Tiger Tales

OVERNIGHTER

Bruny Island, Tasmania

All you really need to enjoy this getaway haven is a full tank of petrol and a keen sense of adventure, says Linda Smith  

Inhabited by Aborigines for thousands of years before European explorer Abel Tasman first visited its shores in 1642, Bruny Island is now home to about 600 people. It has become a popular day-trip destination from Hobart for shack owners and tourists, who are drawn to the island’s pristine beaches, magnificent coastal scenery, rich history and laid-back lifestyle.

WHAT TO DO

The island is just 70km long and 24km wide, and with only about 300km of roads to explore – some gravel and some sealed – there is little chance of getting lost. Pick up a map at one of the shops on the island.

Your first stop should be Cape Bruny Lighthouse, at the southern end of the island. This imposing structure, built by convicts in 1836, is one of the oldest lighthouses in Australia. Book a tour or simply enjoy the view – look on as waves crash against the sheer rugged cliffs and you’ll better appreciate why the lighthouse was built all those years ago.

The road to the lighthouse offers spectacular views – a highlight is The Neck, a narrow isthmus linking the north and south sections of the island. Climb the wooden steps to a tall viewing platform overlooking beaches on either side. Bird lovers should keep an eye out for rare and endangered species, and visitors who are staying on Bruny for the night can return to the isthmus at dusk to see fairy penguins toddle home to their rookeries after a busy day of fishing. Another Bruny Island must-see is stunning Cloudy Bay, where large swells of blood-red water pound the shore. Surfers hit the ocean in droves, undeterred by the algae-filled water that coats their wetsuits with a thin slime. Despite its colour, the water in the bay, which is part of South Bruny Island National Park, is perfectly safe for swimming.

WHERE TO SPEND

Adventure Bay in the west is a popular shack area and is also home to Morella Island Retreats and The Hothouse Café – which features al fresco dining in a renovated shade house that opens onto sprawling gardens. Relax and enjoy fantastic food and first-class service at great prices as you watch the resident peacock roam.

After enjoying dishes made from local produce at The Hothouse, stop in at the nearby HIBA fudge and chocolate factory, where visitors are treated to free taste tests. Don’t forget to buy some sweet treats to take home to family and friends. The factory outlet offers everything from decadent truffles to rich chocolate sauces and is situated in 100,000sqm of majestic parkland gardens.  

WHERE TO STAY

Morella Island Retreats has a range of options from luxury spa suites for couples to self-contained cottages that sleep up to nine people. All offer stunning panoramic views that change with the seasons and the weather. If you’re keen to enjoy some of the island’s many scenic bush walks, stay at the secluded and eco-friendly Cloudy Bay Cabins in the heart of South Bruny National Park, where nature is right on your doorstep.

HOW TO GET THERE

From Hobart, hire a car and drive 40km south to Kettering via the Southern Outlet (A6) and the Channel Highway (B68). From here, catch the vehicular ferry, The Mirambeena, across to Roberts Point on the northern end of Bruny Island. There are about 10 return trips each day – the first ferry leaves Kettering at 6.35am and the last one leaves Bruny Island at 7pm. A return trip costs just A$28/S$36 per car (which covers all passengers inside) or A$33/S$43 on public holidays.

FIND IT:

* Morella Island Retreats (incorporating the Hothouse Café), Adventure Bay, Bruny Island, tel: +61 (0)3 6293 1131, www.morella-island.com.au
* Bruny Island Ferry, www.brunyislandferry.com.au
* HIBA (providore, fudge factory, gardens and accommodation), Adventure Bay, Bruny Island, tel: +61 (0)3 6293 1456, www.hiba.com.au

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