Let Me Share MY Island With You
It is no mistake that I ended up living on a little island at the bottom of the world...when I first visited Bruny in 1984 as a biologist on a field trip, I was amazed at its spectacular beauty, natural diversity and the abundance of its wildlife- particularly the birds. I was drawn back to the island over the next few years and every time I visited I felt that I had come home, even though I was born in the suburbs of Melbourne and lived there for the first 26 years of my life. "INALA" on Bruny Island became my permanent home in 1988. After all this time I am as firmly entrenched as ever, and I feel very privileged to be able to live and work in such an amazing environment. I invite you to share this piece of paradise...
Tonia Cochran, owner of INALA.

About Bruny Island

Bruny Island is situated about 40km (approximately 40 minutes’ drive) south of Hobart, and is separated from the Tasmanian mainland by the D’Entrecasteaux Channel. The island is accessed by a vehicular ferry which operates 10 return trips at approximately one hour intervals throughout the day (11 return trips on Fridays and 9 return trips on Sundays). The ferry trip takes approximately 15 minutes, during which time passengers may get out of their vehicles and admire the views and search for wildlife (seabirds and possibly dolphins) if they wish. Clients may drive their own vehicle or a hire vehicle (provided it is approved for travel on gravel roads). Alternatively, INALA Nature Tours can provide vehicle-based Hobart transfers for an additional cost. Or clients can consider a light plane transfer from Hobart to the Bruny Island airstrip where they will be collected by their driver/guide.

Bruny Island is a microcosm of Tasmania, with most habitats represented here. Its extraordinary natural values allows us to design itineraries to suit guests varied interests, whether that is birding (150 species, including all 12 Tasmanian endemic species can be found on the island), wildlife viewing, photography or discovering the amazing variety of plants that can be found here.

Bruny Island Bird List

(systematics and taxonomy based on Christidis & Boles, 2008)

Tours of Bruny Island

To follow is a selection of some of the tours that we can offer here on Bruny. These can be adapted to suit your interests, both in terms of tour length and content:

Full Day Tour of Bruny Island

From the Mountains to the Sea

The day tour provides a broad overview of Bruny Island with the chance to visit a number of different locations and habitats. This will include a visit to historic and scenically beautiful Adventure Bay to see beautiful beaches and cool temperate rainforests containing some Gondwana species and endemic Tasmanian flora. You will also visit Cape Bruny, which offers spectacular views of the rugged coastline and Southern Ocean (next stop Antarctica!), and “INALA”, a 500 acre private Land for Wildlife property which is home to a variety of threatened species and all the Tasmanian endemic birds (see also walking tour of INALA below for further information). “INALA” is also a centre for conservation research and education, and the location of one of the largest known colonies of Forty-spotted Pardalote, an endangered bird that is only found in Tasmania (and of which half of the total population is found on Bruny Island). Learn of the conservation efforts to protect these species and their habitat. Return to INALA late afternoon and connect with a ferry back to Hobart (suggest the 4:30pm or 5:30pm ferry with an estimated time of arrival back in Hobart one hour later).

Accommodation: none.
Meals included: Lunch.

Day and Night Tour of Bruny Island with Overnight Stay

DAY 1. This morning you will visit "INALA", a 500 acre private Land for Wildlife property which is home to a variety of threatened species and all the Tasmanian endemic birds (see also walking tour of INALA below for further information). INALA is also a centre for conservation research and education, and the location of one of the largest known colonies of Forty-spotted Pardalote, an endangered bird that is only found in Tasmania (and of which half of the total population is found on Bruny Island). Learn of the conservation efforts to protect these species and their habitat. There will also be a chance for a short visit historic and scenically beautiful Adventure Bay, where you will see a variety of habitats, which include beautiful beaches and cool temperate rainforests containing some Gondwana species, as well as endemic Tasmanian flora. After lunch you will visit Cape Bruny, which offers spectacular views of the rugged coastline and Southern Ocean (next stop Antarctica!), a view of the second oldest lighthouse in Australia, and the chance to see a variety of interesting plants, echidnas and a variety of birds (including Tawny crowned Honeyeater and Yellow-tailed Black cockatoo) that inhabit these areas. Return to INALA late afternoon, settle into your cottage and freshen up before dinner. After dinner you will visit the Little Penguin and Short-tailed Shearwater rookery to view these birds returning to their burrows after dusk. Penguins can be viewed all year round, but Shearwaters are only present between September and April. Also a chance to see some of Bruny’s nocturnal wildlife (year round) such as Tasmanian Pademelons and Eastern Quolls which are now only found in Tasmania, as well as Bennett’s Wallabies and Brush-tailed Possums. Return to the cottage after the tour.

DAY 2. Generous breakfast provisions comprised of fresh local produce will be placed in your cottage for you to prepare at your convenience this morning. Leave INALA after breakfast and connect with a morning ferry back to Hobart (suggest the 07:00am or 08:25 ferry with an estimated time of arrival back in Hobart one hour later).

Accommodation: One night INALA (cottage style- sole use).
Meals included: Day 1: Lunch, dinner. Day 2: Breakfast.

Two Day/Two Night Tour of Bruny Island

DAY 1. This morning you will visit "INALA", a 500 acre private Land for Wildlife property which is home to a variety of threatened species and all the Tasmanian endemic birds (see also walking tour of INALA below for further information). INALA is also a centre for conservation research and education, and the location of one of the largest known colonies of Forty-spotted Pardalote, an endangered bird that is only found in Tasmania (and of which half of the total population is found on Bruny Island). Learn of the conservation efforts to protect these species and their habitat. Then travel to historic and scenically beautiful Adventure Bay, where you will visit the site of collection of the first Eucalyptus specimens in Australia and stroll along a streamside reserve lined with giant tree ferns. There is also a chance to visit a cool temperate rainforest where a variety of endemic Tasmanian plants (i.e. that are only found in Tasmania) occur. This location also provides the chance to see some great aerial scenery of the surrounding countryside on a clear day. Return during the late afternoon to relax at your cottage at INALA and freshen up before dinner. After dinner you will visit the Little Penguin and Short-tailed Shearwater rookery to view these birds returning to their burrows after dusk. Penguins can be viewed all year round, but Shearwaters are only present between September and April. Return to the cottage after the tour.

DAY 2. Generous breakfast provisions comprised of fresh local produce will be placed in your cottage for you to prepare at your convenience this morning. You will spend most of the day exploring the southern coastline of Bruny Island today. This includes a visit to Cape Bruny, the location of Australia’s second oldest lighthouse for the chance of seeing some spectacular coastal formations, some interesting vegetation types including coastal heath lands, and the chance of seeing a Short-beaked Echidna (one of our egg laying mammals) in the wild. There will also be an opportunity to visit Cloudy Bay beach. Return to INALA late afternoon. After dinner, there will be an opportunity to take another evening tour to view some of Bruny’s other nocturnal wildlife e.g. Tasmanian Pademelons and Eastern Quolls which are now only found in Tasmania, and Bennett’s Wallabies and Brush-tailed Possums which are also found in a rare near-albino colour morph on Bruny Island.

DAY 3. Breakfast as for yesterday. Leave INALA after breakfast and connect with a morning ferry back to Hobart (suggest the 07:00am or 08:25 ferry with an estimated time of arrival back in Hobart one hour later.

Accommodation: Two nights INALA (cottage style- sole use).
Meals included: Day 1: Lunch, dinner. Day 2: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Day 3: Breakfast.

Three Day/Three Night Tour of Bruny Island

DAY 1. This morning you will visit "INALA", a 500 acre private Land for Wildlife property which is home to a variety of threatened species and all the Tasmanian endemic birds (see also walking tour of INALA below for further information). INALA is also a centre for conservation research and education, and the location of one of the largest known colonies of Forty-spotted Pardalote, an endangered bird that is only found in Tasmania (and of which half of the total population is found on Bruny Island). Learn of the conservation efforts to protect these species and their habitat. Then travel to historic and scenically beautiful Adventure Bay, where you will visit the site of collection of the first Eucalyptus specimens in Australia and stroll along a streamside reserve lined with giant tree ferns. There is also a chance to visit a cool temperate rainforest where a variety of endemic Tasmanian plants (i.e. that are only found in Tasmania) occur. This location also provides the chance to see some great aerial scenery of the surrounding countryside on a clear day. Return during the late afternoon to relax at your cottage at INALA and freshen up before dinner. After dinner you will visit the Little Penguin and Short-tailed Shearwater rookery to view these birds returning to their burrows after dusk. Penguins can be viewed all year round, but Shearwaters are only present between September and April. Return to the cottage after the tour.

DAY 2. Generous breakfast provisions comprised of fresh local produce will be placed in your cottage for you to prepare at your convenience this morning. You will spend most of the day exploring the southern coastline of Bruny Island today. This includes a visit to Cape Bruny, the location of Australia's second oldest lighthouse for the chance of seeing some spectacular coastal formations, some interesting vegetation types including coastal heath lands, and the chance of seeing a Short-beaked Echidna (one of our egg laying mammals) in the wild. There will also be an opportunity to visit Cloudy Bay beach. Return to INALA late afternoon. After dinner, there will be an opportunity to take another evening tour to view some of Bruny’s other nocturnal wildlife e.g. Tasmanian Pademelons and Eastern Quolls which are now only found in Tasmania, and Bennett’s Wallabies and Brush-tailed Possums which are also found in a rare near-albino colour morph on Bruny Island.

DAY 3. Breakfast (same arrangement as for yesterday) and then spend another day on Bruny Island. This extra day allows extra time to explore the island. Activities included today include a walk to some lagoons and a visit to some waterholes around the island for the chance to see a number of water birds. You will also visit some giant Eucalypts (Blue gums and Stringy barks) which are several hundred years old, with huge buttressed bases. There will also be a chance to visit north Bruny Island this afternoon. This area of the island only receives half the average annual rainfall of south Bruny and the different vegetation on this part of the island reflects this. Another opportunity for a night tour to ensure you have the best chance of seeing Bruny’s famous “White wallabies”. Return to the cottage after the tour.

DAY 4. Leave INALA after breakfast and connect with a morning ferry back to Hobart (suggest the 07:00am or 08:25 ferry with an estimated time of arrival back in Hobart one hour later.

Accommodation: Three nights INALA (cottage style- sole use).
Meals included: Day 1: Lunch, dinner. Days 2 and 3: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Day 4: Breakfast.

Shorter Tours of Bruny

Tours of less than one day in duration are also available subject to availability of guides. When Tonia is committed to other tours, one of our other excellent and knowledgeable INALA guides would be pleased to help with your tour. But as they are based off Bruny, we need to ensure that their travel time does not exceed the tour time. We will assist with the tour of your choice wherever possible.

Walking Tour of "INALA" (estimated duration: 3 hours)

A wonderful opportunity to see some rare and threatened flora and fauna. "INALA" is a 500 acre private Land for Wildlife property which is home to a variety of threatened species and all 12 Tasmanian endemic birds. INALA is also a centre for conservation research and education, and the location of one of the largest known colonies of Forty-spotted Pardalote, an endangered bird that is only found in Tasmania (and of which half of the total population is found on Bruny Island). Learn of the conservation efforts to protect these species and their habitat. We can expect to see many of the bird species found at “INALA“, including the endangered Forty-spotted Pardalote, and possibly also Swift Parrots which breed on the property between September to March, Beautiful Firetail and the spectacular white colour morph of the Grey Goshawk. Endemics including Strong-billed, Black-headed and Yellow throated Honeyeaters, Tasmanian Native-hen and Dusky Robin are commonly seen here. The property is also a great place to see enormous eucalypt trees and tree ferns, a magnificent stand of Blackwood trees, and some native terrestrial orchids (most species are in flower between the months of August to March). An "INALA" birdlist can be downloaded from this website. Other fauna and orchid lists can be provided on request.

Half Day Vehicle Tour of Bruny Island (estimated duration: 4.5 hours)

A couple of choices are available here:

Adventure Bay, beaches and rainforest

Travel to historic and scenically beautiful Adventure Bay, where you will visit the site of collection of the first Eucalyptus specimens in Australia and stroll along a streamside reserve lined with giant tree ferns. There is also a chance to visit a cool temperate rainforest where a variety of endemic Tasmanian plants and Gondwana relict species occur. Enjoy a nature walk through temperate rainforest trees, including Myrtle (Nothofagus), Sassafras, Celery-top Pine and Leatherwood. Search for the elusive and rare endemic Scrubtit, Pink Robin, Tasmanian Scrubwren and Tasmanian Thornbill and see giant treeferns, Richea and Tasmanian Waratahs with their spectacular bright red blooms (flowering time November-December). This location also provides the chance to see some great aerial scenery of the surrounding countryside on a clear day and there will also be a chance to view some shorebirds (including Hooded Plover and Kelp Gull).

Bruny’s Wild Coastline

Experience the spectacularly rugged southern coastline of Bruny and observe the magnificence of the Southern Ocean in all its splendour (next stop Antarctica…). This includes a visit to Cape Bruny, the location of Australia’s second oldest lighthouse for the chance of seeing some spectacular coastal formations, some interesting vegetation types including coastal heath lands, and the chance of seeing a Short-beaked Echidna (one of our egg laying mammals) in the wild. There will also be an opportunity to visit Cloudy Bay beach. See a range of coastal vegetation types, from tussock grasses to richly diverse heathland and woodland (including Tasmanian endemic plant species). This tour also provides a good chance to see Tawny-crowned Honeyeater, Brown Quail, Beautiful Firetail, Red-tailed Black-cockatoo and Dusky Robin. We may even see a whale in the distance. Fur seals, Albatross and some of the Southern Ocean Penguin species have also been sighted on these beaches.

Evening Tour of Bruny Island (estimated duration: 3 hours; only available for guests who are staying on the island overnight)

Visit a Little Penguin and Short-tailed Shearwater rookery to view these birds returning to their burrows from the ocean after dusk. Penguins can be viewed all year round, but Shearwaters are only present between September and April. We will then visit other areas where we will have the opportunity to view some of Bruny’s other nocturnal wildlife e.g. Tasmanian Pademelons and Eastern Quolls which are now only found in Tasmania, and Bennett’s Wallabies and Brush-tailed Possums which are also found in a rare near-albino colour morph on Bruny Island. Tawny Frogmouth and Southern Boobook are also a possibility, with an outside chance of seeing the endangered Masked Owl. It is also possible to see the Southern sky in all it's brilliance on a clear night, including the Southern Cross, Milky Way, Orion, various planets and maybe even the Aurora australis during more active solar periods.