Hobart Cruises Sightseeing & Dining

Cruises from Hobart leave from the Franklin Wharf waterfront and from Port Arthur, Adventure Bay and Coles Bay, and they cover wilderness cruises to Bruny Island and Tasman Island, scenic trips on the Derwent, sailing, and days on the water with lunch. Check the departure point first, because it decides how much of your day goes on the road. The Hobart page has the wider list of things to do.

Wilderness cruises to Bruny Island

The Bruny Island 3-hour Wilderness Cruise leaves from Adventure Bay on Bruny Island, with morning and afternoon sessions, along cliff formations and past seals, in search of dolphins and whales. Getting there means a 45-minute drive from Hobart to the Kettering ferry terminal, a 20-minute crossing and a 35-minute drive to Adventure Bay.

If you would rather not drive, the Bruny Island Wilderness Cruise and Bus Transfer from Hobart is a popular choice. It leaves Franklin Wharf at 8am with a scenic bus tour, the ferry crossing, morning tea, the 3-hour cruise in a custom-built yellow boat and lunch, and is back around 5.30pm. There is also a version of the cruise with a pick-up from Kettering. For land-based days on the island, see Bruny Island tours from Hobart.

Tasman Island and Cape Raoul cruises from Port Arthur

The Tasman Island Cruises 3-hour cruise is a popular choice for self-drivers. It leaves Port Arthur at 10am daily, with check-in at 9.15am, on an open-air boat with a maximum of 43 passengers. The skipper picks the direction each day based on wind and sea conditions, and wet weather gear is supplied if you need it.

Without a car, the Tasman Island Cruise Day Tour from Hobart checks in at 7.30am at the Dock Head Building on Franklin Wharf, drives to the boat and includes morning tea and lunch. For something shorter, the Cape Raoul Wilderness Cruise from Port Arthur is a 90-minute trip to Cape Raoul's dolerite columns, with an entry ticket to the Port Arthur Historic Site included.

Scenic and sailing cruises on the Derwent

The Iron Pot Scenic Cruise from Hobart is a 2.5-hour trip from Franklin Wharf around Betsey Island, past the Iron Pot lighthouse and Hope Beach. It runs in an enclosed cabin with leather seats and large windows, for up to 12 passengers.

Prefer wind in the sails? The Sail the Derwent 3-hour cruise departs Kings Pier Marina beside Constitution Dock on a 62-foot maxi yacht that has raced in the Sydney to Hobart. You can sit back or help sail, and tea, coffee and Tasmanian refreshments are included.

Dining cruises and Wineglass Bay

Lunch on the water is covered on the Hobart dining cruises page. The Tasmanian Seafood Seduction is a popular choice and fills a full-day outing from Franklin Wharf. Guests pull oysters from Great Bay, watch the guide dive for abalone and sea urchin, and finish with rock lobster, local wines and boutique beers.

Wineglass Bay cruises depart Coles Bay, about 185km or a 2.5-hour drive from Hobart, and cruise the Freycinet National Park coastline in search of Little Penguins, Australian Fur Seals and migrating whales. The Wineglass Bay Cruise with Vista Lounge has an optional Ploughman's lunch and a licensed bar, while the Wineglass Bay Cruise with Sky Lounge gives adults access to a lounge with morning tea, a smorgasbord lunch and drinks.

How to choose between Hobart cruises

Start with departure point. Franklin Wharf suits the Iron Pot cruise, the Seafood Seduction day and the bus-and-cruise days to Bruny and Tasman Islands. Port Arthur is the base for Cape Raoul and the self-drive Tasman Island cruise, Adventure Bay for the Bruny cruise, and Coles Bay for Wineglass Bay.

Then look at length. Cape Raoul is a 90-minute trip, the Iron Pot, Bruny, Tasman Island and sailing cruises are 2.5 to 3-hour trips on the water, and the bus-and-boat and seafood days stretch to 8 to 10-hour outings. The Iron Pot cruise runs in an enclosed cabin, while the Tasman Island and Bruny Island boats have open-air seating that puts you closer to the cliffs and wildlife.

Frequently asked questions

Where do cruises from Hobart leave from?

Cruises from Hobart leave from Franklin Wharf in the city, from Kings Pier Marina for sailing, and from Port Arthur, Adventure Bay on Bruny Island and Coles Bay for the coastal wilderness cruises. Each cruise page lists its own meeting point.

Can you drive to Bruny Island from Hobart for a cruise?

Yes. The Bruny Island 3-hour Wilderness Cruise starts at Adventure Bay, which is a 45-minute drive from Hobart to the Kettering ferry terminal, a 20-minute ferry crossing and a 35-minute drive south. For the 11am cruise, check-in is 10.30am and the 9.00am ferry is the one to catch.

Are there lunch cruises from Hobart?

Yes. The Tasmanian Seafood Seduction cruise serves a seafood feast with local wines and boutique beers, the Wineglass Bay Cruise with Sky Lounge includes a smorgasbord lunch, and the Bruny Island Wilderness Cruise and Bus Transfer from Hobart includes lunch.

What should I wear on a Hobart wilderness cruise?

Warm layers. The Bruny Island cruises suggest warm jackets, gloves, scarves and beanies, and the Tasman Island cruise suggests warm windproof clothing, a hat and sun protection. Wet weather gear is supplied on the Tasman Island cruise.

Can you see whales and dolphins on cruises from Hobart?

The Bruny Island and Tasman Island cruises look for dolphins, fur seals and seasonal whales, and the Wineglass Bay cruises look for Little Penguins, Australian Fur Seals and migrating whales. Sightings depend on the day.

Is the Sail the Derwent cruise suitable for children?

Children can come on the Sail the Derwent 3-hour cruise but must be accompanied by an adult. The yacht has no wheelchair access and guests need to be reasonably mobile.

Pick a departure point, then a length, and the pages for dining cruises from Hobart and Hobart day tours are there if you want lunch on the water or a land day instead.