4 Day Bruny Island Trek

We depart the Hotel Grand Chancellor in Hobart at 8am, to catch the morning ferry from Kettering across to North Bruny. We stop by at the Bruny Island Cheese Company for a coffee and a chat about our trip. This is also the home of the Bruny Island Beer Company, so whilst we are here you may wish to grab some local brews for your stay.

We then drive south along the isthmus that connects the northern and southern segments of the island, and take part in a short walk to the Neck Lookout via a wooden set of stairs. This vantage point provides us with a brilliant outlook to many parts of the island that we will be exploring over the coming days. Your guides will point out Mt Mangana, Cape Queen Elizabeth and the long stretch of beach below which is a popular destination in the evening for spotting little penguins.

It’s then on to the small township of Adventure Bay from where we will start todays main walk – the Fluted Cape Circuit. Tackling this track in an anti-clockwise direction allows us to ease into the rhythm of walking with a nice gradual climb to the highest point on the cape. On a clear day the views extend far along the east coast to the Tasman Peninsula, as the surrounding dolerite columns form an unbroken cliff line that drop over 270m to the ocean below.

Open views continue as we descend through eucalyptus and she-oak forest to Grass Point and Penguin Island, where we can potter about the rocky shoreline. This locality was once the site of an early whaling station – and thankfully recovering populations of whale are starting to make their way back to the area during migration periods. On the final flat trek back to the bay, keep your eyes peeled for a family of white Bennett’s wallabies that reside in the area.

Once we have finished our walk - there may the chance for a swim, before we continue on to our accommodation, unpack and relax amongst the magnificent surrounds of the Bruny Island Lodge.

Walking Distance: 6kms, 3.5 hours approx

Today we head out into the rugged southern portion of the island – exploring the white sands of Cloudy Bay and the elevated view point of East Cloudy Head.

We start our walk along a windswept beach for a few kilometres before taking an inland track upwards through native heathland, teeming with birdlife and colourful seasonal flora. Our ascent brings us to the very top of the hill – providing expansive views to the Cape Bruny Lighthouse, the Southern Ranges (on mainland Tasmania), and across the wild and often temperamental reaches of the Southern Ocean. There is nothing standing in the way between us and Antarctica – and on some days you can definitely feel it!

We return to the bus via the same route before heading back to our accommodation. In the afternoon there is an optional stopover in Lunawanna and the Bruny Island Winery, or you can choose to kick back and enjoy the peace and quiet of the lodge. 

Walking Distance: 12kms, 4.5 hours approx

After breakfast and lunch making – we depart for the day and undertake a series of satisfying short walks across the southern half of the island which showcase the areas great diversity of eco-systems.

Our first walk is through a pocket of enchanting wet rainforest following the flow of a small creek. Towering eucalyptus, blackwoods and tree ferns dominate and seem almost out of place – but in fact there are still vast stands of such forest along the eastern half of the island. We return to the bus, and continue on to the Mt Mangana walk – which takes us through more native forest to the highest point on the island at 571m. The track features moss covered rocks and logs, intriguing endemic flora, and a far-reaching view from the summit across the D’Entrecasteaux Channel.

In the afternoon we explore the historic Cape Bruny Lighthouse, and the tops of the surrounding escarpment which falls away to the ocean. Courts Island can be seen nearby to the south-west, which features a rookery of short-tailed shearwaters and a causeway at low tide. We finish our day with a relaxing 1.5 hour circuit on the Labillardiere Peninsula – passing through open heath country with coastal views, and a couple of picturesque secluded beaches. This walk is particularly notable for its usual prevalence of native birdlife.

After our days final walk – we return to the lodge for antipasto and a two-course dinner prepared by your guides. 

Walking Distance: 10kms, 4 hours approx

We pack up this morning and depart the lodge one final time. Today we journey north – back across The Neck to take in the Cape Queen Elizabeth Track. Featuring pristine beaches and rocky bluffs – this is a very tranquil and relaxing way to wind down from our four-day adventure.

The first section of the trail is flat and heads straight to the coast. We walk past the aptly name Big Lagoon and Little Lagoon where it is common to spot resident water birds. Soon we burst out onto a long stretch of white sandy beach which stretches all the way south across the isthmus. Depending on the tides, we may walk north along the beach or divert inland to climb up and over Mars Bluff. From the ridgetop there are fantastic views back to the Neck and Fluted Cape.

The trail then heads through coastal dunes to Miles Beach. There are some magnificent rock formations in this area – one notable example is a perfectly sculptured dolerite arch right on the beach. Continuing towards the cape itself, we ascend through coastal heath, always keeping a watchful eye out for local birdlife – including the rare forty-spotted pardalote and mutton-bird rookeries.

From the end of the track, we take in wonderful views out across Adventure Bay before returning the same way, and again depending on the tides – may be able to create a circuit back to the bus. From here it’s only a short drive back to the ferry terminal, and an hour further on to Hobart.

Walking Distance: 12kms, 4.5kms approx