Bloody ripper, you can take your car on the Spirit of Tasmania for free in 2021
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08.01.2021

Bloody ripper, you can take your car on the Spirit of Tasmania for free in 2021

Time to book in that annual leave.

If Tasmania has been on top of your travel bucket list for a while, then we have something that you’re going to love!

Thanks to the Federal Government and in an effort to boost domestic tourism, travellers taking the Spirit of Tasmania ferry between the travel period of 1 March 2021 and 30 June 2021, will be able to take their cars and motorcycles on board for free.

And better yet, there’s no catch!

The news was announced earlier this week, with the government increasing the rebate for the Bass Strait Passenger Vehicle Equalisation Scheme (BSPVES) by $6 million, allowing cars and motorcycles to ride the ferry at zero cost, which is a huge bonus to potential tourists. If you’ve ever been to Tasmania before, you’d know just how stress-free it is to have a car to get you around the Apple Isle, making exploring those stunning coastline, quaint towns and beautiful wilderness a breeze.

“COVID-19 has significantly affected tourism in Tasmania and the number of passenger vehicles travelling across Bass Strait which is why we are moving to increase the rebate,” says Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack.

“[It’s] a win-win for both Tasmanians and visitors looking to discover more of what the island has to offer.”

The news comes following data that reveals bookings on the Spirit of Tasmania had dropped 85 per cent, according to Tasmanian senator and assistant industry minister, Jonno Duniam.

“This is a critical and targeted boost for tourism, as visitors who travel to Tasmania by sea are among the most valuable to the industry, they spend more, stay longer and travel further into our regional areas,” he said.

The free vehicle travel incentive will be saving each visitor an average of about $240 return, which you can now spend on delicious Tassie food and quality wines. The $6 million boost will apply to all new bookings for travel from March 1. When travellers book their ticket, the rebate will automatically apply to the purchase price of the ticket. How easy is that?

Ferries will continue to adhere to COVID-19 safety measures, which currently includes all passengers to wear masks during the check-in, boarding, and disembarking stages, as well as when they’re in any indoor public areas onboard.

The Spirit of Tasmania currently travels between Port Melbourne and Devonport, but will move its Victorian base to Geelong in late 2022.

Tickets are available from 14 January for travel between 1 March 2021 and 30 June 2021, until sold out. For more information and to book your pass, head here.