Cradle Mountain
 ©  Lance Neville

Montague Island lighthouse
©   Inger Vandyke

Boroka Lookout Grampians
© Parks Victoria

Grampians Mammal
Monitoring © Parks Victoria

Wombat Lake
Cradle Mountain

Seal Colony Montague Island

Researcher with
Penguin Chick

Wildlife Encounters - Program Itinerary

 

                                                                 

                                                                                          

Day 1

Our journey starts with a behind the scenes tour of ‘Go Wild’ at Bonorong Wildlife Conservation Centre, with our expert wildlife keeper.  Under the direction of Conservation Director, Dr Sally Bryant, the 14 Tassie Devils onsite at Bonorong are part of the vital Tasmanian Devil Recovery Program.

Afterwards, travel to the Bruny island ferry terminal for our short ferry trip across to the island.  Our first stop on Bruny Island is “Inala”, a 500 acre Land for Wildlife property which is a refuge for a number of threatened birds including the Forty-spotted Pardalote. About half of the total known population of this endangered endemic Tasmanian bird species occurs on Bruny Island and “Inala” is home to one of the largest colonies known (around 70 birds).  Enjoy lunch on arrival and a talk about the Forty-spotted Pardalote recovery program by Dr. Tonia Cochran, a member of the recovery team and owner of “Inala”.

After lunch, take a walk on the property to inspect the Forty spotted Pardalote habitat for the chance to view these birds, and other threatened species such as the white color morph of the Grey Goshawk, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Swift Parrot (a migratory species present between September and February).  During the afternoon you will have the opportunity to participate in conservation activities managed by Australia’s leading practical conservation organisation, Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA), restoring habitat to support local recovery programs for the Forty-spotted Pardalote and Swift parrot.

Check into accommodation late afternoon for a rest and freshen up before dinner. After dinner there is an opportunity for a night tour to visit the Little Penguin and Short-tailed Shearwater rookery for a chance to see a range of Tasmania’s nocturnal marsupials and birds. (LD)

Accommodation: Cottage style on Bruny Island

Day 2

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before starting the day with a morning conservation activity managed by Conservation Volunteers Australia assisting with penguin rockery restoration. The most abundant populations of Little Penguins (Eudyptula minor) in Tasmania are found on offshore islands like Bruny Island. Human impact and feral animals pose an ongoing threat to Little Penguin colonies.

 

Mid morning you have a choice of either:

 

  • Touring Bruny Island’s local sights including a visit to South Bruny National
  • Park and Cape Bruny Lighthouse, or an easy bushwalk at Adventure Bay.

 

Joining an optional extra 3 hour eco-cruise (1 October to 31 May) for the chance to see a variety of seabirds and Australian fur seals (the fourth rarest in the world), and the possibility of dolphins and whales (Humpback and Southern Right Whales are the most common species in Tasmanian waters). The eco-cruise is not included in the program cost and is an additional cost per person.

 

In the early afternoon we regroup to enjoy some Bruny Island produce at the local cheese factory, before our return journey to Hobart. The approximate arrival time into Hobart city is 5.45pm. (BL)

 

Meal Codes: B - Breakfast   L - Lunch   D - Dinner