I always get the shivers when I drive along the palm-fringed beach road towards Port Melbourne and catch sight of Spirit of Tasmania docked at Station Pier… I know that the ship will be taking people to one of my favourite Australian destinations, and I can find myself imagining the excitement that those travellers will be experiencing.
Recently, I actually got to be one of those passengers again as the family and I travelled to Tasmania to explore more of the East Coast. We arrived at the pier, bags packed, and full of anticipation. You see, when you travel to Tassie on board the ‘Spirit’, your adventure begins the minute you step foot on the ship. You can instantly relax and sink into your holiday straight away and that’s what I love so much about it.
The bonus, of course, is that you get to take your own car and/or camper, and the minute you hit the shores of Devonport, you are on your way!
I won’t lie… Spirit of Tasmania also makes travelling with a child so much easier. Kids aren’t forced to stay in one seat, buckled in, instead they can roam the entertainment facilities, watch movies, eat until they are content and sleep in comfortable beds or recliners for a full rest. As a parent, what’s not to love about that?
But things had changed since my last experience on Spirit of Tasmania… This time when I stepped aboard things were, well…. new. The multi-million dollar refurbishment of both ships in the fleet is evident the minute you arrive in the sparkling entrance. Hundreds of tourism brochures line the shelves filled with adventures waiting for us over Bass Strait. Everything is gleaming and crew welcome us like old friends. You can tell they are proud of their ‘new’ workplace and Spirit of Tasmania’s new chapter in history as it takes us into the next decade.
First thing’s first, we dropped off our bags in our room for the night. It was a Four Bed Private Cabin, with bunk beds and a private ensuite, perfect for a restful night as we made our way south. Bedding, towels and soap are provided and you even get a desk and chair, hanging space and wall-mounted reading lights.
But Charli, our 8 year old daughter, wouldn’t let us hang around there too long, there was far too much to see and do, beginning with the sunset from the uppermost deck.
The ship was about to pull away from the pier as we made it up top, and the sun was playing its role perfectly… sinking low in the glowing orange sky, as the skyline of Melbourne started to light up and everything seemed to twinkle around us.
I was lucky enough to meet our captain on the deck before we set sail. As we watched the sunset together, his eyes lit up as he shared how his job was a dream come true for him and how the crossing from mainland Australia to the Apple Isle was touted as one of our country’s greatest and most famous journeys.
Back inside, we couldn’t ignore the rumbling of our stomachs and our anticipation of gourmet Tassie produce leading up to this trip could finally be satisfied. At the TMK (Tasmanian Market Kitchen) restaurant, we chose from a range of Tasmanian-inspired favourites, including my favourite, the cheeses, and of course, could not ignore a glass of fantastic Tassie wine… The perfect beginning to any Tasmanian journey.
For any adults wishing to kick on, there are even more bars and lounges on board to quench a thirst and simply relax (plus a gaming lounge and reading area) but as I said earlier, happy child, happy parents, so after dinner, we let Charli lead the way. First stop, the kids play area. A beach-themed jungle gym was keeping kids of all ages occupied, while parents simply relaxed and watched on, confident that their little darlings would sleep blissfully afterwards.
To wind down after an energetic play, we grabbed some snacks from The Pantry convenience store and settled into one of the cinemas for a latest release movie.
Of course, we were all ready for bed afterwards, and as the captain had promised us when we were welcomed on board, the seas were calm, and we were lulled into sleep by the movement of the ship. Before we knew it, we had snuck into Devonport by the crack of dawn the next day.
Needless to say we arrived refreshed and ready to explore, and after a quick coffee from TMK and breakfast at the terminal, we were back in the car and hitting the road. Tasmania, here we come!
Spirit of Tasmania is one of Australia’s most iconic tourism operators. Departing nightly from Station Pier in Port Melbourne and Devonport in Tasmania’s northwest, the twin ships offer passengers a unique sailing experience combined with the convenience of bringing their own vehicles. With fresh, modern interiors and enhanced facilities, now more than ever Spirit of Tasmania is a trip to remember.
We would like to win a trip of a life time to Tasmania.It would be a great to have our 53 years anaversary we never got to see our 50th holiday.
Anniversary.
Home with the flu, so best way to recover was to watch “Places W e Go”, and guess what it was all about Tasmania which is somewhere i simply must go for a holiday. I do watch whenever I am able & find it such an easy half hour to spend in front of the television. You show us how to see places at an affordable price & also you seem to suss out good food.
I wish you well with the show & I must make an effort to follow on to these places.
Thank you so much Robyn, so glad we could provide some information and entertainment while you are not feeling well! Yes, affordability and good food are all essential to a good trip so we are really happy we can provide some inspiration with both! All the best 🙂
Tried to submit an entry to the Tasmanian competition” 25 words or less” but it would not accept my entry. Disappointing as we would loved to have a chance to see beautiful Tassie with its clean air, by taking our Caravan beauty, history, fishing and the best produce in the world by taking our caravan and seeing for ourselves at our own leisure. Love your show guys (maybe I missed the cut off for an entry.) Cheers.
Hi Lorraine, I am sorry to hear you are having difficulty! The competition is not yet closed, and we are not having any other difficulties with entries so if you are able to please email us with the details of the issue we can look into it for you and ensure you are entered! Email [email protected]. Thanks so much!
Would love to take my awesome husband on a trip , he is sick and you would never know most amazing man I have ever met
He needs a holiday !!! And I need to get over the fear of boat , plane travel ?
Next time you are in Tassie, would love to meet you all. 🙂
Delicious Tassie❤️
Colin Blackmore
Peter Reading
booked for Nov
Jesse Fullford plz
My fav cruise ship to my fav place on earth
One day love to take my Jayco Eagle across
Miss there Salmon
Hi My name is Peter Janetzki, and it would be awesome to win a trip on the “Spirit” to Tasmania as we have our 50th Wedding anniversary coming up soon and this would be a great way to spend our 50th years together in Tassie thanks for the opportunity to have a chance to wi something like this regards Peter janetzki .
wonderful show great to see where we can go . thank u Jennifer !!!!!
Back in 2005 my husband & I spent a short motoring holiday in Tasmania but as time was limited we did not
see all that was on offer. Our memories of Tasmania have remained and we promised ourselves a return trip
one day to recapture the beauty of this scenic destination. I remember there were also lots of historic place to visit
and especially enjoyed the convict history of the Island. With retirement coming up on end of this year we sahll
have more time to travel and enjoy places like Tasmania. Delroy
Most beautiful place in Australia! Im actually scared to take my family cos im scared they wont want to come home! Lol! Love it!
I haven’t been to Tasmania since my mum passed away three years ago, I hope that I win the competition, because I will take my gf to meet my family and show her around where I grew up in Smithton… It’s my home, and as a 21 year old apprentice, I don’t think I’ll be able to afford a ho,I day like that any time soon. I came from a poor family, but I remember the families where I grew up – who were more fortunate, were always there to help me and my siblings, especially after our home burnt down. It would be nice to see my family again, and visit the Tarkine rainforest, the only place that I feel like I can talk to mum. 🙂
Thank you for the great story about the Spirit of Tasmania.
I’ve been lucky enough to travel on the Spirit a number of times over the last ten years and I will be traveling again early next year and look forward to the tranquility of the sail, the friendly staff and the delicious food the Spirit of Tasmania provides. Driving up the ramp with my car and being able to take it with me is a great start to my relaxing holiday.
I have elderly family on the East Coast in Scamander which is an amazingly beautiful quiet place and travel there quite often as they grow older and I can spend time with them before they are gone.
I would really like to take my mum to Tasmania because my hole life she has been their for me and my brother even when she was dealing with cancer she thought her hardest to be their for me and my brother to watch us grow up to the people we want to be but she still trying her hardest to raise my little brother that’s 16 and I just want to show my application to her for all she has done and had to fight for
We went to Tasmania in 2006 and I have always wanted to go back. I have been very ill since then and have lost my leg also. I am now recovered. What I would love to be able to reward my Partner for 17 years where he has nursed me with no complaints ever about what he has had to do, like house cleaning, washing and putting it out and bringing it in, cooking as I am unable to reach bench tops or hot plates, he also has lawns to mow, gardening also. The worst part of that he nursed his wife prior to me with cancer so his road has been not a smooth one. I just want to be able to show him how much I appreciate him and love him more than life. Now a bit on Tasmania there is so much to see – scenery changes every minute so if you blink you will miss it, Going off the main roads and finding the most beautiful places full of history and interest where is if you don’t go and check out side tracks or deviate off the main roads you miss everything, cheeses, wines, pies, fish are to die for whether you eat out at eateries or just stop at shops, then there is lavender farms, tulip farm, Alpaca wools, crafty shops, markets the list goes on and on. Tasmania is on my bucket list for my wonderful one in a million Partner Malcolm Scott. I will wait to be informed that I have won this magnificent trip.
Tasmania i always wanted to visit. My beautiful mother visited tasmania and even during her battle with dementia, before she passed was the subject she most talked about. So i would love to go to walk in her steps and enjoy it she she did.