Tasmania, Australia's only island state, is about 300 miles (500 km) from Melbourne, the nearest city on the mainland. Of all cities in Australia, Melbourne offers the most direct connections to Tasmania. Here's how to get from Melbourne to Tasmania.
By Air
Duration: 1 hour
Flying is the quickest and easiest way of getting from Melbourne to Tasmania. Daily flights make the trip to the two largest cities in Tasmania, Hobart and Launceston, as well as a number of smaller towns like Wynyard and Devonport. The flight to Launceston is about 65 minutes, while the flight to Hobart is about 75 minutes.
By Ferry
Duration: 9-11 hours
One ferry, the Spirit of Tasmania, crosses the Bass Strait daily. It disembarks at Devonport, on Tasmania's northern coast. Some days only one overnight sailing is scheduled, whereas on others there are two, a daytime and an overnight service. There are lots of facilities on board, such as berths, restaurants and bars, activities for kids, a cinema, and other entertainment.
Although the ferry takes much longer than flying, it's a vehicle ferry so you can take a car from the mainland. This means you'll have the flexibility of including Tasmania on an Australian road trip itinerary.
By Yacht
Although not a very common option for travelers, if you're a keen sailor and on a generous budget, it's possible to charter a private yacht trip to Tasmania and around the coast once you're there. This is easiest done from Melbourne, as it's the closest mainland city to Tasmania.
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