Bruny Island: Food Tour, Lighthouse & Lunch from Hobart

Summary

Bruny Island flavors, wild views & lighthouse stories in one day

You’ll taste Bruny Island’s best cheeses and oysters right on the beach, climb Cape Bruny Lighthouse with a guide who grew up here, share lunch made from local produce, and wander rainforests looking for wallabies. Expect moments of laughter mixed with wild scenery — this isn’t just sightseeing; it’s an island day you’ll feel long after.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I remember is the salty wind as we stepped off the ferry onto Bruny Island — someone’s dog barking in the distance, the smell of eucalyptus after a quick rain. Our guide Craig grew up around these lighthouses (he joked he could spot whales before he could ride a bike), and you could feel it every time he pointed out some old story or called out to a local by name. We squeezed into the van still half-asleep, but that changed fast at The Neck — that view really does sneak up on you. I tried to take a photo but my fingers were cold and fumbled it, so now it’s just stuck in my head.

Morning tea was warm bread, cheese that tasted like fresh grass (in a good way), and oysters so briny they made me laugh out loud — Li tried to teach me how to say “thank you” to the oyster farmer but I definitely butchered it. We ate right on the sand, gulls circling overhead. After that came winding roads through rainforest so dense it almost swallowed the light. Craig slowed down for wallabies (we actually saw a white one — apparently rare) and pointed out tree ferns taller than our van. It felt like driving through someone’s secret childhood backyard.

The Cape Bruny Lighthouse climb was steeper than I expected — my knees cracked embarrassingly loud on the stairs, but nobody cared. Up top, wind whipped through my jacket and there was this silence except for waves smashing rocks below. Craig told us about shipwrecks; I tried to imagine what it’d be like watching storms from here all alone. Lunch after felt earned: seafood chowder steaming in big bowls, lamb falling apart on forks, local beer if you wanted it (I did). People got quiet for a bit after eating — maybe just full or thinking about those cliffs.

We stopped for fudge and honey on the way back — honestly I didn’t need more food but somehow kept sampling everything anyway. The chocolate place smelled like roasted nuts and sugar; I bought honey with eucalyptus because Craig said his mum swears by it for sore throats. By the time we rolled back onto the ferry toward Hobart, everyone was kind of sun-dazed and quiet again. There are little flashes from that day I keep replaying: salt on my lips, laughter over oysters, that hush inside the lighthouse lantern room — small things but they stick with you.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Bruny Island sightseeing and food tour

• Pickup from Hobart hotel
• Drive to Kettering coastal town
• Ferry cruise to Bruny Island
• Travel by minivan to The Neck
• Visit Adventure Bay and Hummock lookouts
• Enjoy picnic morning tea on beach
• Drive Mount Mangana Trail through rainforest
• Spot wildlife and birdlife
• Exclusive Cape Bruny Lighthouse tour
• Lunch at Bruny Island Hotel
• Visit Get Shucked for fresh oysters
• Taste at Fudge Chocolate Shop
• Visit Honey Shed and Cheese Company
• Return ferry to Kettering
• Drive back to Hobart

Top questions

How long is the Bruny Island food tour from Hobart?

The tour lasts a full day including pickup and drop-off from Hobart hotels.

Is lunch included on the Bruny Island tour?

Yes, a sit-down lunch featuring regional foods is included at Bruny Island Hotel.

Can children climb Cape Bruny Lighthouse?

Children under 5 cannot climb the lighthouse stairs but can walk around its base inside.

Are dietary requirements accommodated?

You can discuss specific dietary needs with your guide on the day of the tour.

What food tastings are part of this tour?

The tour includes morning tea with cheese and oysters, plus tastings at fudge, chocolate, honey, and cheese venues.

Does this tour include hotel pickup in Hobart?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off from select Hobart hotels are included.

Is transportation between stops air-conditioned?

Yes, travel between stops is by air-conditioned minivan.

Will we see wildlife on Bruny Island?

You might spot wallabies (even white ones), echidnas, birdlife, and more during your visit.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup in Hobart, round-trip ferry fares to Bruny Island, all entry fees including Cape Bruny Lighthouse access with your guide’s stories woven in along the way. You’ll have morning tea with cheese and oysters right on the beach; later comes a hearty sit-down lunch featuring regional produce before sampling fudge, chocolates and honey at local spots before heading back to town.