Bruny Island

Bruny is two islands connected by a sandy isthmus a few hundred metres wide, with a lookout and boardwalk at the Neck giving a view along both. The southern half holds South Bruny National Park, with the 1836 Cape Bruny lighthouse, sea cliffs and beaches, while the northern half is farmland and small settlements. The island has become a food destination, with cheese, oysters, honey, whisky and berries produced within a short drive. Its wildlife includes a population of white Bennett's wallabies, a rare colour form that survives here without predation pressure, and little penguins that come ashore at the Neck at dusk.

What you actually see

• The Neck - the narrow isthmus with a boardwalk lookout over both halves.
• The white wallabies - a rare white colour form of Bennett's wallaby.
• Cape Bruny Lighthouse - the 1836 tower at the southern end.
• The food producers - cheese, oysters, honey and whisky along the road.

When to go

November to April for the mildest weather and penguins ashore at the Neck; winter is cold and wet with shorter ferry timetables. Summer holidays and weekends fill the ferry, which can mean long waits without a booking.

Honest expectations

Ferry queues in peak season can run to hours; bookings are advisable. Roads on the island are partly unsealed. Penguin viewing at the Neck requires red light only, and vehicle strikes on wildlife are a serious local problem.

Nearby

Kettering is the ferry port; the Huon Valley lies west across the channel.