Hobart Sightseeing Cruise: Iron Pot Lighthouse & Betsey Island

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/7

Duration2h 30m

GroupUp to 14

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Australia's oldest lighthouse sits at the mouth of Storm Bay, the same water where Sydney to Hobart yachts make their final push.

A 2.5-hour boat cruise from Hobart down the Derwent River to Iron Pot Lighthouse and Betsey Island, with a local guide and a maximum of 12-14 people per departure. The route passes Mount Wellington, the Shot Tower and Hope Beach, and includes time exploring sea caves and watching for seabirds around Betsey Island. Your guide shares the maritime history—early shipwrecks, settlers and sailors—as the boat moves through Hobart's waterways and into Storm Bay.

2h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Hobart sightseeing cruise and lighthouse visit

Meet guide at Hobart office
Walk to Franklin Wharf jetty
Begin 2.5 hour Derwent River cruise
See Mt Wellington, Shot Tower, Wrest Point Casino
Cruise to Iron Pot Lighthouse
Travel to Storm Bay
Circumnavigate Betsey Island and explore sea caves
Search for sea birds

The Experience

The tour starts at the Hobart office, where your guide meets you and walks to Franklin Wharf jetty to board. The 2.5-hour cruise explores the Derwent River's landmarks—Mount Wellington rises above the city, Wrest Point Casino marks the waterfront, and the Shot Tower stands as a relic of colonial industry. You'll cruise past Hope Beach and head downriver toward Iron Pot, Australia's oldest lighthouse, which marks the entrance to Storm Bay. This is the same stretch of water where Sydney to Hobart yachts complete their offshore race.

The boat circumnavigates Betsey Island, where you search the water for seabirds and explore the sea caves carved into its shoreline. A local guide narrates throughout, drawing on stories of early shipwrecks, the settlers and sailors who shaped Tasmania's coast, and the maritime life that still defines the region. The small group—capped at 12-14 people—means the guide can adjust the pace and answer questions without rushing through the stops.

The boat has 12 forward-facing seats and 2 rear-facing bench seats, so sightlines vary depending on where you sit. Infants must sit on an adult's lap. The tour operates in all weather, so bring a jacket and layers; the river and bay can be exposed depending on conditions. Public transport reaches the Hobart office, so you don't need a car to get to the jetty.

What’s included

Local guide sharing maritime history and stories of shipwrecks and early settlers.
2.5-hour boat cruise down the Derwent River to Iron Pot Lighthouse and Betsey Island.
views of Mount Wellington, the Shot Tower and Hope Beach.
time exploring sea caves and watching for seabirds around Betsey Island.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Pennicott Wilderness Journeys

Is this one for you?The tour departs from Franklin Wharf jetty in central Hobart, reachable by public transport, so you don't need a car or hotel pickup to join—book it as a standalone morning or afternoon and move on to the rest of your day. The small group of 12-14 people and the local guide's knowledge of maritime history make it worth choosing over a larger commercial cruise if you want to hear the stories behind the landmarks rather than just see them pass.