My partner and I went on the 3 hour Tasman Island Cruise with Pennicott Wilderness Journeys in January 2020. Some tips for fellow travellers:
1) Have a good breakfast before the tour. The whole trip (including the bus rides to and from the different jetties) took over 4 hours with just 1 Tim Tam provided at the end.
2) Dress warmly (even if the day looks sunny). Gloves, beanie, scarfs, the works. 3 hours is a long time to be on an open air boat with the wind blowing against you the whole way. You can purchase jackets at the shop or the company may provide for the tour upon request.
3) Full length ponchos are provided.
4) Carry just your sunglasses, cap, water, and phone / camera, the boat does not have space for bags.
5) Remember to apply sunblock!
6) Tourists will be provided with ginger pills to help with motion sickness, take them!
7) There is a toilet on board but we were discouraged from using it. Go at the office and there is another restroom at the jetty after the boat ride.
My partner and I were apprehensive when we saw at the briefing just how many participants there were that morning, but the group ended up being split into two boats. There was more than ample space in each boat and we secured seats third row from the front. Most tourists chose to sit in the middle/back of the boat where it was sheltered and less bumpy.
Once we were all settled, the captain steered us out of the harbour! Our group was very lucky as it was a calm morning, and we were able to go far out till where swells were usually 4 - 5 meters high. We were brought towards a huge flock of hundreds of birds zipping into the water, while dolphins surrounded us. It was surreal being in the middle of it all. There were 2 guides on the boat (one in front and the other near the back) explaining the scene. They should win an award for their humour and we also learnt much about the majestic albatross.
My partner and I could have stayed there forever, but there was more to be seen. The captain brought us back along the coast as we headed towards the deserted Tasman Island, Cape Pillar, and Cape Hauy. We felt dwarfed looking up at the imposing cliffs and were astonished to hear the stories of those who have free-climbed them! We were also brought to other sites such as the Waterfall Bay and the Blowhole, and a few caves in the cliffs. Even though it was a calm day, there were still times when we rode past swells that had my stomach churning slightly and the crew was very good at checking with everyone to make sure we are alright.
It was a fantastic morning and my partner and I enjoyed ourselves very much. We have been on many boat tours around the world and we would rate this as one of our top experiences. We would highly recommend anyone and everyone visiting Tasmania to go on this cruise with Pennicott Wilderness Journeys!