Bruny Island Photo Essay

Bruny Island, Tasmania: A photo essay

Lighthouse Bay from the Bruny Light.

By Helene Young

Autumn light in Apollo Bay.

Original lens in the Bruny Lighthouse.

Bruny Island brackets the eastern side of the D’Entrecasteaux Channel, protecting it from the full force of the South Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea. Its lighthouse first cast a beam in 1838 and remains the longest serving light in Australia, having provided safety for 158 years before being replaced by a fibreglass light. Its white-washed column stands tall on Cape Bruny and the spiral staircase takes you to magnificent views of Tasmania’s southern coast.

There are a myriad of bays providing safe anchorage on both North and South Bruny and each has its own charm. The western side provides more protection without the endless swells rolling in from Antarctica. South Bruny seems wilder, more remote. North Bruny is a little gentler, situated further up the Channel and within an easy sail of Hobart. The isthmus that joins the two is home to a colony of Little (Fairy) Penguins.

Foraging is fun on Bruny Island and living off wild caught food adds to the adventure. Even if you don’t like to dive, mussels and oysters are thick on the shore. Flathead, wrasse, squid, and mackerel are easily caught from the back of the boat. Samphire grows in many of the sandy bays and is delicious lightly steamed. Apples, blackberries and rosehips are prolific on several of the smaller islands. Desserts never tasted better.

The old Quarantine Station on North Bruny still welcomes guests and in the time of Covid-19 it seemed like a great place to hang out –especially with a friendly trio of ducks! National Parks and reserves are dotted across the island. Perhaps the most spectacular is the walk to Fluted Cape. With the winds from the south or west anchoring in Adventure Bay is possible and the walk is easily accessed from there.

With glassy reflections, an abundance of wild life, and plenty of safe anchorages you could spend a few months exploring Bruny Island and still find new things to delight you.

Tobermory, Isle of Mull.

ABOVE: Fluted Cape.

RIGHT: The Ducks of Quarantine Bay.

Sunset from the Duck Pond.

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