9 of the best Bruny Island tours to go on

We’ve lined up the best tours on Bruny Island, also known as Lunawanna-Alonnah.

A growing number of travellers are being drawn south from Hobart to the stark and beautiful wilderness that is Bruny Island. And with stunning beaches, waters brimming with oysters, locally crafted cheese, whiskies and beers, and magical hikes among the invigorating sea air, all available just an hour away, who can blame them?

The twin island of Bruny, also known as Lunawanna-Alonnah to First Nations peoples, has plenty on offer to appeal to all kinds of travellers. But if you only have time for a day trip, don’t waste a moment. Instead, book one of these Bruny Island tours to make the most of your time there.

Bruny Island food tours

1. Bruny Island Food, Sightseeing and Cape Bruny Lighthouse Tour by Bruny Island Safaris

Stand tall atop the Cape Bruny Lighthouse. (Image: Tourism Tasmania & Rob
Burnett)

This fully guided day tour from Bruny Island Safaris takes in the best of the island. And of course, this means sampling the produce that Bruny is most famous for; fresh, plump oysters, drams of Tasmanian distilled whisky, traditionally matured cheeses dished up on generous platters and samples of decadent fudge.

But you won’t have to loosen your belt too much. Starting from Hobart on the Bruny Island Food, Sightseeing and Cape Bruny Lighthouse Tour, as a group you’ll take the SeaLink ferry to explore the island’s temperate rainforests, search for elusive white wallabies, gaze out from the Truganini Lookout at The Neck, which connects north and south Bruny, and climb the staircase of the Cape Bruny Island Lighthouse, overlooking the wild, remote coastline. The tour includes lunch, tastings and a picnic morning tea on the beach.

Price: From $260 for adults

2. Bruny Island Traveller by Pennicott Wilderness Journeys

Grab a loaf of woodfired sourdough bread with cheese. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Meet local producers on this full-day Bruny Island food tour from Hobart, with stops that include the famous Bruny Island Cheese Company, Bruny Island Chocolate Company and Bruny Island Honey.

Come lunchtime, you’ll sit down for lunch at Pennicott’s restaurant at Adventure Bay, where you’ll be able to sample some of the best oysters from the Get Shucked oyster farm along with Tasmanian wine.

The tour also includes a stop at the Bligh Museum, where you’ll learn about Pacific sea exploration and The Neck lookout for panoramic views, plus a walk through the Mavista rainforest and alongside the beach.

Price: From $265 for adults

Want to do a DIY foodie tour? We’ve lined up the most delicious Bruny Island experiences that will have you drooling.

Bruny Island by sea and air

3. Bruny Island Cruises by Pennicott Wilderness Journeys

Cruise past scenic landscapes around Bruny Island. (Image: Adam Gibson)

Did you know that the waters around Bruny Island are home to kelp gardens, a seal colony, pods of dolphins, migrating humpback whales and southern right whales, and short-tailed shearwaters?

Look out for these and more when you cruise past the towering dolerite sea cliffs – some of the highest in the southern hemisphere – with Bruny Island Cruises by Pennicott Wilderness Journeys.

You will even get the chance to see a blowhole and enter a sea cave, an incredible experience to have on your bucket list. Wrap up warmly before you depart from Adventure Bay.

Price: from $175 for adults

4. Bruny Island Scenic Flight

Take in spectacular views above Gordon Dam. (Image: Stu Gibson)

Witness spectacular views from above when you book a tour by air with Island Scenic Flights. See the winding bays, rocky outcrops and sensational coastline of Bruny Island before returning to land. Flight routes vary and may circle the rocks of South Bruny Island, cruise above Lake Pedder, Gordon Dam and Federation Peak on Maria Island, or stop at Melaleuca, where you can visit an old tin mine and stroll 1.2 kilometres through the forest on the interpretive Needwonnee Aboriginal cultural walk to learn about the area’s Indigenous history. Flights are fully customisable, depending on your budget and what you want to see.

You can combine your flight with Bruny Island Safaris for a full Bruny experience.

Price: From $100 per person (minimum two people)

Bruny Island nature tours

5. Inala Nature Tours

If birds and wildlife are your thing, stop by the Inala Nature Reserve to search for some of Bruny Island’s furry and feathered friends. You can book either a property tour, which spends three hours exploring the 1500-acre private conservation reserve, or a personalised day tour that visits birding locations and habitats on other parts of the island. On both tours, you’ll be led by an experienced natural history guide who will help you spot some of the island and greater Tasmania’s most beautiful and rare bird species, some not found anywhere else in the world. Multi-day tours may also be available on request.

Price: from $195 per adult (based on 2-6 people)

Bruny Island historical tours

6. Cape Bruny Lighthouse Tour

Cape Bruny Lighthouse overlooks stunning views of the island. (Image: Jess Bonde)

Built by convict labour out of local dolerite rocks in 1835, the heritage-listed Cape Bruny Lighthouse at the tip of South Bruny National Park is the second-oldest lighthouse in Australia still in existence.

Today, you can join a Cape Bruny Lighthouse Tour to learn more about the fascinating maritime history of this place, and the lives of the keepers who worked here. Climb the tower for awe-inspiring views over the southern oceans, and tour at sunset on Friday and Saturday evenings for an extra-special experience.

Price: from $25 for adults

7. Bruny Island Quarantine Station

Fear of infection, quarantining and isolation… sounding horribly familiar to living through the Covid era? Back in the day, quarantining travellers was considered one of the best ways to keep disease and infections out of Australia. During this time, quarantine stations like the one you can find on Bruny Island sprung up all over the country, in an effort to lessen the impact of typhoid, influenza and other dangerous illnesses.

Since then the Quarantine Station at Barnes Bay has also been used as a wartime internment camp and a plant quarantine. When here, take the self-guided two-hour-long heritage interpretive walk to find out more about its fascinating history.

Price: Voluntary donation

Bruny Island walking tours

8. Bruny Island Long Weekend Walk with the Tasmanian Walking Company

Immerse yourself in the best of Bruny Island’s scenery. (Image: Tourism Australia/Graham Freeman)

With white sand beaches, breathtaking coastal lookouts, forests of eucalyptus and rainforests, there’s lots to discover for the keen rambler of Luawanna-Alonnah. See them all on a Bruny Island Long Weekend Walk with the Tasmanian Walking Company, traversing 30 kilometres at a moderate pace over three days.

Not only will you get to see all of the above and more, but you won’t miss out when it comes to the finer things in life. Walkers will get to shuck and consume shellfish in the water at an exclusive oyster lease, sleep every night in a private eco-camp and try the best of Bruny and Tasmania’s food and wine.

Price: From $2,295 per person

9. Fluted Cape Walk with Pennicott Journeys

Stroll along Adventure Bay. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Set out from Hobart to complete the challenging but spectacular Fluted Cape Walk above the cliff tops near Adventure Bay. The 5.5-kilometre circuit walk takes around 2.5 hours and is well worth it, with the steep climbs rewarding walkers with views down from the rock walls and over the sea. Pack good shoes for any slippery parts.

Don’t feel quite up to it? Whether travelling with Pennicott Journeys or solo, you can take the Grass Point track instead, which is an easy 1.5-hour return walk that starts along the same track as Fluted Cape.

Both hikes are unguided and the cost includes a return bus and ferry crossing from Hobart, a National Parks pass, and morning tea. Lunch is available to purchase.

Price: From $85 per person

Discover the best things to do on Bruny Island.

This article was originally written by Kate Bettes with updates by Emily Mcauliffe.