Some info for travellers (especially dog owners).
We were on a Saturday day sailing, departing Station Pier Melbourne 9am and arriving Devonport Tasmania 6.30pm. 2 x day tickets, a motorhome and a kennel cost $538 return. Our ticket said there was an $898 rebate from the Federal Government. The night before, we stayed at the Sundowner Caravan Park, Rockbank (the two closest parks don’t allow dogs) but it was a fairly quick run in to the ferry terminal from Rockbank. We stopped at Port Melbourne Foreshore to give Winston a run before boarding.
It looked as though a few travellers had spent the night parked up there before sailing but it’s not a camping spot and I think they probably risked being moved on. Dogs have to be wormed within the two weeks prior to sailing and you need to provide proof to quarantine either with a vet’s letter or the receipt of purchase of the tablets. Quarantine also checked our fridge to make sure we weren’t taking any fresh fruit or vegetables across with us.
At check-in we found out there was the option to let your pet remain in your vehicle for the crossing if you signed a waiver form. One look at the ‘kennels’ on board and we decided Winston would be happier in the van. We fretted about him the whole journey but he was fine. Some dog owners found their pets quite stressed after being in the cages for over 9 hours.
For being such a good boy, Winston got a new squeaky hippo.
The Black Dog motorcycle ride was heading across to Tasmania on the same ferry, raising awareness of depression and suicide. Their mascot is Winston the Black Dog, named after Sir Winston Churchill who talked of being hounded by ‘the Black Dog of Depression.’ Our very own Winston, who carries the weight of the world on his shoulders, had lots of attention from the bikies.
