Australian Natural Adventures

Birding in Australia

BIRDING TASMANIA

 

 

 

Tasmania offers not only great birding, with a number of endemics and restricted species, but also a host of other unique and rare wildlife including Tasmanian Devils and Quolls, which cannot be seen on the mainland. It’s also rich in seabirds, history and as it’s a small island, distances are far less than in most of Australia.

Our itineraries include not just great birding, but also the other aspects of Tasmania that can't be missed - other wildlife, the convict-era history, and superb scenery.

We've designed our Tasmanian itineraries to take in its varied habitats, including alpine, riverine, temperate rainforest, tall and semi-open eucalyptus forests, beach/foreshore, and pelagic. Over 200 species occur regularly in Tasmania, of which about a dozen are endemic (we should see all the endemics on this program). A further 100 have been introduced form the mainland or elsewhere, or are rare.

Naturally we can adapt the itineraries to suit your own available time, while still have a superior birding experience. The 8-day itinerary is quite complete, but the 4/5 day itineraries see all the endemics, plus many more including seabirds.

 

4 DAY BIRDING TOUR

8 DAY BIRDING TOUR

 

4-DAY TASMANIA BIRDING TOUR
The Southeast

Day 1: Arrive late this afternoon in Hobart. You are met and transferred to your hotel near Hobart’s historical waterfront. Tasmania produces Australia’s best shellfish and cold-water fish, and we suggest these as the focus of your meal tonight, accompanied by one of the excellent Tasmanian wines.

Day 2: Your guide will meet you this morning your hotel for breakfast, and to discuss the days ahead. We then drive up Mount Wellington and surrounds for spectacular aerial views and a wonderful walk through a fern glade with giant tree ferns, which provides our first chance to see the endemic Scrubtit as well as Pink Robin. An alternative (additional expense) this morning is a flight to the South West World Heritage Area to search for such species as the critically endangered Orange-bellied Parrot, Ground Parrot, Southern Emu-wren, Beautiful Firetail Finch and Striated Fieldwren (this flight is weather dependent and half or full day options are available). After the Hobart area we drive and ferry south to Bruny Island and the scenically beautiful Adventure Bay, one of Australia’s most important historic places. Here we learn about the historic significance of the area, both Aboriginal and early European, and visit coastal and cool temperate rainforest to see a range of Tasmanian endemic flora including Gondwana relics. A night tour tonight to see the Little Penguin/Short-tailed Shearwater rookery finishes our day. We overnight for two nights at Inala, a cottage style wildlife resort. (B,L,D)

Day 3: This morning after breakfast, we explore Inala, a privately owned 500 acre Land for Wildlife property which is a refuge for a number of threatened birds and home to all of the Tasmanian endemics. Bird species we are likely to see include the endangered Forty-spotted Pardalote (Inala is one of the best places to find this species), Strong-billed, Black-headed and Yellow-throated Honeyeaters and Tasmanian Native Hen. We then join a 3 hour eco-cruise out of Bruny for the chance to see a variety of seabirds including albatrosses and shearwaters, Australian Fur Seals, the fourth rarest in the world, and the possibility of dolphins. This afternoon after a late lunch we will visit Bruny’s southern coastline to view the second oldest lighthouse in Australia, and search for species such as Tawny-crowned Honeyeater, Olive Whistler and Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo. This area also offers a chance to see Echidnas (Tasmanian subspecies) in the wild. After dinner we look for a range of Tasmania’s nocturnal marsupials and birds, including Eastern Quoll, Golden (Bennertt’s) Wallaby, Ring-tailed and Brushtail Possums, Tawny Frogmouth and Southern Boobook Owl. (B,L,D)

Day 4: We leave Bruny Island after breakfast and travel to Mount Field National Park to spend the day exploring the area, which includes an alpine environment carved by glaciation. This area also provides another chance to see Pink Robin, Scrubtit and Black Currawong if we miss them on Bruny Island, and there is also a very good chance of seeing Platypus in the wild. We return to Hobart for our evening flight from Tasmania to our next destination. (B,L)

Optional Day 5: Continue to bird and explore Mt Field National Park through the afternoon and evening of Day 4. Overnight at the Park, and take a final early morning walk. Return to Hobart Airport mid-morning for your flight. (B)

What’s Included
Included are all meals from breakfast (B) on Day 2 until lunch (L) on Day 4; accommodation from Day 1 to Day 3 inclusive (3 nights), transfer from Hobart Airport Day 1 and return Day 4; boat cruise, entry fees, GST, specialist guiding, bird list, and pre-tour information kits. Due to Tasmania’s southern location we do not recommend visiting Tasmania in the winter months of June, July or August; October to April are preferred.

Travel to and from Tasmania is not included, but our fully qualified travel staff will be happy to arrange this at very competitive rates and we strongly suggest contacting us before any air arrangements are made.

In Hobart and Inala several levels of accommodation are available, and we will be pleased discuss your preferred level with you. The tour cost is based on 4-star accommodation where available, and best available elsewhere.

Not Included
Travel to and from Tasmania; meals Day 1; drinks with meals or during the day other than water; snacks along the way, personal expenses such as laundry, phone calls or internet fees; or tips to guides.

Cost
Due to seasonal variation in hotel and other costs, and the custom nature of these tours an exact cost in is not possible until number of participants and time of travel is known. However, allow approximately $2450 per person for two participants, and $1900 per person for four participants. Optional Day 5 addition is an additional $700 (2 people)/$500 (4 people) pp. Single Supplement is $270 4-Day/$330 5-Day.

 

   8 DAY TOUR >>>

 

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