Lighthouse And Winery Lunch Day

This 10-hour day from Bruny Island Safaris pairs tastings at island producers with exclusive access inside Cape Bruny Lighthouse. It carries a 5 rating from 3 reviews and starts from A$195 per person.

Overview

Cape Bruny Lighthouse, built in 1836, is the only southern Tasmanian lighthouse open for tours, and Bruny Island Safaris holds exclusive access to it. That access shapes this whole day. The company's director grew up on the island while his father kept the lighthouse, and the route is built around a 30-minute guided climb with 72 steps to the balcony and views over the Southern Ocean. The original Fresnel lens from 1836 is still preserved inside.

The day runs for 10 hours, departing Hobart at 7am by air-conditioned bus, with the Island Connections ferry crossing to the island each way. Stops along the way include the Bruny Island Bread Fridges at Two Tree Point, where fresh bread is sold on the honour system, Adventure Bay for a search for the Bennett's white wallaby, an albino wallaby unique to this part of Tasmania, and a drive through Mount Mangana Rainforest when weather allows. The group visits Bruny Island Chocolate Company, Bruny Island Honey with tastings included, Bruny Island Cheese Company and Get Shucked Oyster Bar, finishing at The Neck lookout, where you can take 279 stairs, a mid-level path, or a flat boardwalk.

This suits travellers who want the lighthouse and a structured circuit of the island's producers without organising a car and ferry themselves. Ferry fares, the National Parks Pass, hotel pickup from selected locations and honey tastings are all in the price. Lunch at Lunawanna Cafe and tastings at the other producers are at your own cost. The group is capped at 19 guests and the tour is not wheelchair accessible.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Hotel pickup, HobartPickup from 21 selected locations around Hobart, then a 30-minute coach ride south.
2. Ferry to Bruny IslandCross from Kettering on the Island Connections ferry, 20 minutes each way, with scenic views on the way.
3. Two Tree Point and Bread FridgesA 15-minute stop at the unmanned roadside bread station, where fresh bread is sold on the honour system. Morning tea here is at your own cost.
4. Adventure Bay and rainforestA 45-minute stop where the guide looks for the white Bennett's wallaby, with a drive through Mount Mangana Rainforest when weather permits.
5. Cape Bruny LighthouseA 1-hour guided tour including the museum for all guests, 72 steps to the balcony. Children under 5 cannot climb the stairs.
6. Lunch at Lunawanna CafeA 45-minute stop in Lunawanna. Lunch is not included and is paid for on the day.
7. Island producersGuided visits of about 20 minutes each at Bruny Island Chocolate Co., Bruny Island Honey and Bruny Island Cheese Company, plus a 10-minute stop at Get Shucked. Honey tastings are included, other tastings and purchases are extra.
8. The Neck LookoutA 25-minute stop with three fitness options: 279 stairs to the Truganini Lookout, a mid-level lookout, or a flat boardwalk to the beach.
9. Ferry and drop-offThe 20-minute ferry back, then a 30-minute coach ride to your Hobart drop-off, arriving around 5:30pm.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will make this long day run smoothly, from what to budget for at the producer stops to which walking option to choose at The Neck.

• Warm layers. Bruny Island is often cooler than Hobart, in any season. Bring warm clothing, a rain jacket and a hat, as the listing advises.
• Budget for food. Honey tastings are the only food included. Lunch at Lunawanna Cafe and tastings or purchases at the chocolate, cheese and oyster stops are at your own cost, so bring cash or card for those. Water is free on the bus.
• Pace and fitness. The lighthouse climb covers 72 steps in about 30 minutes. At The Neck you choose between 279 stairs, a mid-level lookout or a flat boardwalk, so the day can suit a range of fitness levels. Comfortable closed-toe shoes are recommended.
• Group feel. The bus takes a maximum of 19 guests with one local guide for the full day. Reviews describe the guide as knowledgeable and informative throughout. One traveller mentioned seeing white wallabies on the trip, though the listing states sightings are never guaranteed.
• What to carry. A small daypack with sunscreen, a reusable water bottle and a camera covers most needs. Suitcases and large bags cannot be taken on the bus, and baby strollers are not allowed.
• Timing. The tour departs Hobart at 7am and returns around 5:30pm, a full 10 hours. Dietary requirements must be noted at booking.

Common issues. The main catches are food and drink costs. Lunch, morning tea, snacks, beverages and all tastings except the honey are excluded, so budget for them separately. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, strollers are not permitted, and children under 5 cannot climb the lighthouse stairs, though they can visit the museum and the base. Weather can affect the rainforest drive, and wallaby sightings, as the listing states plainly, are not guaranteed. Cancellation with a full refund is possible up to 24 hours in advance.

Before You Book A Tour