Five car ferry trips to try on your travels
If the Australian mainland isn’t big enough for you, your family and your vehicle don’t worry, there are plenty of ways to get offshore.Car ferries are a great way to see some very different sights, there’s the innate pleasure of a sea journey and of course, if you take one of these car ferries you can load as much stuff as you want and go exploring in style.
Queenscliff to Sorrento, Victoria
Victorians probably don’t need the geography lesson, but here goes: Melbourne sits on Port Phillip Bay, the narrow entrance of which is bounded by the Bellarine and Mornington peninsulas. If you want to drive a lap of the bay, you’ll need to take the Searoad car ferry from Queenscliff to Sorrento, or vice-versa. It only takes about 40 minutes, but you’ll see The Rip, Point Nepean, maybe a dolphin or two and of course, the beautiful seaside villages where the ferry lands.
Cape Jarvis to Kangaroo Island, South Australia
Kangaroo Island is probably bigger than you think (it covers 4400 square kilometres) so for those planning a visit, you’ll need a car. Drive down the Fleurieu Peninsula from Adelaide, and you can hop aboard the Sealink Ferry at Cape Jarvis, cruise for about 45 minutes, drive off at Penneshaw on the island, then tour around checking out the wildlife (plenty of seals and yes, the odd kangaroo) stay a night or two then cruise on back.
Cairns to Thursday Island and Cape York, Queensland
Cairns company SeaSwift offers a unique boat trip for you and your vehicle that’s much more than just a ferry. This is a cruise on a working cargo ship that plies the waters of the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns, to Thursday Island, Cape York and back again over a few days. The ship has proper cabins and guest facilities, and the best bit is, they can load your 4WD and you can drive back to Cairns. In all, it’s the perfect way to see FNQ from sea and land in an environment far removed from the average cruise.
Melbourne to Devonport, Spirit of Tasmania
Yes, you can get any number of cheap flights from Melbourne to Tassie, but there’s nothing quite as pleasant as taking the boat. The Spirit of Tasmania departs daily between Melbourne and Devonport and the trip across Port Phillip Bay and Bass Strait takes less than 12 hours. Advantages over flying? If you have kids, they’ll be beside themselves with excitement, and by taking your own car you can load far more than a carry-on suitcase.
Brisbane to Moreton Island, Queensland
Moreton Island is possibly one of Brisbane’s best kept secrets. Interstate off-road enthusiasts tend to head straight north for Fraser Island, but Moreton has plenty of surf, sand and sunshine much closer to Queensland’s capital. You’ll want to book the Micat ferry weeks before departure and because the island has no sealed roads you’ll want a 4WD, but the 90 minute trip and the adventures that await make the planning well worthwhile.
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