Day 1: The tour will begin with a walk with one of our expert guides around the Inala Private Reserve, a 1,500 acre (600 ha) Land for Wildlife property which is home to a variety of threatened species and all 12 Tasmanian endemic birds. View at close range the Endangered Tasmanian endemic Forty-spotted Pardalote from the purpose-built canopy platform within one of its largest known colonies, raptors such as the Tasmanian subspecies of the Wedge-tailed Eagle and the white morph of the Grey Goshawk from the raptor hide, and the uncommon white morph of the Red-necked Wallaby. Learn of the conservation efforts to protect these species and their habitats.
After this, your guide will drive you to historic and scenically beautiful Adventure Bay to see beautiful beaches, and cool temperate rainforests containing some Gondwanan and Tasmanian endemic flora. Have lunch by the beach, and stroll along the shore in search of Hooded Plovers, White-bellied Sea-eagles, and Kelp and Pacific Gulls and, if you are lucky, Humpback Whales, dolphins, Shy Albatross, and rafts of thousands of Short-tailed Shearwaters. Then visit the site of collection of the first botanical specimens of the genus Eucalyptus and learn about the ecology of wet eucalypt forest and the relationship between eucalypts and cool temperate rainforest, and stroll along a streamside reserve lined with giant tree-ferns while searching for the elusive Tasmanian endemic small-brown-birds: Scrubtit, Tasmanian Scrubwren and Tasmanian Thornbill, as well as the striking Pink Robin.
There is also the option of visiting Cape Bruny, which offers spectacular views of the rugged coastline and Southern Ocean (next stop Antarctica!) and the chance of seeing the Tawny-crowned Honeyeater, or walking through dry eucalypt forest to a freshwater lagoon in search of waterfowl.
Your guide will return you to the Inala Reserve in the late afternoon, so that you can settle into your cottage and freshen up before dinner.
After dinner you will visit the Little Penguin and Short-tailed Shearwater rookery to view these birds returning to their burrows after dusk. Penguins can be viewed during most of the year, but Shearwaters are only present between September and April. There is also the option of visiting other areas in search of some of Bruny Island's other nocturnal wildlife such as Tasmanian Pademelons and Eastern Quolls which are now only found in Tasmania, as well as Bennett’s Wallabies and Brush-tailed Possums both of which are also found in a rare near-albino colour morph on Bruny Island. Your guide will then return you to your cottage at Inala for the night.
Day 2: Generous breakfast provisions comprised of fresh local produce will be placed in your cottage for you to prepare at your convenience this morning.
Accommodation: One night Inala (cottage style – sole use).
Meals included: Day 1: Lunch, dinner. Day 2: Breakfast.
