Bruny Island is one of Australia‘s top birding destinations but it is also a destination that can appeal to anyone birder or not.  If you are planning a trip to Tasmania, I highly recommend a visit here.  Bruny Island is easily reached by car + ferry from the mainland.  When choosing a rental car, you need to make sure that the company allows its cars to go to Bruny and also that the cars are covered by insurance if you take them on the ferry.  We used Bargain Car Rentals who cater to people wanting to visit Bruny Island.  Oddly enough, Thrifty seems to encourage people to take their cars to Bruny but when you read the T&Cs it says that the cars are not covered on ferries.  Watch out for “Gotchas” like this.

Gotcha!

GETTING TO BRUNY ISLAND

It’s about an hour’s drive to Kettering, then you board the Bruny Island Ferry.  The two most interesting spots for birding are represented by the blue dots.  The one on the narrow strip is where the Penguin Rookery is.  The other one is at Adventure Bay where the Captain Cook Caravan Park and best place to see Swift Parrots is.

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Ferries go roughly every 60-90 minutes.

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Return fares for a tourist are $30 off-peak, $35 peak and you must have cash only.

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THE EXPERIENCE

Loading the cars on the ferry is very well organized, staff will direct you into lanes and motion you forward when its your turn. You can get out and walk around during the 20 minute journey and enjoy the scenery.  Here are some pics from my trip.