Bruny Island, accessed only be ferry off the southeastern coat of Tasmania, is home to gorgeous landscapes, diverse wildlife, and plentiful local food and beverages to tempt the palate. Joined by a narrow isthmus known as “The Neck”, Bruny Island is Tasmania’s premier island destination.
Visitors can either bring their car on The Bruny Island Ferry, The Mirambeena, departing daily from Kettering (30-minute drive from Hobart or consider exploring the many tours that include transportation to the island.
Bruny Island is sure to please your appetite for food and variety.
You’ll want to give yourself plenty of time to tour the island and experience the dramatically changing landscapes, from the highest tip in the north to the Cape Bruny Lighthouse in the south. Witness the wild coastlines from one of the world’s best eco-cruises from Adventure Bay and indulge in world-class bird watching. Image thanks to:Tourism Tasmania & Craig Parsey.
Here are a few ideas to get you started!
*Make your way to the Cape Bruny Lighthouse for a guided tour and learn secrets of the convict-built sight dating back to 1836.
*Take a Bruny Island Cruise. The Bruny Island Cruises have been named among the Top 100 Trips of the World by New York’s Travel & Leisure Magazine, in addition to winning Australia’s Best Tourist Attraction in 2012, 2014 and 2015.
*There are safaris, nature tours and scenic flights. For history buffs, discover the history of the island that predates the mid-1600's, before it opened up to European settlement.
*For foodies there are single day and multi-day luxury guided tours with food, wine, and, of course, extraordinary views.
*Art lovers should plan a visit to the art gallery at Dennes Point, featuring the work of local artisans, a unique and imaginative reflection of the environment and culture of the enchanting Bruny Island.
Bruny is classified by BirdLife International as an “Important Bird Area” and boasts the world's largest population of the endangered Forty-spotted Pardalote. A third of the world's population of the Swift Parrot can also be found here. You may also catch a view of a Black-faced Cormorant!
Another unique draw is the smallest penguins in the world, 40 cm in height and weighing in at just a kilogram, with peek viewing from September to February. Bruny Island also has a thriving population of white wallabies, a rare mutation of the Bennett’s wallaby that results in white fur and pink eyes, nose and claws. Image thanks to: Chi Kueng Renault Wong.
Fresh berries, handmade cheese, fresh oysters, single malts and more are available on the island. 400 hives can be found on Bruny, so consider taking home some Manuka honey, one of the most unique and beneficial forms of honey in the world, know for its healing properties.
Bruny Island premium wine tastings and sales are available seven days per week. Tasmania’s autumn days are perfect for slow fruit ripening conditions for premium cool-climate wines. Image thanks to: Tourism Tasmania & Rob Burnett
Bruny Island cheese makers settled on the island to make the cheeses you’ll love to eat. With training in France, Italy, Spain and the UK, they believe in old-school cheese making from the days before the advent of modern cheese technology, with a focus on flavour.