Introduction
Sporting fantastic views of the Bruny Island coastline and D’entrecasteaux channel, Labillardiere Peninsula circuit walk is a demanding 6 hour, 15km day walk. Starting from Jetty Beach in the South Bruny National Park the walk skirts around the peninsula coastline, including a climb up Mt Bleak and beach walks along Hopwood and Butlers Beaches.
Getting There
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* A ferry crossing is needed to access Bruny Island.
From Hobart head south along the Southern Outlet (A6) for 10km. Take the right hand lane at the Kingston Bypass and continue on for 2km before taking the 4th exit to Channel Highway (B68) at the roundabout. Continue for 18km, taking a left-hand turn onto Ferry Road just outside of Kettering. Take the 30 minute ferry to Bruny Island (details can be found here). Once on Bruny Island, follow the Main Road (B66) for 42km passing the neck. Turn onto Lighthouse Road and follow for 20km. When inside the South Bruny National Park, follow the road to the right hand side towards the Jetty Beach camping area. The walk starts from the western end of the campgrounds. Allow 90 minutes driving time to and from the Bruny Island ferry terminal. |
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The Trail
When driving into the Jetty Beach campgrounds, take the first left towards the far western corner to find the trailhead.
Walking clockwise (the views are better this way) from the Jetty beach campground the trail takes you to the western coastline of the Labillardiere Peninsula along a well-worn 4wd track. From the vantage points along this first section, the rugged mountains of Tasmania’s southern ranges can be seen as well as deserted rock scree beaches to explore. Continuing on, a steep but short climb up Mount Bleak to the highest point of the walk is reached next. From here you get your first views of Partridge Island, home to the rare and threatened Forty-spotted Pardalote. Here marks the halfway point of the walk.
From Mt Bleak, the track descends to the coast again through vivid dry sclerophyll forests to Hopwood Beach. Following the beach to its end, the trail then cuts through scrub land to Bulters Beach. This section of the walk is often teaming with birdlife such as sea eagles, bronze-cuckoos and black cockatoos.
Once at the end of Bulters Beach the trailheads along a dense forest track, perpendicular to the coastline. Continuing for a few km, the track makes its way back to Jetty Beach, just below the main campgrounds.
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