Private Eight-Hour Driver Guide

Love Tasmania Tours & Coal River Coaches give your party a private vehicle and guide for an eight-hour Bruny Island day priced from A$991 per group (up to 4 people). The route bends to your interests, and it is rated 5 across 3 reviews.

Overview

This is a full-day private tour out of Hobart run by Love Tasmania Tours & Coal River Coaches, built around a dedicated driver guide and a vehicle matched to your group. Pick the passenger count when booking and the operator allocates the right size, from a Toyota SUV for up to four people through to coaches for larger parties. Your guide stays with you for the whole day, and both reviewers praised their guide's local knowledge.

The route runs south from Hobart to Kettering, where you board the Bruny Island ferry for the crossing of the D'Entrecasteaux Channel. Once on the island the day is spent on a mix of guided sightseeing, scenic driving and wildlife watching, with the climb up The Neck Lookout and time at Adventure Bay as fixed stops. Along the way there are chances to sample island produce: oysters, cheese, honey, chocolate and small-batch spirits, though some venues charge for tastings. Lunch is at a island cafe or restaurant at your own cost, and the day ends with the ferry back and drop-off at your Hobart pickup point or another city location if that suits better.

It suits travellers who want the flexibility of a private vehicle and a guide who can shape the day, including families with children, as one reviewer described after switching to this tour for exactly that reason.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Hobart pickupThe driver guide collects the group from a selected Hobart City location.
2. Drive to KetteringA bus or coach transfer of 35 minutes through countryside south of Hobart to the ferry terminal.
3. Ferry crossingA 20 minute ferry ride across the D'Entrecasteaux Channel to Bruny Island.
4. Bruny Island dayAround 6.17 hours of guided touring: The Neck Lookout, Adventure Bay and its walking tracks, scenic drives, wildlife viewing and stops at local producers. Tastings at some venues carry a charge, and lunch is at your own cost.
5. Ferry returnThe return ferry crossing takes 20 minutes back to the mainland.
6. Hobart drop-offA 35 minute drive back to the original pickup point or another city location if preferred.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help you get the day right, from what to carry to how the tastings work.

• Dress for changeable weather. The listing warns that weather on the island can change quickly, so bring layers and weather-appropriate clothing. Comfortable shoes matter too, since the tour involves walking and outdoor activities.
• Bring the basics. Pack sunscreen, water and a camera alongside those walking shoes.
• Food costs extra. Lunch is not included, and neither are most tastings: the listing states some venues charge for them. Alcohol tastings may require ID, so carry identification.
• Skip what you dislike. The operator is candid that not every tasting suits every palate, oysters being the obvious example. Tastings are at your discretion, so nobody is pushed into anything.
• Flexible pacing. One reviewer reported plenty of time at each stop, and another described a relaxed lunch with views and an unplanned lighthouse climb fitted in after, which reflects how the private format allows the day to bend a little.
• No drinks in the vehicle. Drinks are not allowed in the vehicle, and smoking is prohibited too.

Common issues. The main costs beyond the tour price are lunch and many of the tastings, and alcohol tastings can require ID. The day involves a fair amount of walking and outdoor time, which may not suit everyone, and island weather can turn quickly. Intoxication is not permitted on the tour. One reviewer booked this at the last minute after an early start with a five-year-old proved impractical on a different Bruny Island tour.

Before You Book A Tour