Written by Julie Jones, HaveWheelchairWillTravel, June 4, 2025
A visit to Wineglass Bay has been on my wish-list for a long time but with Braeden’s wheelchair it wasn’t an option for us to walk/wheel there. So, we jumped at the chance to hop on a Wineglass Bay Cruise with Pennicott Wilderness Journeys for a spectacular scenic cruise. It should be noted that this cruise is best suited to travellers who are not reliant on staying in their wheelchair, or those light enough to be lifted in their chair over some small barriers on the vessel.
Wineglass Bay Cruises – Pennicott Wilderness Journeys
Pennicott Wilderness Journeys offers a four and a half hour eco-cruise around the Freycinet National Park coastline from Coles Bay to Wineglass Bay. We boarded the boat with enthusiasm, none more so than Braeden, who was keen to sit alongside Hubby on a seat.
Large windows frame the stunning scenery from the granite coastline to the dramatic peaks of the Hazards range. Without leaving our seats we had a good view throughout the cruise and even spotted seals frolicking in the water.
During migration season you may even be lucky enough to see whales in the Tasman Sea.
We are fortunate to have good sea legs but some passengers turned a little green as we headed into the Tasman Sea with a rollicking ride in the swell. Crew members were amazing at handing out sea sickness tablets, bags and assisting guests who were not well. Given the conditions the skipper decided it would be best for all concerned to cruise Wineglass Bay (the usual lunch spot) but return to calmer waters before dropping anchor and handing out our lunches.
The sun was shining and spirits were high once we dropped anchor for lunch.
We could not have hoped for a more stunning location to take in the views while having a glass of bubbles (additional cost) and enjoying our ploughman’s lunch included in the cost of the cruise. Braeden was thrilled with the selection of many of his favourite treats, including cheese, ham, fruit and a brownie. Amelia chose the vegetarian option which was loaded with more veggies and was minus the meat. Everything else was the same.
Accessibility on Wineglass Bay Cruises
Like most boat experiences, the steepness of the ramp to access the vessel is impacted by the tides. In the morning it was steeper than on our return in the afternoon.
Once on board there is a step into the main cabin. During our cruise guests were required on several occasions to be inside due to conditions so it is important to be able to manage the step. We needed to lift the front of Braeden’s wheelchair to get the front casters over it.
Inside the cabin a wheelchair space is available alongside the window for any guests who prefer to remain in their wheelchair for the duration of the cruise.
A larger bathroom stall is available on the boat but it also has a step at the threshold that needs to be negotiated to get inside.
Although Wineglass Bay is the focus for many doing this cruise, I felt that there were plenty of other highlights along the way. I always feel it is a privilege to see nature at play so I loved seeing the seals and I found the granite rock formations to be dramatic and beautiful. Braeden thought the swell was a fun ride and he enjoyed interacting with the other guests.
While we could manage the Wineglass Bay Cruise with Pennicott Wilderness Journeys it did require some lifting of Braeden’s wheelchair to get into the interior of the vessel.
We were hosted for our cruise but as always our opinions are our own and we hope that the photos will assist you in deciding if this experience will meet your access needs.
We stayed at Edge of the Bay Resort while in the area. Read our review to see this beautiful accommodation.
We also visited Freycinet National Park and you can read about the access in this review.
A buggy tour with All 4 All Terrain Tours was a hit with all of us and that review can be found here.
