The White Wallabies of Bruny Island.

We came to Bruny Island for the white wallabies. Well I did, David came for me - he isn't a wildlife person. Bruny Island, a small island off the coast of Tasmania is home to a colony of rare white wallabies. I have a long history of disappointment in the wild animal spotting stakes. Just recently I have failed to see whales in Alaska, cassowaries in Queensland and sunbathing kangaroos in Esperance but Bruny Island proved the exception. Within half an hour of arriving we saw two of these beautiful creatures up very close in the bush.

The wallabies live around the south side of Adventure Bay. We went looking for them at the Adventure Bay caravan park where I had read they are often seen. It was about 1 pm and like almost all Australian animals the white wallabies of Bruny Island are most active at dusk and dawn, so while I was confident we were in the right place I was prepared for yet another animal spotting disappointment.

The caravan park wallabies were nowhere to be seen but not far past the park we turned down a dirt road (Lockleys Road) and about a half a kilometre along we saw our first white wallaby. He and a second, dark brown, wallaby were sitting about 25 metres from the road on the edge of a paddock. A wire paddock fence stopped us from getting very close but he seemed as curious about us as we were of him. He stood and posed for the camera for fifteen minutes or so before bounding away. Another half a kilometre further along we found a second white wallaby. This time there was no fence and he let us walk within a metre or two of him. Like the first wallaby he seemed completely unafraid of us and posed happily for the camera.

Bruny Island 

Bruny Island has a permanent population of 650 people. About 100 kms in length it consists of a north island and a south island connected by a spectacular spit of sand and dunes known as The Neck. There are no large towns. Apart from a few cafes and holiday accommodation there are very few facilities. 

North Bruny Island is mostly pasture and light bushland. This is where the ferry docks. South Bruny has large areas of rainforest and plenty of untouched wilderness in the South Bruny National Park. Bruny is a mecca for bushwalkers.

Penguins and other wildlife - 

From September to February each year Little Penguins (Fairy Penguins) come ashore along The Neck to breed. They are very timid and don't leave the water until dusk. David and I left Bruny long before the penguins were due to arrive, however judging by the number of burrows we saw, they must come ashore in significant numbers.

The Neck which connects North and South Bruny Island. The stairs lead to a spectacular view. 

If you want to see the penguins you will have to stay overnight. The last ferry leaves Bruny at 7.15 pm and sunset is not until about 8.45 pm. You don't need a special tour to see them. There is a viewing platform at The Neck. You can't miss it - just look for the sign.

This sign is right next to the road. The stairs lead to a penguin viewing platform above the beach.

Apart from white and brown wallabies and penguins, Bruny has echidnas, possums and pademelons. David and I caught sight of a blonde echidna by the side of the road but by the time we were able to stop he had gone.

We saw several brown wallabies not far from where we saw the white wallabies.

Cape Bruny Lighthouse - 

Cape Bruny Lighthouse is at the far southern tip of the island. Like all lighthouses it is worth the drive, if only for the photo opportunity. David and I have seen endless lighthouses on our travels but we couldn't leave the island without adding Cape Bruny Lighthouse to our list.

Cape Bruny Lighthouse.

To reach cape Bruny Lighthouse you need to enter South Bruny National Park for which a fee applies.

Things to know: -

• Access to Bruny Island is by car ferry from the small town of Kettering, about 33km south of Hobart.

• The ferries run every half hour in summer and take about 15 minutes. You can check the timetable - here. Note that the last ferry off the island leaves at 7.15 pm. The timetable varies according to the season so check before you go.

• The ferry costs $33 per car. The entrance fee to South Bruny National Park is not included in the ferry ticket. Only some of the island is within the National Park. You can see the white wallabies and the penguins without entering the park.

• Bruny Island is 100 km long so you will need a car.

• Fill up with petrol before you catch the ferry. There is a petrol station at Kettering. We were told there is a petrol station on the island at Alonnah but we didn't see it. To be fair, for once we were organised so we weren't actually looking for it.

• You can hire bicycles in Kettering but even though David and I are avid cyclists we decided the island was far too large to cycle around in a day. 

UFOs and Extraterrestrials:

If you watched the Kettering Incident on T.V earlier this year you will be relieved, or perhaps disappointed, to hear that we didn't see a single alien either in Kettering or on Bruny!

Bruny Island Tours: As long as you have a car Bruny Island is easy to get to and see without taking a guided tour. However if you do want to take a tour then you can see a fairly comprehensive list of what's available at Get Your Guide. (Note: If you book a tour through this link or the ads below we earn a small commission. You pay the same price as you would otherwise)

Other blog posts from our two weeks in Tasmania: -

• Where to Look for Platypus in Tasmania
• The Little Penguins of Low Head
• Port Arthur: A World Heritage Convict Site.
• The Heritage Buildings of Launceston
• Cycling in Hobart

Where to see wildlife in Australia:- 

• The 17 best places to see Australian wildlife.
• 10 Australian animals you have never heard of, and where to find them.

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