Devonport is the Tasmanian arrival port for the Spirit of Tasmania [http://www.spiritoftasmania.com.au/ ] passenger ferries from the mainland.
The Spirit of Tasmania I and Spirit of Tasmania II travel the [wiki=7c885b9c7c703a77befcabeea54944d5]Melbourne[/wiki] - Devonport route providing an overnight service in both directions every day of the year. The vessels depart at 8PM and arrive the following morning at 7AM. During peak periods there are additional daytime crossings, departing at 9AM and arriving the same day at 6PM, and the overnight ferry going from 9PM until 6AM. The ferry terminal is in East Devonport, directly across the river from the town centre. Boarding closes 45 minutes before the departure time, and it is not unusual for the ship to be sailing well away from the wharf at the time of scheduled departure.
There are restaurants, both buffet and a-la-carte on board. There is a cinema, several bars, and live music during summer crossings. There shop selling essentials, and tourist items. There is a phone which works while at sea, and a ATM which doesn't.
Telstra has mobile reception and 3G data is available throughout the ship, even when at sea. No other mobile or data services are available.
The vessels have a wide variety of accommodation, these include Cruise Seats, Business Class Seats, Inside 3, 4 Berth Cabin, Porthole 3, 4 Berth Cabin, Inside Twin Cabin, Porthole Twin Cabin and the luxurious Deluxe Cabins.
Fares
Its cheap to take your car on on board, at $83 per car year around each way. The cost is subsidised by the federal government as part of the national highway budget. Unfortunately you can't send your car unaccompanied, and you will have to buy at least one seat on the ship.
A seat usually costing between $120 and $180 depending on the time of year. The cheapest cabin costing between $170 and $280 per person, depending on the time of year each way. More for a twin or deluxe cabin, more for a porthole.
It can easily be cheaper to fly than to take the ship, and as a guide a flight and a week of car hire in a small car for a couple usually works out around the same price as a return trip with a car in a twin cabin.
Motorbikes cost $45, and bicycles cost $7. However, officially these are only entitled to the subsidised rate if they are your form of transportation. If you can get the bicycles on the car on a bike rack within the standard car length, then you pay no extra for them.
The ship docks in East Devonport which is linked by a passenger ferry across the Mersey to the town centre. However it doesn't run as early as the ferry arrives, or as late as the ferry arrives, and not at all on Sunday. The walk around via the road bridge is a long one, and you may need to get a taxi into town.
Devonport Airport is 8km (5 miles) from the town centre. This small regional Airport is served by Qantaslink [url=http://www.qantas.com.au/regions/dyn/home/qualifier-region-au]]which flies into and out of the airport up to six times a day, connecting with other flights on the mainland at Tullamarine Airport in [[Melbourne[/url]]. Local carrier Tasair [url=http://www.tasair.com.au/]]operates passenger and cargo flights to [[King Island[/url]].
To get to or from the Airport.
*A taxi will cost approximately A$20 from the town centre.
*Taste the Tiers Tours operate buses between the town centre and the airport. Fares start at A$10 per person one way.
*There are a number of car rental agencies with an office at the Airport.
277km (172 miles) from [wiki=9f610f074be03799cf1727a85127ab55]Hobart[/wiki] via the Midland Hwy - Approx 3hrs
*251km (156 miles) from [wiki=9f610f074be03799cf1727a85127ab55]Hobart[/wiki] via the Lake Hwy - Approx 3.5hrs (some gravel sections & subject to alpine weather including ice & snow)
*100km (62 miles) from [wiki=6cbefabfee1650512b89841e6b1ca742]Launceston[/wiki] via the Bass Hwy - Approx 1hr
*46km (28 miles) from [wiki=4567c1b46e2b715a37167c6a8a90bd44]Burnie[/wiki] - Approx 30min
*88km (54 miles) from [wiki=c6b60aed21f68aa3016ebd7eb835c6f9]Cradle Mountain National Park[/wiki] - Approx 1hr20min
*208km (129 miles) from [wiki=9a3171516b91b8df3136550317a59f1d]Strahan[/wiki] - Approx 3hrs
*254km (158 miles) from [wiki=89450074de5a94bbe9a13472a1d04673]Freycinet National Park[/wiki] - Approx 3hrs
*335km (208 miles) from [wiki=160eacc14c860636fca7889ceed09d08]Port Arthur[/wiki] - Approx 4.5hrs
The pub Molly Malones has a couple of rooms upstairs starting from $15 per night. One double room with en suite ($50) for the posh backpackers.
There is also a backpackers situated behind the old Devonport Hospital, beds start at $13 in a dorm.