Hobart’s historic and beautiful waterfront will play host to the Australian Wooden Boat Festival from 7-10 February 2025.
If you are participating in this exciting event and are bringing your boat to the Festival from outside of Tasmania, or are travelling down from interstate by air or on the Spirit of Tasmania to check out all the action, there are some very important biosecurity requirements you will need to meet.
Tasmania has in place some of Australia’s strictest biosecurity requirements. In fact, we all have a General Biosecurity Duty to help protect Tasmania from the impacts of pests, weeds and diseases.
Simply follow the Biosecurity Basics when preparing for your travel, and when arriving in Tasmania. Remember, if you don’t, penalties may apply.
Check your Bags:
If you intend to come ashore, check your vessel, storage, bags and possessions to make sure you’re not carrying any restricted or prohibited items, including fruit and vegetables, plant material, soil, seeds, honey and some seafood and animal products.
You can find out more detailed information on what you can and can’t bring to Tasmania on the Biosecurity Tasmania website: https://nre.tas.gov.au/travellersguide
If you are carrying any restricted or prohibited items with you, please be sure to appropriately dispose of those items when you arrive in Tasmania.
Come in Clean:
Ensure your vessel is clean and free from organic matter before arriving in Tasmania.
Check and clean hulls, decks, deck equipment, bilge, holding tanks and wet wells.
Check, Clean and Dry your Equipment:
- Diving equipment including wetsuits, fins, masks, weight vests, hookah gear and other abalone harvesting equipment (catch bags, ab irons and knives etc).
- Fishing gear including rods, reels, waders, fish bins and catch bags and bait.
- Aquatic recreation gear including surf boards, kayaks, canoes, jet skis, biscuits and skis.
- Gum boots and wet weather pants etc.
Bringing your Dog or other Animals? Check the Rules:
Tasmania has strict rules to ensure we remain free of hydatids disease and brown dog ticks, which can make our dogs – and even humans – sick.
If you’re bringing your dog to Tasmania, you must fill out a declaration to say that you have treated it for hydatids tape worm (tip: ensure the medication contains the active ingredient Praziquantel) and have checked its body recently for brown dog ticks.
More information and the declaration form is available on the Biosecurity Tasmania website: https://nre.tas.gov.au/hydatid
Bringing a different animal? Most other animals also have import requirements to enter Tasmania, so make sure that you check the Biosecurity Tasmania website before you travel.
More Information:
More information can be found on the Biosecurity Tasmania website or by visiting the Australian Wooden Boat Festival website: https://awbf2025.org.au/tasmanian-biosecurity/