Australian Natural Adventures

Itinerary 2: Parks and Wildlife
This itinerary focuses on the Tasmania's wildlife and National Parks, presenting several different parks and reserves, and a good selection of wildife. As with all wildlife sightings can't be guaranteed, if Tassie Devils in the wild is a must-see, we strongly advise adding an extra night at King's Run; to keep the tour the same length Mt Field can be dropped.

Day 1: Sydney or Melbourne / Burnie
Fly to Burnie, on Tasmania's northewest coast. Pick up your rental car and drive west to Stanley, a little over an hour away. From about sunset on Fairy Penguins come ashore at the base of The Nut, a small peninsula jutting into Bass strait. In addition to the penguins, Short-tailed Shearwaters also nest here in their thousands, and should also be streaming in at this time. Overnight at Stanley.

Day 2: Stanley / Kings Run
After a look around Stanley, with it's lighthouse and historical and interesting buildings, head west 50 miles to Kings Run, a former cattle property turned into a wildlife refuge. The features of Kings Run are the spectacular coastline & its nocturnal wildlife. The western boundary is the Southern Ocean that pounds a rugged foreshore studded with quartzite outcrops and an abundance of shorebirds. Inland heath land and low eucalypt areas containing rare flora help to support a rich variety of birdlife including many of Tasmania's endemic species. The rare Orange Bellied Parrot migrates through the property in autumn and spring. The former pasture areas are now a marsupial lawn grazed by wallabies, Common Wombat and bandicoots. These animals in turn support healthy populations of the world's largest carnivorous marsupials, Tasmanian Devils and Spotted-tail Quolls. With the co-operation of the Tasmanian Nature Conservation Branch owner Geoff has developed a method of viewing the Tasmanian Devil in the wild. There are no roads on the property only sandy tracks; devils traverse these tracks during their nightly search for food. A scent trail is dragged along these sandy tracks to a rustic fisherman's shack to view the devils that generally arrive within a few hours of sunset. The devils extraordinary sense of smell & hearing do not detect the guests watching in candlelight through a window as the animals feed on a road kill relocated from a local road. A "Devil Restaurant" as such where it's safe for them to eat! A soft outside light allows guests to see a range of devil behavior and a simple sound system brings the sometimes "raucous vocalizations" inside the 'hide'. After an evening of amazing wildlife retire to your nearby accommodation. Prior to the late afternoon and evening activities drive a little south a few miles to Arthur River Township (more a small village) at the mouth of the Arthur River. Here board your small cruise boat to travel up the river through temperate rainforest and adjoining ecotone in the Arthur Pieman Conservation Area. The guided cruise will stop about 10 miles up river, where your guide will lead you on a walk through the forest, and you enjoy a picnic lunch. Azure Kingfishers and other birds are usually seen along the river, and on the return White-bellied Sea-eagles swoop in to be feed with thrown fish. Return to Kings Run bout 3.30pm.

Day 3: Kings Run / Cradle Mountain National Park
Depart Kings Run around lunchtime and head back first along the coast and then south today to Cradle Mountain National Park, about two hours away. Cradle Mountain National Park is high country, from sheltered rainforest through snow gums to alpine meadow, studded with beautiful blue lakes. A variety of wildlife can usually be seen here, including wombats, wallabies, pademelons, devils and quolls. Check into the Cradle Mountain Lodge, and look over the available walks, then enjoy an afternoon out in this stunning area. Suggested is the Dove Lake Loop, an easy 2 hour walk along a track takes you under the shadow of Cradle Mountain, through the tranquil Ballroom Forest and back along the western shore of the lake to your starting point. More active hikers may wish to arrange with the Ranger Station for a full day walk to Cradle Summit. This evening after dinner discover more wildlife on the Lodge’s evening nocturnal wildlife tour. Overnight Cradle Mountain Lodge two nights.

Day 4: Cradle Mountain
Today explore the Park, perhaps on a full day hike on the Summit Trail, 2 to 3 hours on the Wombat Pool walk, or enjoy a gentler paced day on the shorter Park trails and private activities offered by the Lodge, including perhaps taking advantage of some of the spa facilities (additional cost.) There are many shorter walks, including one named The Enchanted Forest that winds its way through both eucalyptus and rainforest. Near the Lodge is Devils@cradle, part of the conservation effort for Tasmanian Devils, where you can get to know Devils personally.

Day 5: Cradle Mountain / Bicheno / Freycinet National Park
Depart Cradle Mountain this morning for the east coast and the small town of Bicheno, about a five hour drive through the very pleasant Tasmanian countryside, a mixture of farmland, sheep country, and even (legal) opium poppy fields. Once again the long days during the summer months – twilight runs through until after 9pm – will give you plenty of time for a relaxing drive. At Bicheno and Freycinet you have several options, including Bicheno Hideaway - self-contained cabins set in bushland, motels such as the Best Western Beachfront Bicheno Resort (3 star), or the 5 star Freycinet Lodge, set in the Park itself. Whichever you choose for the next two nights, if you arrive early afternoon you may wish to immediately drive into Freycinet National Park, to begin yourr stay here. The rest of the day is free to begin your discovery of the Freycinet Peninsula, with its spectacular views and many walking trails.

About 50 miles from Cradle Mountain is Trowunna Sanctuary, where owner Androo Kelly has been working with orphaned Tasmanian Devils and other wildlife for many years, and you may wish to stop here.

Day 6: Freycinet National Park
Spend the day exploring the trails and walks of this pristine and beautiful area, including one of Australia’s most scenic hikes to the lookout over Wineglass Bay.

Day 7: Freycinet / Port Arthur
Head south this morning to Port Arthur (about 2 ½ hours away), one of convict Australia’s most notorious sites. Prisoners, both incarcerated and those working for settlers, who committed crimes were sent here. While in appearances a very pleasant place now, its history belies this near pastoral setting. There is much here to learn of one of the darker periods of England’s past. Leave the Port Arthur area late afternoon, heading north again to Hobart, about 65 miles away, and overnight. Or, if you prefer a beach stay, we recommend a cabin at Stewart's Bay Lodge. Large cabins with views of bay or bush, and a ten minute private beach walk to Port Arthur.

Day 8: Hobart & Mt Field
Take the opportunity this morning to see historic Hobart’s waterfront - on Saturday the Salamanca Market occupies the streets, presenting Tasmanian food, goods and much else besides. Continue west another 50 miles to Mt Field National Park. The two-hour circuit walk to Russell Falls, Horseshoe Falls, Tall Trees Circuit and Lady Barron Falls through pristine temperate rainforest, complete with giant tree ferns, is not to be missed. Most people walk to Russell Falls first; if you start off the other way, towards Lady Barron, you walk down the steep climb to Russell Falls, rather than up. Overnight again in Hobart.

Day 9: Hobart / ?
Today continue to your next destination in Australia. If you have an extra day a guided tour out to Maria Island for wildlife and 290 million year old fossils is recommended.

Inala Option
Inala is a birding and wildlife personal resort on Bruny Island, south of Hobart. All of Tasmania's endemic birds are found here, as well as wallabies, possums, quolls and other wildlife. The owner is a former wildlife researcher, and the accommodation, food and tours are top notch. We recommend 3 days and two nights at Inala; the Spa unit is particularly appealing. For those with a greater wildlife interest and still just nine days or so Inala can be subsituted for Freycinet National Park.