Really appreciate all the messages and ideas folks; I'm mulling over the following now:
- Got a $5k transport quote which is still a lot, but they can do it in the next few days
- Spend $3k-4k on a car trailer, and I think it's around $2k return on the Spirit with a trailer and do it myself over a long weekend. Bonus that I can probably sell the car trailer or just keep using it for the plane and other projects / motorbike. Can probably borrow a friends Ute for towing (current car doesn't have a tow bar).
- Take the empennage + engine off the frame and chuck it all in a LWB van (only need around 4m for the fuselage), and bring out down on the Spirit - this will be around $2500 for one way van hire + $1k for the ferry, will need a weekend to do it
- I get the impression stripping a Caravan or getting a container / crate is a more work / time and doesn't really save much more money? Will look into it though
I'm also genuinely debating spending $2-3k to just get it all assembled and registered again and fly it down - I've crossed the Bass Strait a few times in an SR22T (but way up in the flight levels) - not sure how I feel about a Rotax 447 doing it; not to mention needing to carry a life raft / survival gear, plus making sure there's a tailwind to help me along etc. It'll be one hell of an adventure though.