Skip to content
Australia Travel EscapesAustralian travel and wellness escapes, revived for a new editorial era

Guide · Tasmania ·

Bruny Island day trip: how to plan it from Hobart

By the Australia Travel Escapes editorial team · Who we are

A Bruny Island day trip from Hobart is easy to do if you catch an early car ferry from Kettering, about 32 km south of the city. The island has a narrow sandy neck, a historic bay, a national park and a lighthouse that was first lit in 1838. This guide gives you a simple plan for one day, with the stops in the order that works best.

Bruny is split in two by a thin strip of sand. You cannot see all of it in a day. Pick a few stops, and leave time for the last ferry home.

Sources for this section: Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania, South Bruny National Park visitor factsheet; Wikipedia, Bruny Island (archived March 2008).

Getting there: the ferry from Kettering

Drive south from Hobart to Kettering. The Parks and Wildlife Service says the trip is 32 km and takes about 40 minutes. Take the Southern Outlet toward Kingston, then follow the signs to Margate and on to Kettering. A signposted turnoff leads down to the ferry.

The vehicle ferry runs between Kettering and North Bruny. You can take a car or a campervan, or go as a foot passenger. The park service gives a phone number for the ferry service for times and fares, so check them before you leave.

It is worth arriving early, because departure times may vary. In summer and school holidays, expect a queue at Kettering. An early start gives you the best chance of an easy crossing, and it gives you more daylight on the island.

Sources for this section: Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania, South Bruny National Park visitor factsheet.

First stop: The Neck

From the ferry the road runs south along North Bruny to The Neck. This is the long, narrow, sandy strip that joins North Bruny and South Bruny. It has water on both sides, and it is a good place to stop and take photos.

The Neck is an important breeding site for short-tailed shearwaters, also called muttonbirds, and for fairy penguins. Stay on the marked tracks and keep off the dunes, so you do not crush burrows.

Park entry fees apply on Bruny. Passes are sold at the visitor centre in Kettering, and there are self-registration booths at The Neck and on Lighthouse Road. Pay before you start your walks.

Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Bruny Island (archived March 2008); Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania, South Bruny National Park visitor factsheet.

Adventure Bay and the early explorers

Adventure Bay on South Bruny is a good place for a walk on the beach and a long lunch break. It is also a place with a long European history. Tobias Furneaux discovered and named the bay in 1773.

The ships of James Cook stayed in the bay for two days in January 1777. William Bligh anchored here in 1788 and again in 1792. Cook carved his initials in a tree, but that tree was destroyed in a bushfire in 1905. A plaque now marks the spot.

Food and petrol can be bought at shops at Adventure Bay and at Alonnah, but opening times can change. Bring food and water for the day, and check what is open on the day you go.

Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Bruny Island (archived March 2008); Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania, South Bruny National Park visitor factsheet.

South Bruny National Park walks

The south of the island is protected as South Bruny National Park, which was created in 1997. The Parks and Wildlife Service lists short walks and longer day walks. Choose one that suits the time you have.

Most day visitors pick one walk, not two. The park service advises a raincoat, warm clothing, strong walking shoes, a hat and sunscreen, and water. The weather can change very quickly. Tell someone your plan. Walking on cliff tracks carries real risk. This is general information, not medical advice.

Sources for this section: Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania, South Bruny National Park visitor factsheet.

The lighthouse and wildlife

Cape Bruny Lighthouse stands at the southern end of the island. It was first lit in 1838, and it was the oldest continuous lighthouse under operation by the Commonwealth. It is now out of service and is part of the national park. The road to it is Lighthouse Road, which you reach from Lunawanna.

Bruny is a good island for wildlife. A tourism site for the island says it is home to fur seals, fairy penguins and white wallabies. The park service notes that all 12 bird species found only in Tasmania live on Bruny, and it describes the island as a good place for bird watching.

The island is also known for local food. The Bruny Island Cheese Co. describes itself as an artisan cheese maker. Opening times can change, so check before you plan a meal around one stop.

Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Bruny Island (archived March 2008); Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania, South Bruny National Park visitor factsheet and bird checklist; Bruny Island tourism site (archived December 2008); Bruny Island Cheese Co. (archived October 2008).

A simple day plan

  1. Early morning: drive to Kettering and take an early ferry.
  2. Mid morning: stop at The Neck, then drive on to Adventure Bay.
  3. Midday: eat lunch near the bay, using the food you brought or a place you know is open.
  4. Afternoon: do one walk in South Bruny National Park, such as Grass Point. Add the lighthouse if time allows.
  5. Late afternoon: start back north in good time. Allow for the drive to the ferry and a possible queue.

Be sure of the time of the last ferry back to Kettering before you set off, and plan to be in the queue well ahead of it. Staying overnight is the better choice if you want to walk more than one track or see the island at dusk.

Sources for this section: Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania, South Bruny National Park visitor factsheet.

Sources

  1. Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania, South Bruny National Park, visiting factsheet (December 2003): parks.tas.gov.au
  2. Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania, South Bruny National Park bird checklist: parks.tas.gov.au
  3. Wikipedia, Bruny Island (archived March 2008): en.wikipedia.org
  4. Bruny Island tourism site (archived December 2008): brunyisland.org.au
  5. Bruny Island Cheese Co. (archived October 2008): brunyislandcheese.com.au