Bruny Island Boat Tours
Hours, prices and access verified by the Bruny Island Tours team — last checked 2026-09-21.
Bruny Island boat tours take you along the sea cliffs of the south coast in a fast open boat, for three hours. You book the cruise on its own, or as a full day from Hobart with lunch and the ferry.
Boat tours on the south coast
Top rated
★★★★★ 4.9 (316 reviews · 3 hours)
Starts at Adventure BayLunch at your costYou drive to Adventure Bay
Three hours under sea cliffs, into caves and out to the seal rocks, for up to 40 on board. You drive yourself to the base and cross on the ferry; waterproofs are handed out when you check in.
From $137 per person
Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
★★★★★ 4.8 (531 reviews · 9 hours 30 minutes)
Cruise and island dayLunch in the fare
The same three hours at sea inside a full day from the Hobart waterfront, leaving at 7:45am. Bus, ferry, tea or coffee and lunch are in the fare, then an hour and a half of sightseeing by road.
From $210 per person
Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
Three hours on the water, rated 4.9
Sea cliffs, deep caves, the blowhole and the seal rocks from a fast open boat, starting on the island itself. Waterproofs are handed out when you check in.
See this tour
What a boat tour of Bruny Island is
The boat trip sold here is a 3-hour wilderness cruise from Adventure Bay. It runs south
under the sea cliffs of South Bruny, into sea caves, past a blowhole and out to the rocks where
the fur seals haul out. The boat is fast
and open, and you wear the crew's waterproofs.
You can buy it two ways. Book the cruise alone, and you drive yourself to the island and
down to the base. Or book the full day from Hobart, and the bus, the ferry and lunch come with
it. Both are the same cruise; the difference is everything around it.
The cruise operator also runs a bus from Oyster Cove Marina at Kettering. You park there for
free, arrive by 8:30am, and the ferry crossing is part of it.
Why choose a boat tour
You see the coast the roads never reach
From a lookout you see the coast from the top. From the boat you see the cliff faces, the
caves and the seal rocks close up, from below.
You get the seals and the sea birds
Australian fur seals haul out at The Friars, and the boat takes you close. Dolphins may
swim alongside, and sea eagles hunt along the cliffs above you.
It runs all year
The 11am cruise runs every day of the year except Christmas Day. From 1 December to 28 April
there are also cruises at 10am and 1:30pm.
It is short enough to fit a road day
Three hours leaves you the rest of the day for the island. With a car you can add the
lookouts, a tasting or two and a walk.
The cruise alone vs the full day from Hobart
Here are the two ways to book the same three hours at sea, from the listings' own
figures.
| The cruise alone | The full day from Hobart |
|---|
| Where it starts | At the cruise base on the island | Franklin Wharf, 7:45am |
| How long | 3 hours | 9 hours 30 minutes |
| Ferry | You drive and pay per car | In the fare |
| Lunch | At your own cost | In the fare |
| Land sightseeing | Yours to plan | About 1 hour 30 minutes by bus |
| Fare, per person | $137 | $210 |
Check availability from $137
If you want food and producers more than the sea, the Bruny Island food tours spend the day on land. For
seals and white wallabies in one plan, see Bruny Island wildlife tours.
What you get, and what you don't
- On the cruise: a skipper and guide, three hours at sea and waterproofs.
There is a toilet on board.
- Not on the cruise: pickup, food and drinks. Food is sold at the
base.
- On the full day: the bus from Hobart, the ferry, tea or coffee, lunch and
about an hour and a half of island sightseeing. Hotel pickup is not included.
- On both: free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
The cruise with the whole day arranged
Bus, ferry, tea or coffee and lunch from the Hobart waterfront, the three hours at sea, then an hour and a half of sightseeing by road.
Check availability
Planning a boat tour
- Budget: $137 a person for the cruise, or $210 with the
day from Hobart. If you drive, add the ferry, charged per car.
- Allow the drive: the base is about 90 minutes from Hobart, ferry included.
Check in 30 minutes before you sail.
- Pick your seat: the cruise operator suggests the back third of the boat if
you get seasick, and a cool body temperature.
- Dress warm: it is cold on the water even in summer. Wear layers under the
waterproofs.
Planning the rest of the island around the boat? Our one-day plan shows how the day fits.
Who should choose something else
- If you are on a cruise ship. By the cruise operator's own account, its
timings do not suit a shore excursion. A land day from the terminal is on Bruny Island walking tours.
- If rough water is a problem. It is a fast boat on the open ocean. The
cruise operator calls it suitable for pregnant women on most days, but ask your doctor first;
a land day is gentler.
- If you want the lighthouse climb. No boat stops at the cape. The food day
with the climb is on Bruny Island food tours.
- If you want more than one day. The Tasmania Bruny Island tours add Port Arthur.
Frequently asked questions
Should I book the cruise alone or the full day?
Book it alone if you have a car and want to see more of the island on your own. Book the full day if you have no car: the bus, the ferry and lunch come with it.
What time does the cruise leave?
The 11am cruise runs all year. From 1 December to 28 April there are also cruises at 10am and 1:30pm. Check in 30 minutes before.
Will I get seasick on the cruise?
It is a fast, open boat on the Southern Ocean, and the ride can be rough. If you are prone to it, take something before you board.
How big is the cruise boat?
Each vessel takes up to 43 guests, according to the cruise operator, and the Adventure Bay booking caps at 40. It is an open, fast boat, with a toilet on board.
Do tours run in bad weather?
The cruise runs in all weather, but the operator may cancel it when conditions are unsafe. On the land tours the guide sets the order of the day around the weather.
Where can you see the seals?
Australian fur seals haul out at The Friars, the rocks off South Bruny that the wilderness cruise visits. You can only reach them from the water.
What should I wear?
Layers and a rain jacket, even in summer, and closed shoes for the walks. The cruise crew hand out waterproofs, but it is still cold on the open water.