I know its late notice but I seem to have a bit of time available in November.
Would like to go with at least 3 other jeeps and a maximum of 8.
Call or message me if you want to chat about it.
Two days down the Hume to Geelong, overnight sailing to Devonport, then straight to the far north-west and the Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area for the headline tracks: Sandy Cape along the beaches, the Balfour Track water holes, then the Western Explorer to Corinna and the Fatman barge. South to Zeehan for Climies Track to Trial Harbour and the Montezuma Falls track, with a hot shower and a pub meal in Strahan. We then cross the island through Queenstown, the Central Highlands and Mt Field to Hobart, work the Tasman Peninsula, Freycinet and the Bay of Fires up the east coast with free beach camps, run the Bridport–Bellingham coastal track, finish in Launceston, and squeeze in Cradle Mountain on the way back to the boat. Both crossings are on the new Spirit of Tasmania IV/V.
Ferry: Spirit of Tasmania
Spirit of Tasmania sails Geelong (Spirit of Tasmania Quay, North Shore) to Devonport. From 31 Oct 2026 the new Spirit of Tasmania IV and V run one sailing each way, nightly at 6:45 PM. Schedule for our dates, read from the live timetable on 6 Oct 2026:
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Leg
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Depart
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Arrive (indicative)
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Notes
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Geelong → Devonport
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Sun 8 Nov, 6:45 PM
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Mon 9 Nov, ~6:30 AM
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Spirit of Tasmania IV/V. Check-in 4:15–6:00 PM. Wake-up call 45 min before arrival.
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Context
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24–30 Oct: no sailings
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—
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Fleet changeover; new ships from 31 Oct. Our dates sit a week clear of the changeover.
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Devonport → Geelong
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Sat 21 Nov, 6:45 PM
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Sun 22 Nov, ~6:30 AM
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Check-in 4:15–6:00 PM.
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Flexibility
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Any night, 6:45 PM
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next morning
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Nightly sailings both ways through November, so the trip can shift a day or two either side if a sailing is full. Book Flexi.
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Vehicle category
A Gladiator JT is 5.59 m long and 1.89 m wide, so it fits the standard “up to 6.0 m” length band. Height is the catch: stock is 1.85–1.91 m, but with a lift plus roof rack, tent or light bar most of us will be over 2.1 m and must book the “over 2.1 m” vehicle fare. Measure your vehicle loaded. Trailers are not planned for this trip. Jerry cans must be empty or declared – check the current dangerous goods rules when booking.
Indicative cost per vehicle, return
Fares are demand-priced and change daily, so these are ranges from published 2026 fares. Night sailings include a recliner; cabins are an upgrade (from about $125 per cabin per sailing). Get a live quote at book.spiritoftasmania.com.au before committing. Groups of 15+ adults on the same sailing can ask about group rates (1800 634 906).
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Item (one way × 2)
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Low
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High
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Notes
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Driver (adult)
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$140
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$380
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$69–$190 one way; RACV/NRMA-type member discounts may apply
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Vehicle over 2.1 m high, under 6 m long
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$430
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$900
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$215–$452 one way. Under 2.1 m: $179–$377 one way
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Cabin upgrade (optional, per cabin)
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$250
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$500
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Inside 4-berth $125–$179; porthole twin $209–$229; deluxe $369–$499 per sailing
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Second adult (optional)
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$140
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$380
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Driver + high vehicle, recliner
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$570
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$1,280
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Realistic planning figure: about $900 return
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Driver + high vehicle + shared twin cabin
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$820
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$1,780
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Cabin split between two people brings this down
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Cancellation: Flexi fare (travel from 31 Oct 2026): no amendment fee online, no cancellation fee up to 48 h before departure, 25% between 48 h and 3 h, 100% inside 3 h. Spirit fare: 25% if 7+ days out, 50% inside 7 days, 100% inside 24 h. Red Hot fare: 75% any time, 100% inside 24 h.
Other costs per vehicle
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Item
|
Estimate
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Notes
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Fuel
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~$1,400
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~4,130 km: mainland 1,900 km @ 14 L/100 km, Tasmania 2,230 km @ 17 L/100 km (tracks) ≈ 645 L petrol @ ~$2.15/L. Carry 40 L in jerry cans for the west coast.
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Tasmanian Parks Holiday Pass
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$98.35
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Per vehicle, up to 8 people, 2 months. Needed for Mt Field, Freycinet, Tasman, Mt William, Lake St Clair, Narawntapu.
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Cradle Mountain Icon Daily Pass
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$30.70 pp
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Includes Dove Lake shuttle. Not covered by the Holiday Pass.
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Arthur-Pieman Recreational Driver Pass
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$33
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One month, per vehicle. Mandatory for Sandy Cape and Balfour tracks; includes Sandy Cape bush camping.
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Fatman barge, Corinna
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~$30
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Per vehicle, confirm current fare and hours (daylight only).
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Paid camps
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~$50
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New Parks fees from 3 Nov 2026: Arthur River and bush camps $18/site, Fortescue Bay $24/site (book online), Freycinet Richardsons Beach $24 tent site. Corinna campground fee. Beach camps on the east coast are free.
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Accommodation nights × 4
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$600–$900
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Albury, Strahan, Hobart, Launceston – motel/pub twin share, self booked.
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Total excluding food and ferry
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~$2,300–$2,600
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Plus ferry $570–$1,800 depending on fare and cabin.
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Day by day
Day 1 – Sat 7 Nov – Sydney to Albury (560 km, A)
Hume Highway. Meet Marulan BP 7:30 AM for those leaving together. Overnight Albury or Wodonga motel (560 km). Last chance for a proper vehicle wash – Biosecurity Tasmania checks undercarriages and recovery gear at Geelong.
Day 2 – Sun 8 Nov – Albury to Geelong, sail 5:00 PM (390 km)
Hume, Western Ring Road, Princes Freeway to Spirit of Tasmania Quay, North Shore, Geelong. Fuel up in Geelong (fuel is dearer in Tasmania). Check-in opens 4:15 PM and closes 6:00 PM sharp; have photo ID and your e-ticket at the vehicle booth. Dinner on board. Recliner is included on night sailings.
Day 3 – Mon 9 Nov – Devonport to Arthur River (250 km, C)
Wake-up call ~5:45 AM, off the ship about 6:30 AM, biosecurity declaration. Supplies at Burnie or Smithton (last supermarket), fuel Smithton. Detour to Stanley for The Nut chairlift and lunch. At Arthur River report to the Parks Field Centre (open 9–4) to activate the APCA pass and get the Recreational Driving Guide and tide times. Camp Manuka or Peppermint (flush toilets, $18/site) or Prickly Wattle (long drops). Edge of the World lookout at sunset.
Day 4 – Tue 10 Nov – Sandy Cape Track (70 km, C)
Arthur River – Temma Road (gravel, 2WD) – Temma. From Temma the Sandy Cape Track heads south along the coast with beach sections that are only passable around low tide. Soft sand and quicksand patches: tyres down to 15–18 psi, keep close to the water line, no stopping on soft sections. Camp at Sandy Cape or Pedder River (river water for washing). Tracks south of Sandy Cape (501, 503, 601) are permanently closed – do not attempt.
Day 5 – Wed 11 Nov – Balfour Track to Corinna (100 km, C)
Return north to the Balfour Track turn-off. Balfour Track is 18 km, 2–3 hours: a 70 m canal-like water hole plus several deep holes and off-camber sections near Mt Balfour. Walk every hole, tarp the grille if it looks deep. Join the Western Explorer (C249) and head south through the Tarkine to Corinna on the Pieman River. Camp at Corinna (or wilderness cottages for those wanting a bed). Barge crossing is next morning.
Day 6 – Thu 12 Nov – Climies Track (150 km, C)
Fatman barge over the Pieman, Corinna Road to Zeehan (fuel, last shop). Granville Harbour Road west, then Climies Track south to Trial Harbour: 25 km, about 3 hours, rated hard – collapsed Granite Creek bridge with a steep bypass, rock steps, deep erosion gullies, rotting timber bridges. Lockers and a winch strongly recommended. Free camp at Trial Harbour. Not attempted after heavy rain – alternative is the Zeehan–Trial Harbour road and a beach afternoon.
Day 7 – Fri 13 Nov – Montezuma Falls track to Strahan (150 km, A)
Trial Harbour – Zeehan – Murchison Highway to Williamsford. The Montezuma Falls 4WD track follows the old North East Dundas tramway: 14 km each way, 1.5–4 hours each way depending on water, with multiple creek crossings, a 30 m mud hole mid-way and the optional spray tunnel. Montezuma Falls is 104 m, one of Tasmania’s highest. Return via Rosebery (fuel) and Zeehan to Strahan. Pub night: Hamers Hotel / Strahan Village / holiday park cabins. Showers, laundry, group dinner.
Day 8 – Sat 14 Nov – Strahan to the Central Highlands (210 km, C)
Queenstown via the 99 Bends, Iron Blow lookout, Nelson Falls walk, Lake Burbury. Lyell Highway to Derwent Bridge: The Wall in the Wilderness and Lake St Clair visitor centre (parks pass). Free camps at Bradys Lake or Lake Binney (Hydro lakes, no facilities) – or Lake St Clair campground ($) if the weather is poor. Pack for a cold night.
Day 9 – Sun 15 Nov – Mt Field to Hobart (220 km, A)
Tarraleah, Ouse, Mt Field National Park for Russell Falls and the tall trees walk (parks pass). Into Hobart mid-afternoon: hotel, restock, Salamanca dinner. Optional Mt Wellington / kunanyi summit drive.
Day 10 – Mon 16 Nov – Tasman Peninsula (120 km, C)
Eaglehawk Neck: Tessellated Pavement, Blowhole, Tasman Arch, Devils Kitchen. Port Arthur optional ($). Remarkable Cave. Camp Fortescue Bay (Banksia for tents, Mill Creek for larger setups) – $24/site, bookings required Oct–Apr and open six months out; hot showers. Easy day for maintenance.
Day 11 – Tue 17 Nov – Freycinet (230 km, C)
Tasman Highway north via Orford and Swansea (Kate’s Berry Farm). Coles Bay, Wineglass Bay lookout walk (1.5 h return). Camp Friendly Beaches – free bush camp inside the national park, no booking, parks pass required. Richardsons Beach ($24 tent site) is the alternative but must be pre-booked through the Freycinet visitor centre (03 6256 7004) – an online booking system is due late 2026.
Day 12 – Wed 18 Nov – Bay of Fires (150 km, C)
Bicheno blowhole, St Helens (fuel, supermarket, dump point). Peron Dunes at St Helens Point for an hour of sand driving (parks listed 4WD area, tyres down). Bay of Fires Conservation Area: free camps at Cosy Corner South, Swimcart Beach or Sloop Reef – no booking, pit toilets, campfires only where signed.
Day 13 – Thu 19 Nov – North-east coast to Bellingham (200 km, C)
Gravel coastal roads via Ansons Bay and Policemans Point, Mt William National Park (Forester kangaroos), Gladstone, Bridport. Bridport to Bellingham coastal 4WD track along the beach and dunes – tide dependent, soft sand. Camp Bellingham or Bridport (council camp). Fuel Bridport or Scottsdale.
Day 14 – Fri 20 Nov – Launceston (150 km, A)
Tamar Valley, Cataract Gorge, Launceston hotel. Final group dinner. Car wash – vehicles must be clean of mud for the ferry.
Day 15 – Sat 21 Nov – Cradle Mountain and sail 6:45 PM (230 km)
Early start. Sheffield (murals) to Cradle Mountain visitor centre by 10 AM; Icon Pass and shuttle to Dove Lake, Dove Lake circuit (2 h, 6 km) or the Enchanted Walk if time is short. Leave Cradle by 2 PM for Devonport (90 km, 1.5 h). Check-in 4:15–6:00 PM, sail 6:45 PM.
Day 16 – Sun 22 Nov – Geelong to Sydney (950 km)
Off the ship about 6:30 AM. Hume Highway home, arriving Sydney evening. Those not keen on a 950 km day: overnight Albury and home Mon 23 Nov.
Vehicle requirements
- JK/JL/JT or Grand Cherokee with Low range; AT/MT tyres in good condition, full-size spare, compressor, tyre repair kit, tyre gauge. Beach driving at 15–18 psi.
- Rated recovery points front and rear, recovery kit (snatch strap, soft shackles, Maxtrax or similar). Lockers and a winch strongly recommended for Climies and Balfour; at least two winch vehicles in the group.
- Sealed snorkel and diff/transfer/gearbox breathers recommended for the Balfour water holes and Montezuma creek crossings. Tarp for the grille.
- UHF radio, first aid kit, fire extinguisher. Three days self-sufficient in food and water on the west coast (Arthur River to Zeehan has no shops). Elevated fire pot for any campfire in the Arthur-Pieman area.
- Fuel: longest gap is Smithton – Sandy Cape – Balfour – Corinna – Zeehan, about 300 km including tracks. Carry at least 40 L in jerry cans (empty for the ferry or declared – check when booking).
- Comms: mobile coverage only around Arthur River, Zeehan and the towns. Trip leader carries PLB and Starlink. Everyone should carry a PLB or satellite messenger.
- Vehicle under 6.0 m. Measure loaded height – over 2.1 m is a different ferry fare. Camper trailers are not being considered for this trip.
