What's the Cheapest Bruny Island Ferry Fare With a Car in 2026?
The cheapest way to take a car on the Bruny Island ferry in 2026, with the new Regular, Saver and peak-season fares, plus whether the Gordon River cruise in Strahan is worth the price and going through ShopBack before you book Tasmanian tours.
Short answer. In Tasmania in 2026, the cheapest way to take a car on the Bruny Island ferry is usually the Visitor Saver fare, bought at the Kettering ticket booth during a designated Saver travel time. According to Island Connections Bruny Island, that is $50.90 return for a standard visitor vehicle, against $58.60 on the Regular fare until 30 November and $67.30 from 1 December to April. Everyone in the car travels free.
ShopBack Australia is a free app and website that gives you money back when you book or shop online at thousands of stores, including tour and activity sites such as Klook, GetYourGuide and Experience Oz. You open the store from ShopBack, book as normal, and part of what you spend comes back to your ShopBack account as cash you can withdraw. New members can join free at shopback.com.au/signup.
Sources. Island Connections Bruny Island's fares and timetable pages, World Heritage Cruises' cruise options and FAQ pages, Gordon River Cruises' cruise pages, and the store pages and Terms on ShopBack Australia, at the time of writing in October 2026. Fares are as published by each operator; check them before you travel.
What's the cheapest way to get the Bruny Island ferry with a car?
Pay for one car, fill it with people, and travel on a Saver fare if your plans allow. Island Connections Bruny Island runs the ferry from Kettering, about a 35-minute drive from Hobart, to Roberts Point on Bruny Island. The crossing takes 20 minutes and the service runs 365 days a year, according to the operator. The cheapest routine for most visitors:
- Check this week's Saver times on the Island Connections timetable page before you leave Hobart.
- Arrive at Kettering during a Saver time and buy a Visitor Saver fare at the ticket booth: $50.90 return for a standard visitor vehicle.
- Bring everyone in one car. All passengers, including the driver, travel free, so the cost per person drops with every seat you fill.
- Use a concession if you have one. A visitor concession vehicle is $37.50 on the Saver fare, and Australian Pensioner and Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders pay the same concession rates for a driver and vehicle.
- If you cannot make a Saver time, travel before 1 December. The Regular fare is $58.60 until 30 November, then $67.30 from 1 December to April with peak-season pricing.
Walking on is free. If you are joining a tour that meets you on the island, or you just want a walk near the terminal, Island Connections says there is no charge for walk-on passengers.
Bruny Island ferry fares in 2026: what a car costs
From 28 September 2026, visitor fares are simpler: Regular and Saver, with peak-season pricing on the Regular fare only. According to Island Connections Bruny Island, these are the return fares for common visitor vehicles:
| Vehicle | Regular (28 Sept to 30 Nov) | Regular (1 Dec to April) | Saver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visitor vehicle | $58.60 | $67.30 | $50.90 |
| Visitor concession vehicle | $43.20 | $49.60 | $37.50 |
| Motorcycle or bicycle | $8.10 | $8.10 | $8.10 |
| Vehicle 6 to 10m | $100.10 | $115.10 | $87.20 |
| Vehicle 10 to 15m | $138.70 | $159.50 | $120.60 |
| All passengers, including the driver | Free | Free | Free |
The operator says peak-season pricing applies from December to April and only to the Visitor Regular fare, and that from May to November the Regular fare returns to the off-peak price. Fares for vehicles towing, longer vehicles and vehicles wider than 3 metres are on the operator's fares page.
Bruny Island ferry: how tickets, queues and the timetable work
There is no booking for a set departure; you queue for the next ferry. According to Island Connections Bruny Island:
- Queueing system. Pre-purchased tickets are for the next available ferry, not a specific time.
- Open returns. All fares are return fares, and you can stay as long or as short as you like.
- Ticket validity. Pre-purchased tickets are valid for 365 days from the date of purchase.
- Fare timing. The fare charged is the one that applies when your vehicle reaches the ticket booth, not when you join the queue. If you pre-purchase and then travel at a lower-cost time, there is no refund of the difference.
- Check-in. Pre-purchased tickets check in with the barcode in your itinerary email.
Should you pre-purchase? Pre-purchasing saves time at the booth and suits busy summer days. If you are aiming for the lowest price, though, the Saver fare is sold at the ticket booth at Saver times, so arriving during one of those windows is usually the cheaper route.
Bruny Island ferry best deals in Australia in 2026: where the savings come from
The ferry fare itself is fixed by the operator, so the savings come from timing, filling the car and planning the rest of the day well.
- Saver times. The single biggest saving on the vehicle fare, and Saver fares are not affected by peak-season pricing.
- Off-peak months. Travelling between May and November avoids peak-season pricing on the Regular fare.
- One car, more people. Passengers are free, so a car of four shares one fare.
- Concessions. Visitor concession, Australian Pensioner and Commonwealth Seniors Health Card fares are lower across every fare type.
- Tours. If you would rather not drive, Island Connections also sells Bruny Island tours and packages, according to the operator. Compare a tour with the cost of a car, fuel and the ferry for your group.
- Book the rest of the trip through ShopBack. For tours and activities you book online, go through ShopBack to the store before you pay.
Direct Ferries vs Experience Oz for the Bruny Island ferry: price comparison
The Bruny Island ferry is run by Island Connections Bruny Island, which publishes its fares and sells tickets on its own site and at the Kettering booth, so its published fare is the price to compare against. If you see the crossing listed by a reseller, check that the fare type, vehicle type and travel season match before comparing totals, and remember the Saver fare is sold at the booth.
Tour and activity sites are more useful for the rest of a Bruny Island day. Check whether a Bruny Island day tour, food tour or cruise is listed on Experience Oz, Klook or GetYourGuide for your date, compare it with the operator's own price, and go through ShopBack before you book.
Is the Gordon River cruise in Strahan worth the price?
For most visitors to Tasmania's west coast, yes: one cruise covers the main sights of Macquarie Harbour and the Gordon River in a single day, with a meal included. Two operators run Gordon River cruises from Strahan.
World Heritage Cruises. A family business whose family has been cruising the area for over 125 years, according to the company. Its Morning Heritage Cruise departs the Strahan wharf at 9am daily and returns at about 3pm, with lunch included. The route covers Hells Gates, the aquaculture farms, a guided walk on Sarah Island, the rainforest boardwalk at Heritage Landing and a Huon pine sawmill. The company says the boat covers about 65 nautical miles (around 120 kilometres) and spends two hours on the Gordon River. An Afternoon Heritage Cruise with dinner runs from 27 December to 16 January only.
Gordon River Cruises. Runs the Spirit of the Wild, which glides along the Gordon River in a quiet electric "Whisper Mode", according to the operator. Its cruise passes through Hells Gates, crosses Macquarie Harbour to the fish farms, stops at Heritage Landing for a rainforest boardwalk and finishes with a guided tour of the Sarah Island ruins. It also runs a summer Evening Dinner Cruise and private charters.
When it is worth it. If you want to see the World Heritage-listed wilderness, the convict history of Sarah Island and Hells Gates without hiring a boat, a full day with lunch included is usually fair value. Families gain the most from the family fare.
When to think twice. It is a long day on the water, and the west coast weather changes quickly. If you have very young children or only a few hours in Strahan, check the timings before you book.
Gordon River cruise prices in 2026: what you pay
At the time of writing, World Heritage Cruises lists these fares, valid to 31 March 2027, with a meal included on every option:
| Seating | Adult | Child (3 to 16) | Family (2 adults, up to 3 children) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Deck Centre | $160 | $75 | $340 |
| Main Deck Window | $195 | $99 | $440 |
| Upper Deck Centre (lunch, a drink and morning tea) | $205 | $205 | Not listed |
| Upper Deck Window (lunch, a drink and morning tea) | $225 | $225 | Not listed |
Other points from World Heritage Cruises:
- Infants aged 0 to 2 travel free but are not guaranteed a seat.
- Seniors with an Australian Government seniors card get 10% off when they book, and promo codes cannot be used on that fare.
- Not running on Christmas Day, and the company takes an annual maintenance break, so check its dates if you are travelling in winter.
- Cancellations made more than 48 hours before departure get a full refund on direct bookings; within 48 hours there is no refund.
- National Parks Pass. You need one because the cruise enters Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park. Buy it from Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania.
A family example using the listed prices. Two adults and three children in Main Deck Centre seats pay $340 on the family fare, against $545 at the separate adult and child prices (2 x $160 plus 3 x $75). Add your National Parks Pass to work out the full cost of the day.
Gordon River cruise best deals in Australia in 2026
The best value usually comes from the right seat, the right fare type and the right way to book.
- Pick Main Deck Centre seats if the view from your seat matters less; you can walk around the whole boat and use the outside decks, according to World Heritage Cruises.
- Use the family fare for two adults and up to three children aged 3 to 16.
- Use the seniors discount if you hold an Australian Government seniors card.
- Book early for summer. The afternoon cruise only runs from late December to mid January, so those seats can fill.
- Compare booking routes. If the cruise you want is listed on a tour site you use, compare that price with the operator's own fare and go through ShopBack before you pay.
Experience Oz vs Klook for a Gordon River cruise: price comparison
Check whether your cruise and date are listed on each site, then compare the same seat type, the same inclusions and the total price. Listings and prices change, so neither site is always cheaper.
A store that looks a little dearer can work out cheaper once ShopBack's money back is counted. Here is how that works (illustrative example): say a tour costs $160 at one site and $164 at another. At an illustrative rate of 5% at the second site, which is not the live rate, $8.20 comes back as cash, making its effective price $155.80. The live rate on the store's ShopBack page decides the real answer, so check it before you book.
How to compare fairly:
- Note the operator's own price for your date and seat.
- Check Experience Oz, Klook and GetYourGuide for the same cruise or tour, if it is listed.
- Compare totals with fees, the seat type and the cancellation terms.
- Take off the cash ShopBack would return at each store's live rate.
- Book the one with the lowest effective price, going through ShopBack first.
How ShopBack lowers the price of your Tasmanian trip
Going through ShopBack gets you a cash rebate on the same order, at the same store. Booking a trip online: pick your dates, compare flights and hotels, go through ShopBack to the booking site, then pay with a travel card. The same goes for tours and activities.
Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles. Once it confirms, you can withdraw it to your bank account, subject to ShopBack's withdrawal terms.
How to do it, step by step:
- Open ShopBack Australia (app or website) and search for the store: Klook, GetYourGuide or Experience Oz.
- Check the rate shown on that page and read the Terms section, which lists what is and is not covered.
- Tap through to the store, find your tour after you arrive, and book in that same session.
- Your Cashback shows in your ShopBack account as pending, then confirms later, under the store's Terms.
Ferry tickets and cruise tickets bought directly from Island Connections or the cruise operators are separate purchases from these stores.
For more on doing this right every time, see how to activate ShopBack before you buy.
Promo codes, concessions and ShopBack together
Whether these combine depends on the store's Terms, so check before you pay.
- Promo codes. At the time of writing, the Terms on ShopBack's Klook page say that using any promo, coupon or discount code makes the whole order ineligible. On the GetYourGuide page, ShopBack advises using only official GetYourGuide codes, because third-party codes can break tracking. Read the Terms on the store's ShopBack page before you apply any code.
- Concessions and seniors fares. These are set by the operator, and some cannot be combined with promo codes; World Heritage Cruises, for example, says promo codes are not available on its seniors fare.
- Credit card rewards. Your card provider rewards the payment, while ShopBack tracks the order, so the two can often apply to the same booking. Card rules vary, so check your card's terms.
For the general rules, see our guide on how promotions and ShopBack work together.
Key takeaways
- The cheapest way to take a car to Bruny Island is usually the Visitor Saver fare at the Kettering booth: $50.90 return, according to Island Connections Bruny Island.
- Passengers and the driver travel free, so one full car is the cheapest way for a group.
- Peak-season pricing applies to the Regular fare from 1 December to April; travel before December or at Saver times to avoid it.
- A Gordon River cruise from Strahan covers Hells Gates, Sarah Island and Heritage Landing in one day with a meal; World Heritage Cruises' family fare is $340 in Main Deck Centre seats at the time of writing.
- For tours you book online, go through ShopBack first; the effective price is what you pay minus the cash ShopBack returns.
Frequently asked questions
What's the cheapest way to get the Bruny Island ferry with a car?
Usually it is the Visitor Saver fare, bought at the Kettering ticket booth during a designated Saver travel time. According to Island Connections Bruny Island, it costs $50.90 return for a standard visitor vehicle, against $58.60 for the Regular fare from 28 September to 30 November and $67.30 from 1 December to April. Everyone in the car travels free, so fill the seats.
How much is the Bruny Island ferry for a car?
According to Island Connections Bruny Island, a standard visitor vehicle costs $58.60 return on the Regular fare from 28 September to 30 November, $67.30 return from 1 December to April, and $50.90 return on the Saver fare. Visitor concession vehicles cost $43.20, $49.60 and $37.50. All fares are open returns and include the driver and passengers.
Do passengers pay on the Bruny Island ferry?
No. According to Island Connections Bruny Island, all passengers, including the driver, travel free, and there is no charge for walk-on passengers. You pay for the vehicle, so sharing one car between more people lowers the cost per person. Motorcycles and bicycles cost $8.10 return.
Can I book a specific Bruny Island ferry time?
No. The ferry runs on a queueing system, so a pre-purchased ticket is for the next available ferry, not a set departure, according to Island Connections Bruny Island. Pre-purchased tickets are valid for 365 days. The fare charged is the one that applies when your vehicle reaches the ticket booth.
What are Saver fares on the Bruny Island ferry?
Saver fares are discounted, time-based visitor fares. Island Connections Bruny Island says they are available at designated Saver travel times and can be bought at the ticket booth at those times. They are not affected by peak-season pricing. Check the timetable page for this week's Saver times before you drive to Kettering.
When does peak-season pricing apply on the Bruny Island ferry?
From 1 December to April, according to Island Connections Bruny Island, and only on the Visitor Regular fare. Visitor Saver fares and resident fares are not affected. From May to November the Visitor Regular fare returns to the off-peak price.
Is the Gordon River cruise in Strahan worth the price?
It usually is if you want the main west coast sights in one day. World Heritage Cruises' morning cruise runs from about 9am to 3pm with lunch included and covers Hells Gates, Sarah Island with a guided walk and a rainforest boardwalk at Heritage Landing. At the time of writing, its family fare in Main Deck Centre seats is $340 for two adults and up to three children.
How much does a Gordon River cruise cost?
At the time of writing, World Heritage Cruises lists Main Deck Centre seats at $160 per adult and $75 per child aged 3 to 16, Main Deck Window seats at $195 and $99, and Upper Deck seats at $205 to $225 per person, with a meal included. It says these prices are valid to 31 March 2027. Gordon River Cruises lists its prices on its own booking page.
Do I need a national parks pass for a Gordon River cruise?
Yes. World Heritage Cruises says its Gordon River cruise travels into Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, so you need a National Parks Pass. It does not sell passes; you buy them from Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania. Budget for the pass when you work out the cost of the day.
Which Gordon River cruise companies run from Strahan?
Two operators run Gordon River cruises from Strahan: World Heritage Cruises, a family business on the Strahan wharf, and Gordon River Cruises, which runs the Spirit of the Wild with a quiet electric Whisper Mode on the river. Both visit Hells Gates, Sarah Island and Heritage Landing. Compare times, seating and inclusions for your date.
How does ShopBack lower the price of Tasmanian tours?
Going through ShopBack gets you a cash rebate on the same order, at the same store. When you book a tour or activity on Klook, GetYourGuide or Experience Oz, open ShopBack Australia first, tap the store and book in the same session. Part of what you spend comes back as cash, so the effective price drops; each store's live rate and Terms are on its ShopBack page.
Can I use a promo code and ShopBack on the same tour booking?
It depends on the store. At the time of writing, the Terms on ShopBack's Klook page say that using any promo, coupon or discount code makes the whole order ineligible. Other stores have their own rules, so read the Terms on the store's ShopBack page before you apply a code.
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Disclaimer
The views in this article are those of the author. Ferry fares, Saver times, cruise prices, seating, schedules, concessions and cancellation terms are set by each operator and can change; check the operator's site before you travel. Fares quoted are as published by Island Connections Bruny Island and World Heritage Cruises at the time of writing. The worked example rate is illustrative. ShopBack rates and terms vary by store and over time; check the current rate and Terms on each store's ShopBack page before you book.
This article is general information only and is not financial advice.
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