Thread: taking pets on spirit of tasmania

Slightly off topic, but because we booked quite late there were no 'high roof' spaces left, so we had to go in the normal car bays which you are told have a strict 2.1m height limit.
I measured the height of the Defender + K9 roof rack and side awning at about 2.15m. Bugger.
So I took the rack off this morning.
Needn't have bothered, there's at least 2.5m clearance.....!!

Hey Dan, how was your crossing? and importantly, how’s your pooch?

Yeah the height limits are a pain, often they just raise their arm to check actual height of your vehicle when you arrive! But I also suspect some areas of the boat are only 2.2m.

Lately it’s been difficult to get a late booking....often booked out months in advance!

Hope you have a great trip. Cheers, Z

Originally Posted by Zeros

But I also suspect some areas of the boat are only 2.2m.

Hi,
Some of the ramps and racks are quite claustrophobic!
Cheers

Originally Posted by Zeros

Hey Dan, how was your crossing? and importantly, how’s your pooch?

Yeah the height limits are a pain, often they just raise their arm to check actual height of your vehicle when you arrive! But I also suspect some areas of the boat are only 2.2m.

Lately it’s been difficult to get a late booking....often booked out months in advance!

Hope you have a great trip. Cheers, Z

Hey Zeros,

The crossing got pretty rocky about halfway through, but mostly uneventful!

Pooch was really good, very happy to see us!
The cage was as we left it when we put her in, I think she hardly moved!
She certainly didn't go to the toilet because we pulled up at some parkland by the river in Devonport to let her run around and she had the longest wee I've ever seen her do!!

Trip good so far, drove over the dirt roads by the Great Lakes and visited The Wall wood carving/sculpture near Derwent Bridge today. Very impressive!

Originally Posted by DieselDan

Hey Zeros,

The crossing got pretty rocky about halfway through, but mostly uneventful!

Pooch was really good, very happy to see us!
The cage was as we left it when we put her in, I think she hardly moved!
She certainly didn't go to the toilet because we pulled up at some parkland by the river in Devonport to let her run around and she had the longest wee I've ever seen her do!!

Trip good so far, drove over the dirt roads by the Great Lakes and visited The Wall wood carving/sculpture near Derwent Bridge today. Very impressive!

Nice one Dan, glad pooch was happy...it’s not such a bad trip on the old Spirit. Strangely I enjoy it each time. ...new boats coming too around 2021 apparently.

Must be getting chilly over the Great Lakes by now. Have a great drive, don’t miss Mt Field NP on your way down to Hobart. And Mt William NP if you head north east...beautiful and quiet. And/or the beach camps north of Granville Harbour if you’re going west...wild woolly and rugged but enjoyable drive up the coast.

Safe travels. 👍 Z

Well on the return trip I found out why the high roof spaces on the ferry were in short supply - there were lots of tricked out 4wds returning from the Variety Club Treasure Island Trek in Tassie!

Back to the OP, I don't think it'd be too hard to arrange for dogs to stay in the car if you need.
When I'd parked up in the ferry, an employee came over, took a look in the back of the Defender and told me the dog looked comfy on her bed in the back and could stay in there if I'd prefer.
I was considering it, but the ute parked next to me had a cage in the back with 2 massive merinos that were staying there for the night!! We'd just spent a week staying on a friend's farm and Kessie had been having great fun chasing sheep (unsuccessfully!) and I reckoned neither dog, nor sheep would get any peace if I left her there so I decided to put her in the cages on the boat anyway!!

Originally Posted by RANDLOVER

I wouldn't take a horse, pony, etc anything equine really, as they still haven't released a report into the following pony deaths. Tasmanian horse transporter calls on authorities to reveal what killed 16 ponies - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

I've chased this up with DPIPWE in Tasmania but expect to hear nothing back anytime soon. I know Willo very well and have played polo myself down at Barnbougle; these animals have done that journey 7 or 8 times previously so something must have gone horribly wrong on this crossing.

Speculation within the polo community appears to be focusing on exhaust gases and heat being the main ingredients, but as these animals are used to extremes of heat, what people really want to know is whether any other vehicles in the same cargo area had left engines running. Willo ran two trucks on that crossing and the horses in the other one were all fine, suggesting a localised issue.

That nothing has been released despite autopsies being performed months ago, suggests perhaps that authorities are being either very thorough in completing their report, or that for political reasons, they are trying to settle the issue under the table while drawing as little public attention as possible.

There's a LOT of people desperate to find out what happened though.

Originally Posted by The Cone of Silence

I've chased this up with DPIPWE in Tasmania but expect to hear nothing back anytime soon. I know Willo very well and have played polo myself down at Barnbougle; these animals have done that journey 7 or 8 times previously so something must have gone horribly wrong on this crossing.

Speculation within the polo community appears to be focusing on exhaust gases and heat being the main ingredients, but as these animals are used to extremes of heat, what people really want to know is whether any other vehicles in the same cargo area had left engines running. Willo ran two trucks on that crossing and the horses in the other one were all fine, suggesting a localised issue.

That nothing has been released despite autopsies being performed months ago, suggests perhaps that authorities are being either very thorough in completing their report, or that for political reasons, they are trying to settle the issue under the table while drawing as little public attention as possible.

There's a LOT of people desperate to find out what happened though.

Reading this post just prompted me to call Rebecca White office in tassie and put the question to her. now waiting for a response
cheers
blaze