Kettering, Tasmania: Bruny Island cruises or the Raptor Refuge?

The best things to do in Kettering, Tasmania are Bruny Island cruises that give visitors a taste of sailing, or private tours among the birds of prey at the Raptor Refuge.

Kettering, Tasmania, is a village to the south of Hobart primarily known for its fruit-growing industry. Pears, apples and cherries grow in abundance around Kettering.

The Bruny Island ferry also leaves from Kettering, crossing the D’Entrecasteaux Channel. Indeed, those who come to Kettering for anything other than the fruit tend to have boats in mind. The town has two rather pretty marinas, and you’ll usually find gleaming yachts moored at them.

Boats near Kettering, Tasmania — Boats line up in the d’Entrecasteaux Channel near Kettering, Tasmania. Photo by Pete Harmsen.

There’s also quite a large alternative lifestyle movement in Kettering, Tasmania. It’s a bizarre mix of hippy village, boater’s haven, farming centre and Hobart commuter belt village.

Things to do in Kettering, Tasmania: Bruny Island cruises

Most of the best things to do in Kettering involve heading over to Bruny Island. Sailtas offers a one day Bruny Island sailing trip, which stops in at some of the island’s most gorgeous secluded bays.

This Bruny Island cruise has the added bonus of learning a bit of sailing at the same time. If guests want to, they can help out sailing the vessel, being taught the basics of getting the darned thing to go where you want it to.

Lunch and local wine are provided as part of the $255 price, and the trip lasts around six hours.

Things to do in Kettering, Tasmania: Raptor Refuge

If you’re sticking to the land, one unusual attraction in Kettering is the Raptor Refuge. This privately-run bird sanctuary hosts several aviaries, where you can see Australian birds of prey. These include wedge-tailed eagles, swamp harriers, brown goshawks and Tasmanian masked owls. The three flight aviaries inside the Raptor Refuge are designed to help train injured birds of prey how to fly again.

Visits are via private walk and talk tours, which cost from $150 for two visitors. This tour includes close encounters with some of the birds.

The best thing to do in Kettering, Tasmania

The best thing to do in Kettering, Tasmania, will depend on whether you’re planning to spend longer on Bruny Island. If you’re getting the ferry across, taking a sailing cruise as well might seem like overkill. But if you’re not going to Bruny Island any other way, the Bruny Island cruises are a better experience for your money than the Raptor Refuge.

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