Bruny Island Private Tour from Hobart: Ben Andrews' 4WD Access

Explore Bruny Island’s hidden backroads with Ben Andrews, beyond the usual ferry and bus route.

A private Bruny Island tour from Hobart led by Ben Andrews, who has spent a lifetime on the island and uses his 4WD to reach places group tours cannot access. The day includes a 15-minute ferry crossing, coastal morning tea with oysters and cheese, a leisurely vineyard lunch, and your choice of three afternoon activities: Cape Bruny Lighthouse, Inala Nature Reserve, or Bruny Island Chocolate Company and Tessellated Pavement. Hotel pickup and drop-off from Hobart are included, with the full day running 10 to 11 hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Bruny Island private discovery tour

• Pickup from Hobart accommodation
• Drive south along old coastal road
• Board ferry to Bruny Island
• Introduction to island and history
• Coastal morning tea with oysters and cheese
• Visit The Neck lookout and wildlife
• Explore historic coastline and beach walk
• Leisurely vineyard lunch at family winery
• Choose afternoon activity: lighthouse, nature reserve, or private garden
• Return transfer to Hobart accommodation

The experience

Ben Andrews knows Bruny Island the way someone knows their own backyard. He's spent a lifetime here, and his 4WD opens up the backroads and hidden corners that the standard ferry-and-coach loop simply cannot reach. You start with pickup from your Hobart accommodation at 7am, heading south along the old coastal road with a stop to gather fresh local fruit along the way. After 15 minutes on the ferry across the D'Entrecasteaux Channel, you're on the island proper, and the day shifts from sightseeing to something more intimate.

The morning unfolds at a pace that lets you actually absorb the place. You walk the steps to The Neck, Bruny's iconic isthmus lookout, for sweeping views across Adventure Bay and a chance to spot shearwater burrows and the island penguin colony. Ben shares stories of the First Nations people, early explorers, and the island's industries: the kind of detail that only someone who has lived here can offer. Then comes the coastal morning tea: freshly shucked oysters from Get Shucked Oyster Farm, artisan cheese from Bruny Island Cheese Company, fresh bread, and local apples, eaten on your favourite coastal beach. Optional bushwalking and rainforest walks are available if the group wants them, but nothing is forced.

Lunch is a leisurely affair at Bruny Island Premium Wines, the island's only family-run winery, with a main course and a glass of wine included. After that, you choose your afternoon: the historic Cape Bruny Lighthouse, built in 1834 and perched at the island's southern tip; the Inala Nature Reserve with its native flora, fauna, fossils, and Gondwanan Jurassic Garden; or the Hiba Private Garden, Tessellated Pavement, and Bruny Island Chocolate Company. Ben tailors the pace and experience to your group throughout the day, and all activities are optional. If someone wants to linger at the winery or take a longer walk, the itinerary bends to fit. By approximately 5:30pm, you're back in Hobart.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Hobart accommodation.
• private 4WD transport throughout the day.
• return ferry crossing to Bruny Island.
• morning tea with freshly shucked oysters, artisan cheese, fresh bread, and local apples.
• vineyard lunch with main course and a glass of wine (or bushwalkers picnic lunch).
• expert local guide.
• park fees.
• stainless steel water bottle and fresh water throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except SaturdayDepartures at 07:00, 08:30 and 09:30

AgesAdult (19 to 85 years) · Under 19: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 39 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Adventure Trails Tasmania

Is this one for you?This tour suits small groups and families who want to move beyond the standard ferry-and-coach experience and actually spend time with someone who knows the island. The private format and Ben's 4WD access mean you can linger where the group wants to linger, take optional walks, and reach corners of Bruny that scheduled tours skip entirely.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the difference between this tour and the group ferries that run to Bruny Island?

This is a private tour with Ben Andrews and his 4WD, which means access to backroads and hidden corners that scheduled group tours cannot reach. You're not on a coach with thirty other people. You're in a small private group with someone who knows the island intimately and can adjust the day to what your group wants to do.

Do I have to do all three afternoon activities, or can I choose just one?

You choose one of the three: Cape Bruny Lighthouse, Inala Nature Reserve, or Bruny Island Chocolate Company and Tessellated Pavement. Ben will guide you through whichever you pick, and all activities are optional. If your group prefers to spend more time at the winery or on a beach walk, the afternoon can shift to fit.

What's included in the morning tea and lunch?

Morning tea includes freshly shucked oysters from Get Shucked Oyster Farm, artisan cheese from Bruny Island Cheese Company, fresh bread, and local apples. Lunch at the winery includes a main course and a glass of wine. Additional drinks are at your own cost. A bushwalkers picnic lunch is available as an alternative to the vineyard meal if you prefer.

How long is the ferry crossing to Bruny Island?

The ferry across the D'Entrecasteaux Channel takes 15 minutes each way. You board at Kettering on the mainland and arrive at Roberts Point on the north side of Bruny Island, where Ben introduces you to the island and the day ahead.

What should I bring or wear for this tour?

Tasmanian weather changes quickly, so bring clothing layers, comfortable walking shoes, and a sense of adventure. The tour includes a stainless steel water bottle and fresh water throughout the day. Moderate physical fitness is recommended, especially if you plan to do the optional bushwalking in the afternoon.