How to get to Bruny Island

Bruny Island is located at the southern tip of Tasmania, Australia. The closest city to Bruny Island is Hobart.

As it's essentially an island off an island, the first step is to get to Tassie. You can fly direct to Hobart from most major cities in Australia including Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. Domestic airlines include Jetstar, Virgin Australia, Rex and Qantas.

You could also take the Spirit of Tasmania ferry from Geelong to Devonport on the northern tip of Tasmania. There are nightly sailings (and day sailings between September and April), and the journey takes 9-11 hours. You can travel as a foot passenger or take a vehicle. From Devonport, it's a 3.5-hour drive to Hobart in normal traffic.

Once you arrive in Hobart, there's only one way to get to Bruny Island and that's taking the ferry from Kettering.

Taking a Ferry to Bruny Island

From Hobart, it's about a 30-minute drive to Kettering where the ferry departs for Roberts Point on the northern edge of Bruny Island. There are services every 20 to 40 minutes, so you don't need to pre-book. However, there may be queues during peak periods so if you're pushed for time you may wish to book in advance. The journey takes around 20 minutes.

If you're taking a vehicle, you'll pay for the vehicle only; the fare for passengers travelling in the vehicle is complimentary.

For more information visit the SeaLink Bruny Island Ferry website.

Driving around Bruny Island

Since there's no public transport, ride-share or taxi services on the island, self-driving is pretty much the only way to get around and explore. The roads around Bruny Island are well-maintained and easy to navigate with clear signage, so you shouldn't have any trouble finding your way.

However, there's only one petrol station (located at the Adventure Bay General Store) so make sure you have a full tank before you set off.

If you're after a bit of exercise while you're sightseeing, you could also cycle around the island.

Still want to learn more about Bruny Island? Return to Bruny Island FAQs

Join a Bruny Island tour

If you'd rather hand over the logistical reins, why not join us on a Bruny Island tour? We have a range of trips from walking Tasmania's South Coast to getting a taste of everything on our Tasmanian Explorer tour.

Read more about Tasmania