This time last year we ambled thru the high rise buildings at the ferry terminal, Kept turning left, and bingo, we arrived on the water, sheer luck me thinks, with at least 8 vans parked and waiting for the boarding time. NO issues with parking officials. Not being from Melbourne, I can not help you much more.
Conversely on the return trip, you will have no problems re parking spots.
Enjoy your summer in Tassie. Wished we were there again.
Jay&Dee

I agree entirely with Alan, stay on Beach Road from Mordialloc onwards. Beach Road basically ends at Station Pier.
The last set of traffic lights are opposite the Port Melbourne Yacht Club at the Bay St T intersection, keep in the far left lane, this lane continues to the Tassie boat.

Parking areas along Beach Road. Note Beach Rd changes names, so please check the below listed parking areas on Google Maps.

1. On the beach side and on a bend, about 100 meters north of the South Road interesction and traffic lights at Brighton Beach there is a car park which overlooks Port Phillip Bay, you could stay there until boarding time. This is approx 20 minutes driving from Station Pier.
From google maps, this area is opposite Canterbury Place and Esplanade.

2. Parking at Brighton Baths/Royal Brighton Yacht Club about 15 minutes from Station Pier.
From google maps, this area is just past Park St and Esplanade.

Beach Rd aka Esplanade now changes name to St Kilda St, at traffic lights at Head St veer left into Ormond Esplande (this is still Beach Rd) after about a kilometer Ormond Esplanade now changes name into Marine Parade, (there is a carpark on your left but you will have trouble doing a U turn with your van on, so give it a miss)
After about 500 meters after a parkland on your left, there is a service station.

3. At the traffic lights turn left this is the St Kilda Marina carpark, it has a boom gate and you buy a ticket. I don’t know how much.
From google maps, turn left at Dickens St and Marine Parade traffic lights, about 5 minutes from Station pier.

4. Next carpark is about 200 meters North of the St Kilda Marina carpark, this carpark is about 150 mters long. about 5 minutes from Station Pier.
From google maps, this area is opposite Marine Ave on Marine Parade..

If you park at St Kilda marina or #4 car park you are about a kilometer or so from Fitzroy St, St Kilda shops. An easy walk along the shared paths along the beach.

In Summary, check the route on Google maps to see how Beach Rd is very simple and straight forward, but it changes names frequently.
Good luck. If you have any questions, PM me as I live in Mordialloc and ride my bike along the Beach Rd bike path from Mordialloc to Station pier 3 times a week. This morning while at Station pier, there were plenty of us ‘grey nomads’ and a bigger number of bikies than normal.

cheers Wayne.

Yeah, no worries, not being a local, I had no real idea. I cant remember the way we got there when we wnt a couple of years ago, except we got the car serviced at Mt Waverley in the morning before we went on the SoT, and headed west across the Westgate bridge we we got back.

Wow I can’t believe the trouble people have gone to…what great information…

Today we went to RACV at Rosebud..and now have a road map of Melbourne and surrounds..so it covers the
Peninsular as well…It has helped us see where most of the roads people have suggested are..

We will also look up google maps but unfortunately we don’t have a printer…so lots of writing for my wife as shes the navigator.

St Kilda Marina is sounding good..at least we know that the van will fit in the bays..we will have to check the cost..

We have seen the Spirit Of Tasmania going in and out of the Bay over the weekend so now we are getting excited.

Thank you again

Cheers Mark

You’re welcome Mike, that’s what good forums are all about.
Enjoy Tassie you lucky buggers, we did in 07 and would love to get back there one day.

Al.

Didn’t Alan41 Say.. Whatever you do DONT take Montague St. !! ?????

Best to heed his advice..

Jock

Mark and Is,

How was your trip from Mornington Peninsula to Station Pier?

Did you stop at the marina and visit St Kilda?

How was the crossing? Smooth, I hope.

cheers. Wayne.

Awww Frosty

We loved your website:-) What a great idea…as soon as we go full time we want to do this…what a great way to share your travel…TFS

Gary & Sheree

Just came over to Tassie and had no trouble finding a spot for the night (day crossing) but we arrived early afternoon before the night crossing left. Unfortunately we were caught out by the ramp malfunction on Sunday and sat on the wharf until the ship could be unloaded. Pity the poor buggers siting in their cars and RVs on the decks.

Finally left around 3pm for a 1 am arrival…….so a day and night crossing really. Very smooth crossing.