Once they’ve decided to splash out and take a trip across the Bass Strait, most grey nomads are very, very excited to finally get to Tasmania.
While arriving in any new place – especially a new state – is an important trip milestone, there is something just that little bit extra special about having to cross the water to arrive on the Apple Isle … the famed ‘island state’.
Which is why some locals are worried that the sight that greets visitors arriving at Devonport aboard the Spirit of Tasmania is … well … a bit ho-hum.
Ex-councillor and prominent local businessman, Jeff Matthews, says grey nomads and other travellers get a poor first impression, and he wants federal and state governments to spend ‘significant money’ to ensure the early moments of the Tassie experience aren’t a crushing anti-climax.
“You wouldn’t even know you were in Tasmania once you step off the boat,” Mr Matthews told the Advocate newspaper. “We need a wow factor and the first impression people get is a poor one …. this is the front door to the State and visitors need to know they are in Tasmania the most unique part of Australia.”
Mr Matthews said it would benefit more than Devonport as the place visitors arrive to explore the rest of the region.
“We need a ‘Welcome to Tasmania’ and plenty of attractive signage, streetscaping and undergound power where the main corridor is to the highway and more,” he said.
And it seems he may get his wish. Devonport Mayor Annette Rockliff told the Advocate that the federal government had committed $3 million for the State Vehicle Entry Point Project under the Community Development Grant Program.
“The project aims to beautify the Tasmanian sea entrance at East Devonport to create a welcoming environment, encouraging visitors to explore the north west of the state and experience the attractions available,” she said.
Mr Matthew says the arrival of two new Spirits, which are currently scheduled to start carrying passengers across Bass Strait in 2021, would provide an ideal opportunity to create a proper gateway experience.
Whatever they do, some large murals on a map outside the terminal would be great (with scenery and native birds and animals and some indigenous heritage).My last trip there it still felt like I was arriving at a 1950’s goods siding at an old railway.
We did the Tassi bit in March last year for 6 weeks. I agree that more could be done, however we accepted what we got and just got on with our trip. I must add that the loading area for our return journey was first class; organised, well laid out and quick. Certainly better than Melbourne. However the experience was the take away. We loved Tassi and 6 weeks was definitely not long enough. We will go back.
Part of the charm in Tassie is that its completely different from the mainland a refreshing change and wouldn’t have it any different, so many people are getting to Tassie and loving it and the attitude of the locals to travellers has changed in a positive way, Cheers Tassie
They need a better parking, and/or overnight area on the Melbourne end more than anything on the Tassie side. Terrible trying to find a parking spot on the day waiting to get on the ferry. Tassie side has a far better parking arrangement.
Totally agree
They definitely need good signage when you disembark in Devonport. We had no idea which way to go and luckily we followed a fellow traveller.
We have had two trips to Tassie and agree with some of these comments . Melbourne hasn’t got good parking area and security is very poor. Very rude Wilson security, they need somebody that knows what they are doing. At Devonport they wanting to look under bonnet for any rags and check the van for Mexicans, you do have to laugh.
The disembarkation area at Devonport definitively needs a welcome overhaul. I’ve spent Dec to April in Tassie for the last five years and loved every minute of it. Unfortunately, the new legislation banning free camping within a sixty kilometre radius of a caravan park makes visiting Tassie prohibitively expensive. Added to the cost of a return trip on the ferry, I will not be returning to Tassie until this unwise legislation is rescinded.