Tasmania
Bruny Island home to all twelve of Tasmania's endemic bird species, including the attractive Black-headed and Strong-billed Honeyeaters, Green Rosella, Tasmanian Thornbill, Yellow Wattlebird and Black Currawong; Dusky Robins sit up on fence posts and it is on Bruny Island that we have our best chance to see Forty-spotted Pardalote, one of Australia's most endangered birds, which is confined to Tasmania.
© Steve Knott/Nature Portfolio
Echidna
Itinerary:
Day 1
Arrive at Hobart airport where you will be met by your private specialist birding/wildlife guide. Birding and wildlife viewing in some of the reserves around Hobart. Own arrangements for dinner. Accommodation: Hotel in Hobart (en suite rooms). Meals: Lunch.
Guide Price per person sharing: £ 2,425 (Based on a tour for two persons)
Deposit: £ 400 per person
Please enquire for single supplement.
Price includes: 5 nights accommodation, specialist private guide from arrival at airport on day 1 to afternoon of day 6, transport including airport transfers, meals as mentioned in itinerary, entry fees and activities specifically mentioned in itinerary.
Price excludes: Flights to Hobart and from Devonport/Launceston, some meals, personal expenditure, alcoholic beverages, phone calls.
Day 2
Half day flight in a small plane to the South West World Heritage Area for a good chance to view the critically endangered Orange-bellied Parrot (October to March). Then depart on an afternoon ferry to Bruny Island. Birding in coastal and cool temperate rainforest (Scrubtit, Tasmanian Scrubwren, Tasmanian Thornbill). Also a chance to see a range of Tasmanian endemic flora including Gondwanan relics and some spectacular scenery. Night tour to view Little Penguins and Short-tailed Shearwaters return to the rookery. Accommodation: Bruny Island (cottage). Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 3
Walking tour of a 500 acre Land for Wildlife property which is a refuge for a number of threatened birds and home to all of the Tasmanian endemics. Birds you are likely to see include the endangered Forty Spotted Pardalote, Strong-billed, Black-headed and Yellow-throated Honeyeaters and Tasmanian Native Hen. Also the option of joining a 3 hour eco-cruise around the coastline of Bruny Island for chance of seabirds and a visit to a fur-seal haul-out. Visit Bruny's southern coastline to view the second oldest lighthouse in Australia. Birding (Tawny-crowned Honeyeater, Olive Whistler and Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo), and a chance to see the Tasmanian subspecies of the Short-beaked echidna, one of the world's only three living monotremes. Spectacular views of rugged Southern Ocean coastline. Night tour after dinner to look for a range of Tasmania's nocturnal marsupials and birds, including Eastern quoll, white morphs of the Bennetts and Brush-tailed possums, Tawny frogmouth and Southern boobook. Accommodation: Bruny Island (cottage). Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 4
Depart Bruny Island and travel to Mount Field National Park. View a spectacular waterfall and fern gully, birding en route (Pink Robin, Scrubtit and Black Currawong) and the possibility of Platypus. Accommodation: B&B near Mount Field (en suite rooms). Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 5
Travel towards Cradle Mountain National Park, today. This will be a day of travel, but there will be opportunities to stop and explore en route. An option of a private tour of a wildlife rehabilitation and research centre today. Arrive at your lodge late afternoon. Dinner then settle into your cabins for the opportunity of seeing wild Tasmanian devils and Spotted- tailed quolls come to the verandah to feed when night approaches. Accommodation: Lodge near Cradle Mountain (cabins). Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 6
Depart Cradle Mountain and depart from Devonport or Launceston airport for your next destination.
Half day flight in a small plane to the South West World Heritage Area for a good chance to view the critically endangered Orange-bellied Parrot (October to March). Then depart on an afternoon ferry to Bruny Island. Birding in coastal and cool temperate rainforest (Scrubtit, Tasmanian Scrubwren, Tasmanian Thornbill). Also a chance to see a range of Tasmanian endemic flora including Gondwanan relics and some spectacular scenery. Night tour to view Little Penguins and Short-tailed Shearwaters return to the rookery. Accommodation: Bruny Island (cottage). Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 3
Walking tour of a 500 acre Land for Wildlife property which is a refuge for a number of threatened birds and home to all of the Tasmanian endemics. Birds you are likely to see include the endangered Forty Spotted Pardalote, Strong-billed, Black-headed and Yellow-throated Honeyeaters and Tasmanian Native Hen. Also the option of joining a 3 hour eco-cruise around the coastline of Bruny Island for chance of seabirds and a visit to a fur-seal haul-out. Visit Bruny's southern coastline to view the second oldest lighthouse in Australia. Birding (Tawny-crowned Honeyeater, Olive Whistler and Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo), and a chance to see the Tasmanian subspecies of the Short-beaked echidna, one of the world's only three living monotremes. Spectacular views of rugged Southern Ocean coastline. Night tour after dinner to look for a range of Tasmania's nocturnal marsupials and birds, including Eastern quoll, white morphs of the Bennetts and Brush-tailed possums, Tawny frogmouth and Southern boobook. Accommodation: Bruny Island (cottage). Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 4
Depart Bruny Island and travel to Mount Field National Park. View a spectacular waterfall and fern gully, birding en route (Pink Robin, Scrubtit and Black Currawong) and the possibility of Platypus. Accommodation: B&B near Mount Field (en suite rooms). Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 5
Travel towards Cradle Mountain National Park, today. This will be a day of travel, but there will be opportunities to stop and explore en route. An option of a private tour of a wildlife rehabilitation and research centre today. Arrive at your lodge late afternoon. Dinner then settle into your cabins for the opportunity of seeing wild Tasmanian devils and Spotted- tailed quolls come to the verandah to feed when night approaches. Accommodation: Lodge near Cradle Mountain (cabins). Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 6
Depart Cradle Mountain and depart from Devonport or Launceston airport for your next destination.