Bus Rentals in Australia & New Zealand

Hobart Cruise Days: Planning Transfers at Macquarie Wharf

The Port of Hobart is within 800 m of the CBD, so the distances are short. The paperwork is not: vehicles larger than a 12-seater need a pick-up arranged with the port two days out.

The 48-hour rule for larger vehicles

Any vehicle bigger than a 12-seater needs its passenger pick-up set up through TasPorts' Southern Operations Team no less than 48 hours beforehand. That makes the booking deadline for a Hobart ship day earlier than the calendar suggests: firm up passenger numbers and vehicle size three or four days before the call, so the operator can lodge the request in time.

Booked vehicles under 12 seats take a 2P voucher bay along the waterfront instead, and the driver collects the group on foot from the terminal. For a small executive party, that is the simplest option.

Midsize coach cabin with forward-facing seats
Midsize coach cabin with forward-facing seats

Traffic on the waterfront

On ship days TasPorts shuts Franklin Wharf to through vehicles from Hunter Street as far as Constitution Dock Bridge; permit holders and service vehicles keep controlled access. Hobart can host two ships alongside at once under TasPorts' Two Cruise Ship Policy, and two calls on one day make the roads around the terminal busier still.

A 24-hour closure of waterfront roads is also used over the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race period and at New Year. TasPorts confirms those dates each year; check them before booking late-December movements.

Connecting airports

Terminals

  • The multi-user berth at Macquarie Wharf No. 4/5 takes a second ship
  • Macquarie Wharf No. 2 Cruise Terminal (MAC 02), Hunter Street, beside the main cruise berth, Macquarie Wharf No. 2/3
  • Two ships at once, up to 349 m long; run by TasPorts

Shore excursions and airport runs

Coaches running the ship's own shore excursions are staged alongside the ship at the berth. Tourism operators without bookings can use permit parking on Hunter Street, managed by Destination Southern Tasmania.

From the wharf to Hobart Airport is about 18 km. Commercial vehicles there use a boom-gated Commercial Lane, and no vehicle may be left unattended at the kerb.

Questions

We have 20 passengers. What needs to happen before the ship arrives?

A vehicle that size needs a pick-up arranged with TasPorts at least 48 hours ahead. Confirm numbers early so the request goes in on time.

Can two small groups use a pair of 11-seaters instead?

Vehicles under 12 seats use 2P voucher spaces, and the driver walks to the terminal. Ask the operator which setup suits the group.

How busy is the season?

TasPorts forecasts around 81 ship calls statewide for the 2026-27 season, and Hobart takes no more than two ships at a time.

Cities

Vehicles