Tasmanian wildlife: Like nowhere else on Earth: Australia

March 2024 - 12 days

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Join conservationist and biologist Nick Mooney for a highly immersive expedition around the reserves, coasts, wetlands, rain forests, national parks and alpine landscapes of Tasmania in search of its diverse wildlife, amazing flora and ancient geological features.

Expect to see everything from Tasmanian devils, platypus, little penguins and the eastern quoll along with numerous birds and endemic species. With just 10 places available, all guests will have a deeply personal experience, in an intimate atmosphere designed to be low impact on the places visited.

Travel by expedition vehicle, on foot and by boat staying in a range of accommodation from 4-star luxury to farm stays and log-built cottages within the rainforest. Visiting the capital Hobart, Mount Field National Park, Cradle Mountain, Maria Island, Eaglehawk Neck and Bruny Island.

The tour is ideal for those with all levels of expertise, as it acts as a fantastic introduction to Tasmania’s amazing flora, fauna and geology and how it is being protected whilst allowing those with a deeper understanding to observe a great many species on land, in the skies and at sea.

In partnership with Steppes Travel

DAY 1: ARRIVE IN TO HOBART AND VISIT BONORONG AND HOBART RESERVES

On your arrival at Hobart airport make your way to Hobart’s The Old Woolstore Apartment Hotel and meet your guide conservationist Nick Mooney and the group for an introductory meeting and dinner. Afterwards, visit the Bonorong and Hobart reserves close by to look for some of Tasmania’s nocturnal creatures. It is likely you will see a whole range of animals including the pademelon, Bennett's wallaby, possum, sugar glider, bandicoots, long-nosed potoroo, eastern bettong, tawny frogmouth, and southern boobook. There is also a chance of finding the endangered Tasmanian subspecies of the masked owl and the eastern quoll. That’s a lot for your first day on this amazing expedition.

DAY 2: LAGOONS AND WETLANDS

This morning you will visit the Tasmanian Museum, the islands leading nature, cultural and heritage museum. Then you will travel from Hobart to Hamilton. On the way you will stop at lagoons to see freckled duck, Australian shoveller, purple swamp hen, black-fronted dotterel, great egret and maybe also Lewin’s rail and musk lorikeets.

In the evening check into Curringa Farm Stay Cottages for two nights where you will meet 6th generation Tasmanian farmers and learn about their farm conservation project.

DAY 3: MOUNT FIELD NATIONAL PARK

You will spend the day exploring this beautiful area and walk-through wet forest with giant eucalyptus trees in search of pink robins, black currawongs, green rosellas and other Tasmanian endemic birds. Plus witness the spectacular waterfalls that flow down the sides of Mount Field. Higher in the park, you will visit the alpine area where you will experience a previously glaciated landscape rich in lakes and tarns, bizarre alpine flora, and have good chances of seeing Tasmanian thornbill, scrubwren, scrubtit and various honeyeaters. After dinner you will have the chance to enjoy a further night tour.

DAY 4: TRAVEL TO THE CRADLE MOUNTAIN AREA

Today is mainly a day of travel while you work your way northwards towards Cradle Mountain, visiting a wildlife sanctuary on the way with a chance to see platypus, one of Australia’s unique animals. You will stop en-route at regular intervals throughout the day to stretch the legs and photograph the scenery. Late afternoon, you will check into the Lemonthyme Wilderness Lodge hidden deep in the rainforest.

DAY 5: EXPLORING CRADLE MOUNTAIN

You will spend the day exploring the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park which forms part of the South-West UNESCO World Heritage area. One of Australia’s most famous national parks protecting a grand glacial landscape. This also provides the chance to see the common wombat and some ancient Gondwanan flora which is only found in Tasmania.

After checking into and enjoying dinner at the Cradle Mountain Hotel, you will take a night drive for the chance of seeing the endangered Tasmanian devil.

DAY 6: HEAD TOWARDS THE EAST COAST AND FREYCINET NATIONAL PARK

Today you leave the central highlands area of Tasmania and head to the east coast, exploring en-route. You will visit a wetlands reserve which will provide our best chance of seeing a platypus, hopefully at relatively close range as well. If time allows, you will visit Freycinet National Park, another iconic Tasmanian destination which is famous for its beaches with white sand and azure water.

You will check into the Beachfront Bicheno motel for two nights and after an early dinner, venture out on a private “Devils in the Dark” wildlife experience which aims to maximise the opportunity of photographing the elusive Tasmanian devil under close to natural conditions (the animals free-range within a fenced peninsula of land).

DAY 7: MARIA ISLAND

Today you travel to the seaside township of Triabunna to board a ferry to Maria Island. This pedestrian (and bicycle) only island was declared a national park in 1972. It is now a refuge for a variety of Tasmanian birds and mammals including the forester kangaroo and Cape Barren goose. Over the last few years, it has also provided additional sanctuary to an insurance population of Tasmanian devils which is thriving on the island.

After returning to Triabunna on a late afternoon ferry, travel back to Bicheno and after dinner, there may be a chance of a night walk to see little penguins.

DAY 8: TRAVEL TO EAGLEHAWK NECK

Today you will continue south to the Tasman Peninsula visiting reserves and wetlands along the way. When you arrive at Eaglehawk Neck there will be the chance to visit some nearby geological tessellated rock formations and view the spectacular coastline, and if time permits explore Tasman National Park before checking in to the Lufra Hotel in Pirate’s Bay.

DAY 9: EAGLEHAWK NECK

This morning you will board a privately chartered vessel (weather dependant), making your way into the vastness of the Southern Ocean in a quest to site pelagic birds and ocean mammals. High species diversity and the nearness of the continental shelf have earned Tasmania an international reputation as an excellent place to see pelagic species.

Not long after you depart Pirate’s Bay, you will encounter short-tailed shearwater in considerable numbers. This is also one of the finest places on the planet to see a diversity of albatross. As you approach the continental shelf you will likely see a range of petrels and there are often surprises in store with over 30 mammals species possible in these waters including Australian fur-seals, hump-backed whale and bottlenose dolphin.

Upon your land return, you will make your way to Bruny Island, which is situated 40km south of Hobart and is separated from the Tasmanian mainland by the D’Entrecasteaux Channel. When on the ferry trip across the channel watch out for little penguins and dolphins alongside. We will arrive in time for dinner.

For the next two nights you will be staying Inala Cottage or Explorer’s Cottages.

DAY 10: BRUNY ISLAND

Bruny Island is an untouched wilderness that is classified as an Important Bird Area due to its abundance of endangered and endemic bird species.

Today you will focus on photography within 1,500- acre private wildlife property “Inala”. A range of platforms and bird-hides have been erected around the property at strategic wildlife spots to maximise your chances of seeing and photographing a range of mammals and birdlife. This will include a visit to the raptor photography hide, where a range of species including the endangered grey goshawk (white morph), swamp harrier, brown goshawk, white-bellied sea-eagle (also a threatened species in Tasmania) and brown falcon regularly visit. If you are really lucky, the endangered Tasmanian form of Wedge-tailed eagle will also call in.

You will also visit a purpose-built 4m platform where you can view and photograph one of Australia’s smallest and rarest birds, the endangered forty-spotted pardalote.

This evening after dinner you have the option of visiting some sites for some nocturnal mammal photography, including eastern quoll which is a relative of the Tasmanian devil. You may also be lucky to see the near-albino forms of Bennett’s wallaby and brush-tailed possum which rarely occur among the normal dark-coloured animals on Bruny Island.

DAY 11: RETURN TO HOBART

This morning we will visit the hides at Inala again before departing on a relaxed trip to the ferry. After the ferry-crossing you will visit some reserves which have excellent habitats for birdlife on the way to Hobart, a last chance to photograph the islands special birds. This completes your circular trip of Tasmania and tonight you will return to the The Old Woolstore Apartment where there will be a farewell dinner and a farewell to your guide Nick.

DAY 12: DEPART TASMANIA

This morning after breakfast transfer to Hobart airport where you can say goodbye to the island state of Tasmania.

Highlights

Small group tour with just 10 guests.
Accompanied throughout by conservationist Nick Mooney.
Experience a diverse, unusual and endangered range of species on land, in the sky and at sea.
Visiting Mount Field National Park, Cradle Mountain, Maria Island, Eaglehawk Neck and Bruny Island.
Staying in hotels, farm stays and rainforest cottages.

Meet the expert

Nick Mooney is an Australian conservationist, biologist, writer, wildlife expert, and ecological educator, best known for his work with the Tasmanian devil. In addition to efforts to learn about the diseases facing and threatening the Devil population, Nick also educates farmers about the benefits they provide. Nick has been involved in studying and managing Tasmania's wildlife for over 40 years in his capacity as wildlife manager for the Tasmanian Government. Starting as a raptor specialist doing peregrine surveys, he diversified into seabird research, marsupial carnivores and invasive species, plus whale rescues. At times, his life reads like a boy's own adventure story and he really did work as an iguana catcher in Venezuela.

Nick has also been involved with government efforts to search for the elusive, and some believe extinct Tasmanian Tiger, and to protect Tasmania from foxes. He is a keen educator and hopes to increase public appreciation of wildlife through training and guiding. He left his position with the Tasmanian Government in 2009 and has since worked as a specialist guide. He has also participated in a number of expeditions, including studies on Macquarie Island in Antarctic waters, and for many years lecturing on marine mammals and seabirds while guiding and driving zodiacs in Antarctica. In 2006 Mooney received an Australian of the Year Local Hero award.

COVID-19 CUSTOMER SERVICE PROTOCOLS

Fully flexible deposit: choose between receiving a full refund or transfer to an alternative departure date if your tour is postponed due to Covid-19 in the destination country.
Insurance policy available that provides Covid-19 related cover.
Contact Steppes's travel experts to arrange a private travel consultation by Zoom.
Departure briefing: covering Coranvirus specific measures in place at arrival airports, with the airline and in the destination country including local regulations.
Safe touring protocols: we will always aim to operate our tours as per the original itinerary. Although if necessary our expert local tour guides may amend scheduled activities or visits to comply with local safety advice. The safety and well-being of our guests is our priority.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Eleven nights accommodation on twin share bed and breakfast basis
Ten lunches and eleven evening meals
The services throughout of guide Nick Mooney
All park entrance fees
All listed road and boat transport

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

Travel insurance
Flights in and out of Tasmania
Single Supplement AUD $1,995

Our group tours are perfect for solo travellers, as travelling as part of an organised group in faraway places does provide security and peace of mind. If you are willing to share, we will always do our best to match you up with another solo traveller of the same sex so that you do not have to pay for a single room. If you would prefer the privacy of your own room and would like this guaranteed, then the single room price supplement will apply. For this tour, it is capped to two people due to the size of the property on Bruny Island.

PACE AND PHYSICALITY

On many of the days there will be gentle trekking and some of this will be at night where the temperatures are cooler. You must be comfortable being on foot, wear appropriate clothing and have a reasonable level of fitness. For example, being able to walk for a few hours on uneven terrain. None of the activities are compulsory.

Accommodation

The Old Woolstore Apartment hotel, Hobart

Centrally located in Tasmania’s capital and within walking distance of the waterfront wharves this fascinating four-star hotel has been listed by the National Trust due to its former life as a wool treatment factory and agricultural store.

Curringa Farm, Hamilton

National award-winning farm stay cottages, set in natural bushland and overlooking the picturesque Lake Meadowbank. Sited on a real working sheep farm which is partially under conservation and run by the Parson’s, 6th generation Tasmanian farmers who are happy to show you around.

Lemonthyme Wilderness Lodge

A hidden rural treasure nestled amongst native rainforest and waterfalls. Staying in well-appointed handcrafted log cabins and within a short walk of the restaurant and bar.

Cradle Mountain Hotel

Located in alpine woodland next to the UNESCO World Heritage listed park this 60-room hotel is ideally placed to explore the park and serves an excellent hot stone grill in the restaurant.

Beachfront Bicheno

As the name suggests this motel has stunning views overlooking Waubs Bay and is close to opportunities for scuba diving, fishing and penguin tours.

Lufra Hotel, Eaglehawk Neck

A coastal hotel overlooking Pirates Bay which has an exciting coastal walk past blowholes and a tessellated rock formation plus occasional migrating whale sightings.

Inala Cottage/Explorer’s Cottages, Bruny Island

Brilliantly located in Lunawanna on South Bruny, these six self-contained cabins sleep up to four and are a comfortable base for exploring the beautiful national parks of North and South Bruny. Complete with a cosy log fire the private balconies lead onto wildlife-filled lawns and onwards to Daniel's Bay and the sea. Close by is the Hotel Bruny where wholesome food is served.