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6 Stunning Walks on Bruny Island

  • Mars Bluff, Bruny Island. Image Credit: Jess Bonde

Bruny Island is home to a wonderful range of walks. Head out on foot and discover Bruny’s enchanting forests, pristine beaches, striking coastal scenery, unique wildlife, and spectacular views.

Remember to check the weather before you go, stick to the walking tracks, and leave no trace. It is important to take any rubbish back with you in order to protect the environment as well as Bruny’s wonderful wildlife. If the walk is located within the South Bruny National Park, you’ll need to grab a Parks Pass.

Download Bruny Island Touring Map
Jump to Bruny Island Walks Map

Bruny Island Walks – Safe walking guidelines

We want all walkers to have a safe and enjoyable experience, so please plan to walk safely, be prepared, avoid walking alone, tell someone where you are going and record your trip intentions in the log books. Please read the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Safe Walking guidelines before heading out.

Mavista Nature Walk

Time: 30 – 40 minutes return
Distance: 1.4 km

The Mavista Nature Walk is a beautiful short walk for nature lovers. Follow the well-maintained track along a shaded gully filled with ancient and enchanting wet forests. Notice towering stringybarks, blackwoods, magnificent tree-ferns and various understorey species. Stay a bit longer and use the picnic shelter at the beginning of the track.

Please note the bush track is quite narrow, and walkers should not keep going past the end, as Mavista Falls are inaccessible. Another word of warning—prepare for leeches (at least they’re friendly).

Bruny Island Map
Mavista Nature Walk. Image Credit: @turntabletopjoe
Mavista Nature Walk. Image Credit: @turntabletopjoe
Sheepwash Bay. Image Credit: @tassie_tourer

ALONNAH-SHEEPWASH BAY TRACK

Time: 1 hour return
Distance: 3 km return

Enjoy an easy walk along the foreshore between Sheepwash Bay and Alonnah.

The track was the main link from Sheepwash Bay to Alonnah in the early years of settlement.

The walk follows the old rock-walled carriageway between the previous jetty sites, meandering through the coastal bush.

Look for remnants of early settlers’ occupation, including a sawyers’ camp and several piles of stones near Sheepwash Creek.

Logs from Bruny Island were prepared in the bush for barging to the windjammers for export to the UK and South Africa.

Bruny Island
Bruny Island Map

LABILLARDIERE PENINSULA TRACK

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

This amazing coastal walk can be done as a short loop or as an all-day walk (hot tip: walk the circuit clockwise for kinder terrain and better views). 

From the peninsula’s western side, gaze out towards the southern ranges. Along the eastern side, the track hugs the coastline and includes Hopwood, Butlers and Jetty beaches, with views of the d’Entrecasteaux Channel.

The heathland and eucalpyt forest contains flowers year round, attracting a variety of birds. In the warmer months, it’s not uncommon to see snakes soaking up the sun on the track, so wear gaiters or long pants.

Fluted Cape. Image Credit: @planetscapes_photography
Fluted Cape. Image Credit: @planetscapes_photography

FLUTED CAPE TRACK

Time: 2.5 hour circuit
Distance: 5 km circuit

The Fluted Cape Track in the South Bruny National Park offers beautiful coastal views, unique wildlife, and poignant reminders of the island’s whaling history.

The first part of the track winds through tall blue gums, white peppermint and she-oaks along the coastline of Adventure Bay (home to the famous white wallaby).

Find structural remnants from the whaling industry (1820-40) at Grass Point, and perhaps even spot a real whale during migration season.

From Grass Point, the track climbs steeply along tall dolerite cliffs to the summit of Fluted Cape (families can skip this part and head back from Grass Point for a gentler 1.5 hour return walk).

Enjoy distant views of the Tasman Peninsula and look up for soaring white-bellied sea eagles.

Fluted Cape Track
South Bruny National Park

CAPE QUEEN ELIZABETH TRACK

Time: 3 hours return
Distance: 12 km return

The enchanting Cape Queen Elizabeth Track is on many a bucket list, combining beach and bush adventure.

Trek between Big Lagoon and Little Lagoon, enjoy spectacular views of The Neck and Adventure Bay, walk through beautiful coastal heath, spot rich birdlife (including the rare forty-spotted pardalote), and discover remote Miles Beach with its hidden fisherman’s shack. 

The rocky archway in the sand at Mars Bluff is a real highlight!

Bruny Island Neck
Bruny Island Map
Cloudy Head. Image Credit: @hike-bogholesbuckethats

EAST CLOUDY HEAD TRACK

Time: 4 hours return
Distance: 12 km return

The East Cloudy Head Track begins with a 3 km walk along the windswept beach at Cloudy Bay in the South Bruny National Park.

Nesting shorebirds lay their eggs amongst the beach debris during spring and summer, so please walk along the wet sand.

At the end of Cloudy Beach, the track follows a small creek inland before climbing 3 km through colourful bird-filled heathland to East Cloudy Head.

Enjoy spectacular views along the south coast of Bruny Island to The Friars (home to a noisy fur seal colony).

Gaze to the west and northwest for views towards the southern ranges and kunanyi/Mt Wellington.

Discover Bruny Island
Gourmet Guide To Bruny

Please note, the walking times are a general guide—you may complete the track more quickly or take longer if you spend more time enjoying the scenery.

Bruny Island Walks Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Bruny Island offers a variety of scenic walks, but the Cape Queen Elizabeth Walk, Fluted Cape Walk, and the Labillardiere Peninsula Circuit are among the most popular. Each provides a unique experience, from coastal views to lush landscapes.

Yes, several tour operators on Bruny Island offer guided walks. These tours often provide insightful commentary about the island’s history, flora, and fauna, enhancing the overall experience. Check with local tour companies for availability and schedules.

Bruny Island caters to various fitness levels. While some walks, like the Cape Queen Elizabeth Walk, may be more challenging, there are easier options, such as the Neck Game Reserve Walk. Visitors can choose walks that match their fitness and comfort levels.

Yes, Bruny Island is renowned for its wildlife. Many walks offer opportunities to spot local fauna, including wallabies, echidnas, and a variety of bird species. Keep your eyes peeled, especially during dawn and dusk, for the best chances of wildlife encounters.

Absolutely! The Fluted Cape Walk is renowned for its breathtaking coastal views. The trail takes you along towering cliffs, providing panoramic vistas of the Southern Ocean. It’s a must-do for those seeking stunning seascapes.

Generally, no permits are required for the main walks on Bruny Island. However, it’s advisable to check with local authorities or the Parks and Wildlife Service for any specific regulations or temporary closures. Always respect the environment and adhere to any guidelines provided.

Bruny Island Cruises Seafood Restaurant. Image Credit: Adam Gibson
Get Shucked - Bruny Island Oysters. Image Credit: Adam Gibson

Gourmet Guide to Bruny Island

Bruny Island is not just a place of natural beauty, it is also a foodie haven.

Read our Gourmet Foodie Guide to Bruny Island.

Gourmet guide to Bruny Island

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We acknowledge the Tasmanian Aboriginal people and their enduring custodianship of lutruwita / Tasmania. We honour 40,000 years of uninterrupted care, protection and belonging to these islands, before the invasion and colonisation of European settlement. As a destination that welcomes visitors to these lands, we acknowledge our responsibility to represent to our visitors, Tasmania’s deep and complex history, fully, respectfully and truthfully.

We acknowledge the Aboriginal people who continue to care for this country today. We pay our respects to their elders, past and present. We honour their stories, songs, art, and culture, and their aspirations for the future of their people and these lands. We respectfully ask that tourism be a part of that future.

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