Short Bushwalks Bruny Island (And Where to Camp Nearby)

Bruny Island sits just off Hobart’s doorstep — a short drive to Kettering and a 15-minute vehicle ferry gets you onto an island of dolerite sea cliffs, white wallabies, penguin colonies and some of the best short coastal walking in the south of the state. South Bruny National Park covers most of the walking country, from the family-friendly Grass Point track to the genuinely committing Fluted Cape circuit, while the narrow isthmus known as The Neck offers an easy detour and a nightly penguin show. Most of what’s below can be strung together into a long weekend without moving far between trailheads. Fuel up before you go — the only bowser on the island is at Adventure Bay — and allow a bit of slack in your plans for ferry queues over summer and Easter.

1. Truganini Lookout Walk — The Neck

A short, sharp climb up 279 timber steps to a lookout and memorial for Truganini and the Nuenonne people, with 360-degree views across the isthmus joining North and South Bruny. Time it for dusk between September and February and you’ll likely see little penguins and short-tailed shearwaters returning to their burrows from the viewing platforms at the base of the steps.

Distance: 300m return • Time: 10–15 minutes • Difficulty: Short but steep, 279 steps • Dogs: Permitted on lead outside penguin season; not permitted near the rookery during penguin season (September–February)

Nearest campground: The Neck Campground, right at the base of the steps. https://www.campingtasmania.com/directory/the-neck-bruny-island-camping/

2. Grass Point Walk — Adventure Bay

An easy, family-friendly track from Adventure Bay along the coast to the ruins of an old whaling station at Grass Point, with good views back across the bay the whole way. A gentle introduction to the national park and a solid option if you’ve got kids or limited time.

Distance: 4km return • Time: 1.5 hours return • Difficulty: Grade 2, easy • Dogs: Not permitted (national park)

Nearest campground: The Neck Campground, about 20 minutes’ drive north of Adventure Bay. https://www.campingtasmania.com/directory/the-neck-bruny-island-camping/

3. Fluted Cape Walk — Adventure Bay

One of Tasmania’s 60 Great Short Walks and the toughest option on this list. From the same trailhead as Grass Point, the track climbs steeply above towering dolerite cliffs with sweeping ocean views and a good chance of spotting sea eagles overhead. It’s walked clockwise only, and there are unprotected cliff edges along the way, so it’s best suited to experienced walkers with a head for exposure and sturdy footwear.

Distance: 4km circuit • Time: 2.5 hours return • Difficulty: Grade 4, hard, steep with unprotected cliff edges • Dogs: Not permitted (national park)

Nearest campground: The Neck Campground, about 20 minutes’ drive north of Adventure Bay. https://www.campingtasmania.com/directory/the-neck-bruny-island-camping/

4. East Cloudy Head Walk — Cloudy Bay

A long, wild walk along windswept Cloudy Bay Beach before climbing to a headland with panoramic coastal views — a proper half-day out and the biggest walk on this list. Starting from the Cloudy Bay Road trailhead, it’s mostly beach and heathland walking with a final steeper climb to the head, and there’s little shelter if the weather turns, so check the forecast before committing.

Distance: 12km return • Time: 4 hours return • Difficulty: Grade 4, hard, long and exposed • Dogs: Not permitted (national park)

Nearest campground: The Pines campground, Cloudy Bay Road, at the trailhead. https://www.campingtasmania.com/directory/south-bruny-island-camping/

5. Cape Bruny Lighthouse Walk — Cape Bruny

A short, easy walk from the car park out to Australia’s second-oldest lighthouse, with sweeping views over the Southern Ocean — the next stop south is Antarctica. Tours of the lighthouse grounds run seasonally, but the walk and the views are worth the short drive out even without one. A gentle way to end a day of harder walking elsewhere on the cape.

Distance: About 1km return • Time: 20–30 minutes • Difficulty: Easy, with some gentle elevation gain • Dogs: Not permitted

Nearest campground: Jetty Beach Campground, about 3km from the lighthouse. https://www.campingtasmania.com/directory/south-bruny-island-camping/

Planning Your Trip

Most of the walks above sit within South Bruny National Park, so you’ll need a valid Tasmanian Parks Pass before you set off — buy online in advance, since there’s no pass sales point on the island itself. The Neck Reserve is the exception: it sits outside the national park boundary, so no pass is needed to visit Truganini Lookout or camp there. Dogs are not permitted on any of the national park walks in this list, and access to the Truganini steps is restricted during penguin nesting season (September to February) to protect the rookery below. On the safety side, Bruny’s beaches are unpatrolled and can carry strong rips, particularly at Cloudy Bay, so take care if you’re tempted in for a swim after a walk. Mobile coverage is patchy to non-existent across much of the island’s south, and weather off the Southern Ocean can turn quickly, so check the forecast, carry warm layers, and let someone know your plans before heading out on the longer walks. Walk