The most beautiful Bruny Island camping spots

By Kate Bettes
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This rugged and remote island off the coast of Tasmania offers the perfect getaway for campers seeking a more wild side of life.

There’s no ifs or buts about it. One of the best ways to experience the wilderness of Lunawanna-Allonah, also known as Bruny Island, is by sleeping under the many southern stars. From free camping to glamping, here are some of the top camping spots to pick from there.

a camping spot under the stars on Bruny Island

Sleep under the night sky full of stars. (Image: Tourism Australia/Graham Freeman)

Rather appreciate the great outdoors by daylight only? We’ve also lined up our other best Bruny Island accommodation picks here.

Camping at Cloudy Bay

Home to the Bruny Island Surf Classic, Cloudy Bay is your one-stop shop for surfing while on Bruny Island. Catch a wave off the northern end, or, if you prefer a more sedate swim, head to its southern end. There are two cheap camping spots to choose from here (although pets aren’t allowed at either).

pink-coloured sky above the calm sandy beach in Cloudy Bay

Cloudy Bay is a secluded coastal hideaway spot. (Image: Jess Bonde)

The Pines on Cloudy Bay Road

The Pines on Cloudy Bay Road is the smaller option, closer to the surf. It’s also a free site, unlike The Cloudy Corner. Facilities include a pit toilet, firepits and non-treated tank water. Don’t forget to bring firewood for the firepit!

The Cloudy Corner

Alternatively, Cloudy Corner is a larger site you can stay at. But take note, that you will need a 4WD to get to this beach view camp; driving along the beach at low tide to set up.  You can’t book – or even pay – ahead, so come early and drop$10 for one or two campers in the deposit box on site.

a person sitting on a 4WD vehicle on Cloudy Bay

Drive to Cloudy Bay for a weekend camping trip. (Image: Jess Bonde)

Jetty Beach

Camp in the shade of the trees near the beach of Great Taylor’s Bay, down in South Bruny, not far from the Bruny Island Lighthouse. Sheltered and peaceful, families can snorkel and swim to their heart’s content here.

Pit toilets, wood barbeques, and campfire areas are all available at the Jetty Beach campground. Like The Cloudy Corner, you’ll need to pay a small fee of $10 per one or two adult campers (although you can use a card, here).

The Neck

Set up camp behind the sheltered sand dunes of The Neck Reserve. This low-cost camping site is situated on perhaps one of Bruny Island’s most photogenic sites; the narrow ‘neck’ isthmus that stretches between the north and south island.

The site is unpowered, and you’ll have to cart in your own firewood and fresh water. But it’s well worth it for the views, beachside location, and the chance to see the little (also known as ‘fairy’) penguins, toddling back home to shore at the end of the day.

crashing waves at the Neck beach, Bruny Island

Wake up to the crashing sound of waves. (Image: Jess Bonde)

Captain Cook Caravan Park

Got your puppy with you? The Captain Cook Caravan Park at Adventure Bay costs a little more than the above sites, but unlike them, it is dog-friendly and has a few more facilities.

This Bruny Island caravan park has unpowered and powered sites, accessible cabins, villas and more available to book. There is also a laundry (a must for after those muddy Bruny Island hikes), camp kitchen, playgrounds and cart hire for the kids.

a number of cars parked at Captain Cook Caravan Park

Take your kids along to Captain Cook Caravan Park. (Image: Tourism Tasmania/Rob Burnett)

Camping at Bruny Island

Another privately owned option where dogs are welcomed is the ‘Camping at Bruny Island’ site. Also located at Cloudy Bay near the beach, the campsites here are a mix of open spaces for caravans and tents, as well as ready-to-go glamping sites with welcome amenities like a Weber BBQ, hot pizza stone and fridge.

Other amenities for the campsite more widely, includes camp showers and flush toilets, but campers still need to bring their own firewood and drinking water. Booking is essential and prices are from approximately $65.

camping under the night sky

Camp under the stars. (Image: Tourism Australia/Graham Freeman)

Heading to Bruny Island soon? Check out these top Bruny Island tours.

Kate Bettes is a freelance travel writer. Whether having a picnic in Vietnamese jungle with new friends, or partying in the back of a limousine in Hollywood, Kate’s experiences have left her with the sneaking suspicion that the best travel memories happen when you least expect. It’s this feeling - and how to get it - that she loves to write about.
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Camping to luxury: 16 of the best Bruny Island accommodation options
Bruny Island

Camping to luxury: 16 of the best Bruny Island accommodation options

Not sure where to stay on Bruny Island? From tiny houses to romantic retreats, we’ve lined up the best of the bunch on this Tassie escape.

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This brutalist off-grid tunnel is Bruny Island’s most exclusive stay

    By Kassia Byrnes
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    Tasmania’s stunning Bruny Island is getting a new luxury offering from a Danish design brand. 

    Whether you’re going for a day trip, or planning to stay a little longer, there are plenty of reasons to visit Bruny Island. Now, the sustainably designed Vipp Tunnel guesthouse offers one more. 

    Danish design brand, Vipp, has worked with Hobart-based studio, Room1, to bring its particular style to the southern hemisphere for the first time. 

    View of Vipp Tunnel from the outside looking through the kitchen to the lounge and out to the ocean

    The luxe new property on Bruny Island is the brainchild of Danish design brand, Vipp, and Hobart-based studio, Room1. (Image: Supplied)

    Three years in the making, the cantilevered Vipp Tunnel makes a striking vision over a sloping hill. Room 11 set out to build a sculptural, brutalist structure dropped into the bushlands, designed to feel like it’s balancing on the edge between solid ground and open air.  

    “On Bruny Island, we have created understandable forms that do not mimic context, rather they create an intelligible form from which we can comprehend the nature of place,” explained Thomas Bailey, Architect AIA, Director Room11. 

    The guesthouse

    The concrete off-grid tunnel sits on Bruny Island in the bush

    The concrete guesthouse has been cleverly designed to bring the outside views in through floor-to-ceiling glass windows. (Image: Supplied)

    The result is a 160-square-metre tunnel stretching 30 metres, with wall-to-wall glass and recessed steel doors to allow unobstructed views out to the Tasmanian sea and mountains. Inside, the master bed and bath are separated by an atrium yard, to further create the sense of being on the edge of the world. Central skylights have had chromatic glazing added to mimic the colours of the Aurora Australis across the guesthouse interior. 

    The sunken lounge area with views of the ocean

    Stay in complete seclusion. (Image: Supplied)

    A separate 35-square-metre concrete cube, dubbed The Studio, contains a desk and hidden mezzanine double bed. While outside, a series of sculptures by renowned Danish artist Lin Utzon complete the artistic stay. 

    Vipp supplied the guesthouse with its interiors and furnishings. Including an all-aluminium V3 kitchen, swivel chairs upholstered in Australian sheep skin and a bespoke sunken lounge.  

    Vipp interior products and furnishings feature throughout the property, like the swivel chair pictured here. (Supplied)

    “Our portfolio of guesthouses is about elevating the product experience and creating a doorway into our design universe. By working with different architectural typologies and vernacular we can craft distinct design experiences,” said Kasper Egelund, CEO and third-generation Vipp owner.  

    Sustainability

    The dining area of Vipp Tunnel on Bruny Island

    The concrete panel design of the off-grid property provides thermal insulation. (Image: Supplied)

    Another fascinating aspect of Vipp Tunnel is how entirely off-grid it is. 

    “The entire western façade is derived from the geometry of the solar array. An unequivocal statement of prioritising green energy production in contemporary construction. As far as we are aware, this is the first building to feature an entire façade created by solar technology, making the most of the location’s latitude,” said Bailey.  

    A wallaby on Bruny Island

    Sustainable design has been woven into every facet of the property.

    Before building, every tree on site was surveyed to avoid damage. The concrete panel design provides thermal insulation to keep the inside temperature regulated, year-round. The property runs only on run-off rainwater and self-sufficient energy.  

    The details

    A man stand-up paddleboards by Vipp Tunnel on Bruny Island

    Immerse yourself in the beauty of Bruny Island. (Image: Supplied)

    Get to Bruny Island with a 20-minute ferry ride from Hobart, then drive 10 minutes to Vipp Tunnel. Prices start from $970 per night, based on two adult guests.