A Long Drive from Bruny Island to Georgetown

10th February 2018

We have a long day ahead of us, planning to drive from Bruny Island to Georgetown at the mouth of the Tamar River. It should take us around 7.5 hours including meal breaks.

The Bruny Island ferry has a regular schedule, with departure every half hour. Our plan is to meet the 8.30 am ferry, so we leave our accommodation at  Lunawanna at 7.30 am, dropped off our keys at the Bruny Hotel at Alonnah, and were at the ferry terminal at around 8.10 am.

The ferry was at the dock waiting for us and the line up of cars heading back to Kettering very modest. The wait was only around 10 mins before the ferry started loading, but it was enough time for us to get a cup of coffee from the little shop on the waterfront.

Ferry loading was quick, as there were only enough cars to fill the lower deck, and we were under way on time at 8.30am. There is no charge for the trip from the island to Kettering, so the $33 paind from Kettering to the island is a return fare charge.

After 15 minutes the ferry is at Kettering and unloading is quick. We now have a long drive ahead of us to get to Georgetown, and the entrance to the Tamar River.

Morning tea was at Swansea, at the Bark Mill Hotel / Cafe complex at around 11 am, and it was then on to St Helens for lunch.

There are plenty of grey nomads is campervans and towing vans on the coast road, so going on the windy and steep roads was a bit slow at times, but the scenery was worth it. The midland highway would be a lot quicker, but not as scenic.

Lunch is at St Helens, our last coastal town on the east coast before heading inland. Tempted by the sign below, we turned into a waterfront carpark to check out this floating cafe in the hope of getting some nice seafood. Sadly it was a deep fried and mainly chips, so we moved on.

We ended up at a bakery in the main street instead.

Finally, at 4 pm, we arrived at our destination, Peppers York Cove on the waterfront at Georgetown.

It is an impressive complex, and the rooms are large and very comfortable

There is a small marina and boat ramp in the cove

On the other side is the Tamar River (entrance to the cove on the right of this photo)

There are very few guests staying here, which is a shame, as it is very nice and a pretty spot. Unfortunately it is well off the beaten track. It is very well set up for functions and probably does well for weddings and conferences.

Dinner at the on site restaurant was very good, as was the view looking down the Tamar River. As well as getting a good rate for our stay, we also received a free bottle of wine and a voucher for 25% discount at the restaurant.

Tomorrow the Georgetown Triathlon starts at the boat ramp next to the Hotel, so maybe there will be a few more people around tomorrow.