Here is my complete hiking guide to the Cape Queen Elizabeth Walk on Bruny Island, Tasmania!

I recently visited Bruny Island off the coast of Tasmania and absolutely fell in love. 

The landscape was a stunning combo of rugged and serene, with giant cliffs, rolling hills, beautiful beaches, and more. 

We spent two days on the island and did quite a few Bruny Island walks. 

The Cape Queen Elizabeth Walk was one of my favorites!

We didn’t actually hike the entire trail, but we did the first half of it and that itself was spectacular.

Here is a hiking guide to the Cape Queen Elizabeth Walk on Bruny Island for anyone else who wants to tackle the trail. 

Getting to Bruny Island 

You can get to Bruny Island by taking the Sealink ferry from Kettering on mainland Tasmania. 

Find more details about the Sealink ferry schedule and prices online. The ferry ride is only about 10 minutes!

I recommend renting a car in Hobart, the capital city of Tasmania. It’s only a 30-40 minute drive from Hobart to the ferry terminal in Kettering. 

You can also join a guided tour from Hobart that includes all your transportation AND the first half of the Cape Queen Elizabeth Walk. 

But for the most flexibility, I would recommend a rental car and catching the ferry on your own. 

When you arrive on Bruny Island from the ferry, it’s just a 20-minute drive to the Cape Queen Elizabeth Walk Trailhead. 

We booked our rental car on Booking.com and got a crazy cheap price (around $200 for 5 days). I recommend browsing online in advance to find the best price.

About the Cape Queen Elizabeth Walk on Bruny Island

This hiking trail is relatively well known on Bruny Island. After the Fluted Cape Walk, I’d say it’s the second-most popular hiking trail (at least as far as I heard). 

But it’s still so easy to escape any crowds here. Bruny Island is a popular day trip from Hobart, so it’s less common to see tourists at the remote spots like Cape Queen Elizabeth. 

You can also do the hike outside of peak season, or peak hours, to get more serenity. 

We did the hike at 8am on a weekday in winter. We saw one other hiker the entire time and mostly had it all to ourselves!

Cape Queen Elizabeth Walk Quick Facts

• Total distance: 13km out and back
• Total hiking time: 4-5 hours
• Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
• Starting point: Cape Queen Elizabeth Track Trail Head (In Google Maps)

Alternative: Walk the first half of the Cape Queen Elizabeth Walk to the Rock Arch and back

13km is quite long for a day hike. Whether you’re short on time or you just don’t want to walk for that long, you can also just do the first half of the hike. 

That’s what we did, as we only had 2 days on Bruny Island and there was so much we wanted to see. 

Doing the first half of the walk only takes a couple of hours, and you still get to see the most incredible views. 

Shorter version of the Cape Queen Elizabeth Walk (to Rock Arch and Back)

• Total distance: 6km out and back (roughly)
• Total hiking time: 2 hours
• Difficulty: Easy
• Starting point: Cape Queen Elizabeth Track Trail Head (In Google Maps)

Read next: How To Travel Australia On A Budget: The Ultimate Guide

Where does the Cape Queen Elizabeth Walk start?

There is a small car park on the eastern side of Bruny Island Main Road. 

It’s directly across from Bruny Island Honey, which is on the western side of the road. 

Park your car and set off along the dirt track!

What shoes do I need for the Cape Queen Elizabeth Walk?

Any decent walking shoes will be fine. The trail is mostly flat, and the terrain is a mix of sand, dirt, and rocks, with a few stretches of installed walkways on the steep parts. 

Basically, the terrain is mild. Actually most of it is sand, so wear shoes that are comfy for trekking through sand. 

You honestly could probably do the walk barefoot (if it wasn’t winter when we hiked, I’m sure my Aussie surfer husband would have tried to do it barefoot). 

What is the best time of year for the Cape Queen Elizabeth Walk?

As with all hikes in Tasmania, the best weather for hiking will be basically year-round except for winter. 

Winter (June – August) is the coldest time of year in Tasmania, with temperatures dropping to near freezing or colder in the mornings and evenings. 

We did the Cape Queen Elizabeth Walk on a chilly but sunny morning in June. Most of the ferns on the track were covered in frost, and it was definitely too cold for a swim. 

But we were lucky to have some sunshine, and the walk was glorious in winter with some warm clothes. 

Summer (December – February) will be the hottest and most crowded. But Bruny Island is still a pretty remote spot, especially on this hiking trail. So it should be easy to escape crowds. 

You can also hike early in the morning to escape the heat. 

Spring (September – November) and Autumn (March – May) are the ideal shoulder seasons, with cooler temperatures and fewer crowds. 

But Tasmania is pretty far south, and the weather is wild and unpredictable. So always be prepared for any weather situation, especially if you’re braving the wilderness in winter.

Walking the Cape Queen Elizabeth Trail

Now I’ll break down the different sections of the Cape Queen Elizabeth Walk, as there are some standout features. 

4WD track

From the car park, the first few kilometers of the trail are an old 4WD track. 

It starts off as a compact, dirt track that is mostly flat and straight. You’ll pass some grassy fields and pockets of secluded forest. 

As you near the coast, the track gradually turns from dirt to sand. It’s still mostly flat, but there are a few gentle hills as you wind through the heathland. 

The scenery also transitions from tall forest trees to scrubby bushland with lots of ferns. 

You’ll pass by two scenic lagoons as well, with the Bruny mountains standing tall in the distance.

Path split – to the beach (low tide route) or up over hills (high tide route)

After about 2.5km on the trail, you will reach a small signpost where the track splits. 

You can either head down towards the beach, or head up over the hills. 

I would highly recommend planning your hike around low tide so you can take the beach route. 

But if you’re hiking at high tide, you will have to take the high tide route over the hills. 

Highlights of the beach route

The tide was just starting to turn high when we reached the shore. But it was still low enough that we could just make it along the beach. 

I had checked the tide and it was roughly mid-tide and rising. If it’s any closer to high tide, you probably shouldn’t risk crossing the beach as you might get stuck or get hit with some waves. 

But it’s worth planning your hike around low tide, because the beach section of the Cape Queen Elizabeth Walk was amazing!

Blighs Rocks

Once you make it onto the beach after the path splits, continue heading north along the sand. 

You will pass through some crazy rock formations known as Blighs Rocks. 

The giant, rough cliffs are curved and scattered along the sand, creating narrow passageways and dramatic scenery. 

Squeeze through tunnels, climb up over cliffs, and admire the gorgeous coastline. 

Mars Bluff and Rock Arch

Not far up the beach from Blighs Rocks is Mars Bluff, another rocky section of the coast. 

Here is where you will find the famous Rock Arch! This is one of the most photographed spots on Bruny Island (after Truganini Lookout of course). 

The giant, jagged rock arch is placed perfectly on the beach, and you can see views of South Bruny Island and the Fluted Cape right behind it.

Miles Beach and Moorina Bay

After walking past Mars Bluff and the Rock Arch, you’ll find yourself on Miles Beach with the sapphire waters of Moorina Bay in front of you. 

Matt and I had a moment here where we just stopped and soaked it all in. The fresh, salty air, the gleaming winter sunshine, the beautiful beach with not a soul around. 

It was so quiet, peaceful, and stunning. I may have even shed a few tears because I was so overwhelmed with happiness (we had also just gotten married a few days earlier so maybe I was a little extra emotional). 

In summer, the far corner of Moorina Bay where the waters are calm would be a great place for a swim. 

From the golden sands of Miles Beach, we saw a little hill up into the dunes. This is where the beach route reconnects to the main Cape Queen Elizabeth track. 

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Continuing along the Cape Queen Elizabeth Trail

You can rejoin the track from the beach and continue walking towards Cape Queen Elizabeth. From the beach route, you can see the headland jutting out into the Tasman Sea (or the Southern Ocean, depending how you look at the geography). 

So far, you would have hiked about 3km. That means there is roughly 3km to go before reaching Cape Queen Elizabeth. 

Then you can go back the way you came, making the total return distance covered around 12-13km. 

Returning after the beach walk via the high tide route

We felt like a 6km hike was enough for the morning, so after admiring the majestic cliffs on the beach route, we hiked back to the trailhead. 

Heading south via the high tide route also offered incredible views. 

From the beach, the track heads up into the hills. This is the steepest part of the hike, but it’s still only moderately difficult. 

The track is narrow and winds up along the hills, offering sweeping views of the beach and Bruny Island from above. 

I thought we had already seen the best of the views along the beach. But I kept stopping on this high tide route because the vantage points of the stunning coast were insane. 

Eventually the path slopes down the other side of the hill. It’s quite steep, but there are some walkways in place that provide friction and make the descent easier. 

After about 15 minutes you will arrive at the path split, and you can rejoin the 4WD track and walk back. 

Treat yourself to some local Bruny Island delights after the hike

After you finish your hike, visit some of the local Bruny Island eateries if you have done so yet. 

Right across the road is Bruny Island Honey, where you can get delicious treats and jars of Tasmanian honey to take home. 

Or drive 5 minutes up the road and feast on fresh oysters at Get Shucked (best oysters of my life, honestly). 

Bruny Island Cheese Company is close by as well for some lunch, locally made cheese, and craft beer. 

Thanks for reading my guide to the Cape Queen Elizabeth Walk on Bruny Island!

I highly recommend spending a few days on Bruny Island as there is so much to do.

But it’s also a nice day trip from the Tasmanian mainland if you’re short on time. This walk is a great way to get out in nature and admire the fabulous Bruny scenery!

If you’re visiting Australia from abroad, don’t forget you need a visa. Check iVisa.com for more information.

Read about more of my favorite hikes in Australia:

Hiking Mount Kosciuszko – Complete Guide

Karloo Pools, Royal National Park Sydney: Hiking Guide

Porters Pass and Centennial Glen Hike, Blue Mountains

Hanging Rock, Blue Mountains: Hiking Guide

The Castle Hike, Budawangs: Complete Hiking Guide