Take a day out of a trip to Hobart to enjoy the best of Bruny Island.
Located on Tassie’s south-east coast, Bruny Island offers the best of Tasmania’s wild landscape with a growing tourism industry catering to the discerning culinary crowd.
It’s a weird-looking island on a map, with two landmasses joined by a narrow isthmus to create a twisted ‘hourglass’ shape, and its close proximity to Hobart makes it ideal for day trips. But what can you do in 24 hours?
Read: The best camping spots in Tasmania
Here’s our guide.
House of Whisky
Probably best saved until later in the day, House of Whisky showcases the best of Tasmania’s single malt whiskies with a few gins thrown in for good measure.
It’s a whisky-lover’s dream with more than 150 whiskies for tastings, all set in cosy surroundings overlooking the sea.
Cape Bruny Lighthouse
I mean, who doesn’t like a lighthouse? The views, the isolation, the romance of it all.
This heritage-listed lighthouse was built in 1836 and is perched seaside in the South Bruny National Park.
Tours are available and the informative guide will take you through shipwrecks, wild weather, local characters and human tragedy. All for the very reasonable cost of $15.
Read: Tasmania’s top spots for shopping and markets
Walks
If you like a good hike, or even a gentle stroll, Bruny Island is perfect. There are a range of micro-climates from rugged cliff tops to temperate rainforests with glorious views everywhere you look.
Frankly, the abundance of riches means there are too many to list here, but South Bruny Island National Park offers some of the best walks and hikes, and you can camp overnight to enjoy the best of the island.
Bruny Island Cheese and Beer Co
Yes, Bruny Island Cheese does cheese and beer, it also does gin, wine, whisky, condiments and confectionery. And it’s all available at the cellar door, open seven days a week, whether you want a delicious cheese platter and cheeky midday wine or a gourmet hamper.
The cheeses are made from Bruny Island Cheese Co’s own dairy herd, and you will not match their taste anywhere else as they use three rare dairy breeds to set their offering apart.
The beers make use of Tasmania’s seasonal ingredients including quinoa, spelt and native species, and all are free of preservatives.
And it’s all so fresh. Farm to fork in a matter of metres. Keep an acre of packing space spare to take half the shop home with you.
Read: Five simple travel mistakes
Get Shucked Oysters
You either love them or hate them, but you won’t find oysters much fresher than Get Shucked Oysters.
In fact, Get Shucked promises they are so fresh it’s like being “kissed by the ocean”, which sounds fabulous.
You can buy them to take away – there’s a drive through no less – or enjoy them at the oyster bar, overlooking the waters where they are harvested. Add a glass of Tasmania’s best wine, sparkling, cider or beer for a true taste of the south.
Bruny Island bread fridge
Sounds odd, because it is, but the Bruny Island bread fridge is exactly what it says on the box – some fridges full of bread.
The Bruny Baker offers its daily sourdough bread in two old fridges on the corner of Sheepwash Road, Alonnah.
It comes with an honesty box for payment, and as well as the sourdough there are biscuits and sometimes pizza bases, but go early because they almost always run out.
Did we miss anything? If you have been to Bruny Island why not share your tips in the comments section below?
If you enjoy our content, don’t keep it to yourself. Share our free eNews with your friends and encourage them to sign up.
I went to Bruny Island for the first time around 1958, returned for a weekend around 2000 which was most enjoyable. I went again last year just to take another look at the isthmus as I wanted to see if the isthmus has narrowed as would have to happened if sea levels were rising. I am very confident that it is unchanged since 1958.