Going to Tasmania:
​Flights, Ferry, Regulations, Bus, Taxi, Hire Cars

Airlines and ferry to Tasmania, rental cars, public bus, taxi, bushwalker transport and custom transport services from Hobart to Huonville and south.

Flights to and within Tasmania

You can fly into Hobart and have a hire car waiting. Spend a day or two in Hobart, then head south to the Huon Trail. Be sure to rent a car that is allowed on gravel roads and Bruny Island.

​These airlines service Hobart.

Rex Airlines Melbourne to Hobart Tasmania

Hobart is now the sixth capital city on Rex’s expanding domestic network with the inaugural flight from Melbourne, ZL709, touching down this morning. A number of dignitaries joined the celebrations at Hobart Airport, including Tasmanian Premier and Minister for Tourism, the Hon Jeremy Rockliff MP, Rex Deputy Chairman, the Hon John Sharp AM, Hobart Airport Chief Executive Officer, Norris Carter and Tourism Tasmania Chief Executive Officer, Sarah Clark.
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The new route, operated by a Boeing 737-800NG, connects the Apple Isle to the mainland and provides an additional 128,000 seats a year between Melbourne and Hobart. Mr Sharp said travellers on both sides of Bass Strait had embraced the new daily Melbourne to Hobart service as evidenced by the strong forward bookings on the route.​

Bass Straight Ferry into Tasmania

Public Transport in Southern Tasmania

Spend a day or two in Hobart, then head south to the Huon Trail.

Bus and Taxi

Click for interactive map of public transport from Hobart Airport to Huonville and Huon Bush Retreats

Tassielink provides a reliable bus service from Hobart to Kingston, Huonville, Geeveston and Dover.
Click here for the Huon Valley Bus timetable.

Taxi: Airport, Hobart, Huonville

These taxis can collect you from Hobart airport or bus stops throughout the Huon Valley.
Taxi Hobart 131 008
Taxi Huonville 0407 055 761
Bushwalkers often use taxis for transport to Cockle Creek, South Coast Track, Federation Peak.
We can also arrange custom bushwalker transport, self drive mini buses, full sized coaches and guided tours.
Phone 9am to 7pm only 0427 648465
or email anytime info@huonvalleyescapes.com.au

Wilderness Flights From Hobart Tasmania

Spend a day or two in Hobart, then head south to the World Hertiage Wilderness Area.

Wilderness flights, and custom tours

Take an unforgettable full day tour, exploring the incredibly remote waterways and wilderness of Bathurst Harbour/Port Davey.

Departing from Cambridge Airport, our aircraft will fly you into this remote area via the South Coast. Flying over Hobart's eastern suburbs and the Derwent River, we will make our way down the D'Entrecasteaux Channel, past Recherche Bay to Tasmania’s most southern point, South East Cape. At this point we leave civilization behind and enter the vast South West Wilderness by following the South Coast Track all the way to Melaleuca.

On the ground at Melaleuca, you'll have the opportunity to explore some of the area, including a visit to see the rare and endangered Orange-Bellied Parrot at the Denny King Bird Hide, and do some short local walks.

Board one of our boats for a trip down Melaleuca Inlet and Bathurst Harbour, to the remote Celery Top Islands, take walks in the wilderness and enjoy lunch whilst breathing some of the cleanest air in the world.

Late in the afternoon, we'll return to Cambridge Airport, flying via spectacular Federation Peak, and Mt. Picton, over Huonville and Hobart City.

Beware of Overbooked Flights to Hobart Tasmania

This article was accurate at time of writing in 2015. Regulations and airline behaviour change over time.
Airlines overbook flights to maximise their passenger load factor, and therefore revenues, on the basis that there will be no-shows for every flight. Some American airlines overbook flights by a factor of 10%. Australian airlines overbook flights by much smaller factors. Some airlines rarely overbook.

Generally, Australian airlines will rebook the passenger on the next available flight on its services at no additional cost. For airlines with multiple flights per day, that might not be a huge problem. If your chosen airline has only one flight per day, that means at least 24 hours of your holiday lost.

Australian airlines downplay the possibility of overbooking in their conditions. This is what they state: Qantas – there is a slight chance; REX – there could be rare occasions; Virgin Australia – on rare occasions; Jetstar – on rare occasions. The Airline Customer Advocate does not keep statistics for complaints received for denied boarding by reason of overbooking, so it is not known how ‘rare’ it is for a flight to be oversold.

There are many stories of Tiger cancelling flights and denying individual passengers. Tiger policy will keep your cash then leave you to sort your own problems. "...we will provide you with compensation of AUD 85 per passenger in the form of a flight travel voucher." For Tiger terms see http://www.tigerair.com/travel_services/denied_boarding.php

Other airlines can still spoil your travel plans but provide varying degree of compensation. REX will offer a one-way flight voucher; Virgin Australia a credit voucher (with a credit value to be determined); Jetstar will offer a flight on another airline, if it is unable to provide a same day flight with Jetstar.

ACCC in Australia has not seen fit to provide guidelines to Australian airlines to provide the kinds of benefits to passengers who are denied boarding that we see in Europe, USA and Canada. This attitude will change if and when there is a surge of complaints about overbooked flights.

For full story see http://www.eglobaltravelmedia.com.au/denied-boarding-compensation-overbooking-a-guide-to-air-passenger-rights-in-europe-usa-canada-and-australia/

To minimise the effects of cancellations and overbooking:
  • Fly in the morning, leaving time to still get to your accommodation later in the day
  • Consider travel insurance but read the conditions to be sure you are covered if you get bumped
  • Avoid traveling in peak season. It will be easier to change your plans during quieter periods
  • Choose a reputable airline

Custon transport and bushwalker pickup, Hobart and southern Tasmania

Bushwalker drop off and pick up for South Coast Track at Cockle Creek or most other track heads. Custom transport, day tours, airport pickups and accommodation dropoffs area also available.
If you don't have a drivers licence, need one way only transport or you just want someone else to take care of the driving, we can help.

Hire cars in Hobart Tasmania

Spend a day or two in Hobart, then head south to the Huon Trail. Be sure to rent a car that is allowed on gravel roads and Bruny Island.
Many of Tasmania's attractions and accommodation is at the end of a short section of gravel road. It is important that you choose your car hire accordingly.

We work with Bargain Car Rentals because of their generous gravel road policy. Please ask us to provide a hire car quote as part of your itinerary

What restrictions apply to what I take to Tasmania?

What restrictions are there when visiting Tasmania ?
Tasmania has some of the world's most stringent quarantine regulations. Please help us retain Tasmania's disease-free status. The introduction of a pest or disease can cost primary industries and the community millions of dollars.

These guides can help you as you travel to Tasmania.

Maps and Itinerary suggestions

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Click for maps of the Huon Valley

Emergency Information for Tasmania

TasALERT is the official government emergency information service. It brings together road closure and emergency response for fire, storm, snow, flood, police and other emergencies.

Road closures and other emergency information