Because it is an island, Tasmania is the only state of Australia that cannot be reached by road, unless of course you take the car ferry from Melbourne to the north coastal Tasmanian port of Devonport. This is a popular option for mainlanders as one needs a motor vehicle when touring Tasmania as public transport options are limited.

By sea

Tasmania is linked by sea to the mainland view the car and passenger ferries Spirit of Tasmania I and II, which ply the waters of Bass Strait every night between Melbourne and Devonport (duration: 10hrs 30 minutes), with additional voyages during daylight hours in the summer months. Getting on and off with a car is an easy, painless experience; the only delay is likely to be going through the quarantine check at Devonport which is slow in peak periods.

Once that is behind you, there's something magic about heading along the coastal road to Devonport to Burnie just after sunrise with the road to yourself, with cows grazing on the lush green grass beside the shoreline. The Spirit of Tasmania operates daily from Station Pier, Melbourne to Devonport in Tasmania, running overnight, with additional trips in daylight hours during peak travel periods (mainly Summer); duration approx. 12 hours. The drive from Devonport to Hobart is 285 km (allow 4 hours).

By Air

Hobart, Launceston, Burnie and King Island are all gateways for domestic air traffic from the mainland to Tasmania. The majority of flights are from Melbourne and Sydney and go to Launceston or Hobart. The latter is still classified as an International Airport with full customs and immigration facilities, but the airport has not had a regular scheduled international passenger service since the 1990s (from Christchurch, New Zealand). Qantas, Virgin Blue, Jetstar, Tasair, REx and Tiger Airways provided regular services to the mainland.

Tasair caters also for internal air travel, with daily scheduled flights connecting Hobart, Launceston, Burnie, Devonport, King Island and Flinders Island. Much of the air traffic into Tasmania is through Hobart International Airport. In addition to domestic and general aviation operations, Hobart Airport, located 17 km from the city on a plain between Frederick Henry Bay and Barilla Bay, provides the only international gateway to the island. Hobart is one of the few cities in Australia to enjoy curfew-free air services. Launceston Airport is also widely used, particularly for travellers from the mainland seeking access to the north of the state. The main routes followed are:

Hobart to/from:

Sydney 1 hour 55 min.
Melbourne 1 hour 15 min.
Brisbane (direct - limited flights per day) 2 hours 35 min.
Brisbane (via Sydney or Melbourne) 4 hours 10 min.
Perth (via Melbourne) 4 hours 15 min.
Adelaide (via Melbourne) 2 hours 35 min.
Darwin (via Melbourne or Sydney) 7 hours 15 min.

Launceston to/from:

Sydney (via Melbourne) 3 hours 5 min.
Melbourne 1 hour 35 min.
Flinders Island (Sharp Airlines) 35 min.
King Island (Sharp Airlines) 1 hour 35 min.

Burnie to/from:

Melbourne (Regional Express) 1 hour 15 min.

King Island to/from:

Sydney (via Melbourne) 3 hours 5 min.
Launceston (Sharp Airlines) 1 hour 35 min.
Wynyard (Sharp Airlines) 45 minutes
Melbourne (Regional Express) 55 minutes

Flinders Island to/from:

Melbourne (Sharp Airlines) 1 hour 5 min.
Launceston (Sharp Airlines) 35 minutes

Getting Around Tasmania

By Coach

A number of coach operators provide coach transport services and organised tours from Hobart.

Redline Coaches operate daily highway services between all Tasmanian cities including Spirit of Tasmania shipside. You will travel between Hobart, Launceston Devonport and Burnie in large, air-conditioned, toilet equipped coaches that are fitted with seat belts. Highway services connect with their own regional service to Deloraine, Smithton and Stanley in the north as well as Sorell and Dodges Ferry in the south. Redline Coaches is also the accredited operator for city transfers at both Hobart International Airport and Launceston Airport.

Getting to and from the Hobart Airport: Shuttle buses operate between the Hobart CBD (accommodation hotels, motels etc.) and the airport for every departure. The shuttle departs outside the terminal after the arrival of every flight transferring passengers to the city. For information and bookings, contact Tasmanian Redline Coaches who also operate coach services to all other major centres throughout Tasmania. The Airport is serviced by a number of taxi firms. The Taxi rank is located right outside the domestic terminal building. Limousines and chauffeured cars are also available. A number of Car Rental companies operate from the Airport.

Tourist Services: The Hobart Explorer - a bus dressed up to look like a tram - takes visitors to all the city's major attractions. You can hop on and off where you wish and the ticket is valid all day. Tickets are available at the Travel & Information Centre at the corner of Elizabeth and Davey streets. A similar service operates in Launceston. Tickets are available from the Tasmanian Travel Centre.

Self drive

Driving a motor vehicle is the easiest way to get around Tasmania and its surrounding area, particularly for visitors. You can hire a car in all the major cities and towns of Tasmania, or you can bring your own car to Tasmania via the Spirit of Tasmania ferry from Melbourne. The ferry's only port of call in Tasmania is Devonport, a city in the state's north on the shores of Bass Strait. Hobart is 285 km or just under 4 hours drive south from the Devonport ferry terminal.

There are few parts of the state of interest to visitors that can't be reached in motoring comfort, although lesser roads, whilst sealed, do tend to be narrow.

In Tasmania, the speed limit on the open road is generally 110 kilometres per hour, with 50 or 60 kph in built up areas. In Tasmania, a driver's licence from your home country or another Australian state will usually suffice for up to three months, as long as it has photo identification and it is for the same class of vehicle you intend to drive. If yor're staying more than three months, you will need to get a Tasmanian drivers licence.