The route at a glance
The Hobart–Melbourne corridor.
Getting from Hobart back to the mainland means working your way north first. The surface route starts with a coach up through central Tasmania to the Devonport ferry port, close to four hours on the road, then the Spirit of Tasmania sailing across to Geelong, and finally a short onward leg into Melbourne. There is no through coach, since the heart of the trip is a sea crossing. Most travellers fly the hour and a quarter instead. AusBus can sort the coach legs; the ferry is booked with Spirit of Tasmania.
Travel tips
What to know before you go.
The trick leaving Hobart is timing the northbound coach to meet your sailing at Devonport with room to spare, because they are separate bookings and the ferry will not wait. An overnight sailing lets you board in the evening and wake near Geelong. If you only need to reach Melbourne, the direct flight saves the better part of a day.
Worth timing your trip for
What's on in Melbourne
SeptemberMelbourne, VICRoyal Melbourne ShowLast week of September into early October (11 days)
SeptemberMelbourne, VICAFL Grand FinalLast Saturday of September (typically)
OctoberMelbourne, VICMelbourne FringeEarly-to-mid October (approx. 18 days)
Route FAQs
Hobart to Melbourne, answered.
- Not as one ticket. Hobart to Melbourne crosses Bass Strait, so you combine a coach north to Devonport, the Spirit of Tasmania ferry to Geelong, and an onward coach to Melbourne, or you fly.
- Book a northbound coach that reaches Devonport well before the sailing's check in closes. The legs are separate tickets, so leave a buffer rather than a tight connection.
- Much. The direct flight to Melbourne is about an hour and a quarter, against the better part of a day for the coach, ferry and coach chain. Surface travel makes sense mainly with a vehicle.
Keep going
Onward from Melbourne.
Continuing past Melbourne? These coach corridors carry on from your arrival city.
Related routes