We are planning our first trip to Tasmania in February and have booked on the day ferry arriving at Devonport at 7:30pm. I was wanting to know what others have done for this first night stopover. As we probably won't be off the ferry before 8:30ish I am reluctant to pay for a caravan park as we will be leaving Devonport at first light. We are fully self-contained and are happy to free camp, any suggestions?
Cheers,
Mike R
Possum3 said
12:25 PM Oct 27, 2021
Drive to closest Bunnings, Woolies or Coles carpark until 6.30 am next morning. First in line to get morning coffee and fresh bread/milk.
mykringo said
01:36 PM Oct 27, 2021
Now that's a great idea especially after cleaning out all fruit etc out of van before leaving Melbourne
PeterD said
04:32 PM Oct 27, 2021
Woolies and Coles don't close until 10 pm so I don't know how you will go parking there. Route from the ferry. Zoom in and look at the situation. There used to be a lot of foreshore parking for stopping overnight but I see it is no longer in WikiCamps.
Stayed at both, cannot recall how much a night and how you pay, I think at Latrobe the Parents and Friends of a Local school collect your donation. WikiCamps could advise. HC is adjacent to the river and is a very nice place.
The closest camp is Horsehead Creek. - Route map.
There is alsoLatrobe Overnight SELF-CONTAINED ONLY. This is a very popular one.
mykringo said
07:05 PM Oct 27, 2021
Thanks everyone, most helpful
bomurra said
07:32 PM Oct 27, 2021
Hello Nichael,
There is a great free camp 500 metres from the Ferry terminal at the East Devonport Football Club ground, corner John and Caroline St's East Devonport.
A quick check on google maps shows the location, very easy to get to and access, even in the dark. Plenty of room to stay hooked up.
If you check the satelite photo you can see some Motorhomes and Vans camped there when photo was taken.
You can park around the perimeter of the ground, outside the football ground itself of course.
Best spot to overnight before you embark as well.
Hope this helps.
Bob.
Whenarewethere said
07:33 PM Oct 27, 2021
Make sure your rig looks clean & more importantly no piles of mud underneath, before you get on the boat otherwise you will be forced to clean it at the other end before you can leave the port in Tassie.
Craig1 said
08:09 PM Oct 27, 2021
Also make sure any fishing gear is spotless
Long Weekend said
08:57 PM Oct 27, 2021
No loose gas cylinders - even butane cans.
Murray
Edit: Sorry, that applies to Melbourne before getting on the boat. However, it also applies leaving Davenport to return back to Melbourne.
-- Edited by Long Weekend on Wednesday 27th of October 2021 08:59:35 PM
Tony LEE said
09:14 PM Oct 27, 2021
Football club was closed because of COVID testing centre but that might have changed again
Tony LEE said
09:15 PM Oct 27, 2021
Do you have wikicamps Mike
Whenarewethere said
09:30 PM Oct 27, 2021
& when you return to the big island make sure you don't have any rocket propelled grenades or other items. They looked thoroughly through my car including in the engine bay. I have never had an interest in guns in my life. I'm surprised they didn't pull the ceiling down.
Magnarc said
08:59 AM Oct 28, 2021
Hi Mike, night ferry, cabin, arrive fresh and ready to roll. Not sure whether you would be able to change your booking though.
Whenarewethere said
11:52 AM Oct 28, 2021
Magnarc wrote:
Hi Mike, night ferry, cabin, arrive fresh and ready to roll.
Agree
Long Weekend said
01:12 PM Oct 28, 2021
Yes - I did a daylight crossing thinking that it would be nice to look out over the sea. But we arrived at Davenport right on dusk and it was fully dark by the time we cleared through quarantine. That meant we were driving around in the dark looking for our booked accommodation.
So, we vowed next time it would be a night crossing for us.
And as Whenarewethere says, coming back your vehicle and van are subjected to a very thorough check - bonnet up, boot open, cupboards open and so on.
Strangely, before loading in Melbourne you have to go though a quarantine check, but that counts for nothing as you have to do another one on arriving in Davenport. Then when leaving to come back you are checked again but on arriving in Melbourne you can just drive straight off.
Murray
mykringo said
05:17 PM Oct 28, 2021
Yes, I do have Wikicamps but have found there are often sites that only locals/regulars know about hence the post
mykringo said
05:18 PM Oct 28, 2021
Tony LEE wrote:
Do you have wikicamps Mike
Yes, I do have Wikicamps but have found there are often sites that only locals/regulars know about hence the post
mykringo said
05:22 PM Oct 28, 2021
Magnarc wrote:
Hi Mike, night ferry, cabin, arrive fresh and ready to roll. Not sure whether you would be able to change your booking though.
As this will be our one and only trip to Tassie we thought daytrip there for the experience and night trip home for the expedience
jeepnudger said
10:26 PM Oct 31, 2021
Really fiddling around finding free camp at dusk is being $foolish. Book in at van park 5 minutes frrom ship , have a good sleep, top up water tanks , catch your breath . Get local directions to be able to hit the rd. And enjoy it is aa great state.
We are planning our first trip to Tasmania in February and have booked on the day ferry arriving at Devonport at 7:30pm. I was wanting to know what others have done for this first night stopover. As we probably won't be off the ferry before 8:30ish I am reluctant to pay for a caravan park as we will be leaving Devonport at first light. We are fully self-contained and are happy to free camp, any suggestions?
Cheers,
Mike R
Now that's a great idea especially after cleaning out all fruit etc out of van before leaving Melbourne
Woolies and Coles don't close until 10 pm so I don't know how you will go parking there. Route from the ferry. Zoom in and look at the situation. There used to be a lot of foreshore parking for stopping overnight but I see it is no longer in WikiCamps.
The closest camp is Horsehead Creek. - Route map.
There is alsoLatrobe Overnight SELF-CONTAINED ONLY. This is a very popular one. For Sherwood River Camp you must book via the hipcamps link, at least this would guarantee you a site.
The closest camp is Horsehead Creek. - Route map.
There is alsoLatrobe Overnight SELF-CONTAINED ONLY. This is a very popular one.
There is a great free camp 500 metres from the Ferry terminal at the East Devonport Football Club ground, corner John and Caroline St's East Devonport.
A quick check on google maps shows the location, very easy to get to and access, even in the dark. Plenty of room to stay hooked up.
If you check the satelite photo you can see some Motorhomes and Vans camped there when photo was taken.
You can park around the perimeter of the ground, outside the football ground itself of course.
Best spot to overnight before you embark as well.
Hope this helps.
Bob.
Make sure your rig looks clean & more importantly no piles of mud underneath, before you get on the boat otherwise you will be forced to clean it at the other end before you can leave the port in Tassie.
No loose gas cylinders - even butane cans.
Murray
Edit: Sorry, that applies to Melbourne before getting on the boat. However, it also applies leaving Davenport to return back to Melbourne.
-- Edited by Long Weekend on Wednesday 27th of October 2021 08:59:35 PM
& when you return to the big island make sure you don't have any rocket propelled grenades or other items. They looked thoroughly through my car including in the engine bay. I have never had an interest in guns in my life. I'm surprised they didn't pull the ceiling down.
Hi Mike, night ferry, cabin, arrive fresh and ready to roll. Not sure whether you would be able to change your booking though.
Agree
So, we vowed next time it would be a night crossing for us.
And as Whenarewethere says, coming back your vehicle and van are subjected to a very thorough check - bonnet up, boot open, cupboards open and so on.
Strangely, before loading in Melbourne you have to go though a quarantine check, but that counts for nothing as you have to do another one on arriving in Davenport. Then when leaving to come back you are checked again but on arriving in Melbourne you can just drive straight off.
Murray
Yes, I do have Wikicamps but have found there are often sites that only locals/regulars know about hence the post
Yes, I do have Wikicamps but have found there are often sites that only locals/regulars know about hence the post
As this will be our one and only trip to Tassie we thought daytrip there for the experience and night trip home for the expedience