General information about Tasmania

Tasmania is the southernmost state of Australia and is comprised of over 300 islands mostly located at a latitude of between 40 – almost 44° south (with Macquarie Island at almost 55° south in the sub-Antarctic). The main island is about the size of West Virginia, the Republic of Ireland or Sri Lanka (315km or 180 miles wide and 286km or 175 miles long) and is separated from the Australian mainland by Bass Strait, which is a 250km (150 mile) wide stretch of ocean. Tasmania has a mild, temperate maritime climate, with four distinct seasons. In summer (December to February) the average maximum temperature is 21° Celsius (70° Fahrenheit). In winter (June to August) the average maximum is 12° C (52° F) and the average minimum is 4° C (40° F). Snow often falls in the highlands, but is rare near the coast and the more settled areas of the state.

There are many excellent references that provide general information about Tasmania, some of which are as follows:

Links:

Fauna and Flora

Tasmania boasts many species of plants and animals that are found nowhere else in the world: Species which have either become extinct on the Australian mainland (eg. Tasmanian devil, Eastern quoll and Tasmanian pademelon), or species which for various reasons, have always been confined to Tasmania, such as the Tasmanian endemic birds and plants).

Twelve endemic birds are found in Tasmania: The Forty-spotted pardalote, Dusky Robin, Yellow-throated Honeyeater, Black-headed Honeyeater, Strong-billed Honeyeater, Yellow Wattlebird, Tasmanian Native-Hen, Black Currawong, Green Rosella, Tasmanian Scrubwren, Tasmanian Thornbill and Scrubtit. Some of these species, such as the Forty-spotted pardalote are restricted both in distribution and habitat (such as that found on Bruny Island) while others such as the Green Rosella occur quite commonly throughout the state.

Two endangered species of parrot, the Orange-bellied Parrot and Swift Parrot migrate to Tasmania from the Australian mainland to breed during the austral spring and summer (September to March). The Orange-bellied Parrot is listed as critically endangered with less than 200 individuals left in the wild. We regularly arrange tours to see both of these species during the breeding season.

As is the case on mainland Australia, most of Tasmania’s mammals are marsupials. Perhaps the best-known of these is the Tasmanian Devil, a shy and elusive species which is now threatened by the Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), a contagious cancer which has spread through the Devil population and decreased their number by more than 70% since 1996. INALA works with a number of organizations who are helping to save the Devil. We also offer Tasmanian tours which include a visit to areas where there is a very high chance of seeing them in the wild.

Other marsupials which are regularly seen on our Tasmanian tours are Bennett’s Wallaby and Common wombat.

Australia’s two monotreme (egg-laying mammal) species, the Short-beaked Echidna and the Platypus, can also be found in Tasmania. Tasmanian echidnas have many more hairs amongst the spines than their mainland counterparts.

Endemism in Tasmania’s plants is also very high. Some examples of these are Celery-top and Huon Pine, Leatherwood, Native Laurel and several species of Richea (a genus which belongs to the family of heaths or Epacridacea, the largest species being found in Tasmania).

The ancient cool temperate rainforests of Tasmania contain a number of Gondwanan relicts, living fossils that have ancestors that can be traced back to the days when Australia was connected to other continents such as Antarctica and South America to form the supercontinent Gondwana. These include two species of the genus Nothofagus, N. cunninghamii (Myrtle or Southern Beech) and N. gunnii (Fagus). Fagus is Tasmania’s only deciduous plant species.

The Alpine areas in Tasmania also contain a large number of endemic and Gondwanan flora and the Jurassic dolerite formations found in places such as Cradle Mountain in central Tasmania and Mount Wellington near Hobart are evidence of the solidified magma from the Gondwanan breakup around 165 million years ago.

Please contact us for further information on Tasmanian tour options for viewing opportunities for any of the above species, or other species or subjects of interest. We also offer group tours of Tasmania.

Tours of Tasmania

Our tours of Tasmania are generally personalised to suit each group so please contact us for suggestions regarding tour itineraries and quotes. It would be helpful if you provide information on your main interests, activity level, time that you may have available and approximate dates/timeframe of your proposed visit so that we can design an itinerary to best suit your requirements. Some highlights on areas of interest from a Natural History perspective are:

Bruny Island

All of the endemic Tasmanian birds and a great place for other bird species, Little penguin and Short-tailed shearwater rookery, Eastern quoll, Long-nosed potoroo, white colour morphs of Brush-tailed Possum and Bennett’s Wallaby, orchids, endemic plants and Gondwanan relicts.

Personalised tour suggestions

Hobart area

Includes reserves that are excellent for birding and wildlife viewing. Possibility of Eastern-barred Bandicoot and Tasmanian Bettong. Nearby National Parks and surrounding areas are good for Platypus, Black Currawong and other Tasmanian endemic birds.

Cradle Mountain area

A great example of past glaciation containing a wealth of Tasmanian endemic and Gondwanan flora. Also great for birds such as Pink robin, Scrubtit and Black Currawong.

Northern Tasmania

Great for Platypus and Common wombat one of the few places where Eastern Grey (Forrester) Kangaroos can be found.

North-west Tasmania

A great place to see Tasmanian devils and a variety of other mammals and a variety of birds (one of the few places in the state where you can see Azure Kingfisher)

South and eastern Tassie

"The best of Tasmania's wildlife" INALA group tour - only 2 places left!

Day 1. Saturday 27th November 2010. Your guide will collect you from Hobart at a place/time to be determined according to flight arrival times (we can collect from the airport or Hobart city for the start of the tour). Visit Mount Wellington and surrounds for spectacular aerial views on a clear day and a wonderful walk through a fern glade with giant tree ferns, which provides your first chance to see the endemic Scrubtit and Tasmanian Scrubwren as well as Pink robin. Also a chance to visit some other reserves around Hobart if time allows.
Accommodation: Hobart (en suite room)
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2. Sunday 28th November 2010. This morning take a flight to the South West World Heritage area of Tasmania. This will provide the best chance to see the critically endangered Orange-bellied parrot (less than 200 left in the wild) and other specialties such as the elusive Ground parrot, Southern Emuwren, Striated Fieldwren and Beautiful Firetail. The flight is weather dependant, so if it is cancelled today, we will try to reschedule it for some time over the next few days if possible. This afternoon, visit Bruny’s southern coastline to view the second oldest lighthouse in Australia. Search for species such as Tawny crowned Honeyeater, Olive Whistler and Yellow-tailed Black cockatoo. Also a chance to see Short-beaked Echidna (Tasmanian subspecies) in the wild. Tonight after dinner you will visit the Little penguin and Short tailed shearwater rookery to view these species at their burrows.
Accommodation: Cottage style on Bruny Island
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 3. Monday 29th November 2010. Take an early morning birdwalk at “INALA”, Tonia’s privately owned 500 acre Land for Wildlife property on south Bruny Island which is a refuge for a number of threatened birds and home to all of the Tasmanian endemic birds. Bird species you are likely to see include the endangered Forty spotted pardalote, Strong billed, Black headed and Yellow throated honeyeaters, Tasmanian native hen and possibly Swift parrot. Then join a 3 hour eco-cruise (11.00-14.00) where you will have the chance to visit a fur seal haul-out (subject to weather conditions). This trip also provides opportunities to see some spectacular coastline, a range of seabirds including a chance of albatross (usually Shy albatross at this time of year), and maybe even dolphins or whales. This afternoon, explore a number of different habitats, from coastal beaches where there is a possibility of finding Hooded Plover, Pied and Sooty Oyster catchers and Kelp Gull to rainforest areas to search for Scrubtit and Tasmanian Thornbill. Also a good chance to see some interesting flora, including Tasmanian endemic species and Gondwana relics. Another night trip after dinner tonight for the chance to see a range of Tasmania’s nocturnal marsupials (including Eastern Quoll and golden Bennett’s Wallaby and Brush-tailed Possums) and possibly also Tawny Frogmouth and Southern Boobook.
Accommodation: Cottage style on Bruny Island as above
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4. Tuesday 30th November 2010. Leave Bruny Island after breakfast and travel towards Mount Field National Park. This area provides the chance to see a range of habitats, from fern gullies with waterfalls to cool temperate rainforest and an alpine environment which has been carved by glaciation. A good chance to see Yellow Wattlebird, Black Currawong and Crescent Honeyeater. Also a chance of seeing Platypus in the wild. Settle into your accommodation late afternoon.
Accommodation: Small B&B near Mount Field National Park.
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5. Wednesday 1st December 2010. Leave the National Park and travel to Cradle Mountain National Park today. We will stop en route to take a private tour to a wildlife rehabilitation and research centre which specializes in research on Tasmanian devils. This is a good chance to see a range of Tasmanian wildlife "up close and personal" and learn more about the Facial Tumour Disease that is threatening the Tasmanian Devil population.
Accommodation: Cabin style at Cradle Mountain
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 6. Thursday 2nd December 2010. Spend the day exploring the Cradle Mountain area. Options include a walk around a glacial lake to see some ancient rainforest species and Gondwana relics, and a visit to the information centre. Also the chance to visit the replica of “Waldheim”, the home of the Austrian Gustav Weindorfer whose love of the area inspired the establishment of the national Park. There are some amazing Tasmanian endemic plants and Gondwana relics in this area, such as Pencil and King Billy pines, Myrtle and the famous Fagus (Nothofagus gunnii) which is Tasmania’s only deciduous tree, and we will include a visit to various sites to see a variety of these plants. This is also a good area to view wombats and the endemic Black Currawong. Then travel to your accommodation at a nearby Wilderness Lodge late afternoon where wild Tasmanian devils and Spotted tailed quolls come to the verandah to feed at night after dark. A good chance for photographing these elusive creatures.
Accommodation: Cabin style at a Wilderness Lodge near Cradle Mountain
Meals Included: Breakfast lunch and dinner

Day 7. Friday 3rd December 2010. Leave the Cradle Mountain area after breakfast this morning and travel northwards for the chance to see some more of Tasmania’s wildlife, including wombats and Forester kangaroos in the wild - in this location they can usually be found in daylight during the late afternoon. Then onto our accommodation near the National Park.
Accommodation: en-suite room at a small B&B near the National Park
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 8. Saturday 4th December 2010. Travel to Launceston this morning after breakfast, visiting some wetlands enroute if time allows, where there is a chance to view a number of waterbirds and species such as Little grassbird. Depart from a northern Tasmanian airport.
Accommodation: none
Meals Included: Breakfast and lunch (depending on flight time)

Inclusions: 7 nights accommodation (en suite room, B&B and cottage style with the possibility of a shared bathroom at INALA), specialist guiding for day and night tours as outlined above, all meals as outlined in the itinerary, transport including airport transfers if required, flight to SW Tasmania, Bruny eco-cruise, National Park entry fees, Bruny Island ferry fares. Does not include airfares (except SW Tas flight), alcoholic beverages or personal expenditure.

Please contact us for further information and prices.