The Excella and The Spirit of Hobart cruise to New Norfolk

The sight of the passenger ferry Excella cruising to New Norfolk on Sunday brought back memories for many locals, marking a long-awaited return of the vessel to the Derwent Valley after 35 years.

Today(Wednesday) also saw the inaugural voyage of Hobart Historic Cruises passenger ferry the Spirit of Hobart make the 7.5-hour journey upriver from Hobart to New Norfolk.

The missions were more than just another passenger cruise,  marking another important moment in reopening the river while reconnecting New Norfolk and the Derwent Valley with a proud chapter of its maritime past.

Sixty passengers were aboard the "Derwent Ferries" Excella for its run from Hobart to New Norfolk on Sunday, where visitors then boarded a shuttle bus and made their way to the historic Bush Inn hotel for lunch.

Similarly, a packed Spirit of Hobart arrived at the Esplanade in New Norfolk this afternoon, with the boat due to also make a return visit in late October.

Both cruises were made on the back of restrictions on navigation near the new Bridgewater Bridge being lifted by Marine and Safety Tasmania(MAST) on September 11, with “Mariners advised that the decommissioning of the old Bridgewater Bridge is complete with the prohibited navigation area declared under M115-26 now cancelled.

For generations, the Derwent River was one of the most important transport routes to New Norfolk from Hobart before roads and highways were built, with steam boats relied on to carry passengers and produce between the two communities.

Passenger steamers were a familiar sight on the river, especially during the early days of the Regatta, with the boats bringing large numbers of people from Hobart to enjoy the regatta's festivities on the Esplanade at New Norfolk.

That era ended as road and rail transport became more important, and with the Bridgewater Bridge being built in 1946, which prevented larger vessels from making the full journey from Hobart to New Norfolk.

All that changed earlier in 2026 with the demolition of the old Bridgewater Bridge, which opened the river for the first time in 80 years, allowing larger vessels to travel upriver uninterrupted once again.

The Excella's return, along with others like the Egeria and Spirit of Hobart, comes at a significant time for the town.

It follows the first modern vessels making their way upriver, and as preparations continue for the revival of the New Norfolk Regatta in February 2027.

For older residents who saw passenger boats on the Derwent in the past, the arrival of the Excella and Spirit of Hobart will stir memories of a very different New Norfolk, when the river wasn't just a backdrop but one of the most important gateways to the Derwent Valley.

For younger residents, it now offers a glimpse of that past, but also a look at the future as New Norfolk and the Derwent Valley once again focus on the river.