North Bruny Island Dog Fun

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There is always the question of ‘Is Bruny Island dog friendly?’ or ‘Can I take my dog to Bruny Island?’ and ‘Where can i go with a dog on Bruny Island?’. There is already a quick rundown post on Bruny Island, but this one looks more closely at North Bruny Island. There will be a South Bruny Island post written too as there a couple walks you can do with your dog on South Bruny Island. For the moment, take your time to look around North Bruny Island.

Beaches

Nebraska Beach

This is a lovely pristine off leash beach for swimming in the D’Entrecastreaux Channel that runs through North West Bay. The freedom and privilege of your dog being off leash means you have effective control of your dog. 

Take a walk at dusk and be entranced by the beautiful sunset skies that are never the same along this channel and beach. Stand on the sand and look across the dark channel waters to the wooded hills of Tinderbox and Conningham, they seem so close you could reach out and touch the dark trees coming down to the shoreline. Stay until it’s dark and the lights twinkling between the trees add fairy magic to the scene. There are barbeque and toilet facilites available along the beach grassy area. 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/EBDhMroombZvqH6ZA

Nebraska Beach looking towards Bligh Point
Bonny, Charley and Reilly in repose before one of the interesting beach huts on Nebraska Beach

Jetty Beach & Dennes Point

Just up from Nebraska Beach to your right, if your facing the ‘big island’, on the other side of the boatramp is the appropriately named Jetty Beach. A little circular bay that backs onto Denne’s Point where the first ferry terminal was set up between Tinderbox and North Bruny Island by Anthony Smith Denne in 1847, against the advice of local fishermen who knew the area well. Remnants of the jetty terminal are still there. Needless to say, as per the advice of locals, the jetty didn’t last long with the strong currents and was moved to Roberts Point. The ferry ride is approximately a 20-30 minute journey  between Kettering and Roberts Point.  

Denne’s Point has an interesting easy heritage trail walk taking about 45mins (or more depending on how fast you can read the 15 panels erected) for exploring  with fascinating facts about the original ferry service, significant encounters between the Tasmanian Aboriginals, the French explorers who had early contact with the Tasmanian Aboriginals in the area and colonists who moved here. Dogs need to be on lead through here. You can start from the Jetty Cafe and gallery (no dogs however), and wander down to Kelly’s Point which happens to be the furthest north on Bruny Island one can go.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/f4Hh6tGBYiZ2ovy57

George sitting on the old ferry jetty at Dennes Point
George on Jetty Beach with Dennes Point behind

Rat Bay

This is a quiet little bay with a small beach that’s generally driven past unless you know it’s there. It’s one of those secrets that unless you know you don’t know.

It’s on the Killora Rd before Nebraska Beach. Killora runs into Nebraska Road.  You need to park on the side of the dirt  road for this. There’s not a lot of parking space available.  Walk back to the guard rails (be mindful it is a main road, or what passes for a main road on Bruny into Killora and Denne’s Point) and pop behind the guard rails back towards the corner. There is a set of steps cut into the bank down to this quiet tiny secluded bay. The images describe it best. We could’ve spent quite some time relaxing here, as it was secluded and we were the only ones on the beach.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/DJEoHEdN5Zycf4sz7

Little track behind the guard rails to get to Rat Bay Beach
Inca on the steps cut into the bank to get down to Rat Bay Beach
Rat Bay Beach at last

Barnes Bay

This was a nice little picturesque find with the sailboats anchored peacefully in the bay.   The dogs enjoyed the boat ramp at the end of Church Road and we also stopped at Simmonds Bay on the way to Barnes Bay, a flat little bay good for a short romp along the bearch and to explore the rocks right alongside Missionary Road. 

Barnes Bay Boat Ramp https://maps.app.goo.gl/LKijC3SwzWevCn6U7

Simmonds Bay & Beach https://maps.app.goo.gl/3kmBte5qUFoppZG5A

Exxploring along the rocks at Barnes Bay boat ramp
Looking back towards Simmonds Bay and the beach

Delaneys/Davis Beach

Another unexpected find and my favourite of all on our last visit to Bruny Island.

Davis Beach looks out onto Quarantine Bay with Quarantine Station State Reserve (no dogs allowed) to the right. The beach is small and had the flattest calmest waters of all the places we visited. The seclusion, peacefulness of the bay and still waters topped off a day of exploring with the dogs. The added bonus was the little easy maintained walking track to the right of the beach taking you out to Chalky Point. We sat with legs over the edge of the rocks, dogs lazing beside us taking in the view over the dark waters, the white hulled sail boats settled at their moorings and wishing we didn’t have to return to civilisation. There is something about an island off an island off a bigger island that feels like you’ve stepped out of the rat race and disappeared off the face of the earth. 

Delaney/Davis Beach https://maps.app.goo.gl/LZTXPXTiU6eSt7ah6

Chalky Point https://maps.app.goo.gl/gTyRFsSF2rXw1v3G7

Looking back towards Davis/Delaneys Beach from Chalky Point. You can just see the vehicles in the background where the beach is.
Bonnie at Chalky Point
Enjoying the view at Chalky Point

Great Bay

As you make your way down or up Bruny Island Main Road (B66) there’s a couple small single pullovers on the bay side between Smoothys Point (where the oysters are offloaded for the Oyster Farm – Get Shucked) and Whaymans Road that gives you access to the long stretch of shelving beach looking out onto Great Bay. The beach is quite flat for quite a way out into the sea. I haven’t stopped here yet, so I can’t say exactly what it is like. 

There is a little track opposite Get Shucked Oysters that leads down to the white sands of Great Bay if you’ve dropped in grab the freshest oysters around and fancy a beach view on a drift wood log seat. 

Great Bay https://maps.app.goo.gl/Ayp5cQmpgYefDrga8

Track opposite Get Shucked Oysters https://maps.app.goo.gl/xowKSf3yGAk7Tjf38

Oyster boats from Get Shucked Oysters heading out into Great Bay from Smoothy’s Point boat ramp

Hikes

Unfortunately there aren’t any hikes on North Bruny for dogs. There are some lovely walks along the beaches as explained above. The majority of hikes are on South Bruny Island.

Dog Friendly Places to Eat and Drink on North Bruny Island

Get Shucked Oysters

If you’re going to sit on the Great Bay Beach, stop at Get Shucked Oysters  on Bruny Island Main Road for freshly shucked oysters to take across to the beach. You can either drive through (best with a dog) or try the Oyster Bar. They are Open from 9.30am – 4.30pm with the kitchen closing at 3.45pm. Freshly shucked oysters are available until 4.30pm.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/zV7ytGpQymP8GoqU7

Bruny Island Cheese Company

Located on the Bruny Island Main Road just down from or just before (depending on your direction) Get Shucked Oysters is Bruny Island Cheese & Craft Beer Co. The artisan cheese and craft beer makers are open 7 days from 10am – 4pm. We can highly recommend sitting out beneath the tall shady eucalyptus trees for a long lazy lunch. They do say on their website not to expect coffee, hot chocolate or cakes & cookies.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/yWQRRTXQAehoPQhp9

The sign speaks for itself as to where the dogs dined

Bruny Island Honey

If you’re after seasonal honey and honey products then Bruny Island Honey is a nice place to stop, but not really a place to eat. I’ve popped it in here as we did stop and take a look and buy honey products. There is a wonderful array of products from condiments to personal care. They are open 7 days a week from 9am-5pm. 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/j9mKTijLBWmkjfcz6

Nothing to eat, but plenty to purchase

Bruny Island House of Whiskey

For a bit of the high life and if you’ve the budget, stop in and experience the tasting of award winning single malts and gin. House of Whiskey has over 175 Tasmanian only single malts on offer to try. Sit out on the deck and experience the array of whiskies Tasmania competes successfully with against the world. 
https://maps.app.goo.gl/tsQe72vyBdrYhmCB8

Accommodation

When we visited Bruny Island we didn’t stay on the North Island, but booked an AirBnB on the South Island.  The island isn’t that large and travel from north to south doesn’t take long at all when exploring.  Having one central place to stay for the duration is easy enough to do. 

There are plenty of dog friendly Hipcamp places to stay, there seems to be more on South Bruny Island than the North Island.


Some Pet Friendly Accommodation available we found after a little search

We stayed here at Lunawanna on the South Island while visiting North Bruny Island. Suited us perfectly with 5 dogs!

Our accommodation on the South Island at Lunawanna

Getting to Bruny Island

Getting to Bruny Island involves a ferry trip with Sealink Bruny Island. They run regularly, roughly every 15 minutes and depending on weather takes 15-20 minutes for the crossing. Easy to book and roll on with your vehicle, caravan, RV or whatever you are using, bicycles included, or simply as foot traffic.

If you’ve been wondering if Bruny Island is at all dog friendly then let me tell you, your dog can have a wonderful time with you on Bruny Island.  We’ll do an indepth look at South Bruny Island as well for there are a few short hikes/walks you can do with your furry adventure buddy. 




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