Australian
Natural Adventures
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& Wildlife Tours
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Australia, New Zealand & Pacific tours and travel

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 t
he
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 P
ardalote
(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 S
eals,
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 Pa
rk
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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