Author: RAD

MAVISTA NATURE WALK

Time: 30 – 40 minutes return
Distance: 1.4 km

The Mavista Nature Walk is a lovely short walk which takes you into a beautiful ancient wet forest filled with towering stringybarks, blackwoods and magnificent treeferns.

There’s plenty of parking at the start of the track and the trail follows a well-maintained track along a beautiful shaded gully.

Pack a picnic and enjoy the cosy picnic shelter at the start of the walk.

Remember – this is a wet forest so be prepared for leeches. But don’t let this put you off this stunning walk.

Track warning – don’t proceed past the end of the well maintained track – Mavista Falls are inaccessible.

ALONNAH-SHEEPWASH BAY TRACK

Time: 1 hour return
Distance: 3 km return

The Alonnah-Sheepwash Bay Track is a fantastic easy walk that’s steeped in history!

In the early years of settlement this foreshore track was the main link from Sheepwash Bay to Alonnah.

It’s an easy 1 hour return walk where you follow the old rock-walled carriageway located between two previous jetty sites. You’ll even pass remains of the early settlers’ occupation way back from the 1850’s. 

The historic track meanders through beautiful coastal bush dominated by large eucalypts and other native trees and plants.

LABILLARDIERE PENINSULA TRACK 

Time: Luggaboine Circuit 1.5 hours; Labillardiere Peninsula Circuit 5 hours
Distance: Luggaboine Circuit 4 km; Labillardiere Peninsula Circuit 15 km

Whether you feel like a short walk or a day long hike the Labillardiere Peninsula track offers a stunning coastal walk.

The Luggaboine Circuit – is a short loop. Whereas the Labillardiere Peninsula Circuit is an all day walk.

Important tip – the view is a lot better and the terrain is significantly kinder if you walk the circuit clockwise!

With stunning coastal views of the D’Entrecasteaux Channel, beautiful forests filled with heathland and eucalypt, as well as an abundance of native flowers and birds, this walk will keep you entertained from start to finish!

FLUTED CAPE TRACK

Time: 2.5 hour circuit
Distance: 5 km circuit

Gain an understanding of the islands whaling history whilst you enjoy the beautiful coastal views and unique wildlife on the Fluted Cape Track.

Surround yourself with tall blue gums, white peppermint and sheoaks as you walk the first part of the track along the coastline of Adventure Bay. Keep your eyes open for the famous white wallaby, and if you’re walking the track during migration season you may spot a whale at Grass Point. Here, you’ll also see structural remnants of the whaling industry of 1820-40.

From Grass Point get ready for a steep climb as the track heads along tall dolerite cliffs to the summit of Fluted Cape. But the uphill is it worth it with the gorgeous distant views of the Tasman Peninsula. Don’t forget to look up to the sky and check out the mesmerising white-bellied sea eagles.

CAPE QUEEN ELIZABETH TRACK

Time: 3 hours return
Distance: 12 km return

The Cape Queen Elizabeth Track really does have it all – beach, bush, spectacular views, rare birdlife, and one or two hidden spots waiting to be discovered!

The track takes you between Big Lagoon and Little Lagoon presenting you with epic views of The Neck and Adventure Bay. Continue to the remote Miles Beach and discover it’s remote fisherman’s shack and check out the incredible rock archway in the sand at Mars Bluff.

EAST CLOUDY HEAD TRACK

Time: 4 hours return
Distance: 12 km return

Experience the beautiful white sands of Cloudy Beach for the first three kilometres of the East Cloudy Head Track. If you do this walk during spring and summer please walk along the wet sand as nesting shorebirds lay their eggs amongst the beach debris during this time.

When you get to the end of Cloudy Beach the track starts to follow a small creek inland before climbing 3kms through heathland to East Cloudy Head. Here you can enjoy breath taking views along the south coast of Bruny Island to The Friars. Turn your head and also enjoy the view of the southern ranges and kunanyi/Mt Wellington.

Bruny Island Cheese Company

Cheese lovers rejoice! Bruny Island Cheese Company is a trail blazer in the world of homemade, traditional cheese – and boast some of the finest artisan cheeses in Australia. Their cheese has a distinctive Tasmanian taste and their doors are open to avid Cheese lovers to experience their incredible cheese tasting plates.

Added bonus? All this delicious cheese can be washed down with equally delicious home brewed beer from their beer brewery that’s located just behind the Chessery. Win, win.

For more information click here: Bruny Island Cheese Company

Bruny Island Premium Wines

Family owned and operated, this incredible local vineyard and winery proudly grow, produce and bottle their wine by hand on Wayaree Estate.

Wayaree Estate is Australia’s southern most vineyard. It’s vines produce premium quality, cool climate wines – and testament to this quality, is the 30 medals collected in wine shows around the world.

You can visit their cellar door seven days a week – and taste for yourself some of Tasmania’s finest wines.

For more information click here: Bruny Island Premium Wines

Bruny Island Berry Farm

There is no better, nor more beautiful place, to pick your own berries than Bruny Island Berry Farm. This 12 hectare, beachfront, berry farm is conveniently located at Adventure Bay and ran by locals Katherine and Graham who’s family have had the farm since 1880.

You can pick your own berries as well as enjoy Bruny Islands finest berry deserts. Tuck into berry pancakes and scones made from fresh berry jam. You may even enjoy a pairing of strawberry champagne or local wine.

For more information click here: Bruny Island Berry Farm

Get Shucked

Boasters of Tasmania’s freshest and finest oysters – Get Shucked is a locally owned and operated oyster bar here on Bruny Island.

Their oysters are sustainably cultivated in the pristine waters of Great Bay, Bruny Island. The oysters are harvested daily and are freshly served to visitors from their oyster bar – a fantastic bay to bar dining experience!

If you’re keen to learn more about how oysters are harvested you can take a peek inside their processing shed where you can see for yourself how the oysters are sorted and cultivated.

For more information click here: Get Shucked

Bruny Island House of Whiskey

For the discerning Whiskey drinker – you’ve just hit gold. Bruny Island House of Whiskey has the most extensive known range of purely Tasmanian Single Malts as well as being home to ‘Trappers Hut’ 15-year-old, Limited Single Cast Release. Whoa!

This is a great place to taste Tasmania’s award-winning single malts with (very) knowledgeable staff who have an unrelenting passion for all things Whiskey.

For more information click here: Bruny Island House of Whiskey

Spotting Bruny Island’s famous white wallabies

White wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus) are our favourite furry neighbours and regular visitors to Adventure Bay Retreat. You wont even have to leave the Retreat to get the opportunity to marvel at these incredible and unusual animals. White wallabies are unique to Bruny Island and are easily recognisable due to a rare genetic mutation that gives them their signatory white fur. White wallabies live in the forest areas that surround Adventure Bay Retreat and can often be seen resting during the day and eating grass, roots and leaves in the evening. They’re used to attention from humans so capturing a great photo from the back porch is easy!

Checking out Fur Seals

Commonly seen in the waters of Bruny Island, fur seals are magnificent creatures and a special part of our ocean landscape here on the Island. A colony of seals can often be spotted on rocky outcrops at the southern end of Bruny Island. A great way to view the seals is a trip on a Bruny Island Cruise where you can see them sunning their blubber and taking a break from hunting fish, squid octopus and lobster.

Gazing at Tasmania’s Endemic birdlife

Bruny Island is home to a huge variety of birdlife, including all 12 species endemic to Tasmania. With incredible birds such as the Forty-spotted Pardalote, the Swift Parrot, and the Tasmanian Wedge-tailed Eagle all calling Bruny Island home you can see why our Island is named in the top 10 bird watching sites of Australia! A great place to spot these magnificent birds is by taking a tour on Inala Private Reserve which is home to an incredible 95 different species of birds.

Being amazed at spiky Echidnas

Common in Bruny Island is the short beaked Echidna. These cute, spiky mammals live in caves, burrows and under vegetation. They’re not fans of hot weather (as weirdly, they can’t sweat) and they hibernate during winter. They like to roam, and with no fixed home you may be lucky enough to spot one as you explore Bruny Island. If you do come across a Echidna they may roll into a ball or burrow into the ground, leaving only the spiky part of their body exposed – a common action whenever they feel threatened.

Marvelling at Fairy Penguins

One of Bruny Islands favourite birds – the ever-so-cute Fairy Penguin. These can be spotted at the Bruny Island Neck Reserve – which is situated between the north and the south of the Island. Fantastic boardwalks and viewing platforms in the reserve give you a great opportunity to observe the little Fairy Penguins, as well as the remarkable short-tailed shearwater birds. The best time to view the penguins is during the warmer months between September to February. There’s an interpretation board where you can learn more about the penguins, and during peak viewing times there’s a Parks and Wildlife Interpretation Guide present at dusk so you can learn even more about these incredible creatures.