Bruny Island Safaris Bruny Island Essential Explorer

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A full-day guided tour of Bruny Island from Hobart, combining scenery, local stories and the island's gourmet produce, with an exclusive guided tour of Cape Bruny Lighthouse.

Days

Full day, about 10 hours

Age

All ages; lighthouse stairs 5 and over

Group size

Small group, max 21

Start / finish

Hobart / Hobart

Return

See itinerary for details

Transport

Modern bus with a driver-guide, Hobart hotel pick-up, return Bruny Island ferry

Meals

No meals are listed as included; free time to buy lunch in Lunawanna

Route

Map of Bruny Island Safaris Bruny Island Essential Explorer

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Included experiences

Cape Bruny Lighthouse — guided tour
Truganini Lookout — climb at the Neck
South Bruny National Park — white wallaby spotting
Bruny Island Cheese Co and Get Shucked Oysters — tastings to buy
Bruny Island Honey — honey tasting
Lunawanna — lunch at the local cafe

Bruny Island Safaris Bruny Island Essential Explorer

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Itinerary

Map

MORNING: HOBART TO BRUNY ISLAND

Your guide collects you from your Hobart or Sandy Bay hotel and does all the driving, south through the hills to the ferry at Kettering. The crossing runs over the D'Entrecasteaux Channel, named, like the island itself, after the French admiral Bruni d'Entrecasteaux, who charted these waters in 1792. Your return ferry fares are already paid, so just find a spot at the rail. The traditional owners are the Nuenonne people, who know the island as Lunawanna-Alonnah (Bruny Island). There's no fixed running order once you land: your guide shapes the day around the ferry, the weather and the group, and the stops below run from north to south.

NORTH BRUNY AND THE NECK

North Bruny is the island's food basket. At Bruny Island Cheese Co, cheesemaker Nick Haddow makes cheeses in the old European farmhouse way, and you can taste and buy to take away. Nearby, Get Shucked grows its oysters in the cold, clean water of Great Bay, and they're opened to order. Your guide also pulls up at the Bruny Island Baker's bread fridges, an honesty-box roadside stop for loaves baked on the island. Then comes The Neck, the thin sand isthmus joining North and South Bruny. Climb the stairs to Truganini Lookout, named for the Nuenonne woman born on the island around 1812, for the view of both coasts. Little penguins and shearwaters nest in the dunes below.

MIDDAY: ADVENTURE BAY AND LUNAWANNA

On South Bruny the road drops to Adventure Bay, named by Tobias Furneaux after his ship Adventure in 1773. Captain Cook and William Bligh both anchored here later, and at Two Tree Point you stand where their crews came ashore for fresh water. Keep watching the bush around the bay: it's home to the island's rare white wallabies, a pale form of the Bennett's wallaby. There's time at Bruny Island Chocolate Co, and honey tastings, included in your tour, at Bruny Island Honey, where Tasmanian leatherwood honey comes from a tree that grows only on the island state. Lunch is your own choice at the locally owned café in Lunawanna, a village that, with neighbouring Alonnah, carries the island's Aboriginal name.

AFTERNOON: CAPE BRUNY LIGHTHOUSE

The road runs on through South Bruny National Park, where sea cliffs and heath meet the Southern Ocean, and your park pass is included. At the island's southern tip stands Cape Bruny Lighthouse, built by convicts and first lit in 1838, then kept by resident keepers until it was switched off in 1996. It's the only lighthouse in southern Tasmania open for tours, and your guided tour takes you inside and up the stairs, a visit other tour groups don't get. From the top the view runs south over the ocean, with nothing between you and Antarctica. The small Lighthouse Museum tells the keepers' story. Children under five can't climb the stairs.

LATE AFTERNOON: BACK TO HOBART

Back north over The Neck and onto the ferry, with your bag likely heavier than it was this morning. Your guide drops you back in Hobart after a day of about ten hours.

Map

Good to know

Meeting point: Pick-up from selected Hobart and Sandy Bay hotels; your pick-up details are arranged at least 48 hours before the tour.
Minimum age: Children under 5 are not permitted to climb the Cape Bruny Lighthouse stairs, for safety reasons.
Please note: All tastings are optional and purchases are not included.

What to bring

Comfortable walking shoes
Warm clothing
Sun protection

What is included

Selected Hobart and Sandy Bay hotel pick-up
Return Bruny Island ferry fares
Cape Bruny Lighthouse tour ticket
South Bruny National Park pass
Honey tastings at Bruny Island Honey
Guide and driver, with commentary throughout the day
Comfortable, modern bus

Not included

Other tastings
Lunch
Gift purchases

FAQ

Preparing for the trip

Do I need travel insurance?

Insurance is important in protecting visitors from loss or damange of goods, medical problems, cancelation by passengers or other casualties. Its highly recommended. Some tours on this website require you to have travel insurance. If you are Australian then it is not necessary.

Where can I get more information about this trip?

If you find that this tour page doesn't answer all your questions, then please get in contact with us! Our passionate team are always available to answer any queries you may have.

What immunisations do I need?

For the latest information on immunisations, we strongly recommend you or contact the Travellers Medical and Vaccination Centre (www.traveldoctor.com.au) to discuss health requirements for your trip. They will advise you about appropriate inoculations.

Do I need to take any medical supplies?

It is not necessary to bring any medical supplies other than any personal items you may require. Each tour carries a first aid box, and the tour guides are all certified in First Aid.

Will I be able to use my mobile whilst on tour?

You can use your mobile while touring in Australia or New Zealand, but coverage may be limited in remote areas. For best connectivity, consider purchasing a local SIM card or an international roaming plan.

How fit do I need to be?

These tours are designed to be fun, informative and active, and can be enjoyed by anyone with a moderate degree of fitness and agility. Travellers should be comfortable with hiking or walking up to 5km each day.

What should I pack?

Depending on where in Australia or New Zealand you decide to visit, your luggage will vary. For exact information please visit the "What to bring" section of each tour page.

Private tours and families

Is it possible to travel in a private group?

If you are looking for a private tour based on one of these trips, please contact us directly and we may be able to help. Over the years we have worked with families, groups of friends, schools, clubs and charities to put together the perfect trip.

Booking the trip

Do I have to book this tour online?

Definitely not. Our website is designed to make is easy and convenient for you to schedule your tour. However we understand sometimes its nice to talk to someone directly. So by all means give us a call and we can organise your trip over the phone.

If I book more than one tour can I get a discount?

Absolutely! If you are booking multiple tours then we may be able to offer you a discount. Send us an email at info@lostinaustralia.org and let us know what you thinking of doing and we can put together a price for you.Also, be sure to look out for monthly specials on tours. We often have some great bargains.

Does the tour price include flights?

No. Tour prices do not include any travel arrangements other than for the duration of the tour itself. If you need assistance with booking flights or buses our travel team and certainly help - Just ask!

How far in advance do I need to book my tour?

As a rule of thumb, try to book at least 2 weeks prior to departure, this will usually get you a seat on the date you want. That being said, we cannot guarantee that spaces will be available at the time of your booking so, if you can, book as soon as possible. Bookings can still be made right up until the departure date of the tour if seats are available. If you know when you'd like to travel, please contact us and we will let you know if you need to book soon or if you have time.

How do I know when a tour is available?

You can check the departure dates of tours by using our calendar on the top right hand corner of the tour page. This will tell you what days the tour departs. For availability of seats please contact us directly at info@lostinaustralia.org or call us.

If I make a deposit only, when will I need to pay the balance?

Balance on tours need to be paid at least 30 days prior to departure. Failure to do so could result is the cancellation of your seat with a fee charged. If you need more time to clear your balance then let us know ASAP and arrangements can be made.

Who travels with us

Is it ok to travel alone on one of these tours?

Plenty of travellers book these tours on their own. Solo travellers are very much welcomed and encouraged. During your outback adventure you'll meet new and interesting people and forge relationships that last a lifetime.Solo travellers will usually share a room with a travelling companion of the same sex, but even if you do get your own room you won't be charged extra. On camping tours there are generally enough tents available that you can have your own if you choose to.For more information please contact us directly.

Cost and Fees

Do I need to tip the guide?

If you had an amazing time on tour and wish to tip your guide, that is completely up to you. Tipping is not customary in Australia and is not at all expected.

Will I need additional money?

Travellers are advised to bring some cash, as ATMs and banks can be few and far between in the remote parts of the trip. It is handy to have some extra cash, as the tour does stop by local shops and cafes.

Are there any hidden fees I need to know about?

Our tour prices are completely transparent. There are no additional fees involved that are not included in the overall tour price shown. If you wish to do optional activities such as helicopter rides or wildlife safaris, then an extra cost may be needed. However, this will always be made clear at the time of your booking.

What does Paid Locally mean?

Some tours require you to pay national park fees directly, in cash, to the tour guide on the morning of departure. Rest assured this will be subtracted from the tour price when reserving your tour.

Whilst on tour

Can I book extra accommodation for the start and end of the tour?

We know our country inside and out and would be happy to give you good recommodations. Please contact us for recommendations.

Where do I meet the tour?

For pick-up times and locations, please check the "Start/Finish" section directly under the itinerary, which lists every pick-up point and its time.There is a lot of information there to help you plan your flights and arrival.Please review it carefully, as pick-ups can vary from tour to tour.

Reviews

5.0

Based on 3 reviews

Verified from

Real reviews from travellers who've done this tour, gathered from around the web and paraphrased.

How we collect and publish reviews

Where they come from. Our reviews are gathered from independent review sites and from guests who share feedback with us directly after their trip. They come from people who have actually travelled on the tour. Some longer trips are made up of shorter tours we also sell, run back to back — where a review was written about one of those legs, the review says so.

Why some are edited. Many of our guests travel in their second or third language. Where a review is hard to read, we lightly edit spelling, grammar and punctuation, or paraphrase a sentence for clarity. We never change the rating, the meaning or the sentiment, and we never write a review on a guest's behalf.

Reading the originals. Reviews sourced from public review sites appear there in their original form, and can be read in full at their original source at any time.

(5/5)

A fantastic Essential Explorer tour with Filippo, who was knowledgeable and friendly. He even drove us to where the white wallaby is often seen, and we were lucky enough to spot one that afternoon.

K. W. Verified· Travelled 25th September 2026

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(5/5)

We booked the Essential Explorer and it couldn't have been better. Jimmy was knowledgeable and looked after the whole group, and it was a perfect mix of nature and local produce, with the choice to buy what mattered to us. Great value.

Buckley Puppy Verified· Travelled 1st September 2026

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(5/5)

An amazing day on the Essential Explorer with Jimmy. I loved being free to do and buy what we wanted at each stop, and his commentary was insightful and entertaining.

Pirate Fawks Verified· Travelled 1st September 2026

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