The Spirit of Tasmania Ferries
Note that Ausglass has no responsiblity for your bookings or contract with the Spirit of Tasmania. special.events@spiritoftasmania.com.au for a discount fare price. The two Spirit of Tasmania ferries make daily crossings of Bass Strait from Melbourne to the small city of Devonport. They accommodate passengers in cabins or in Ocean-View Recliners (similar to airline seats). The ferries carry cars and motorcycles (trucks and vans too). When assessing whether this option is for you, please work out the passenger and vehicle fares on the ferry, and weigh this against airline fares and rental car hire. Weigh in the advantages of two short cruises, and unlimited weight allowance. The Spirit of Tasmania is Tasmania's road link to mainland Australia. See its website for information of what's available on board.
Although this is peak tourist season, we have negotiated a 5% discount on the Spirit of Tasmania during January from Melbourne to Devonport, and 20% discount on the return trip from Devonport to Melbourne, for the accommodation part of the fare. To take advantage of this offer, you must book in a special way: either use the attached booking form or book through the phone and mention that you are coming to the Ausglass Conference and there is a special event discount.
We stress that bookings for January are always very heavy and were already being received during June. As a special event booking, you only have to pay a $40 deposit to secure your booking and the balance would not need to be paid until 30 days prior to departure. If you have to cancel up to that 30 day period the $40 would be fully refundable. If the booking was cancelled within the 30 days there would be a $40 cancellation fee and the remainder would be refunded. On the other hand, paying in full protects you from price rises. Changes to dates can be made without charge subject to availability.
Hobart is 3+ hr drive from the Devonport Ferry Terminal without stopping, but why drive direct? Take in the small town of Sheffield (noted for its murals) and visit Jan Clay's Marble World. Or stop in Breadalbane to see James Dodson's hot glass studio. Keith Dougall would be happy to welcome you to Poatina. Or just be a tourist and drive around the State staying here there and everywhere. There is so much to recommend. For example, you might want to find the Promised Land, or Nowhere Else just for the heck of it; be photographed in Bagdad and cross the River Jordan. Or take a longer route: you might drive to Strahan for a cruise on the Gordon River, climb Cradle Mountain, or hike over the Hazards on the East Coast.
