Bruny Island and I go way back — far beyond my travel blogging days.
When I was a kid, our family friends had a holiday house in Adventure Bay, and we’d head there for the occasional summer getaway over the New Year period. I still remember the excitement of waiting in the car to board the ferry at Kettering — driving onto the deck and stepping out to watch as the ferry pulled away was always such a thrill for us kids.
After disembarking, we’d wind our way down the narrow island roads, stopping at The Neck to climb up and admire the sweeping view across North and South Bruny. Once we arrived at the house, it was all about slowing down and enjoying simple pleasures — fishing for abalone from our friends’ dinghy, lounging on the beach in the midsummer sun, or walking into the tiny township to grab an ice cream from the local grocery store.
To me, that’s what Bruny is all about — that feeling of just existing with the landscape, of letting go of the everyday worries and simply enjoying what’s around you. The air feels fresher here, the pace slower, and nature always close at hand.
I’ve been back to Bruny as an adult a few times (most recently in 2017 with my family), and while it’s definitely evolved into one of Tasmania’s most sought-after natural destinations, it hasn’t lost that peaceful touch. Whether it’s your first visit or your fifth, here’s how to experience Bruny Island at its absolute best.
Quick summary:
Bruny Island is one of the best day trips from Hobart, Tasmania — with scenic drives, gourmet food, and dramatic coastal views all packed into one small island. Whether you self-drive or join a guided tour, this little slice of wilderness delivers the perfect mix of adventure and indulgence.
Recommended tours:
🚌 From Hobart: Full-Day Guided Bruny Island Tour — See Bruny’s top attractions and taste local produce on this popular full-day guided tour.
🚤 From Hobart: Full-Day Bruny Island Cruises Day Tour — Cruise beneath towering cliffs and past fur seal colonies on this epic full-day land-and-sea adventure.
🐬 From Adventure Bay: 3-Hour Bruny Island Wilderness Cruise — Explore sea caves and spot dolphins and seabirds on this thrilling eco-cruise from Adventure Bay.
💡 Cape Bruny Lighthouse Guided Tour — Climb inside one of Australia’s oldest lighthouses for sweeping ocean views and fascinating maritime history.
Where is Bruny Island?
Bruny Island lies off Tasmania’s southeast coast. To get there, you’ll drive about 40 minutes south of Hobart along the Channel Highway to the small town of Kettering, where the ferry departs for the island. You can drive your vehicle on board the ferry. It takes about 20 minutes across the D’Entrecasteaux Channel.
Technically, Bruny is two islands — North Bruny and South Bruny — joined by a narrow strip of sand known as The Neck. The main attractions are spread across both halves, so having a car (or joining a tour) is the best way to explore. You can easily explore the highlights in a day.
Once you’re on the island, distances can feel deceptively long because the roads are single lane and winding, which keeps your pace slow. It takes around one hour to drive from the ferry terminal at Roberts Point to Cape Bruny Lighthouse at the southern tip of the island.
How to get to Bruny Island from Hobart
Option 1: By guided day tour
If you prefer not to drive, there are several excellent tour options that depart from Hobart each morning and include everything — ferry tickets, transport, local tastings, and sightseeing stops.
🚌 Bus tour: Full-Day Guided Bruny Island Tour from Hobart
This affordable full-day tour is a great option for discovering Bruny Island’s stunning landscapes, attractions, and local flavours. Includes hotel pick up in Hobart, transport, ferry tickets, and stops at The Neck lookout, Adventure Bay, and local tastings.
🚤 Land-and-sea tour: Full-Day Bruny Island Cruises Day Tour from Hobart
Experience Bruny Island by both land and sea on this full-day adventure. Includes bus transport from Hobart plus a top rated 3-hour wilderness cruise around the island’s rugged coastline, passing steep cliffs, sea caves, and fur seal colonies. Your ferry tickets, morning tea, and lunch are all included.
Option 2: Self-drive car + ferry
Driving yourself offers maximum flexibility. You can rent a car in Hobart, then it’s a 40 minute drive south to the Kettering Ferry Terminal to catch the SeaLink Bruny Island Ferry.
Bruny Island ferry tickets can be purchased at the terminal or online. Prices are charged per vehicle (not per person). You’ll drive onto the ferry then hop out of your car for the crossing, which takes around 20 minutes. Ferry times may vary slightly by season, with the first sailing around 6:30am and the last returning by early evening. Fares start from around $55 AUD (as of 2025) return for a standard car.
Once on Bruny, the drive from the ferry landing at Roberts Point to Adventure Bay takes about 40 minutes, or it’s about an hour to get all the way down to Cape Bruny Lighthouse on the southern tip of the island.
It’s a good idea to arrive at the ferry terminal early on summer weekends or school holidays, as queues can form at peak periods. Fuel up in Hobart or Kingston before driving down, as petrol stations on the island are limited. If you’re planning a Bruny Island self-drive itinerary, the roads are easy to navigate and are well-signed.
Bruny Island map guide:
H – Hobart
K – Kettering Ferry Terminal
R – Roberts Point Ferry Terminal (Bruny Island)
N – The Neck Lookout
A – Adventure Bay
L – Cape Bruny Lighthouse
Top things to do on Bruny Island:
The Neck Lookout (Truganini Lookout)
The Neck is the narrow strip of sand that connects North and South Bruny — and climbing the wooden staircase to Truganini Lookout is one of the most iconic things to do on the island. From the top, you’ll get awesome views of long beaches stretching out in both directions, water on both sides, and the rolling hills of South Bruny in the distance.
If you visit The Neck at dusk, you may see little penguins returning from the ocean to their burrows in the dunes. I have such vivid memories of doing this as a kid — we’d cover our torches with red cellophane to avoid startling the penguins, then quietly wait on the boardwalk as tiny shapes began to waddle their way up the sand. Watching them shuffle across the dunes to nest for the night is such a treat!
If you plan to visit in the evening, it’s best to use a red light, stay on the boardwalk, and keep voices low so you don’t disturb the wildlife. The penguins usually come ashore just after sunset, and while winter is often the best time to spot them, you may see them at any time throughout the year.
Adventure Bay & Wilderness Cruise
Adventure Bay is one of the loveliest places to stop on Bruny Island. A beautiful sheltered bay surrounded by rainforest and gentle waves, it’s perfect for a beach walk, a picnic, or simply soaking up the quiet coastal scenery. The area also has a fascinating place in history, having been visited by early explorers including Captain Cook in the 1770s.
Adventure Bay is one of the best spots on Bruny to see white wallabies. These rare wallabies are a genetic variant found almost exclusively on the island. On my most recent visit, we managed to see one around the Fluted Cape trailhead, hopping quietly through the scrub near the beach. Their pale fur stands out against the bushland, and catching sight of them is a real highlight for wildlife lovers. Early morning or late afternoon tends to be the best time to spot them.
🐬 Adventure Bay is also the departure point for the Bruny Island Wilderness Cruise — one of the most popular Bruny Island activities.
This exhilarating 3-hour eco-cruise takes you beneath towering dolerite cliffs, into sea caves, and past a colony of fur seals at The Friars. You’ll often see dolphins, seabirds, and possibly the occasional whale in winter!
Cape Bruny Lighthouse
Built in 1836, Cape Bruny Lighthouse is one of Australia’s oldest lighthouses. It operated for over 150 years, guiding ships through some of Tasmania’s most treacherous waters off the rugged southern tip of the island. Today it sits within South Bruny National Park, surrounded by windswept hills and dramatic cliffs that drop straight into the ocean, and is one of the best Bruny Island attractions for visitors.
The drive out to the lighthouse is part of the experience — a scenic route that winds through thick forest before opening out onto vast stretches of open coastline. As you approach, the lighthouse comes into view on a headland that feels completely remote, with nothing but the Southern Ocean stretching endlessly beyond it.
💡 Join a Cape Bruny Lighthouse Guided Tour and you’ll get exclusive access to step inside the tower and climb the narrow spiral staircase to the top!
The tour guide will share fascinating stories about maritime history, shipwrecks, weather patterns, and daily life at the light station. With binoculars provided, it’s also a great spot for spotting seabirds and photographing Tasmania’s rugged coastline from above.
Where to eat and drink on Bruny Island
Cheese & Beer: Bruny Island Cheese Co.
This is one of our favourite food stops on the island! Bruny Island Cheese Co. specialises in artisan cheeses made using traditional techniques and local ingredients. Enjoy a cheese board on the deck, pick up a few wheels to take home, or wander next door to Bruny Island Beer Co. for a craft brew.
Oysters: Get Shucked
One of the most popular food stops on Bruny Island is Get Shucked, a waterfront oyster bar where visitors can sample Pacific oysters harvested directly from the waters of Great Bay. It’s a favourite spot for seafood lovers, offering everything from freshly shucked oysters to takeaway trays perfect for a picnic by the beach.
Wine: Bruny Island Premium Wines
Claimed to be Australia’s southernmost vineyard, Bruny Island Premium Wines offers tastings and generous platters in a relaxed farm-style setting. It’s the perfect midday break if you’re after a glass of pinot noir or riesling paired with fresh island produce.
Whisky: Bruny Island House of Whisky
For whisky fans, the The Bruny Island House of Whisky is a cosy tasting room showcasing premium and rare Tasmanian whiskies, including limited-release bottlings you won’t find anywhere else.
Berries: Bruny Island Berry Farm
If you’re visiting in summer, Bruny Island Berry Farm is a sweet stop for fresh berries, homemade jams, and scoops of ice cream. They serve flavours from the beloved Tasmanian brand Valhalla, and last time I was there I grabbed a Tasmanian Pepperberry ice cream — a creamy treat with a uniquely local twist.
Honey: Bruny Island Honey
Drop into the Bruny Island Honey shop for locally sourced leatherwood honey and a range of Tasmanian honeys. You can sample different flavours, browse beeswax products, and pick up an easy, delicious souvenir.
Where to stay on Bruny Island
If you decide to stay overnight, Adventure Bay makes an ideal base. It’s a cute little township with a relaxed community feel, plus it has the convenience of a small grocery store plus a couple of food outlets serving dinner, such as the Mari Bruny Café and the Bruny Bowls and Community Club.
🏠 If you want to stay in some beautifully designed eco-cabins, check out 43 Degrees Bruny Island which is located just steps from the beach in Adventure Bay.
The stylish apartments and pods feel modern yet cosy, with thoughtful touches like spa baths, native timber finishes, and patios that make it easy to unwind after a day of exploring. It’s the perfect spot for couples or travellers wanting a peaceful retreat surrounded by nature. Be sure to book ahead — accommodation fills up fast during the summer months and on weekends!
FAQ: Planning your Bruny Island trip
How do you get to Bruny Island from Hobart?
You can self-drive or join a guided day tour. Both options will take you south to Kettering, then take the SeaLink ferry (20 minutes) across the channel to the island. The total travel time from Hobart to Bruny Island is about an hour.
Do you need to book the Bruny Island ferry?
Pre-booking online via SeaLink is recommended, especially during weekends and school holidays.
Can you visit Bruny Island in one day?
Yes! Bruny Island is one of the best day trips from Hobart. You can comfortably visit The Neck, Adventure Bay, Cape Bruny Lighthouse, and a few tasting stops in a single day with about 2 hours of travel time in each direction (not including stops). If you prefer a slower pace, consider staying overnight.
Is Bruny Island worth visiting?
Absolutely — it’s one of Tasmania’s most rewarding destinations, combining beautiful scenery, wildlife, and world-class local produce.
When is the best time to visit Bruny Island?
Bruny is great year-round. Summer offers the warmest weather, while winter brings moody skies, fewer crowds, and cosy cellar doors.
Can you see penguins on Bruny Island?
Yes! Visit The Neck at sunset to spot little penguins returning to their burrows.
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