship stabilizers were still on the drawing board and breakfast was free provided you were up to it.
Only drivers were allowed down to vehicle decks because, of the carnage.I sneaked down with my father once and saw a prime mover trailer embedded into a Chrysler Valiant-its engine sitting in the back seat.
Yep, eat a bag of cement and toughen up, princess.(no pun intended)
Yeah I went on that one in 1981 on a school trip. I still shudder when I remember it
Yep. I went on the Princess twice. Seasick, both times, the whole trips. Blocked up the plumbing as I was sick in the shower
@Johnathonsmum you could afford a cabin in the 70's?
Overnighter was great bass straight though we loved it
Nice one. Totally enjoyed it.
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching!
We lived in Tassie for 20 years, loved every minute, travelled the Spirit twice, first time in seats which was a nightmare but second in a cabin and enjoyed that. We had to leave to come back to family in Qld for health reasons but want to go back one day for holiday. So much to see and do.
Well, if you elect to travel in the daytime, what do you expect?
With a vehicle the size of ours, the night crossings book out months in advance. We had to change our booking and the day sailing was all that was available.
Bass Strait is the roughest stretch of water in the world so you guys got off lightly this time. Travelled on the spirits four times last year with no complaints. Book an inside cabin if travelling overnight, do not go for the chairs. The food on board is good just put as much as you can on your plate as your u can't go back for seconds. Hope you have a wonderful holiday in our beautiful state and don't rush just take your time as we are 20 years behind you mainlanders.
We are absolutely loving it!
Bay of Biscayne may argue that point…
Irish Sea may want a chat with you…😂
It’s one of the roughest stretches in the world, not THE roughest. Ex seaman.
North Sea might argue.
We travelled over from Tassie early this year. Can't wait to try the new Spirit's that are coming real soon. Apparently they have doggy friendly rooms onboard, so your pooch can come in the cabin with you. Soo cool. Our crossing was a night time crossing, about 11pm due to depart, however as the weather had been bad the day before it was running late and we boarded at about 1am I think. Managed to down a few beers before we went out into the open waters. We had recliners, which are free on night time crossings. You can book the recliner chair you want, we had just two on the outside edge. I enjoyed it thoroughly, hubby not so much, he gets sea sick and slept with a sleeping pill and a few sea sick pills.
We went to tassie in early November, and the crossing was very rough. The outside deck had to be closed as it was not safe to be there.
Oh I feel for you! Hope it’s not like that on our return trip!!
I crossed years ago with my family on the Empress and the Bosun came on the PA to inform us that we were in for a rough night and that the captain had elected to fly down and meet us there. It was rough.
I should point out when you say it's cheaper to fly, if you're staying a while and have a van as you do, you should take the accommodation and vehicle rental cost savings into account. If you just want transport across Bass Strait, then flying is cheaper. Also, you mention that 'that's what $30 gets you', which is a bit mi 14:19 sleading as you didn't fill your plate and there is more than you had. The time it takes us the time it takes, it is a lot faster than 40 years ago when it was scheduled for around 14 hours!
That’s very true. People suggested we fly and we said were coming for 6 weeks, so much cheaper to bring our home and not have to pay for vehicle hire or accommodation!!
And yeah, I filled my plate with the amount I eat. Don’t want to chuck food away!!
Last time I crossed was in 1981, I still have nightmares about that crossing too!!!
I've done it 4 times now, once over and back with my 4x4 and caravan and over and back once as a walk on passenger. I enjoyed all of them immensely. There's soo many things to do on the ship.. Just don't sit there and procrastinate,, go and do things and enjoy the experience,, and most of all,, Don't Whinge about it,, talk about the positives. Not everyone will have a great trip for all sorts of reasons,,, But I'm sure you will find most people enjoy it and make the most of the 10 hour trip..
Thank you for the video & info! We wanted to do this cruise for a long time but after going to Antartica last year (via the Drake Passage), we said no more ‘travelling on water’. However your video inspired us to put this journey back on the list. Big cheers from Melbourne 🍷!
Tasmania is WELL WORTH the 10 hours of travel on water. We’ve been here 2 weeks now and we’re loving it!
@@nigelandsueadventures We have been to Hobart, it’s amazing! Will look at the sea journey there in the future ☺️…
Too expensive ,and never take the night crossing as impossible to sleep in the dry air conditioned rooms and when it's rough you don't sleep at all and arrive on the other side in dangerous dozy condition.
The state government insists on running the ferry to make a profit so the high fare is essentially a tax on visitors to Tasmania arriving by low carbon sea route while there is no tax on polluting flights !
The bass Strait it's supposed to be a federal highway so it should be run by the federal government not the state government, and the cost should be same as it would take in fuel to drive your vehicle 400klms not 4_8 times that cost.
It should be free to use and only sail in the day.
No other state charges you to enter or leave.
When I drove acrcros the nsw victorian border I wasn't charged $600, It simply cost the fuel I used to drive that distance.
If the state government insists on taxing visitors who arrive by sea. Maybe they should also apply the same tax to air passengers visiting or leaving Tasmania to make it fair.
The cost of passengers and freight going to and from Tasmania is a major downer on Tasmania's economy......
The last night crossing we made from Devonport to Melbourne was horrendous we could hardly stand up people staggering about it bumped all night until we turned closer towards the Port Phillip Bay.
Yeah, thanks for this, I have to do the trip soon by motorbike, why motorbike, $200 that's why, couldn't afford it by car. Will do the day crossing and thanks to you will stay in the reading room. I do get sea sick, so will have pills for that. We were going to come with campertrailer and bring our dog's but have heard some pretty bad things about how the dogs are treated so decided to spend that extra expense in putting them into a pet motel for the 3 week trip. Thanks for the info.
The reason why Bass Strait is notoriously rough (for some watercraft) is that it was once a landbridge and the ocean’s first landfall to the west is South America. So it’s got a huge amount of space to build up and get wild. Smart travellers will prepare with seasickness preventatives or at least have them on hand. Personally I’ve never found it to be that bad and I’ve crossed many times on the ferry, the devilcat, and on cruise ships. Last set of crossings was on the 15/1/24 and night of the 19/1/24 - both were just fine.
I found your reporting to be totally opinionated. And thanks for telling Australia that it was crap. And the bad reporting just displays your inexperience in travel.
I did this trip in the 70's and the boat had to wait behind the prom before it could come into the bay because of the swell coming through the heads, and it wasn't much better the next day when we left to go to Tassie. We were on the observation deck at the bow and I remember jumping up when it went down the swell and pushing off the ceiling, great fun when you are a teenager but i don't think I could stomach it now.
I wish they had sleeping pods ,(byo bedding). I only need a flat spot to sleep, or pitch a hammock.
Seriously…if you’re going to complain about Tasmania protecting itself from bugs and infestation don’t come.
It’s not that hard and the trip on the boat is easy.
Be thankful u had a smooth crossing last time i was on there it was such a rough crossisng we were locked inside no access to outdoor at all. The car deck was a disaster zone when we went down in the morning cos chains had snapped cars and trucks had shifted and smashed into one another, motor bikes fallen over . It was certainly an experience
The worse ferry crossing we have ever encountered. [Night Easter 2005 Some old S/Hand Baltic piece of crap]. Day trip back was better...which wouldn't be difficult.
Have a whinge. What were you expecting? it’s a big ferry, with chairs or cabins, plenty of food and bars etc.
We have travelled over at night several times and cabin was the way to go by far. Slept pretty much all night and at least your own showers
Can’t wait to do night sailing on the way back! Day was all that was available for the entire month we wanted to come over
I’ve done the trip at least a dozen times and a couple of trips were wild as hell yet most of the trips are easy
Anything over a metre swell you will feel it when it’s say a 4 metre swell you will know what up and down means even in bed lol
I’ve done both day and night multiple times and must say I loved it! Would travel again in a heartbeat! I agree with you about the food though…rather expensive!
It's a 12 hour ferry across the Bass Straight. As many Sydney to Hobart yatch racers can tell you, IT CAN BE ROUGH.
Done dozens of crossings, in all the ferries going back to the Abel Tasman in the 80's. Also, one crossing on the highspeed Seacat when it was operating. It's the luck of the draw WRT to sea conditions, been very lucky and have never had a bad crossing yet, always smooth, yet I know people who went on it once, copped the "Vomit Comet Ride through Hell" and will never set foot on it again. I always book an overnighter with a cabin, did the sleeper chair once and never again! Spend the money and get a cabin if you can.
My first was on the Taroona in 1956 - don't remember it but apparently that round bottom tub was a nightmare in any sea conditions :) I went on the Cat a few times, the Tassie terminal at George Town was only half a kilometer from Mum's house, and the crossing was awesome. I too did the chair once, and it's one of the worst experiences known to man. Haven't been on the crossing for a while since Mum passed away so no real need to visit Tassie any more. But would get a cabin and go overnight, any other way is masochism of the highest order, haha.
I still have memories of my year 9 school trip on whatever ferry they had on 1981. And those memories are not good!
@@nigelandsueadventures The Parable of the two villages comes to mind. The problem is not the ship.
That would have been the last days of the old yellow hulled Emperess of Tasmania, she was replaced by the Abel Tasman around 85 if my memories serve me correct. The old yellow boats were renowned for being moving vomitorium's.
@@CliffordTaylor-l5w My crossing from Melbourne on the Princess 30/6/1971 is still engraved in my mind. We had driven from Perth across the Nullabor so were keen to get some Tassie beer as soon as we cleared the heads by the requisite distance (was it 20 miles?) Only 3 people were not green by the time the barman opened up, and after we'd had enough beers it was off to the shower. That was memorable for almost no water and the ship rolling a good 15 degrees both ways..... The joys of what can be tolerated when young :)
I did the trip a couple of months ago and travelled the night with a cabin... the only way to travel private room and comfortable.. worth the extra couple of dollars
Sadly we had to change our outbound sailing and there were only Day sailings available for a vehicle if our size. Travelling at peak time we didn’t have any choice. I reckon the night sailing will be much better! How long did you spend in Tassie?
@@nigelandsueadventures 3 weeks in Tassie, and loved it... on the plan to go back again someday.
Next time put swim fins on your bus and swim. Stop whinging!
Take a couple of pillows for the chairs and youll be more comfortable for the trip !
Stop moaning - Bass Straight (l have heard can be calm) is rough. Having sailed on it for yrs l have only known it rough. The sea is the sea. If you cannot love watching it then shut up.
No its not easy to sleep even in the cabin, the clanking noises were dreadful.
Loved the trip it’s a ferry eat relax and go to sleep
The other option is to swim.!! Take your pick.!!!!
I’ve done this trip many times, both calm and rough, both in a cabin and in the chairs. Wouldn’t recommend the seating, they’re ok, but not fabulously comfortable (ie not like your home recliners, well flattened by many arses). You will always know if they are expecting a rough trip, there will be piles of spew 🤮 bags about. Night crossings are better as you can use the time sleeping. The food is good and plentiful, the plate in the clip isn’t a fair representation, as you fill your own plate, except for the roast meat which is carved for you. I’ve seen plates that wouldn’t be able to fit another speck. I love the ‘Spirit’, like most things, the trip will be what you make it.
Day crossings are far superior and cheaper...
We like to cross during the day but we always book a cabin watch a movie and have a nap but I do tend to get seasick even on a smooth sailing 😢
I lived in Tassie for 12 years and made the crossing numerous times. I personally preferred sitting in seats during the day. I would usually sit on one of the upper decks. Just find a spot you like and set yourself up. Bring a good book, an iPad with a few movies, some snacks to munch on and your all good. Some days are smooth, other days are rough, it's the luck of the draw. Take Quells if you get seasick. While flying might be a cheaper way to get to Tasmania, you have to factor in car hire if you're planning on touring the island.
that's it. We spent 6 weeks there, so the savings on car hire and accommodation definitely outweighed what we paid on the ferry.
It's so busy! I think we'll definitely try to book a cabin for a night sail so we can sleep, or at least get some peace and quiet...! I read recently that the new ships they are getting will have a section where the pets can be indoors, rather than out in the elements. That has got be so much better. Not sure if they will have pet friendly cabins or just a kennel area that's indoors...
I think the night sail would definitely be better!
If i remember correctly owners will be able to visit their pets during the voyage and get them out of the cage for a bit. Big improvement for the animals.
Dogs are left to drown in their cages in the event of water getting onto the car deck. I always smuggled my Westie up into my cabin.
With a round trip working out about $700 for two people there and back from where it leaves in Victoria, and that you still have to get there, with say a fuelcost a $2 a liter or more , from Sydney at 1,600 lkms ( plus side trips etc.) at 9 kms per liter thats, say an extra $360 PLUS for that, so thats over $1,000 bucks for 2 people to get there from Sydney with a vehicle. You can actually get a return flight from Sydney for about $160 bucks, so that's $320 and you can rent a camper for 7 days for two starting from about $400 so that you get 7 days accom plus fares to and from Syd for a total of roughly $720 , all you need then is your food , fuel and whatever your other expenses are. The other way, on the boat, you have to pay for your accom TOO, I suppose and extra $1,000bucks for this is not unreasonable PLUS more expensive eating I suppose. so with one option it will cost you about $2,500 plus for 7 days (total , not each) and option B about $1,000 all up ( including food) but you would need to find cmaping grounds that have toilets and a shower, or carry your own and set them up in a mini tent.
It cost us closer to $1500 return for our campervan (larger vehicles cost more). But we did stay there for 6 weeks, so that cost was way cheaper than hiring a van at a minimum of $100 a day - probably more as we were there in January, peak season being summer school holidays. Anyways, we like having our home with us!
Good video to see how you get on etc, cheers. Curious.....where did you spend the first night after getting off the boat, it gets in late so there's not too many options before dark?
We actually stayed on a friends driveway. There is a parking place just a few minutes away, where I stayed the night before the ferry home, its called Girdlestone Park and cost $11.
@@nigelandsueadventures certainly turns it into big day 😴😄
The Bass Strait is a stinker. It's very often rough water, but it's definitely boring on the crossing. As a Tasmanian, I've only used it twice. But I hear lots of moaning about the Spirit, from friends and family.
Bad as it is, Tasmania is definitely worth it!
Hi..saw you did a free camp in tassie..can you give me a few freecamps you found..we are travelling in a motorhome ..and would love some suggestions for free camp for a night here and there..loved the video you guys did on spirit of Tasmania
Do you have the WikiCamps app? There are so many free camps in Tassie and we used that app to find them all
What a couple of uninteresting, self obsessed whiners.......have done the trip many times, in good and bad weather, day trips, and night trips - no complaints. Get over yourselves.
You said the crossing was awful. What I saw on your video was a beautifully appointed ship and a smooth crossing. What exactly was awful about it other than the obvious factor that it takes 10 hours ? If you can't amuse yourselves for 10 hours, you would have been better off to do a night sailing.
If only it was easy to book a night sailing with a large (tall) vehicle!! We should have mentioned that we had to change our sailing (we originally booked a night sailing - booked in May for a January sail) because Nigel's work roster changed. We tried to change the return to a night sailing, but they were booked out months in advance.
To me head straight for a cabin at night
We have been 7 times and found that the night trips are better because you arrive in the morning ready to travel.
Not if it's rough, you arrive in a tired sleepy condition that makes driving dangerous.
Why spend most of the time whinging, it is a Ferry not a cruise liner,I used to travel back and forwards across Cook Straight and boy could that get rough, not a problem. If you don’t like that sort of travel Don’t do it.
Winging Aussies
Not going to watch it
Why the ferry changed from Port Melbourne to Geelong has got my beat, road is a bloody nightmare 😮😮
Blame the Port of Melbourne authorities for that, they increased port fees so much it became too expensive. Geelong is cheaper, and has better facilities.
It’s got to be better than swimming it
You can get a shared with strangers cabin which is good value.
Never ever use the recliners unless you can sleep in a chair.
I don't think that's an option anymore.. I don't recall seeing that as an option when I booked my passage for October 2024....? I believe they've discontinued that due to Covid?
We had the best trip there n back to the main land .
no rough seas.
You cant predicted the weather ⛈️☀️
Ain’t that the truth!! We’ve been blessed with good weather since arriving in Tassie, but I believe that is due to change tomorrow. We are loving it here!
I'm glad you enjoyed the trip in away, I watch it go past my house every night during the week. I have been on it four times and all were a little bumpy. Tasmania is a great place to visit any of the year.
We wish we’d been on the other side of the harbour to get the drone shots, it went much closer. I’m kind of dreading the trip back, but Tassie is definitely worth it. We’ve been here a week and a half already and we’re loving it!
Thank you for sharing that. I’ve done the crossing a couple of times from Victoria and once when it used to go from Sydney. I was a kid. I especially remember the Sydney one and I was sick as a dog. 🤢 I’m with you Sue. Not a fan of the open ocean. No desire whatsoever to go on a cruise. My dog wouldn’t cope with the kennel situation either. So no trip to Tassie anytime soon. Tassie is beautiful though. 🤗💖
Oh gosh that would be awful all the way from Sydney!! I did a cruise once when my kids were really little. Hated it! Never again. Except maybe the one through the north west passage in Alaska. I’ll do that one.
Has it occurred to either of you that you may have a little bit of an alcohol problem?
You do it at night and get a cabin
That is a bit flasher than the NZR ferry to Picton , amazing ship , have to do that now LOL thanks for sharing .
It's definitely flashy, but not as flashy as some of the scandinavian ferries we went on back in the 90s. I can't imagine what they are like now! It's definitely worth it to get to Tassie. Its incredibly beautiful over here Peter, you have to come.
Traveled to Wellington from Picton on the Arahura in very heavy seas. Slammed into the waves in the Cook Strait. Many wide eyes and terror stricken features that day.
I sailed the empress when I was a young fella!
10m seas,pitch black night, never forget the noise, I couldn't believe the ol girl didn't snap in half after 8 hrs of non stop pounding 😮
I've had some roughish trips since but after that one I'm hardened, the footage you showed was bass straight as a milk pond
I will never be a sailor - my grandfather was a boat-builder - he'd turn in his grave to hear that haha!
@nigelandsueadventures
Enjoyed your video all the same 👍
I live down the road from Devonport, we cancelled the last couple of sails this weekend.
It's a dangerous stretch when it's blowing like this😱