Australias Iconic Mammals in 5 days. Birding Tasmania and Melbourne
Tour Date:
Feb 15-22, 2024. (8 days – special departure)
March 21-26 (regular tour)
Tour Price (Per Person):
Special departure Feb 15. Small group US$3300
Regular tour: US$2500, excluding domestic flights. Price of domestic flights to be determined. Single supplement TBA.
Tour Type:
Easy birding and wildlife
Description
It is hard to believe but you can pretty much cover the most iconic Australian mammals in only 5 days, but on this concise trip we do exactly that. Koala, Kangaroo (Gray), Platypus, Tasmanian Devil, Echidna (Short-beaked) and Wombat in 5 days. During the same time we should get all 12 Tasmanian endemic birds plus the unique Australian Bristlebird bird family with Rufous Bristlebird.
ITINERARY OUTLINE:
Day 1. Arrive Hobart in the evening. Overnight in Hobart.
Day 2. Full Day Bruny Island. Accom: Bruny Island.
Day 3. in the afternoon drive to Cradle Mountain area. Accom: near Cradle Mountain.
Day 4. Cradle Mountain area. Accom: near Cradle Mountain.
Day 5. Cradle Mountain in the afternoon-evening flight to Melbourne
Day 6. Birding Great Ocean Road near Melbourne
DETAILED ITINERARY:
B- Breakfast; L- Lunch; D-dinner.
Day 1. Arrive Hobart
Arrive at Hobart Airport in the evening and stay in hotel nearby. Meals Included: None
Day 2. Drive to Bruny Island
We shall leave Hobart very early. Bruny Island is situated about 40km south of Hobart and accessed by a vehicular ferry. The ferry trip takes approximately 15 minutes, during which time we will search for wildlife (seabirds and possibly dolphins). We shall have the rest of the day to explore Bruny Island. We will start the day birding at ‘Inala’, a privately owned 1,500-acre wildlife sanctuary which is home to all 12 Tasmanian endemic bird species including one of the largest known colonies of endangered Forty-spotted Pardalote. Strong-billed, Yellow-throated and Black-headed Honeyeaters, Dusky Robin and Green Rosella are also regulars here. Several hides and platforms have also been built around the property which provide close views of some very special species, including a variety of raptors. We may see the endangered white colour morph of Grey Goshawk, White-bellied Sea-eagle, Brown Goshawk, Brown Falcon and if we are lucky, Wedge-tailed Eagle. We will also visit a variety of habitats on the island, from coastal beaches for Hooded Plover, Pied and Sooty Oystercatcher and Kelp Gull, to rainforest areas in search of Pink Robin and the endemic Scrubtit,
Tasmanian Scrubwren and Tasmanian Thornbill. Inala is also a great place to see Short-beaked Echidna.
In the evening, we will visit a Little Penguin colony and afterwards we will take a drive in search of Tasmania’s nocturnal marsupials. We are likely to see some species which are now restricted to Tasmania including Eastern Quoll (a relative of the Tasmanian Devil) and Tasmanian Pademelon. Bennett’s Wallaby and Brush-tailed Possum are also common here and the rare golden/white color morphs of both these species can be found here. If we are lucky, we may also see Long-nosed Potoroo and some nocturnal birds like Tawny Frogmouth and Tasmanian Boobook.
Accommodation: Cottages at and near Inala, south Bruny Island as above. (each couple, twin and single has own room with possible shared bathroom). Meals Included: B, L.
Day 3. Bruny Island to Cradle Mountain area
We will leave Bruny island around midday and travel through Hobart and towards the northern coastline of Tasmania. Although this is basically a day of travel, we will make regular stops on the way including a wetland area where we should see a variety of waterbirds, including the chance of some rare and elusive species like Freckled Duck and Australian Crake. We will arrive late afternoon at our accommodation which is situated in a remote valley north of Cradle Mountain. This is the best place to see Tasmanian Devil and Spotted-tailed Quoll in the wild. The guest accommodation cabins become viewing hides after dark, when these carnivores come to the verandas to feed on relocated road-killed carcasses, so we can view and photograph these elusive creatures from the comfort of our cabins.
Accommodation:
Cabin style near Cradle Mountain (each couple, twin and single has own room with possible shared bathroom). Please note: Accommodation at the small lodge we use near Cradle Mountain is restricted to 2 x 2 bedroom cabins and 3 x 1 bedroom cabins. Max group size therefore depends on rooming requirements and how many singles in the group. Meals Included: B. Self catering lunch and dinner in cabin.
Day 4. Wednesday 26 June 2019: Cradle Mountain area
Today we have a full day to explore the area around Cradle Mountain and parts of northern Tasmania. This should provide a good chance to see more of Tasmania’s endemic bird species which we may have missed previously, such as Black Currawong and Yellow Wattlebird. In addition to the great birding we can view endemic Tasmanian rainforest flora with ancient Gondwanan connections such as Pencil and King Billy Pines, Myrtle and the famous Fagus (Nothofagus gunnii) which is Tasmania’s only deciduous tree. This is also a good area to view Common Wombat. We will also have a good chance of viewing Platypus, one of Australia’s most bizarre mammals. We will retrain to our small lodge for another opportunity to view Tasmanian Devils and Spotted-tailed Quoll from our cabins.
Accommodation: Cabin style near Cradle Mountain as above. Meals not Included: Self catering in cabin or meals for sale.
Day 5. Cradle Mountain area to Melbourne
Further exploring Cradle Mountain area and then via an additional site for Platypus we return to Launceston for an evening flight to Melbourne. Night in Melbourne near airport. Meals self catering and picking up lunch at gas station, and dinner at airport or in flight.
Day 6. Birding Great Ocean road for Rufous Bristlebird and Koala
Early morning start driving along the Great Ocean road we shall make several stops for Rufous Bristlebird, and look for Koala and Gray Kangoroo at reliable sites. If time permits we will end the afternoon at the Werribee Western Treatment Plant, which is a huge area with many possibilities of Australian waterfowl and shorebirds.
Accommodation: none. Meals Included: B.
Includes: 5 nights’ accommodation, specialist guiding for day and night tours as outlined above, meals as outlined in the itinerary, transport including airport transfers, National Park entry fees and Bruny Island ferry fares and goods and services tax (= VAT).
Excludes: alcoholic beverages, gratuities, personal expenditure, travel insurance or flights.
The itinerary: Whilst we aim to follow the itinerary as planned, please note that the itinerary provided should only be used as a guideline. Depending on individual trip circumstances, weather, and local information, the exact itinerary may vary.
If you like to extend we also arrange a 5 day Australian bird families with Cairns, Brisbane and Sydney before the Iconic Mammals tour.
A post tour shall be arranged for two days to try to twitch the difficult Plainswanderer.
Contact: Gunnar Engblom on kolibriexp@gmail.com
Special 8 day departure 2024
15 Feb: Meet guests at Hobart Airport at 1:30 pm and transfer to Bruny Island (Inala cottage, self- cater for dinner, guide will visit supermarket with guests enroute to Bruny)
16 Feb: Bruny Island day tour – (Inala Cottage, self catered breakfast, lunch and dinner)
17th Depart Bruny Island in morning, visit key birding sites around Hobart enroute to Mount Field (self cater breakfast, with lunch and dinner provided by Inala). Stay overnight at Waterfalls Cabins at Mount Field
18th Mount Field (breakfast, lunch and dinner included). Stay overnight at Waterfall Cabins
19th Mount Field to Mountain Valley Wilderness via Tasmanian Arboretum (breakfast included. Own lunch and dinner). Overnight at Mountain Valley Wilderness Lodge
20th Cradle Mountain (self catering). Overnight at Mountain Valley Wilderness Lodge
21st: Mountain Valley Wilderness Lodge to Launceston, via Tamar Wetlands, for departure to Melb – (self catering). Hotel near airport.
22nd: Melbourne full day tour for Koala, Grey Kangaroo and Bristlebird.