Bruny Island in Winter: What Runs, What Changes

Bruny Island does not close for winter. The ferry runs, the day tours run, and the cruise keeps its 11am sailing. What changes is the weather, the length of the day and the number of cruise times. This guide covers June to August, with the Bureau of Meteorology's figures from the lighthouse, so you can pack and plan for it.

Does Bruny Island close in winter?

No. The island has no gate and no season. The ferry from Kettering keeps running, about every 20 minutes except between 12:30pm and 1:20pm, by Bruny Tourism's account, and the lookouts, beaches and walks stay open. The cruise runs every day of the year except Christmas Day.

None of the day tours from Hobart lists a winter break, but check your date on the booking calendar before you plan around it. Dress for the cold: one traveller on the Pennicott tasting day warned that in winter the morning is outdoors and very cold.

Which cruise times run in winter?

Only the 11am. The cruise operator runs 10am and 1:30pm cruises from 1 December to 28 April. From 29 April to 30 November, the 11am is the one that sails. It still takes three hours, and you still check in 30 minutes before.

One sailing means fewer seats a day, so book the cruise before the rest of your plans. The cruise day from Hobart, which leaves Franklin Wharf at 7:45am, builds its day around the boat. Both ways to book it are on Bruny Island boat tours.

How cold and wet does it get?

At the lighthouse, the Bureau of Meteorology's mean maximum is 11.7 °C in June, 11.3 °C in July and 12.0 °C in August. The mean minimum falls to 6.2 °C in July. That is cool, not freezing, but the wind makes it feel colder.

It is also the wettest time of year. July averages 93.9 mm of rain over 13.2 rain days, the most of any month. February, the driest, has 55.8 mm over 7.3 days. Expect showers on most winter days and plan indoor stops between them. All twelve months are on the weather page.

Is it windier at the cape in winter?

Not in the afternoon. The mean 3pm wind at the lighthouse is 23.6 km/h in June and 24.2 km/h in July, the calmest afternoons of the year. From October to January it averages over 30 km/h.

These are the figures for the weather station on the cape, and a sheltered bay such as Adventure Bay feels different. A calm afternoon at the cape is a good sign for the cruise, but the crew decide on the day, and they may cancel for weather.

How do short days change the plan?

Winter days are short, and the island is long. Vehicle access to the lighthouse grounds runs from 9:30am to 4:30pm all year, and in winter that gate closes not long before dusk. Plan to reach the cape in the middle of the day.

Cross early, head south first, and leave the producers for the drive back. The busy ferry hours still apply: 8am to 10am from Kettering and 4pm to 5pm from the island. The order of a full day is in Bruny Island in one day.

Is it safe to drive in the dark months?

With care. Wallabies are most active at dawn and dusk, and in winter both fall inside a normal day out. Bruny Tourism asks you to slow down and to avoid driving at those times if you can. The Parks and Wildlife Service asks you to avoid driving in its reserves at night.

Some roads turn to gravel, and a wet gravel road at dusk is slow going. If you are staying on the island, reach your bed before dark. If you are not, a guided day takes the driving off your hands. The rules for the road are on the roads and wildlife page.

Can you see whales in winter?

You may. The Parks and Wildlife Service says southern right and humpback whales pass on their annual migration, and that you may spot them in the sheltered water of Adventure Bay. It does not name the months, so treat a whale as a bonus, not a plan. Scan the bay from the beach on a calm day, when a whale's blow is easiest to spot.

The seals at The Friars are there all year, and the cruise visits them in every season. Keep binoculars in your bag on any headland walk.

What does winter do to the walks?

The walks stay open, but the ground is wetter. With rain on about 13 days a month from June to August, expect mud on the tracks and slippery steps at the lookouts. Wear shoes with grip, and give yourself more time than the signposted hours.

Pick the walk for the weather. Grass Point is 1.5 hours return and easy, and it suits a short winter day. The Fluted Cape Track is steep, with unprotected cliff edges, and the Parks and Wildlife Service leaves it to experienced walkers; on a wet, windy day, save it. The guided hike still walks about 8 km to the arch, so dress for rain on the coast.

Is winter a good time for wildlife?

For some of it. Dusk comes earlier in winter, so the hour when the white wallabies feed in the paddocks near the Fluted Cape entrance arrives before dinner. If you stay on the island, you can watch it without a late night. The guides on the land days know where they graze by day as well.

The seals, dolphins and sea eagles are there all year, and the 11am cruise goes out to them in every month. Echidnas, pademelons and possums live all over the island. Every day that puts animals first is compared on Bruny Island wildlife tours.

What should you wear on the boat?

More than you think. The cruise operator warns that it is cold on the boats, even in summer, and the crew hand out waterproofs over your clothes. Underneath, wear warm layers, a hat and gloves in winter.

On land, closed shoes with grip and a rain jacket are enough for the lookouts and the short walks. For a long walk in the park, carry an extra layer and something to eat. What to expect on board is in our post on the cruise.

Which tours suit a winter day?

• A food day: lunch and the tastings are paid, and an air-conditioned bus waits between stops. See Bruny Island food tours.
• The cruise at 11am: the only sailing, and the calmest afternoons of the year follow it.
• A multi-day bundle: spread the island and Port Arthur over two to four days and pick the drier one. See Tasmania Bruny Island tours.
• A day with hotel pickup: no waiting on a cold street corner.

Should you stay a night in winter?

If you can, yes. A night on the island turns a rushed winter day into two easy half-days. You avoid driving the gravel at dusk, you can watch for wildlife at dusk on foot, and you can catch the one cruise without a dawn start from Hobart.

Plan the practical things first. Fill up before you cross, because the only fuel is at the Adventure Bay General Store, and carry cash and a card, since there is no ATM. Bruny Tourism lists general stores at Adventure Bay and Alonnah for supplies. For the evening, pack a red-light torch, and never use a camera flash on the animals.

How does winter compare with summer?

Here is June to August beside December to February, from the Bureau of Meteorology's averages at the lighthouse and the cruise operator's timetable.

Summer is warmer and drier, with more cruise times; winter is cooler and wetter, with calmer afternoons. Month by month, the choice is on the best time to visit page.

Frequently asked questions

Days that work in the cold months

2 Day Tasmanian Highlights Tour - Bruny Island & Port Arthur

Two days from Hobart: Port Arthur and its harbour cruise on the first, the island on the second, as far as the lighthouse grounds. Hotel pickup, admissions and national park passes are in the fare; lunch is not.

From $224 per person

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Ultimate Full-Day Bruny Island Inc Exclusive Lighthouse Tour

Hotel pickup from over 20 places around Hobart, then morning tea on the beach, lunch, tastings and a guided climb inside the lighthouse. The ferry and the national park entry are in the fare, and the guides know where the white wallabies graze.

From $199 per person

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Hobart: Bruny Island Wilderness Coast Eco Cruise with Lunch

Ten hours from the Hobart waterfront with a three-hour cruise along the sea cliffs, windproof jackets, morning tea, lunch and the ferry in the fare. You make your own way to the wharf; the bus drops you at your hotel.

From $206 per person

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