Can I Take a Caravan or Campervan on the Spirit of Tasmania?

The short answer by vehicle and item

Most of the rules come from two TT-Line documents, the booking pages and the carriage of dangerous goods policy, plus Biosecurity Tasmania. The table gives the rule for each part of a rig, checked on 21 October 2026.

How size and fares work

TT-Line charges by total length, so measure the whole rig as it will sail. That means the caravan and drawbar, any rear bike rack, and the gas cylinder on the front, not just the tow vehicle. Sizes are confirmed at check-in, and if the figures you gave were short you may pay extra for the added length.

Height does not change the price, but it still matters. The total includes roof racks and anything on the roof, and TT-Line warns that failing to give the correct height may mean passage is denied. Book your outward and return sailings together, because TT-Line says that gives access to its best fares and deck space.

Space for towed vehicles runs out. For school holidays, Christmas and Easter with fixed dates, TT-Line suggests booking 10 to 11 months ahead. Its 2026 release says bookings can be made up to 12 months ahead.

Gas cylinders and the fridge

Gas cylinders are Category 1 dangerous goods. A caravan, motorhome or camper may carry one additional cylinder of up to 25 kg (50 litres water capacity), and it must be secure, upright, turned off and in date. Cylinders must meet AS2468, AS2469 or AS2470, stamped on the cylinder, with an inspection within the last 10 years.

TT-Line staff check the LPG system on caravans and campervans, isolate it and put a HAZARD tag on it. It stays off for the whole voyage and until the vehicle has cleared the port precinct. A propane cylinder connected to an appliance is not permitted, so disconnect it first. Cylinders that fail the conditions are confiscated, or collected by staff and returned at the other port if they are only badly secured.

The policy does not mention fridges. Because gas systems must never be active on board, a fridge that runs on gas will be off for the crossing, so ask TT-Line how it handles battery or mains-powered fridges and pack food for the delay. Jerry cans may carry diesel only, up to 50 litres each.

Where you sleep and what about pets

You cannot live in the vehicle during the crossing. TT-Line says a caravan is off limits on the ship, and passengers are not permitted on the vehicle decks while the ship is at sea. Cabins include bedding, linen and towels, and budget recliners are offered in a private lounge.

Pets can travel, and TT-Line strongly recommends booking a kennel. Kennels are in a ventilated area, the price is shown when you book, and you cannot visit your pet on the vehicle decks while the ship is at sea. Dogs entering Tasmania need hydatid tapeworm treatment within 14 days before entry, a tick check and a signed declaration. Pet-friendly cabins for up to two pets are being added on the new ships.

Biosecurity at Geelong and Devonport

Biosecurity Tasmania says to clean vehicles, caravans and trailers of visible soil and mud before boarding, and to clean and dry camping gear, bikes, boats and fishing gear. Fresh fruit and vegetables, including potatoes, herbs, garlic, ginger and onion, are not permitted. Cooked, canned, preserved and commercially dried produce is allowed, and honey is restricted because of varroa mite on the mainland.

At Geelong, security staff ask biosecurity questions, and you may be asked to dispose of restricted items. A vehicle may get a Notice to Stop sticker, and if it does you make yourself known to the Biosecurity Inspectors at the Devonport terminal for a second inspection. Random vehicle checks also happen there. Leave firewood at home if you are unsure, because items can be inspected and seized.

Penalties may apply for non-compliance, and the officer has the final say on whether an item is allowed in. The interstate biosecurity guide covers planning the fridge around a crossing.

The new ships and the vehicle rules

TT-Line announced in September 2026 that Spirit of Tasmania IV would leave Geelong and Spirit of Tasmania V would leave Devonport on the first passenger sailings from 31 October 2026. Bookings for the expanded accommodation and capacity opened on 16 September, and the new ships carry more than three times the caravan capacity of the current vessels.

The release announcing this describes no change to the vehicle rules, and the ports stay Geelong and Devonport, with the new Spirit Quay terminal at Devonport, which TT-Line expected to be operational by late 2026. Check-in opens 1.5 to 2.5 hours before departure and closes 45 minutes before. All times are indicative, so read the live schedule and your e-ticket, and confirm which ship is on your sailing.

If your rig is longer or taller than the limit

TT-Line's pages we could open give no numeric maximum for a towed rig. The fare page gives 6.0 metres as the maximum total length for its standard vehicle and campervan or motorhome categories, and separately prices caravans, camper trailers and motorhomes with or without a towed unit in a 0.01 to 7.00 metre band plus a rate for each extra metre. TT-Line also says passage may be denied if your length or height cannot be accommodated. The cleanest fix is to ring the contact centre on 1800 634 906, Monday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm, or email contactus@spiritoftasmania.com.au, with the exact figures before you pay.

Do not shave the measurements to fit a booking. Check-in confirms them, and a wrong height can end the trip at the gate.

What to do instead

If the rig is too big, or the schedule too tight, consider leaving the van on the mainland and hiring a campervan in Tasmania, or travelling as a car passenger and staying in roofed accommodation or holiday parks once you arrive. Either way, book early, because TT-Line recommends booking 10 to 11 months ahead for fixed holiday dates and busy sailings fill.

Tasmania's park campgrounds and rules are set by the park agency, and the Tasmania camping rules guide covers the Parks Pass. The Tasmania loop guide shows how a ten-day trip fits around the crossing.

Plan the Tasmanian leg in AussieCamps

Once you land at Devonport, the island leg is where AussieCamps helps. A place page gathers what the park agency publishes for a site: facilities, fees, rules and access notes. The Tasmanian data includes 27 campgrounds and 80 dump points, filters narrow them by water, toilets, power and vehicle access, and a trip keeps ordered stops, arrival dates and route distance.

Core place details are stored on the phone and open without a connection, while live maps, directions, forecasts and photos need coverage. The app is for iPhone. It cannot check your rig against TT-Line limits or Tasmania's produce rules, so settle those with TT-Line and Biosecurity Tasmania.

Places along the way