Passengers at the railing taking in the Freycinet coast on a cruise
Back

Wineglass Bay Cruises – Vista Lounge

from A$180
5 hours
Coles Bay
All Ages (0+)
Free Cancellation (48 hours prior)

Cruise from Coles Bay around the Freycinet Peninsula to Wineglass Bay aboard Schouten Passage II, watching for dolphins, fur seals and sea eagles as you pass the pink granite Hazards and Schouten Island. Settle into the Vista Lounge for about 4.5 hours on the water, with options to bring your own lunch or have a ploughman's style lunch served.

  • Passengers at the railing taking in the Freycinet coast on a cruise
  • Rugged granite cliffs of the Freycinet Peninsula rising from the sea
  • Australian fur seals resting on granite rocks off the Freycinet coast
  • Dolphins leaping out of the water off the Freycinet coast, Tasmania
  • Wineglass Bay Cruises boat on turquoise water near the Freycinet Peninsula
  • Aerial view of a boat anchored off the white sand of Wineglass Bay
  • Humpback whale breaching beside red granite cliffs on the Freycinet coast
  • Aerial view of the perfect curve of Wineglass Bay, Freycinet National Park
  • Passengers at the railing taking in the Freycinet coast on a cruise
  • Rugged granite cliffs of the Freycinet Peninsula rising from the sea
  • Australian fur seals resting on granite rocks off the Freycinet coast
  • Dolphins leaping out of the water off the Freycinet coast, Tasmania
  • Wineglass Bay Cruises boat on turquoise water near the Freycinet Peninsula
  • Aerial view of a boat anchored off the white sand of Wineglass Bay
  • Humpback whale breaching beside red granite cliffs on the Freycinet coast
  • Aerial view of the perfect curve of Wineglass Bay, Freycinet National Park

Quick read before you book.

  • See Wineglass Bay from the water, a view most visitors never get
  • Pink granite peaks of the Hazards up close
  • Dolphins, fur seals, sea eagles and seasonal whales
  • Sea caves, blowholes and beaches reachable only by boat or long hike
  • Inner passage of Schouten Island

What people say about this operator.

Google Reviews
4.8 Stars|584 reviews

What could be better?

Honestly, not much. Pack a warm layer for the outside decks, and know the skipper may tweak the route if the sea's up.

Summarised by AI, verify on Google Business Profile before booking

Included in this tour.

  • About 4.5 hour cruise from Coles Bay to Wineglass Bay and back
  • Seating in the enclosed, air conditioned Vista Lounge aboard Schouten Passage II
  • Access to the outdoor viewing decks
  • Onboard commentary on wildlife, Aboriginal heritage and local history
  • Ploughman's style lunch of smoked meats, cheeses, salad, bread roll, fruit and a sweet treat, on the lunch option
  • Dietary requirements catered for on the lunch option when advised at booking
  • Onboard restrooms, including one fully accessible restroom
  • Licensed bar and cafe on board for drinks and snacks at your own cost

Commonly asked questions.

Check in by 9:30am at the booking office at 61 Jetty Road, Coles Bay. The boat leaves at 9:45am and is back around 2:30pm, and free parking is available near the Coles Bay jetty.

If it is not safe to reach Wineglass Bay, the cruise follows a sheltered route through the Schouten Island group past a large fur seal colony, and you can choose a full refund if you would rather not go. In extreme weather the cruise is cancelled and you are offered a full refund or another date where available.

A 50% fee applies if you cancel within 48 hours of departure and a 100% fee applies within 24 hours. If your plans change, call the operator as early as you can to move your booking to another date, subject to availability.

Yes, children of all ages are welcome in the Vista Lounge. Child fares cover ages 3 to 16 and infants under 3 are booked separately, so dress little ones warmly as it gets cool on the water.

Both give you the same cruise and seat in the Vista Lounge. The lunch option adds a ploughman's style lunch, while the bring your own lunch option lets you pack your own food, and adults wanting the upper deck can look at the separate Sky Lounge cruise.

Yes, the Vista Lounge on the lower deck is wheelchair accessible and has a fully accessible restroom. Call the operator before booking to discuss any specific mobility needs.

Dolphins, fur seals and sea eagles are regular sightings, and humpback and southern right whales pass from September to December and from May to July. Sightings are never guaranteed, and our guide to the best whale watching seasons in Australia explains the timing.
The operator does not run transfers from Hobart, so most people drive about 2.5 hours from Hobart or 2 hours from Launceston. Our guide to getting around Tasmania without a car covers your other options.

More about this tour.

Most people see Wineglass Bay from the lookout above it. This cruise brings you in from the sea, sailing out of Coles Bay and around the Freycinet Peninsula so you meet that white crescent of sand the way early explorers did, from the water, with the pink granite of the Hazards rising behind it.You travel aboard Schouten Passage II, a Tasmanian built catamaran with a fully enclosed, air conditioned Vista Lounge, floor to ceiling windows and wide outdoor decks for when the wildlife shows up. The route threads the inner passage of Schouten Island before heading into the Tasman Sea, past sea caves, blowholes and waterfalls, and beaches like Cooks and Bryans that you can only otherwise reach by water or a full day bushwalk.Keep your camera handy. Sea eagles roost on the cliffs, dolphins often ride the bow wave, Australian fur seals haul out along the coast, and humpback and southern right whales pass by from September to December and again from May to July. Along the way the crew share stories of Aboriginal heritage and the explorers and entrepreneurs who shaped this coast.This tour has multiple options;
  • Vista Lounge, bring your own lunch: your seat in the Vista Lounge, with your own food and snacks on board
  • Vista Lounge with lunch: the same cruise plus a ploughman's style lunch of smoked meats, cheeses, salad, a locally baked bread roll, fruit and a sweet treat
Travelling as a couple without kids? The upper deck Sky Lounge adults only cruise adds morning tea, oysters and East Coast wines. Staying on the peninsula a little longer? Pair the cruise with a Freycinet National Park day tour to see the bay from the lookout too.Explore the options below, check availability for your date, then book the one that suits your day.

Additional info.

Check in by 9:30am at the booking office, 61 Jetty Road, Coles Bay. The cruise departs at 9:45am and returns around 2:30pm. It runs daily except Christmas Day. Free parking is available near the Coles Bay jetty. There are no transfers from Hobart, so plan to drive (about 2.5 hours from Hobart or about 2 hours from Launceston) or stay nearby.
  • Children of all ages are welcome. Child fares apply to ages 3 to 16, and infants under 3 are booked as infants.
  • The Vista Lounge on the lower deck is wheelchair accessible and has an accessible restroom. Call the operator before booking to talk through any specific access needs.
  • Dress warmly even on sunny days, as it gets cold on the water. Bring a camera, and your own lunch and snacks if you choose the bring your own lunch option.
  • Ginger tablets are carried on board if you are prone to seasickness.
  • If conditions make it unsafe to reach Wineglass Bay, the cruise takes an alternative route through the Schouten Island group, including a large fur seal colony, and you may choose a full refund instead. In extreme weather the cruise is cancelled with a full refund or an alternative date where available.
  • Cancellation fees: 50% within 48 hours of departure and 100% within 24 hours of departure.