How to Plan the Perfect Bruny Island Day Trip
Credit: Tourism Tasmania
Bruny Island might be Tasmania's best-kept secret, sitting just off the southeast coast like a quieter, wilder cousin to Hobart's urban charm. With stunning coastal scenery, abundant wildlife, and some of Tasmania's most sought-after local produce, this island destination packs an incredible amount of experiences into a relatively small package. Join us, as we guide you through the perfect Bruny Island day trip from Hobart.
How Do You Get to Bruny Island from Hobart?
For most visitors, getting to Bruny Island means first driving about 30 minutes south of Hobart to Kettering, where the vehicle ferry departs regularly throughout the day. Yes, you can absolutely go to Bruny Island by car, and bringing your own vehicle gives you maximum flexibility to explore at your own pace.
The Bruny Island Ferry (operated by SeaLink) makes the crossing roughly every half hour during peak times, with the journey across the D'Entrecasteaux Channel taking approximately 20 minutes.
If you're wondering about costs, the ferry fare for a standard vehicle with passengers will set you back between $38 and $56 return (depending on vehicle size), with prices occasionally fluctuating during peak seasons. It's worth checking the SeaLink website for current pricing and timetables before planning your trip.
Don't have a car? No worries! Several tour operators like our friends at Bruny Island Safaris run day trips from Hobart, providing transport, guided experiences, and often including lunch and tastings in their packages. These tours typically pick you up from central Hobart locations, making for a stress-free adventure.
What are the Best Things to Do on Bruny Island?
Credit: Tourism Tasmania
With so many remarkable experiences packed into such a compact area, you can sample the island's diverse offerings and still be back in Hobart for dinner. Below, we’ll explore some of the things that should be on your Bruny day trip bucket list, including:
- Wilderness Cruises
- The Neck Lookout
- Cape Bruny Lighthouse
Wilderness Cruises: What Wildlife Will You See?
Perhaps the most popular activity on Bruny Island is joining a wilderness cruise that explores the dramatic coastline of South Bruny. These three-hour eco-adventures take you along some of Australia's highest sea cliffs and into sea caves, with knowledgeable guides pointing out the island's remarkable wildlife along the way.
Pennicott Wilderness Journeys run award-winning Bruny Island Cruise Tours in custom-built boats that get you thrillingly close to the action. During your cruise, you're likely to encounter Australian fur seals lounging on rocky outcrops, dolphins playing in the boat's wake, sea eagles soaring overhead, migrating whales (May to July and September to December), and albatross, gannets, and other seabirds.
These cruises operate year-round but are weather-dependent, so it's worth building some flexibility into your itinerary. While they represent an additional cost (approximately $135-$165 per adult), most visitors consider them the highlight of their Bruny Island experience. The cruises depart from Adventure Bay, making them easy to incorporate into your day trip itinerary.
Exploring the Neck Lookout: Is it Family-Friendly?
Credit: Tourism Tasmania
Short answer - Yes!
The Neck is Bruny Island's most photographed spot – a narrow strip connecting North and South Bruny with stunning beaches on both sides. The lookout, accessed via a timber staircase climbing to the summit of the dunes, offers what many consider to be one of Tasmania's most spectacular 360-degree views.
Parents of young kids should beware that there are about 240 steps to climb. However, the reward at the top is worth every step, with breathtaking views across Adventure Bay to the east and Sunset Beach to the west. Information panels explain the area's significance, both as an important habitat for native wildlife and as a sacred site for Tasmanian Aboriginal people.
The Neck is also home to a fascinating natural phenomenon, serving as a breeding ground for short-tailed shearwaters (mutton birds) and little penguins. If you can stay until dusk (which is challenging on a day trip in winter when daylight hours are shorter), you might witness the magical ‘penguin parade’ as these little creatures return to their burrows after a day fishing at sea.
Is Visiting Cape Bruny Lighthouse Worth It?
Not only is visiting Cape Bruny Lighthouse worth it, it’s an experience that is sure to demand some serious space in your phone’s camera roll! Standing tall at Bruny Island's southernmost point, the Cape Bruny Lighthouse has been guiding ships safely through these waters since 1838. As Tasmania's second-oldest lighthouse, it represents an important piece of maritime history and offers visitors a glimpse into the isolated lives of lighthouse keepers from a bygone era.
The lighthouse stands within South Bruny National Park, and while you can visit the grounds independently, access to the lighthouse interior is only available through guided tours operated by Bruny Island Safaris. These tours provide fascinating insights into the lighthouse's operation and history, along with spectacular views from the balcony.
The journey to Cape Bruny takes you through some of the island's most spectacular landscapes, but be prepared for unsealed roads in the final stretch. If you're in a rental car, check whether your agreement covers driving on these roads before setting out.
Want the Best View? Here's Where to Find It
Credit: Tourism Tasmania
While The Neck Lookout offers the island's most famous vista, several other viewpoints compete for the title of "best view on Bruny."
Adventure Bay Lookout provides a sweeping panorama of the eastern coastline, where you can often spot dolphins playing in the bay. For those willing to take a short walk, the Fluted Cape Track offers increasingly spectacular coastal views the higher you climb.
Mavista Nature Walk, meanwhile, takes you through a pristine rainforest that feels worlds away from the coastal landscapes elsewhere on the island. The peaceful walk alongside a bubbling creek offers a different kind of beauty that provides a perfect contrast to the dramatic sea cliffs.
For photography enthusiasts, the view from Cape Bruny Lighthouse looking south toward the wild Southern Ocean is particularly beautiful during winter storms, while sunset at Cloudy Bay in South Bruny offers the perfect end to your day trip adventures.
Curious About Local Food? Don't Miss These Stops
Credit: Tourism Tasmania
What is Bruny Island known for? Among food lovers, it's earned a reputation as Tasmania's premier gourmet destination. The island's clean air, pure water, and fertile soils create perfect conditions for producing exceptional food, and several producers have set up shops where you can sample their wares. No foodie pilgrimage to Bruny is complete without stopping at these local favourites:
Get Shucked Oyster Farm
Watch your oysters being plucked from the water and shucked before your eyes at this iconic spot. Even if you've never been an oyster fan, these ultra-fresh molluscs might convert you.
Bruny Island Cheese Company
Nick Haddow's artisanal cheeses have developed a cult following. The onsite café serves wood-fired pizzas topped with their own cheeses, while the shop offers tastings and sells their full range of dairy products. Plus, the team brews their own beers on site in old milk vats, making for perfect cheese-pairing drops.
Bruny Island Premium Wines
Australia's southernmost vineyard produces cool-climate wines that perfectly complement the local produce. Open for all-day lunch, seven days a week, all year round and Saturday nights during daylight saving, the relaxed alfresco dining area overlooking the vineyard offers one of the island’s best dining experiences.
Bruny Island Chocolate Company
Handcrafted chocolates and fudges provide the perfect sweet treat after all that cheese. The famous roadside shop is perfect for quick call-ins or longer browsing. If you ask us, it’s the best place to stock up on snacks for the return ferry!
Tips for Planning a Stress-Free Day Trip
While a day trip to Bruny Island from Hobart is absolutely doable and well worth it, a little planning goes a long way toward ensuring you make the most of your time:
Start early - Catch one of the first ferries (they start running from 6:30 am) to maximise your time on the island.
- Check ferry timetables – Ferry schedules change seasonally, so confirm return times to avoid being stranded.
- Download maps offline – Mobile reception can be patchy in parts of the island. Download an app like Maps.me to access maps even when you’re not connected to the internet.
- Bring cash – Not all smaller vendors accept cards, particularly in more remote areas.
- Pack for changeable weather – Tasmania’s famous “four seasons in one day” is especially true on Bruny, where coastal locations mean conditions can change rapidly.
- Fill your fuel tank – There’s only one fuel station on the island (in Adventure Bay), and it doesn’t always keep standard hours.
- Book wildlife cruises in advance – These popular tours often sell out, especially during peak season.
Ready to Explore Bruny?
Credit: Tourism Tasmania
After a day exploring Bruny Island's stunning landscapes and sampling its gourmet delights, you'll appreciate returning to the comfort and convenience of the Hotel Grand Chancellor. With spacious rooms, friendly service, and a central harbourside location just 30 minutes from the Kettering ferry terminal, our hotel offers the ideal starting point for your Bruny Island day trip.
Our concierge team can help arrange your Bruny Island experience, whether you're looking to book a guided tour or need advice on self-driving options. After your day of exploration, unwind in our heated indoor pool or enjoy harbour views while savouring a meal featuring more of Tasmania's renowned produce at our Restaurant Tasman.
Keen to explore Bruny Island and uncover more of Hobart’s hidden gems? Secure your Hobart accommodation today and start planning your trip.