It may not ever be cheap for grey nomads to get across the Bass Strait but travellers are being given some relief with the scrapping of the Spirit of Tasmania’s unpopular fuel surcharge.
TT-Line announced the decisions, saying the move had always been a temporary one.
The 15% fuel surcharge was introduced on March 31, 2026, in response to the Middle East conflict, which was having a big impact on global fuel prices, and has remained under regular review since.
When the surcharge was announced, TT-Line said two adults travelling with a standard vehicle would pay an extra $107 each way.
A family of four with a car and caravan would pay an additional $228 each way.
The Spirit of Tasmania fuel surcharge has been scrapped. PIC: Mudassir Ali / Pexels
The original aim was to fully recover the additional fuel costs associated with passenger and passenger vehicle movements.
During the five months the surcharge was in place, it recovered a portion of TT-Line’s additional fuel costs, with the unrecovered shortfall exceeding $2 million.
TT-Line CEO Chris Carbone said it was the right thing to do.
“Removing the surcharge before fully recovering additional costs is in the best interest of the Tasmanian visitor economy,” he said. “We will continue to monitor the situation closely.”
TT-Line reported monthly the extra fuel expenditure and the revenue collected from the fuel levy to its shareholder ministers. The reports were also tabled in Parliament.
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We may consider a trip to Tasy now that the surcharge has been removed ! We would not travel previously,just far to costly with a fourwheel drive and 20 foot caravan ! We will keep an eye on the weather
DP. (And calculate the total return cost to Melbourne)
Hey not sure if it’s still available but if your a member of RACV you get a 10% discount on the spirit, just book thru the link on RACV WEB SITE
Thanks for the tip. I wonder if the reciprocity between the RACV and NRMA enables us (members) to get this discount too??
We have a booking for next year which we have paid the fuel surcharge on. Apparently we are not getting a refund now it has been dropped. Not entirely fair being disadvantaged for booking early when you need to book sometimes six months in advance for an autumn fare out of Tasmania with a caravan. Thank God we didn’t book ourReturn sailing. TTline need to get their act together in more ways than one.
I’m hearing you Helen. Same scenario here. I’m sure it could be challenged they should be giving our fuel surcharge back, as it’s been dropped and we won’t be taking our travel until next year!! Don’t mind paying a surcharge next year if the fuel price is over the top and coincides with the time frame of travel. As Duncan alluded to, given the cost of the travel, fuel and general living costs, i can’t believe the ships would be booked out for caravaners coming to the state in the coming months!! I have friends who have been travelling for some months now on the big island and can’t get a return trip to Tasmania until February next year!! There is something seriously wrong with the company’s priorities in my opinion.
I agree entirely
Helen, we hear you & we join you in anger, we booked our first ever family holiday (return trip) with car and van, only to be told we also are not eligible for a refund. Zero compensation. It leaves a very sour taste in our mouths about TT Line. An un-refundable $530. Or so. Our fare was over $4000. Return. Won’t be hurrying back to the mainland with the van anytime soon after.
We are in the same situation as are friends travelling with us. We booked well in advance for travel with our caravans late autumn 2027. The fuel surcharge is non refundable. I’m totally fine paying it if we were travelling during the period it was being charged to help offset the fuel costs, but to not be refunded or credited the $230 plus charged when it no longer applies to our bookings way outside the ceased date, just does not sit right. Fares like these that had the surcharge applied, imo, should be given some kind of compensation. Even if the passengers where only given a complimentary meal each would at least be something and less costly than a full refund – but in turn would sit more favourably with the passengers affected. Ideally, it should be refunded if it no longer applies. Almost feels a bit like theft their keeping it.
TT line must be a freight service not a passenger service 5 mths to wait for a place to get on is a disgrace
It’s all to hard and expensive. Will give Tassie a miss
I have to book in July each year to qualify for birthday discount, we have travelled for the last 10 years in March for annual golf trip, should get surcharge refund
Agree, paid for our trip next year with the birthday discount on 31 August and they dropped the surcharge that night. No refund available. Bustards.
When we booked the ferry, in the beginning of the year for a trip over in late November we were advised of the surcharge and that it would not be altered. So you would have been warned, so stop complaining.
Agree.
Yes we knew when we book it was not refundable. But I think the surcharge could or should be payable a week or so before your sailing. After all they have our entire fare for up to nine months if you book when the next year’s sailing come on line.
The cost of taking a caravan across to Tassie is way to expensive, I was talking with someone
recently about his planned trip there and he said he was expecting up to $5000, and his rig is shorter than ours, plus you need to book your return trip at the same time or you may not get
back when you want to, we would like to go but that is way to much out of the budget for this
pensioner, we will check for ourselves what it is so I guess we will see.
We have never paid $5000? We travel with 2 adults, porthole cabin, car/gmc pick up and 14ft caravan, $1600 return.
Agree, we have a Mux and 18.6 long caravan, as a pensioner the trip is out of our financial range unfortunately. The idea of booking a return trip without knowing exactly when we are returning was off putting also, we even thought about fly drive but too expensive.
I’m in Tassie on pension, travel up & back to see family in motorhome every year not holidaying fulltime traveler it’s part of the national highway & the most expensive toll in the country. Sadly have done my last trip to expensive now.
Just booked a return trip. Depart Geelong 14th March and return 4th May. Total length 13 metres Pajero and van, two pensioners, inside cabins. Total cost $2672.
Luckily just missed out on paying the fuel levy.
Sounds like you were going Business Class Steve
I will be travelling to Tassie early March 27 and have booked, and fully paid for my trip including the fuel levy several weeks ago.
Seeing as my planned travel will be seven months after payment and six months after TT Lines removing the fuel levy, will I and other travellers in the same situation, be refunded the money we have paid for the levy ??
No..it’s non refundable