If you love spectacular scenery and gourmet local produce, Bruny is your place, an island off an island off an island at the bottom of the world. Bruny is all about beaches, waves, forests and food.

We set off early from Hobart to beat the crowds, taking a scenic waterside drive and ferry ride to reach the island.

Once on the island, we begin our adventure with a spectacular hike showcasing Bruny’s coastal scenery. We follow a section of the Cape Queen Elizabeth Trail, one of Tasmania’s Great Short Walks. While we don’t complete the full track today, we hike as far as Mars Bluff, Miles Beach, and the striking rock formations including the Bruny Arch, before retracing our steps.

The first 30–40 minutes is a relaxed walk along a wide, sandy track through coastal heathland. We pass between Big Lagoon and Little Lagoon, both home to a variety of waterbirds. A short but steep 10–15 minute uphill brings us to Mars Bluff, where a slight elevation reveals expansive views of the surrounding coastline. From there, we descend onto Miles Beach to explore the area and its fascinating rock formations.

We allow plenty of time to take in this stunning location and capture photos of the Arch before returning along the same track. The hike covers approximately 8 km return and is classified as moderate.

Then it’s onwards and upwards, literally, as we climb the 279 steps to the top of Truganini Lookout, where you’ll be rewarded with sweeping 360-degree views of The Neck, a narrow strip of land linking North and South Bruny.

We stop at Two Tree Point to uncover some local history before taking a well-earned lunch break at Adventure Bay. Lunch is flexible: relax with your own picnic on the beach, grab a bite at the local café, or enjoy a sit-down meal at Pennicott’s beachside restaurant.

In the afternoon, we taste our way around the island with visits to local favourites including the Bruny Island Chocolate Factory, Bruny Island Honey, Bruny Island Cheese Co., and Get Shucked Oysters.

The perfect day? We think so.