Three-Hour Cruise, Adventure Bay

Pennicott Wilderness Journeys runs a three-hour cruise out of Adventure Bay along the rugged southern coastline, where Australian fur seals and seabirds gather around The Friars. It carries 4.8 across 632 reviews. Adding the Hobart bus option can stretch the outing to 10 hours door to door.

Overview

Three hours on an open-air yellow boat is the core of this tour: a run along Bruny Island's southern coastline past tall sea cliffs, into sea caves, and through the narrow gap between the coast and The Monument. The boats are custom-built with tiered seating, so sightlines run in every direction rather than over other passengers' heads. A guide narrates throughout, and the route is chosen around wildlife, with seals, dolphins, migrating whales and seabirds all on the list of possibilities.

One of the regular anchors is the Friars, where the boat slows and drifts past rare nesting seabirds and a haul-out that is home to thousands of seals. Reviews of this exact trip repeatedly mention seals, dolphins and albatross, so binoculars and a camera earn their place. There is no minimum age or group size, which makes the trip workable for families as well as solo visitors.

Two ways to book exist. The base option starts at Adventure Bay on Bruny Island and lasts three hours, with no pickup included, so travellers make their own way there. The Hobart option adds a guided return bus tour and ferry crossings, stretching the day to as much as ten hours. Either way, there is free time on Bruny Island after the cruise.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Make your way to the startThe meeting point depends on the option booked: Adventure Bay on Bruny Island, or the Hobart departure point if the bus option is selected. Pickup is not included in the base tour.
2. Board the yellow boatClimb aboard a custom-built open-air boat with tiered seating. A wet weather jacket is provided.
3. Cruise the coastlinePass some of Australia's highest sea cliffs, stop near the Breathing Rock, enter deep-sea caves and squeeze through the gap between the coast and The Monument where the Tasman Sea meets the Southern Ocean.
4. Drift at the FriarsThe boat slows near the Friars to pass quietly by rare nesting seabirds and a large seal haul-out.
5. Disembark at Adventure BayAfter the cruise there is free time to explore Bruny Island on your own.
6. Return to HobartIf the Hobart option is selected, a guided bus tour carries you back, including ferry crossings and hotel drop-off in Hobart.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points shape how this day goes, from getting to the boat to what the weather does to the ride.

• Getting there. If starting from Bruny Island, arrive at the ferry terminal 30 minutes before departure. The ferry crossing takes 20 minutes, and Adventure Bay is then a 35-minute drive south. One reviewer reported the drive taking longer in their own car, so allow buffer time.
• Dress warm. The listing provides a wet weather jacket, and one reviewer noted rain that the ponchos mostly handled while another described a very chilly wind on the water. Layers are the safe call even on a fine day. Comfortable shoes are the only item the listing asks you to bring.
• Wildlife odds. Seals, dolphins and albatross come up again and again in reviews, and some travellers saw humpback whales and penguins. Sightings are never guaranteed, but the Friars seal haul-out is a dependable feature of the route.
• Pace and duration. The cruise runs three hours and one reviewer found the last stretch uncomfortable, mentioning seasickness. Seasickness pills were provided on at least one trip, but anyone prone to motion sickness should plan ahead.
• Guides. Reviewers consistently praise the crew as knowledgeable, funny and professional. One reviewer noted that on their boat the guides had no microphone, making commentary hard to hear at times, which is worth knowing if hearing matters to you.
• Food and drink. Food and drinks are not included in the listing's inclusions, so bring your own for the boat unless the option you book states otherwise.

Common issues. The base tour includes no pickup or hotel drop-off, so transport to Adventure Bay is on you, and the drive plus ferry takes real planning. Weather is a factor: trips can be cold, wet and windy, and one reviewer wished weather-related cancellation decisions came earlier in the day. A single reviewer found three hours on the boat long and uncomfortable toward the end. If the Hobart bus option is not selected, ferry crossings and the guided return ride are also not included.

Before You Book A Tour