★★★★★
The food day with the lighthouse climb
A well-run day from start to finish: a picnic of local cheese and oysters, the island's sights, and a climb up the lighthouse that no other tour offers.
Troy M. · June 2026
Bruny Island Tour Reviews
What travellers wrote after a food day with the lighthouse climb, a walking day, three hours under the sea cliffs, a hike to a sea arch or several days of Tasmania. Comparing Bruny Island guided tours? The operators' own ratings and fares sit side by side below.
What travellers said afterwards
These are travellers' own accounts, paraphrased, each tagged with the tour it belongs to. The low scores stay in, because they are the useful ones. One reviewer found the day was mostly driving, another found a cheese stop too crowded, and a seasick cruiser wanted more time on land.
★★★★★
The food day with the lighthouse climb
The oysters were the best part, with the cheese tasting close behind, and the guide knew the island's history well. This is one of the few ways to get up the lighthouse and hear its stories.
Dave M. · Couples · July 2026
★★★★★
The food day with the lighthouse climb
A long day, but it pays off: food and scenery in one. The commentary made the longer drives go quickly.
Claire T. · Family · September 2026
★★★★★
The food day with the lighthouse climb
Board the bus at the stop nearest your accommodation: long-term parking in Hobart is hard to find.
Rosalie W. · May 2026
★★★★★
The food day with the lighthouse climb
We counted five white wallabies, echidnas and more birds than we could name. The roads are narrow and winding, and the driving was careful.
David J. · March 2026
★★★★☆
The food day with the lighthouse climb
Good stories all day, and oysters with cheese for morning tea were a highlight. The cheese shop stop was chaotic with every group arriving at once; an organised tasting would have been better.
Lesley D. · March 2026
★★★★★
The food day with the lighthouse climb
Constant commentary and plenty of facts through the day. Dress warmly: it is very windy and cold up at the lighthouse.
Gary L. · March 2026
★★★★★
The food day with the lighthouse climb, from your hotel
The guide knew the island like a resident, handing round pepper leaves and sassafras to smell, and stopped where white wallabies and pademelons graze. We were lucky and saw a white one.
Sakiko · Solo · Malaysia · August 2026
★★★★★
The food day with the lighthouse climb, from your hotel
Worth the cost. Even the children found the sights and the stories interesting, thanks to a funny and well-informed guide.
Tania · Family · Australia · April 2026
★★★★★
The guided walking and sightseeing day
Food shops and wild places in one day: The Neck and the rainforest walk stood out, along with the lighthouse. The guide knew the wildlife and found us six white wallabies.
Christine B. · May 2026
★★★★☆
The guided walking and sightseeing day
We liked getting out for walks in nature as well as seeing the sights, and there was enough time at each stop.
Lucy C. · July 2026
★★★★★
The guided walking and sightseeing day
The best part was watching our seven-year-old follow the guide around, keen to learn about everything along the way.
Catherine O. · July 2026
★★★★★
The guided walking and sightseeing day
Bring warm clothes, and motion-sickness tablets if windy roads bother you. Next time I would spend a couple of days on the island rather than one.
Tami W. · Solo · September 2026
★★☆☆☆
The guided walking and sightseeing day
The views were lovely, but little stood out, and most of the day was spent driving around. The lookout and the lighthouse were only okay.
Aly S. · July 2026
★★★★☆
The guided walking and sightseeing day
We covered a lot of the island and bought well at the food stops. The oysters stood out; we should have bought more than a dozen.
Colin C. · April 2026
★★★★★
The guided day with the ferry and the parks pass
Plenty to see in one day. The wallaby encounter was the highlight, and the honey and chocolate shops were good stops.
Juan · Couples · United States · September 2026
★★★★★
The guided day with the ferry and the parks pass
A nature day on the island, well paced and well explained, and well organised from start to finish.
Jean-Luc · Friends · France · August 2026
★★★★★
The 3-hour wilderness cruise from Adventure Bay
A thorough briefing, big red waterproof overalls and natural seasickness tablets, and safety taken seriously. We saw seals and albatross, and dolphins swam alongside.
Hoc P. · March 2026
★★★★★
The 3-hour wilderness cruise from Adventure Bay
Dolphins swam past the boat, and the guide checked that nobody was feeling ill. If you get seasick, take something before you go.
Vanessa H. · January 2026
★★★★★
The 3-hour wilderness cruise from Adventure Bay
We watched dolphins feeding on a school of fish and nosed into a sea cave in the boat. The blowhole came as a surprise.
Anthony G. · February 2026
★★★★★
The 3-hour wilderness cruise from Adventure Bay
The highlight of our time on the island. Wear plenty of layers, because it gets cold out on the water.
Robert G. · Couples · May 2026
★★★★★
The 3-hour wilderness cruise from Adventure Bay
A windy day made the ride lumpy, and the crew handled the boat and the passengers with humor and skill. The seals were the highlight.
Joyce W. · Friends · March 2026
★★★★★
The 3-hour wilderness cruise from Adventure Bay
Sun, wind, sleet and hail in one trip, and cold throughout. We had read the tour page and checked the forecast, so we came prepared and loved it.
Jamie M. · September 2025
★★★★★
The wilderness cruise, from Adventure Bay or Hobart
Rain out on the boat only added to it. Seals, dolphins, albatross, cliffs and sea caves, and the ponchos kept us mostly dry.
Flora · Solo · Australia · January 2026
★★★★★
The wilderness cruise, from Adventure Bay or Hobart
Humpback whales, seals, dolphins, albatross and penguins in one trip, with guides who explained what we were seeing.
Aimee · Friends · United Kingdom · January 2026
★★★★★
The cruise day from Hobart with lunch
We left from Hobart, and the guide covered the island's history and the animals we met. The boat ride along the cliffs was the best of it, seals included, and lunch was good.
Angela W. · Family · August 2026
★★★★★
The cruise day from Hobart with lunch
A long day, but with good time at every stage and excellent food. The end of the cruise was bitterly cold, and the crew handed out hand warmers.
Gavin D. · Solo · June 2026
★★★★☆
The cruise day from Hobart with lunch
I got seasick, though the crew looked after me well, and we saw dolphins, albatross and the cliffs and caves. I would have liked more time on the island itself, and at the lighthouse.
Danielle J. · January 2026
★★★★★
The eco-cruise day from Hobart with lunch
Clear, sunny weather, a southern right whale, dozens of dolphins and an albatross late in the cruise, then a white wallaby on land.
Low · Solo · Singapore · June 2026
★★★★★
The eco-cruise day from Hobart with lunch
My elderly parents enjoyed every part of it. The guides were funny, the cruise and the food well planned, and our vegetarian meals were looked after.
Devarshi · Family · Australia · September 2026
★★★★★
The gourmet tasting and sightseeing day
We nearly cancelled on a cold, wet day and are glad we did not. They catered well for a coeliac diet, and each stop added a small gift.
Kylie G. · May 2026
★★★★★
The gourmet tasting and sightseeing day
Near-perfect weather for winter. Climb all the steps at The Neck for the full view; the beer and cheese tasting and the oysters at lunch were highlights.
Matthew W. · July 2026
★★★★★
The gourmet tasting and sightseeing day
A good day even for someone who cannot walk far or manage steps: the views, the food and the guide all came to us.
Jane L. · February 2026
★★★★★
The gourmet sightseeing day from Franklin Wharf
Pickup at 7am and back at 6pm, and every hour was worth it. The food was good, and we saw a white wallaby.
Debra · Couples · Australia · August 2026
★★★★★
The small-group day with Wild Escapes
Poor weather, but a great day. Besides the planned stops, the guide pulled over at a quiet beach and again for some rare white wallabies.
Ian W. · December 2025
★★★★★
The small-group day with Wild Escapes
The right amount of time at each stop, lovely walks and tastings of what the island makes. A good day out with friends.
Sarah H. · Friends · July 2026
★★★★★
The hike to the Bruny Arch, with tastings
A small group of four and an attentive guide. The hike was the high point, and the guide handed out jackets when the weather turned.
Naomi · Couples · Australia · May 2026
★★★★★
The hike to the Bruny Arch, with tastings
The hike was harder than expected after days of rain, but the guide's knowledge of the plants and trees made the walk.
Ellen · Solo · Singapore · January 2026
★★★★★
The hike to the Bruny Arch, with tastings
Be ready for a big walk. It is worth it.
Shellee · Solo · Australia · December 2025
★★★★☆
The shore excursion from the cruise terminal
A rugged, unspoiled island on a port call. It is a very long day, and we would have swapped the last shop stops for more time at the viewpoints.
Kurt W. · April 2024
★★★★☆
The shore excursion from the cruise terminal
More time on the forest walk and less at the brewery would suit us. The schedule works around the ships, and the pickup directions were unclear enough that we had to phone.
Georsadd G. · January 2024
★★★★★
The private all-inclusive Discovery day
A thorough day round the island with a guide full of its history and family stories, and oysters tasted in a quiet spot. Kind weather for winter.
Tracie G. · July 2023
★★★★★
The private charter from Hobart
Quick answers to our questions before the day, then good views and good food with a guide who made it easy.
Suzanne G. · February 2024
★★★★☆
The 3-day tour with Port Arthur
The first and third days were very good. An earlier start for Port Arthur would have left more time there.
Diana D. · April 2024
★★★☆☆
The 3-day tour with Port Arthur
Some places on the published itinerary were not visited. Any change from what is advertised should be explained before the trip.
Shalini M. · December 2025
★★★★★
The 3-day tour with Port Arthur
Port Arthur, Hobart and the island were all excellent, and a front seat was found for my motion sickness. Pickups were always on time.
MaryJo M. · April 2025
What travellers keep saying
The guide makes the day
Reviewers name their guides far more than the stops. The praise is for local knowledge, patience with the slow walkers, and a day reworked around the rain rather than cut short.
Dress for the Southern Ocean
Cold is the commonest word in the cruise reviews. Wear layers, even in summer. The crew hand out waterproofs, and on a cold day, hand warmers.
It is a long day
Most day tours leave Hobart before 8am and come back about ten hours later, with the drive and the ferry both ways. The unhappiest reviews are about the time on the road, not the island.
The wildlife is a bonus
White wallabies, dolphins, seals and albatross turn up in review after review, but nobody can promise them. Guides stop when they see one, and the cruise crews go looking.
Operator ratings and review counts
These figures are the operators' own, published on their booking pages and shown as they stand. They belong to the operators, not to us. Some tours are sold through two booking sites and appear twice, each with its own rating and fare.
| Tour | Kind of day | What the fare covers | Rating | Reviews | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Inclusive Bruny Island Day Tour Plus Guided Lighthouse Tour | Day tour from Hobart | Ferry, parks pass, lighthouse climb, lunch | 4.8 | 3,179 | From $203 per person |
| Full-Day Guided Bruny Island Tour from Hobart | Day tour from Hobart | Ferry, parks pass | 4.8 | 1,468 | From $130 per person |
| Ultimate Full-Day Bruny Island Inc Exclusive Lighthouse Tour | Day tour from Hobart | Ferry, parks pass, lighthouse climb, lunch | 4.8 | 1,000 | From $199 per person |
| From Hobart: Full-Day Bruny Island Tour with Guide | Day tour from Hobart | Ferry, parks pass | 4.7 | 921 | From $128 per person |
| Bruny Island Traveller - Gourmet Tasting and Sightseeing Day Trip from Hobart | Day tour from Hobart | Lunch | 4.8 | 832 | From $210 per person |
| From Hobart/Adventure Bay: Bruny Island Wilderness Cruise | Adventure Bay or Hobart | The 3-hour cruise | 4.9 | 626 | From $135 per person |
| Hobart: Bruny Island Gourmet Sightseeing Day Tour | Day tour from Hobart | Ferry, lunch | 4.8 | 577 | From $206 per person |
| Hobart: Bruny Island Wilderness Coast Eco Cruise with Lunch | Cruise and island day | The 3-hour cruise, ferry, lunch | 4.8 | 556 | From $206 per person |
| Full-Day Bruny Island Cruises Day Tour from Hobart | Cruise and island day | The 3-hour cruise, ferry, lunch | 4.8 | 531 | From $210 per person |
| Bruny Island Wilderness Cruise from Adventure Bay, Bruny Island | Starts at Adventure Bay | The 3-hour cruise | 4.9 | 316 | From $137 per person |
| Hobart: Bruny Island Adventure: Hike, Highlights & Tastes | 8 km hike and tastings | Ferry | 4.8 | 74 | From $120 per person |
| SHORE EXCURSION - Full-Day Guided Bruny Island Tour from Hobart | From the cruise port | Parks pass (check at booking) | 4.9 | 56 | From $130 per person |
| 3 day Tasmanian highlights tour – Hobart, Port Arthur and Bruny Island | 3-day tour | Parks pass (check at booking), Port Arthur entry | 4.8 | 47 | From $340 per person |
| Bruny Island - Wild Escapes From Hobart | Day tour from Hobart | The guide and the transport | 5.0 | 34 | From $130 per person |
| 2 Day Tasmanian Highlights Tour - Bruny Island & Port Arthur | 2-day tour | Parks pass, Port Arthur entry | 4.9 | 21 | From $224 per person |
| Hobart: All-Inclusive Private Bruny Island Discovery Tour | Private day | Ferry, parks pass, lunch | 5.0 | 7 | From $720 per person |
| 4 Day Bundle - Hobart, Port Arthur, Bruny, Hastings and Tahune | 4-day tour | Parks pass, Port Arthur entry | 5.0 | 4 | From $460 per person |
| Signature Bruny Island Tour - Hobart & SE Tasmania | Day tour from Hobart | Ferry | 5.0 | 3 | From $261 per person |
| Bruny Island Day Tour Private Charter Service （3 days in advance） | Private day | Ferry | 5.0 | 2 | From $1,051 per group (up to 4) |
A tour with thousands of reviews and one with a handful are not a verdict on each other. The gap is mostly how long each has been on sale and how many seats it carries. A private day rated 5.0 by a few parties is worth reading closely rather than skipping.
Read the practical detail in the visitor guide, check the FAQs, then compare every tour on Bruny Island Tours.