Bruny Island and South Coast Wine Region Visitor Guide

How to Get to Bruny Island and the South Coast Wine Region

From Hobart, Bruny Island is just under a 2-hour drive to the south. The quickest way to get there is down the B68 highway, off the A6 out of Hobart and over on the car ferry from Kettering. However, the majority of South Coast wineries are located on the stretch of coast just south of Kettering, towards the town of Middleton (on the Tasmanian mainland, looking across to Bruny Island). 

From Kettering, it takes about another hour (including ferry crossing) to reach Bruny Island; or, all of the South Coast vineyards listed here are within a 15-minute drive of the Kettering ferry terminal. Therefore, although you’ll have to double back to Kettering, it’s easy to tack a visit to the South Coast wine region onto any trip between Bruny Island and Hobart, adding no more than 30-60 minutes extra driving time.

South Coast Wine Varietals

Pinot Noir is the name of the game around the Bruny Island and South Coast wine region. The cool maritime climate and long summer daylight hours make conditions ideal for balanced Pinot fruit ripening, and many Bruny Island and South Coast vineyards focus exclusively on this variety. However, Chardonnay also does extremely well here, and most wineries will produce vintages of these two classics, if nothing else. Of course, this also means there’s plenty of related production – like good quality Rosé and occasional Pinot-based Sparkling wines.

Other classic, cool-climate European varieties that grow well here, and are produced on at least some scale, include Cabernet Merlot and Riesling. Thanks to the region’s location – it shares its claim to the title of Australia’s southernmost wine region with the neighbouring Huon Valley, over the hills to the west – it has long sunlight hours and cool nights, which enables the retention of sweetness. This seems to suit the production of dessert wines and fortified wines, both of which you’ll find around the region.

The Best Bruny Island and South Coast Wineries and Cellar Doors to Visit 

Mewstone Wines 11 Flowerpot Jetty Road, Flowerpot

Cellar Door: 11am-4pm, Fri-Sun

Without visiting the vineyard, the first thing you’d probably notice that’s unique about Mewstone Wines is their labels. They incorporate traditional Japanese wood-cutting techniques, abd display some breathtaking depictions of nature, wildlife and the ocean. That’s a similar vibe you get by visiting their former cherry orchard-cum-vineyard near the dock in Flowerpot. Here, brothers Johnathon and Matthew Hughes have produced some quality single-estate vintages since 2011. Tastings can be booked in advance (it’s a small set up, so advised) and take you through both the Mewstone label range and the related Hughes & Hughes range. The Mewstone standards are primarily Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, both relatively oaky and naturally fermented. The Hughes & Hughes ranges show a bit more diversity, with everything from an unfined and unfiltered Sauvignon Blanc and natural-yeast fermented Rosé to a well-rounded, small-batch Syrah and whole-bunch-pressed Vermouth.

Trial Bay Estate Rosefield, 3096 Channel Highway, Kettering

Cellar Door: By appointment only

A truly boutique vineyard creating organic, hand-crafted wines from their 2-acres of vines just off the highway south of Kettering, Trial Bay Estate do one thing and one thing well: Pinot Noir. Producing as little as a few hundred bottles a year since 2020, Trial Bay do everything by hand. The 2020 vintage shows plenty of body, with strong berry-fruit characters and a rich savouriness on top of light oak and toasty aromas on the nose. Unfortunately there’s no permanent Cellar Door, but Trial Bay Estate are very friendly towards curious inquiries. Several local suppliers also stock their wines, including Grandvewe Cheese (Birchs Bay) and Oyster Cove Fruit & Vege, or Meredith’s Orchard up in Margate (on the way towards Hobart)

Hartzview Vineyard 70 Dillons Road, Gardners Bay

Cellar Door: 10am-4pm, Mon-Sat

Nestled in a picturesque setting a bit further inland from other South Coast Tasmanian wineries (halfway towards the nearby Huon Valley wine region), Hartzview Vineyard has a quaint, rustic setting. Beautiful pastoral landscapes spread towards the stunning Hartz Mountains, interspersed with photogenic old buildings and disused farm machinery. However, it’s not all about looks here – it’s largely, actually, about fortified wine. In fact, Hartzview produces Australia’s biggest range of fortified fruit wine and ports, including blackcurrant, cherry and raspberry versions. The Pinot Noir production, of course, is also noteworthy, as well as more limited releases of Sauvignon Blanc and a heavily wooded Chardonnay. Hartzview’s Cellar Door also stocks wines from nearby Fluted Cape Vineyard, which is located on the road between Kettering and Middleton, but doesn’t have a cellar door of their own.

Resolution Vineyard 29 Sunny Banks Road, Middleton

Cellar Door: Open Vineyard Weekends only, 10am-5pm. Contact for appointments otherwise.

With stunning views directly over the D’Entrecasteux Channel to Bruny Island in one direction, and towards Mount Wellington and the hills in the other, Resolution Vineyard is worth a visit for the setting alone. It’s actually what convinced current owners Daniel and Caroline, who first visited at Open Vineyard Weekend in 2011, to both get married at the vineyard and then, after a few seasons helping at harvest, take it over and run it themselves. Still, beautiful as it may be, it is more about the wine than the view. And by wine, we’re talking about Pinot Noir in particular, as Resolution Pinot Noir has accumulated countless accolades since its first vintage in 2007. If you can’t come for an Open Vineyard weekend, keep an eye out for other events (such as the scarecrow-themed ‘Pinot Party’), which take place relatively frequently.

Bruny Island Premium Wines 4391 Bruny Island Main Road, Lunawanna

Cellar Door & Restaurant: 11am-4pm, 7 days; 5pm-11pm Saturday only

The most pioneering wine producer on Bruny Island itself, Bruny Island Premium Wines is a family-run affair set up by the Woolleys (Richard and Bernice) in the late 1990s. The setting, of course, is gorgeous: situated outside the sleepy town of Lunawanna, the vineyard is surrounded by dense bush, with superb hilltop views looking down towards the ocean. The range of good quality wines is also impressive, with large amounts of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay joined by the likes of a peppery Cabernet Merlot, a herbaceous Sauvignon Blanc and an extremely floral, German-inspired Schönburger sweet dessert wine. The on-site restaurant is superb, offering a huge menu featuring local specialties like Bruny Island oysters, Tasmanian lamb and local pinkeye potatoes in a creative combination of ways.

Where to Stay When Visiting Bruny Island and the South Coast Wine Region

• Kettering: The entry point onto Bruny Island from the mainland, Kettering is both a humming hub and a sleepy harbour town of bobbing boats and beautiful views. Stroll through town and try handmade chocolates and fresh local oysters, or walk the 1 kilometre to Kettering Point for fabulous views over the water to Bruny Island.
   
• Bruny Island: Camp at South Bruny National Park, stay near the beach at Adventure Bay, find a secluded holiday cabin (surrounded by stunning nature views) at Cloudy Bay, or head to the “Big Smoke” of Alonnah or Lanamunna for a cosy base, with plenty of activity options at your doorstep.
   
• Hobart: Many of these wineries can be visited within an hour’s drive from Hobart, if you want to keep your base in the big city.

What Else is There to See and do Around the Bruny Island and South Coast Wine Region?

South Bruny National Park

Explore the rugged landscapes of South Bruny’s mountains, towering cliffs and pristine beaches, and visit iconic Cape Bruny Lighthouse for sensational views over the Southern Ocean. Watch southern right and humpback whales on their annual migrations, surf at stunning Cloudy Bay and swim in the lagoon, or stroll through dense forest and waterfalls on the Mavista Nature Walk. 

The Neck Isthmus and Reserve

Visit the famous isthmus connecting North and South Bruny to spot penguins and shearwaters, camp under the stars at the Neck Reserve, stroll the golden-sand beaches of the isthmus, and swim at the Big Lagoon. Be sure to have a taste of the Bruny Island Cheese Company, Bruny Island Honey, and Bruny Island Chocolate Company, all of which are located a few kilometres either side of the isthmus.

North Bruny

Enjoy a picnic at the green grounds of Bruny Island’s historic Quarantine Station, taste some local whisky near secluded Richards Beach, get fresh oysters at Great Bay, hike to the northern tip of Bruny Island at Kelly’s Point, or enjoy the tranquillity of Dennes Hill and Nebraska Beach.

Planning a Visit? 

If you like the sound of a trip to the Bruny Island and South Coast wine region, but you don’t know the finer details – such as when to go, how to get to Tasmania, what to expect and what else there is to do – don’t worry. First Light Travel has a Tasmania blog page dedicated to answering all such questions. They also offer live travel advice from their Tasmanian travel experts, who you can contact online.