Inala Nature Museum & Jurassic Garden

Bruny Island


A 600-hectare spread of wonderful island wilderness on South Bruny, with hundreds of plant species and almost as many birds to quietly observe (including the 12 endemic Tasmanian species). The Nature Museum houses an amazing collection of shells, fossils and minerals, while the Jurassic Garden is a thoughtfully laid-out botanic park, showing how some species hark back to the days of the ancient Gondwana continent. Tours and accommodation also available (cottages $340); see the website for details.

Inala has been instrumental in establishing the annual Bruny Island Bird Festival, a three-day celebration of island bird life in late October.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Bruny Island attractions

1. Bruny Island Premium Wines

3.23 MILES

If you’re working up a thirst, swing into the cellar door at Australia’s most southerly vineyard. Pinot noir and chardonnay rule the roost; burgers,…

2. Bruny Island Berry Farm

4.41 MILES

Pick a punnet of strawberries, blackberries or boysenberries (among many other berry species), or enjoy the farm’s juicy output with some ice cream,…

3. Bligh Museum of Pacific Exploration

4.79 MILES

This curio-crammed, windowless, church-like museum details the local exploits of explorers Bligh, Cook, Furneaux, Baudin and, of course, Bruni d…

4. Court House History Room

5.05 MILES

At the council offices in Alonnah is this megamodest, volunteer-run museum (in an old courthouse – no prizes for guessing that) displaying newspaper…

5. South Bruny National Park

7.15 MILES

This national park comprises extensive coastal and wooded hinterland areas. Near Adventure Bay an easy trail leads to the old whaling station at Grass…

6. Cape Bruny Lighthouse

8.92 MILES

Designed by colonial architect John Lee Archer, the 1836, 13m-high stone lighthouse on one of Bruny's southern tips overlooks a particularly rugged…

7. The Neck

9.58 MILES

Park midway across the isthmus – aka the Neck – between North and South Bruny and climb to the Truganini Memorial for broad views of both ends of the…

8. St Imre Vineyard

13.61 MILES

Bottling pinot noir, chardonnay, pinot gris and the robust ‘Tiger Blood’, this compact hillside vineyard has a fabulous timber tasting room, built by the…