Roadtrip Hobart to Bruny Island – unforgettable Coastal Escape
This Roadtrip Hobart to Bruny Island is a real thrill. Getting to Bruny Island is relatively straightforward. If you’re flying in from Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, or the Gold Coast, a direct flight to Hobart is best, followed by a 35–40 min drive to Kettering for the Bruny Island ferry (10–15 min) plus ferry waiting time. If driving from Melbourne and taking the Spirit of Tasmania across the Bass Strait, it arrives in Devonport. From there, it’s a 4 hr drive to Kettering, where the Bruny Island ferry departs. Ferries run regularly throughout the day, and you can book online or simply line up on arrival.
Scenic Stops on the Roadtrip from Hobart to Bruny Island
This Hobart to Bruny Island roadtrip includes several must-see stops before boarding the ferry. Or, if you prefer, head straight to Kettering (Stop 7 below).
Stop 1: Hobart to Taroona:
- Distance: Approx. 10 km
- Drive Time: Approx. 14 min
- Welcome to Taroona – a coastal escape. Walk the Taroona Coastal Walk, relax on little Hinsby Beach, explore it’s super cute change sheds or climb the Taroona Shot Tower for panoramic views.
Stop 2: Taroona to Coningham Beach
- Distance: Approx. 23 km
- Drive Time: Approx. 28 min
- Welcome to Coningham Beach – Picnic at Coningham, dip into its crystal clear water or have fun beachcombing its soft, white sands.
Stop 3: Coningham Beach to Blackmans Bay
- Distance: Approx. 17 km
- Drive Time: Approx. 19 min
- Welcome to Blackmans Bay – hunt for prehistoric fossils at Fossil Cove, walk the scenic clifftop trail, or unwind at The Beach House or Bombay on the Beach Restaurant and Wine Bar.
Stop 4: Blackmans Bay to Margate
- Distance: Approx. 10 km
- Drive Time: Approx. 14 min
- Welcome to Margate – full of quirky attractions. Hop on the Heritage Railway, grab a lavender ice cream, or browse local galleries and craft shops. Don’t miss Asian Gourmet on the Pieror pancakes at the Pancake Train.
Stop 5: Margate to Snug
- Distance: Approx. 5 km
- Drive Time: Approx. 5 min
- Welcome to Snug – Relax at Snug Beach, swim at Snug Falls, or kayak along calm waters. Feeling hungry? Willie Smith’s Apple Shed is just 15 km away.
Stop 6: Snug to Kettering
- Distance: Approx. 8 km
- Drive Time: Approx. 7 min
- Welcome to Kettering – departure point for the Bruny Island ferry and home to Raptor Refuge! While waiting for the ferry, unwind at Sauna Boats Tasmania, enjoy fresh seafood at Oyster Cove or indulge in handmade chocolates at Nutpatch. Take a Peppermint Bay cruise or a sailing charter. Or savour artisan cheese at The Bruny Island Cheese Co.
Stop 7: Kettering to Bruny Island
- Distance: Approx. 8 km
- Ferry time: Approx. 20 min
- Welcome to Bruny Island – a wildlife refuge and gourmet paradise. Hike to The Neck, explore the Lighthouse, or wander along stunning coastal trails. Taste local delights like plump oysters, artisanal cheeses, berries, handmade chocolates, fudge, and golden honey. Don’t miss Bruny Island Premium Wines, Get Shucked Oysters, Hotel Bruny Bistro, and Bruny Island Chocolate Company or Berry Farm.
Bruny Island Exploration & Wildlife
Unwind and spending several days exploring rugged coastlines, pristine beaches, lush rainforests and towering cliffs. Home to fur seals, little penguins, white wallabies, and diverse bird species, the island offers wildlife cruises, birdwatching tours, and opportunities to spot dolphins and whales offshore.
Gourmet Delights on Bruny Island
Sample the island’s best local produce:
- Bruny Island Cheese Co.- try the unique One Day Old Cheese marinated in olive oil with garlic, chili, black pepper, and chives.
- Bruny Island Premium Wines – family-run, producing Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Noir. Open for lunch, cellar door, and Saturday dinner. The menu screams ‘local’ from Warm Bruny Island Olives, Baked Coal River Farm Brie to House-Made Tasmanian Lamb and Bruny Island Wallaby Burger and many options for the kids.
- Local cafes, markets, and farm gates – offering fresh seafood, handmade chocolate, and regional specialties.
Stop 8: North Bruny: Hikes, Whale Watching & Local Gems
Explore the pastoral North Bruny with scenic farms, agrarian landscapes, and pristine wilderness. Drive from Dennes Point to Cape Queen Elizabeth for breathtaking coastal views and seasonal whale watching (May to Nov). Hiking enthusiasts can enjoy a 14 km trail at Cape Queen Elizabeth.
Panorama & Bird’s Eye Views at The Neck
Follow the B66 (Bruny Island Main Road) to the narrow isthmus connecting North and South Bruny. Climb the 200+ steps at Truganini Lookout (named after an Aboriginal woman, Truganini and to the Nuenonne people who inhabited lunawanna-alonnah (Bruny Island) before the European settlement of Bruny. Gave upon views over Adventure Bay, Mount Wellington, Cape Raoul, Tasman Peninsula, and the hills of South Bruny Island. Spot shearwaters and little penguins at dusk.
Stop 9: Adventure Bay – Historical Highlights
Adventure Bay features beautiful beaches for relaxing or strolling. The Bligh Museum of Pacific Exploration is worthwhile to explore maritime history, including Captain Cook and William Bligh. And don’t miss the Inala Nature Reserve. and Jurassic Garden – Inala Raptor Photography Hide and endemic little bird species, the Forty-spotted Pardalote close up.
Cruises, Tours and North-South Bruny Highlights
Take a safari tour to see Tassie Devils, join a half-day dolphin-watching cruise, or picnic at Grassy Point. Learn about Bruny’s Aboriginal history and visit Mari Bruny at 710 Adventure Bay Road for a well-loved local feed.
Consider an award-winning cruise with Bruny Island Seafood Cruise exploring the rugged coastline of Bruny Island in southern Tasmania and if you are inclined towards sea sickness, you’re not off the hook, they’ve an option for lunchtime landlubbers at Bruny Island Seafood Cruise Restaurant exploring the rugged coastline of Bruny Island in southern Tasmania.
South Bruny Island Highlights
- Cape Bruny Lighthouse – the southernmost lighthouse in the hemisphere, with guided tours
- Cloudy Bay – pristine west coast beach for beachcombing, surfing, or simply relaxing to the sound of the waves crashing against the shore.
- The Labillardiere Peninsula – rugged walking tracks with wallabies, echidnas, and diverse bird life.
Stop 10: Roadtrip Hobart to Bruny Island Return
- Distance: Approx. 33 km
- Drive Time: Approx. 30 m
- Return to Hobart – Finish your roadtrip with a culinary finale at Hobart’s top restaurants, such as Franklin or MONA, raising a glass to an unforgettable journey.
Need Roadtrip Inspiration?
Check out our fabulous scenic roadtrips at Travellarks Getaways.
Looking for accommodation on Bruny Island?
If you think Bruny Island and surrounds sounds like an amazing holiday destination, check out our Stays with a WOW accommodation.
