Kettering

Kettering is a small coastal town in the Kingborough municipality south of Hobart, Tasmania, situated on the western shore of the D'Entrecasteaux Channel opposite Bruny Island. It serves as the mainland terminal for the Bruny Island vehicle ferry and is known for its sheltered harbour, marinas, and boating community. The town offers waterfront views, seafood venues, and access to Channel region attractions, making it a key stop for visitors exploring southern Tasmania.

Visitors can expect a quiet waterfront village centred on a sheltered harbour and marina filled with yachts and fishing boats. The main focus is the Bruny Island Ferry terminal on Ferry Road, with a foreshore reserve, jetties, and views across the D'Entrecasteaux Channel to Bruny Island. There are cafes, a hotel, and takeaway shops, plus coastal walks, fishing spots, and sailing activity. The setting is scenic and low-key, serving as a transit point and a base for exploring the Channel region.

Originally known as Oyster Cove, the area was settled in the 19th century for timber getting, fishing and orcharding. Kettering developed as a port and boat-building centre on the D'Entrecasteaux Channel and was renamed after Kettering in England. Its sheltered harbour has long supported maritime industries and it has become the mainland gateway for access to Bruny Island.

Kettering is the cultural and transport gateway to Bruny Island and a centre for Tasmania's southern Channel boating community. It reflects the maritime heritage of the D'Entrecasteaux Channel region, with active yacht clubs, marinas and fishing traditions that remain central to local community life.