Getting adventurous in Tassie: Bruny Island Cruise & Tour
When you’ve had your fair share of gourmet experiences in Hobart (and let’s face it, there’s plenty of those to be had), it’s time to broaden your horizons and hit the high seas.
And I can’t think of a better way to experience Tassie’s natural side than with a full day Bruny Island Cruise & Tour.
Rob Pennicott’s multi-award winning Bruny Island Cruises has been recognised as Tasmania’s Best Tourist Attraction in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 & 2012 so you know you’re onto a good thing!
Up bright and early, Mr LML and I opt for the Kettering pick-up as its closer to Villa Howden where we’re staying but the tour also picks up from central Hobart.We’re greeted by our guide Hugh who welcomes us on board the minibus and before long we’re all on the ferry from mainland Tassie to Bruny Island. Let the adventure begin!
Hot tip: Wear layers! I had six layers plus a beanie and gloves and was still a little chilly. You are heading towards Antarctica after all 😉 Once onto Bruny itself, Hugh gives us a running commentary which provides plenty of interesting insights and a few Dad jokes.
Did you know:
• Bruny Island is the same size as Singapore
• The normal population of around 650 people grows to 6000 in summer
• There’s a strong art culture here with plenty of painters and sculptors calling Bruny home.Like any good day trip, before we hit the high seas around Bruny, it’s time for morning tea. The blueberry muffin is pretty amazing.
We walk the short distance from the café to the jetty and pile in.
The boat is specially designed for eco-cruising. It’s open design and easy manoeuvrability allows passengers to get up as close as possible to the sea, coastal wildlife and sea caves.
Hot tip: If you want to avoid getting wet or sea sick, bag a spot at the back of the boat. You won’t miss out on seeing anything as the captain – Steve on our trip – conveniently does a circle or two at each spot to make sure everyone gets a photo opportunity.
The 50 kilometre, three hour journey sees us getting up close with the rugged Southern Tasmanian coastline. Although we had mostly overcast weather, the views were still magnificent. The photos speak for themselves…
The highlight has to be spotting pods of dolphins. Seriously magical. And getting up close with sea lions is pretty impressive too.
It’s the little things that add to any experience and on our return to dry land, the Tim Tams go down a treat.
It’s the warming lunch of pumpkin soup back at the café, along with a salmon and salad roll and Tassie ginger beer that really win us over. After a chilly few hours on the water, soup has never tasted so good! And if you ask really nicely, Hugh will even give you the recipe.
Bruny Island is, of course a renowned gourmet destination and we’re given a whirlwind tour on our way back to the ferry.
Sweet stuff – I’m not usually a fudge fan but this is the best I’ve had. The Bruny Island Providore is a factory outlet for the famous Bruny Island Fudge, truffles and chocolate products and is well worth a visit.
Seafood – The Get Shucked Oyster farm is literally a shack of tasty goodness. For $12 per dozen, this is a seafood lover’s dream!Smoky goodness – The Bruny Island Smoke House is home to a variety of treats and all of their produce is smoked on site including salmon, trout and duck.
You can’t beat this view.
Cheese – We run out of time but next visit, I’ll be making sure we hit up the Bruny Island Cheese Company. Having sampled their goodies at Salamanca, I know they’re worth a special visit. Owned and operated by Nick Haddow, here you’ll find some of the finest artisan cheeses made in Australia.
So next time you’re visiting Australia’s island state, make sure you venture a little further to Bruny Island – it’s sure to satisfy your adventure cravings.
Nicole and Mr LML were guests of Bruny Island Cruises.
Book your own Bruny Island Cruise here.
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