From Coles Bay: Wineglass Bay Cruise with Lunch

Wineglass Bay is famous from the lookout above, but the view from the water gives you a different picture: sheer granite walls, sea caves, pale beaches, and the Hazards range sliding past your window. The cruise on Schouten Passage II also puts the coast and its wildlife at the center of the day, rather than treating the bay as a quick photo stop.

I like the warm, attentive crew and the useful commentary, which covers geology, wildlife, and local stories without filling every quiet moment. I also like the simple Ploughman’s lunch, especially when you can eat it while looking toward Wineglass Bay. The main consideration is weather: the route can change, and rough conditions may prevent the boat from reaching the bay itself.

Key points to know

• Wineglass Bay from sea level: See granite cliffs, coves, beaches, and rock colors that are easy to miss from land.
• Wildlife is a real bonus: Dolphins, seals, whales, albatross, sea eagles, penguins, and other birds may appear, but sightings cannot be promised.
• A 270-minute outing: Allow four and a half hours for the cruise, plus your time getting to Coles Bay.
• Ploughman’s lunch included: The bento-style box features meat, cheeses, and other Tasmanian produce. Drinks cost extra.
• Comfortable indoor and outdoor seating: The boat has floor-to-ceiling windows, viewing decks, heating, air-conditioning, toilets, and baby-changing facilities.
• Plan for changeable weather: Bring warm clothing and flat, comfortable shoes. The adults-only Sky Lounge is available to passengers aged 18 and over.

Why the coastline looks better from Schouten Passage II

The best reason to book this cruise is simple: Freycinet National Park changes as you move along the coast. From the boat, granite cliffs rise directly from the water. You see narrow sea caves, sheltered coves, small beaches, and folds in the rock that do not show well from a road or lookout.

The cruise leaves from Coles Bay and heads toward Wineglass Bay along the Freycinet coast. You get a broad view of the Hazards mountain range, then a closer look at the cliffs and shoreline. The scenery is not limited to one famous bay. The route itself is the attraction.

The boat is Schouten Passage II, with indoor seating in the Vista Lounge and outdoor viewing areas. The large windows matter on a cool or wet Tasmanian day. You can stay warm, keep watching the coast, and step outside when the light or wildlife makes it worth braving the wind.

I would not treat this as a quick sightseeing boat. At 270 minutes, it gives the crew time to move through several parts of the coast and pause for wildlife when conditions allow. The longer format also means you should plan your day around it rather than squeeze it between unrelated stops.

From Coles Bay to Freycinet’s granite walls

Your check-in point is at Wineglass Bay Cruises, on the corner of Jetty Road and the Esplanade in Coles Bay. There is no transfer from Hobart, so you need to arrange your own transport. The drive from Hobart takes roughly two and a half to three hours, making Coles Bay an easier base for this outing than a same-day dash from the capital.

Once aboard, the crew gives you the practical information you need before the boat gets moving. The sea can change quickly in Tasmania, so pay attention to safety instructions and use the handrails on deck. One useful rule shared on board is to keep three points of contact when walking around in moving conditions.

The early section of the trip settles you into the rhythm of the boat. You can choose indoor seating, look through the broad windows, or head outside for a clearer view and more wind. The crew moves around the vessel, answers questions, and points out features along the shore.

The commentary is one of the better reasons to choose this cruise over a purely scenic boat ride. It connects the cliffs and rock formations with the local environment, wildlife, and history. It is informative without needing to compete with every sound of the sea, and the crew members on the front deck can add useful observations when something appears.

Granite cliffs, sea caves, and hidden coves

Freycinet’s coast rewards close attention. Granite can look plain from a distance, but the colors and layers become clearer as the boat passes beneath the cliffs. One passenger particularly appreciated seeing cliff colors that are hard to notice from land. That is exactly the sort of detail this cruise provides.

The boat also takes you past sea caves and tight coastal inlets. These features help explain why a boat trip adds something to a visit based around roads and walking tracks. You are seeing the park from the side that shaped its shoreline, not just from a marked lookout.

The skipper’s handling matters here. The crew has been praised for using the conditions well and for finding good angles for photographs. Captain Noah has been singled out for lively commentary and a talent for making small natural details, even lichen, worth noticing. His style may be more playful than a quiet nature lecture, but that keeps the long cruise from feeling flat.

Weather can change the mood of this part of the trip. A clear day gives you bright water and sharp granite. Rain can bring waterfalls down the rock faces and create a misty, more dramatic view. Wind and swell may make the ride exciting, though some people will find the open-water section uncomfortable.

Wineglass Bay, seen from the water

Wineglass Bay is the visual centerpiece. Its curved beach and clear water are familiar from photographs, but the boat gives you a lower, wider view. You see the sweep of the bay in relation to the surrounding cliffs rather than only the beach from above.

This is an important expectation to set: the cruise does not mean you walk onto the beach. The experience is about seeing Wineglass Bay from the water, often while eating lunch and listening to the commentary. If your main goal is to stand on the sand or reach the lookout, you need a separate land-based visit.

The route is subject to weather and sea conditions. On some departures, the captain may not take the planned route around Wineglass Bay. That can be disappointing if the bay is the one image you had in mind, but the alternative can still be worthwhile. A changed route has produced close encounters with common dolphins, fur seals, and other coastal scenery.

That flexibility is part of the honest value of a wilderness cruise. You are buying access to the coast, not a guaranteed wildlife checklist or a fixed photograph. The crew works with the sea rather than pretending it can control it.

Dolphins, seals, whales, and seabirds

Wildlife is the other major draw, and the sightings can be impressive. Dolphins have been seen circling the boat, sometimes in large pods with young animals. Fur seals may be resting on an island, squabbling on rocks, or moving through the water. The boat can also provide views of albatross, gannets, sea eagles, penguins, and other birdlife.

Whales are possible too, especially at times when they are moving along the coast. Humpbacks have been seen breaching, though you should treat any whale sighting as luck rather than part of the basic promise. The same applies to every animal listed by the operator. A calm day with many dolphins is wonderful, but a quiet day still gives you the cliffs and coves.

The crew plays an active role in spotting animals. Staff on the front deck watch the water and help direct attention when something appears. Their enthusiasm is useful, but they also show care around wildlife, keeping the boat respectful rather than chasing a close encounter at any cost.

Bring binoculars if you have them, but do not let a pair of lenses keep you from watching the wider scene. Wildlife may appear on either side of the boat, and the best moment can be a quick fin, a bird crossing the bow, or seals hauled out in the distance.

A Tasmanian Ploughman’s lunch on board

Lunch is a bento-style Ploughman’s box, included in the $141 price. It is a practical meal for a boat, with meat, cheeses, and other simple accompaniments. Several passengers have found it fresh, tasty, and well matched to the setting, while one person thought the meat portion was a little light.

I see the lunch as a solid part of the package rather than a reason to book on its own. It saves you from organizing food during a four-and-a-half-hour outing, and eating in the Vista Lounge gives the meal a sense of place. The best version of lunch is not fancy. It is opening the box, looking through the windows, and finding Wineglass Bay outside.

Drinks are not included, but you can buy them from the onboard bars. Coffee is also available, and it has earned praise from passengers who appreciated having a good hot drink during a cool cruise. If you have specific dietary needs, tell the operator in advance. Dietary requirements have been accommodated on some departures, but the supplied details do not promise every option.

The Sky Lounge is reserved for adults aged 18 and over. Families and younger passengers still have seating elsewhere on the boat, including the Vista Lounge and viewing decks.

Comfort, sea conditions, and accessibility

The boat has seating on both levels, toilets, heating, air-conditioning, and baby-changing facilities. That makes the cruise easier for families and for anyone who does not want to spend four and a half hours outside in Tasmanian weather.

The experience is wheelchair accessible, and the crew has received strong praise for helping passengers who use wheelchairs or need extra assistance. Staff have helped people move around the boat and paid close attention to individual needs. Still, it is sensible to contact the operator before departure if you have specific mobility requirements, since the sea and boat movement can affect how easy each area is to reach.

Sea conditions deserve more attention than they often get in a tour description. Some departures have been flat and calm. Others have been lumpy offshore or affected by a noticeable swell. If you are prone to seasickness, sit where the crew recommends, look toward the horizon, and ask for help early. The staff has experience supporting people who feel unwell, but no boat can remove the motion entirely.

Wear flat, comfortable shoes with a good grip. Bring warm layers even if Coles Bay feels mild at check-in. The weather can shift from sunshine to rain, and the temperature on deck is usually cooler than it is on shore.

Is $141 good value for a half-day cruise?

At $141 per person, this is not a bargain boat ride, but it can be good value if you want a full Freycinet outing with lunch, commentary, wildlife watching, and indoor comfort in one booking. You are paying for the vessel, crew, safety management, four and a half hours on the water, and access to a coastline that is difficult to see in this way from land.

The value improves if you are short on time or prefer not to organize separate walks, meals, and wildlife stops. It is also useful for families and mixed-ability groups because people can enjoy the scenery without committing to a long hike.

The value is weaker if your only goal is a guaranteed view of Wineglass Bay in perfect sun. Weather can alter the route, and wildlife sightings are never fixed. You may also spend more than you would on a simple picnic and a land-based lookout, but that would be a different experience.

For me, the strongest part of the price is the combination of scenery and crew service. The staff has been praised for being friendly, careful, funny, and attentive, including helping passengers who need extra support. That human element matters on a long boat trip.

Who will enjoy this cruise most?

I would recommend it to you if you want to see Freycinet from the sea, enjoy wildlife without arranging your own boat, or prefer an accessible outing with a seated indoor option. It suits couples, families, older passengers, and anyone who wants a fuller coastal experience than a quick lookout visit.

It is also a good choice for photographers, provided you bring weather protection for your equipment and accept that the best moment may arrive suddenly. The cliffs, caves, seals, dolphins, and changing light give you plenty to watch, even when the boat does not reach every planned point.

I would think twice if you dislike boat motion, need a rigid schedule, or would be deeply disappointed by an alternate route. The cruise is controlled by the sea and weather. That is not a flaw in the wilderness setting, but it is a real part of the decision.

The tour is offered in English with a live guide. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. It is not available on Christmas Day, and both listed options are subject to availability and weather.

Should you book the Wineglass Bay Cruise?

Book this cruise if you want a comfortable, informative way to see Freycinet from the water, with lunch and a genuine chance of dolphins, seals, whales, or seabirds. The crew service is a major strength, and the boat gives you views of cliffs and coastal colors that a land visit cannot match.

Before booking, check the forecast, leave enough time to reach Coles Bay, and pack warmer clothing than you think you need. If you can accept a changed route and see wildlife as a bonus rather than a guarantee, the $141 price buys a well-rounded half-day on one of Tasmania’s most striking coasts.

FAQ

Where does the Wineglass Bay Cruise depart from?

Check in at Wineglass Bay Cruises, at the corner of Jetty Road and the Esplanade in Coles Bay.

How long does the cruise last?

The cruise lasts 270 minutes, or four and a half hours.

How far is Coles Bay from Hobart?

The meeting point is approximately a two-and-a-half to three-hour drive from Hobart.

Is transport from Hobart included?

No. Transfers from Hobart are not included.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A bento-style Ploughman’s lunch is included for paying passengers. Lunch is not included for infants.

Are drinks included?

No. Drinks are available to purchase from the onboard bar.

What wildlife might I see?

You might see penguins, dolphins, seals, whales, albatross, gannets, sea eagles, and other birdlife. Sightings depend on conditions and cannot be guaranteed.

Is the cruise wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is wheelchair accessible. The crew can assist passengers who need help moving around the boat.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable, flat shoes and warm clothing. Tasmanian weather can change quickly, especially on the water.