Bruny Island Day Trip Itinerary
With a population of only 800 inhabitants, Bruny Island sure packs a punch. This blog is sure to unite all the foodie lovers because, at its heart, that’s what you’ll find here. Local producers of cheese, oysters, and wine are only some of the many residents who choose to live on this island to source easily some of the best local food you could find in Tasmania. With that said, I visited some of the island’s most impressive natural sights and delectable delicacies.
Our day begins bright and early on a chilly Hobart day as we drive the 30 minutes to Kettering. Here we excitedly board the ferry, and by board, I mean we’re sitting in our car waiting to get across. Yes, you read that correctly, the ferry is a car ferry so the general idea is to get to Kettering (which is where you take the ferry across) as early as you can to avoid the queue and get across quickly.
The first stop on our adventure is to the Neck Lookout, this strip of land is the connection between the North and South of the island. We walk up the timber stairs and are blessed with 360-degree views of the lush green stretch of coast, even spotting some of the remarkable wildlife scurrying in and out of the sand dunes below. The view is truly breathtaking so if ever you find yourself planning a trip to Bruny Island, make this one of your top priorities!
Bruny Island is home to plenty of oyster producers, and of course everyone’s cult favourite spot; Get Shucked. This sustainable oyster farm serves up these briny delights fresh to the public daily with various flavour combinations that are each mouth-wateringly good. If you’re a traditionalist stick to the ‘Mother in Laws Kilpatrick’, a topping that has been perfected at the farm. However, we were ready to step out of our comfort zone on this foodie adventure, so we tried their Steamy Oriental oysters which smelt amazing and looked even better. The vibrant dish of poached oysters in a ginger, lime, and white miso broth explodes in your mouth. The perfect accompaniment to counteract the fresh, tangy oysters.
Back on the road, we made our way to Cape Bruny Lighthouse which lies on the most southern point of the island. The drive to this lighthouse (approximately 45 minutes if you start at the Neck Lookout) is stunning, you truly feel as you have the island to yourself. The raw beauty of the natural environment on either side of you showcases the best of untouched Australia so keep an eye out for dramatic coastlines, and impressive mountains in the distance.
Close by from Get Shucked you’ll stumble across the Bruny Island Cheese Company. Welcome to what I like to call – a cheese lovers Paradise. This local farm matures their cheeses using traditional methods and trust me when I say that the cheeses (which you can sample for free) are to die for. Some stand-outs that you must give a try are ‘o.d.o’; a one-day-old cheese that is marinated in fresh herbs, garlic, and oil. Another popular choice is the baked otto, a fresh cheese wrapped in cured pork and then oven baked to produce a salty and goozy taste sensation. As you can tell, we had way too much fun here what with all the condiments on display to purchase and their self-made beer which is the perfect pairing for the cheese.
After we had filled our stomachs to the point that we were now waddling back to the car, we were happy and satisfied that we had seen the best of Bruny Island. Then a thought crossed my mind- we had forgotten to eat dessert! Now any good foodie knows that you can’t skip such an important meal. So off we went to the Bruny Island Providore, a famed factory outlet well known for its scrumptious fudge. Once again, we were inundated with various fudge tastings, my favourite was the Persian fudge, a deliciously fragrant sweet mixed with oranges, figs, and dates. I’ll be returning to Bruny Island when I run out of this!
Our day on Bruny Island was filled with sampling some of the best local produce we had tasted during our time in Tasmania and peaceful scenery that was both earthy and picturesque. The best way to visit the island, in my opinion, is to join a tour which will take you to all of these heavenly locations to make the most of your time on the ruggedly beautiful Bruny Island.
Check out Sightseeing Tours Australia for their Tasmania Tours!
Check out Sightseeing Tours Australia for their Tasmania Tours!
