While there is no word yet on when the expected low-cost camping area will be established in the Geelong area, the reports from grey nomads using the new Spirit of Tasmania terminal there at Corio Quay are certainly positive anyway.
Late last year, solo grey nomad Alex Berkuta sailed from Melbourne to the Apple Isle, and has just come back to Geelong on his return crossing … so he’s in a strong position to compare the two.
The verdict: Night and day!
“On the way there, the terrifying part was navigating in Melbourne to find a parking spot near the ferry,” said Alex. “I found one after two hours of driving in circles and then a four-hour wait until loading … I would never go again if they had retained Melbourne.”
Alex stayed at the Riverbreeze Caravan Park on the Duck River in Tasmania
On the return leg to Geelong though, Alex reports it was all plain sailing and that ‘it was so easy to leave the boat and get on the highway’.
And Alex says he will definitely be back in Tassie, and not just because of the ease of the Geelong terminal … it’s because he had a great trip.
The 72-year-old travels in a 13’ Jayco poptop towed by a Pajero Sport. He optioned up on the van’s build to suit free camping so it has higher clearance, twin 100AH lead/acid batteries charged by a 160-watt roof solar panel, twin 80-litre water tanks, and a 2kw diesel heater.
Touring the island, Alex found some fascinating places to overnight, including ‘a great little free camping spot at Bethune’, next to a roadside gravel pit at Waratah, and a ‘wonderful’ caravan park at Strahan. He also loved camping at the Mt Field National Park ‘but do they jam you in’.
Adventures included being sent on a narrow steep back road by a misinformed GPS and having to abruptly change plans due to rain and local mudslides, while surprise highlights included the hardware store at Queenstown where you can buy ‘anything, and also discovering the Tassie-made ‘National Pies’ brand.
Alex liked those so much he said he ‘came back with a fridge and freezer full’!
But Alex has no doubt about what the real highlight was.
“Best of all was definitely the friendly locals – all of them,” he said. “When was the last time you had driveway/bowser service at a petrol station?”
Unfortunately, Alex also had the opportunity to find out just how friendly doctors and nurses were.
“I had to spend a few nights in Launceston hospital to repair a cut tendon in my hand after working on repairs to my van,” he said. “They were wonderful staff … but it did curtail my further touring!”
That’s just another reason why Alex knows he’ll have to go back to Tassie again … and soon!
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Bloody Great No Hassles at All
2 hours looking for a place to park and then 4 hours to load?
I suspect that Alex arrived too early in Melbourne and is making a story of it.
I have travelled many times to Tas from Port Melb and never had any problems.
It was a no brainer that Geelong would be a massive improvement on Port Melbourne.
I laughed at all the Melbourne centric vanners who complained about it being moved.
Will have to travel to Geelong boo hoo.
Rationally Geelong makes it easier for the MAJORITY of Spirit travellers to get in and out of Melbourne area.
Apart from it being financially viable to Geelong for TT Lines it makes it so much easier to board and unload for vanners as well.
Congrats to TT LINES for the move to Geelong.
Alex was not able to compare apples with apples as getting on the ship and getting off are two very different experiences.
You need to compare someone getting on in Melb and getting on in Geelong.
I would imagine Geelong would be much easier if it has more room for parking.
National Pies are sold in Woolworths Supermarkets
We have travelled to Tasmania on five occasions and the new Geelong terminal is a great improvement. On one occasion an on ramp to the Bolte bridge was closed with no directions for an alternative access to the bridge and we spent over an hour in Melbourne peak hour traffic trying to get to the ship. The access to Port Melbourne can be a nightmare towing a large caravan on unfamiliar roads.
There is currently cheap camping available at Geelong Showgrounds, free camping is available at Winchelsea and I think it is also available near Shelford.
Cheap camping at helping showgrounds has been for years
It’s a beautiful terminal, very well laid out with heaps of parking. Huge improvement on the other terminal
Unfortunately, if you are travelling without a vehicle from Geelong, passenger drop off access gets very congested because the only access involves driving in the vehicle boarding lanes for some way, or a rather long walk.
So the Albury – Devonport ferry is a Furphy then?
After many crossings in both directions in two different big rigs,a 36 ft bus with trailer,and 34 ft fithwheeler plus tow rig I can assure you that gelong is a much better location to both access and depart the spirit ,there is no comparison in my opinion they should have made the move years ago!!! Period