Bruny Island is a beautiful island off the southeastern coast of Tasmania, Australia, known for its wild landscapes, rich wildlife, gourmet produce, and cultural heritage. Often described as a microcosm of Tasmania, Bruny combines wilderness, wildlife, and gourmet experiences in a relatively compact area. It’s a mix of remote wilderness and boutique indulgence, and it was one of our favourite stops on our Tasmanian adventure.

Bruny Island lies about 40 km south of Hobart. Access is via a 15-minute vehicle ferry from Kettering (about a 30–40 minute drive from Hobart). You can pre-purchase tickets for the Sealink ferry, but you still have to queue and wait for the first available ferry with space for your vehicle. We just paid when we got there—the return trip was $53 AUD for a regular car. The terminal has a great little café with excellent coffee and baked goods, which made the wait much easier.

The island is actually two landmasses—North Bruny and South Bruny—connected by a narrow sandy isthmus called The Neck. We drove straight to The Neck after our pleasant ferry ride, and it did not disappoint! It’s easy to understand why this is such a photographed spot and a favourite in Tasmanian tourism campaigns. The Neck Lookout is the iconic viewing platform, offering sweeping views across both sides of the island. The steps look steep, but the stunning view is worth every one of them. We had a good look around and took heaps of pictures. At night, the area is also a prime spot to see little penguins returning to their burrows.

Next on our drive was Cape Bruny Lighthouse. Built in 1836, it is one of Australia’s oldest lighthouses still standing. The road to the lighthouse is rough gravel, with sweeping views over the ocean. The walk from the parking area to the lighthouse is short, and the surrounding views are epic. It’s a shame you can’t climb inside and summit the lighthouse itself.

The lighthouse sits within South Bruny National Park—a landscape of rugged coastlines, towering sea cliffs, long beaches, and bushwalking trails that make it a truly special destination.

We took a small detour on an even rockier, more rutted gravel road down to Jetty Beach, and it turned out to be one of the most stunning beaches we have ever visited. After a quick lunch at the campsite where we parked, we walked down to the powder-white sand. A refreshing swim in the crystal-clear water made us wish we had a camper van so we could have stayed longer. An absolutely stunning beach!

We had two nights booked at Hotel Bruny, and what a place it was. You know it’s the right place when you’re greeted with two complimentary bottles of delicious Bruny Island Cider. The cabin was amazing, with a huge deck overlooking the channel. Hotel Bruny also has an excellent restaurant with its infamously good chowder and scrumptious fish of the day. Booking a table was essential! Sitting on the deck after a good meal, watching the sunset paint the sky like a Munch painting, was one of the most serene experiences of our trip.

Bruny Island is home to the rare white wallaby, found only here. The next morning we got up before sunrise and drove across the island to Adventure Bay. We’d heard that along Lockleys Road there was a chance to see one. Driving slowly, not knowing what to expect, we were stunned when suddenly, like a ghost, a white wallaby hopped across the road! Seeing this elusive creature, moving gracefully through the morning mist alongside a companion, was pure magic—just us and the ghost of the Tasmanian forest.

In Adventure Bay, after finding some good coffee, we headed to Bruny Island Cruises. This RIB cruise came highly recommended by some fellow Dutch travellers we’d met earlier at Cradle Mountain. We booked the earliest possible departure (always a good idea at sea), and it turned out to be an epic three-hour adventure along Bruny’s rugged coastline.

We explored deep sea caves, marveled at the incredible Breathing Rock, and zoomed past The Monument. Dolphins, seals, flocks of albatross, and countless other seabirds made the trip unforgettable. A top tip: bring windproof, warm clothes, and always say yes to the ginger seasickness pill—just in case.

After the cruise, we enjoyed a hearty lunch at Mira Bruny, a cozy and welcoming spot. The beach is just across the road, and while we stood in the sand contemplating a swim, a sweet old English lady dared us to join her in the water. Of course, we couldn’t say no—swimming for everyone!

A word of warning: if you have a fear of narrow, washed-out, steep, and overgrown roads, do not take C629/Coolangatta Road, which looks like a shortcut from Adventure Bay to Lunawanna. However, if you’re in an SUV with good clearance and rugged tyres, it’s a small adventure through thick forest and epic hairpins. Tanja suggested more than once that we should turn around, but Ørjan prevailed and the road was conquered. The drive passes through Mount Mangana Forest Reserve, with towering trees and trailheads leading to great walks. For us, it was an awesome “not-so-short cut.”

Back at Bruny Hotel, we enjoyed cider in the sun and another delicious meal at the restaurant.

We could easily have used many more days on Bruny. The island is also famous for its gourmet food trail, with highlights including Bruny Island Cheese Co. (artisanal cheeses), Get Shucked (oysters), Bruny Island Premium Wines (the southernmost vineyard in Australia), and the most Instagrammed pair of old fridges at Bruny Bakery.

If we are ever lucky enough to return to Tasmania, Bruny Island will certainly be on our itinerary. It still feels slightly off the beaten track and retains its magic—from crystal-clear waters to pristine beaches and fresh local produce. We loved Bruny Island.

We acknowledge the Nuenonne people of Bruny Island, the traditional custodians of the land and waters of this place. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

Please read more about the history of the Nuenonne people here:

Rodney Dillon’s Aboriginal Story – Bruny Island