The route at a glance
The Sydney–Hobart corridor.
Sydney to Hobart is the longest trip in this group, and the gap between flying and surface travel is at its widest here. A direct flight takes a little under two hours. The overland alternative is a genuine multi day journey: down the Hume corridor to Melbourne by coach or train, across to the Geelong ferry terminal, the eleven to twelve hour Spirit of Tasmania crossing to Devonport, then close to four hours of coach south to Hobart. No coach covers the route, because Tasmania is reached by sea or air. AusBus can help with the coach legs along the way.
Travel tips
What to know before you go.
Treat the surface route as part of the holiday rather than a way to save time or money, because by the time you add the Sydney to Melbourne leg, the sailing and the Tasmanian coach, it spans more than a day. It earns its keep if you are bringing a vehicle or want the journey itself. Otherwise the frequent direct flights are far simpler.
Worth timing your trip for
What's on in Hobart
OctoberHobart, TASRoyal Hobart ShowThree to four days in late October, including Hobart Show Day (Thursday)
DecemberHobart, TASTaste of Summer27/28 December to 3 January (7-8 days)
MarchStatewide Tasmania, TASTen Days on the IslandTen days in March, odd-numbered years
Route FAQs
Sydney to Hobart, answered.
- No. The route ends across Bass Strait, so there is no through coach. The surface option chains a Sydney to Melbourne leg, the Spirit of Tasmania ferry, and a Tasmanian coach, while most travellers simply fly.
- More than a day once you add the Sydney to Melbourne leg, the eleven to twelve hour crossing, and the four hour coach from Devonport to Hobart. It is a multi day undertaking, not an overnight one.
- For most people, yes. The direct flight is under two hours and runs frequently. The surface route is really for vehicle travellers or those who want the overland trip as an experience.
Keep going
Onward from Hobart.
Continuing past Hobart? These coach corridors carry on from your arrival city.
Related routes