Bruny Island trip

[johnd]

We recently went on a charter around the southern part of Bruny Island. Bruny Island is an island of the south east coast of Tasmania, about 50Kms from Hobart. The charter is run by Bruny Island Charters, takes 3 hours and costs $95 per person. They run up to 3 boats a day and each boat takes about 30 people. They operate out of Adventure Bay on Bruny Island. You get to Bruny Island in your own car via a vehicular ferry. Or you can make a day trip of it out of Hobart thru the same company. They take you by mini bus from Hobart and return you that night for a cost of $155 including lunch. There is no public transport on Bruny Island, so it's your own car or the day trip from Hobart with the charter company. I've got nothing to do with this company so why am I rabbitting on about it? Simply because it's the best value cruise you will ever do. The sea cliffs on the south coast of Bruny are the highest sea cliffs in Australia. They face the Southern Ocean and there's nothing between them and Antarctica. At times we were only a meter or two from the sea cliffs but you feel very safe. The boats have airline type seats and you need to strap in if you're in the front or middle of the boat. We sat down the back with the crew which had the advantage of being a very smooth ride (why else would the crew sit there) and a great 180 degree platform from which to photograph. If you come to Tasmania, you really do need to spend a day doing this. You get to visit fur seal colonies in the wild at The Friars, a group of rocks off the coast, see cormorant colonies, seals, dolphins and albatross and if you're lucky southern right whales (we weren't lucky with the whales). We are definitely planning on going back again. If anyone is visiting Hobart, I'd be more than interested to take you there (subject to weather of course). It can get pretty rough down that area of the world, so you do need to pick your weather. We had a day with clear skies and a little bit of high altitude cloud, it was magical. The next couple days we had overcast conditions; I'm sure it would have been just as good, only you wouldn't have the brilliant sky. Anyway, enough words, here are some pics. Don't forget the invitation for any forum members who visit Hobart.

#1 - The coastline of Bruny Island at the Bay of Islands. Note the size of the trees half way up the cliff face:


#2 - Friar Rocks off Bruny Island, where the seal and cormorant colonies are:


#3 - Black faced cormorants at The Friars:


#4 - Courts Island, near the Bruny Lighthouse, the next day:



More here

Cheers
John

[iposiniditos]

#3 is just wonderful.
Very well done.

[macka]

I like them all, but #3 is really great.

[gstark]

John,

The first of these is magical, and almost has a 3d feel to it.

Is there any accommodation on the island?

[Alex]

I really enjoyed nos 1-3. Well composed and the colours are amazing.

Alex

[Alpha_7]

Love them all and there are some pearlers in the Gallery too (well worth a look anyone who reads this). It really looks like you got your moneys worth with the cruise.

The rock formations in the gallery WOW, stunning stuff. Please post more!

[who]

Great photos - Bruny Is. is one part of Tassie I haven't visited in either my holidays here or move to live down here......

Really want to go now, especially when I finally get a decent camera.

Is there any accommodation on the island?

 LOL.... Even though Tassie is reputed to be backward, there is accommodation, ranging from Caravan Parks, camping, B&B, etc....

or you could bunk in with my cuz & sister (only joking, no rellies live down here).

[Killakoala]

There's some very nice images in your gallery there matey.

[Matt. K]

Nice work!...Fine photography! It's almost like being there!

[johnd]

Thanks for all the comments. We really enjoyed doing this cruise and the photography as well.

Gary, there are about 30 - 40 B&Bs on the island. All fairly reaqsonably priced. No 5 star international hotels (yet). As Who said, there's also camping, caravan parks and backpackers (I think). We've stayed at a couple different B&Bs and they were great. To give you some idea of the size of the island, it's about 60 Kms north/south, 20 Kms east/west except in the middle where it's about 100 metres east/west at high tide. The island is shaped a bit like a demented egg timer.

I'll put up some rock formation shots shortly.

Cheers
John

[Willy wombat]

#3 is stunning and the rock formations are breathtaking. I enjoyed this series a lot!