Combine three nights at Inala's premium accommodation Orana with a day tour to both Mt Field and Maria Island, a full day and night birding Hobart's reserves and parks and an evening spotlighting on the Orana property.
Orana is a 165-acre conservation property perched on a hillside in Taroona, southern Hobart, offering sweeping 180-degree views over Storm Bay. The architecturally designed retreat sleeps six guests comfortably and serves as an exceptional base for wildlife observation, with treetops at eye level. The thoughtfully appointed residence features three bedrooms, spacious living areas with panoramic windows, a generous deck, fully equipped kitchen and modern amenities. As a critical wildlife corridor protecting endangered species like Tasmanian Devil and Eastern Barred Bandicoot, Orana provides an authentic taste of Tasmania's unique ecosystems.
Meeting your guide early morning at Orana, you will settle into your accommodation and go for a short walk to explore the old-growth White Peppermint Gum forest and discover the dry woodland birds living there. The day will then proceed with birding around Hobart and surrounds. All of Tasmania’s endemic species of birds occur within a half hour drive of the Hobart CBD, and our guides know the best places to find them. Your guide will lead you through wet forests rich in ferns and mosses in search of Tasmanian Scrubwren, Tasmanian Thornbill, Scrubtit and Black Currawong. Drier forests are home to Yellow-throated Honeyeater, Yellow Wattlebird, Strong-billed Honeyeater, Black-headed Honeyeater, Green Rosella, Dusky Robin and the endangered Forty-spotted Pardalote, while we traverse open country to find Tasmanian Native Hen.
In the evening, after dinner at a local restaurant, your guide will take you on a tour to look for some of Tasmania's special nocturnal wildlife, including Southern Brown Bandicoot, Long-nosed Potoroo, Tawny Frogmouth, Common Ringtail Possum, Common Brushtail Possum, Bennett's Wallaby, Tasmanian Pademelon and Tasmanian Boobook.
There is also a chance of also sighting Sugar Gliders, Eastern Barred Bandicoot, Eastern Bettong and the endangered Tasmanian subspecies of the Masked Owl and Eastern Quoll.
On day two, you will search for special Tasmanian mammals in Mount Field National Park. Mount Field National Park is one of Tasmania’s oldest National Parks, and one of the oldest reserves in Australia. While small, this national park contains several habitat. From cool temperate rainforest and lush tree fern gullies with streams and waterfalls, to alpine heathlands and glacial landscape rich in lakes and tarns. This habitat variety provides for great birding and wildlife viewing and is also rich in paleoendemic flora.
Your guide will lead you along the Derwent River, searching for waterbirds such as the Australasian Shoveler, Australian Shelduck and Black-fronted Dotterel. Once at Mount Field, bird species we will look for include the endemic Scrubtit, Tasmanian Thornbill, Tasmanian Scrubwren, Green Rosella, Yellow-throated Honeyeater and Black Currawong as well as Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo, Crescent Honeyeater and Pink Robin. We also have a chance of seeing the bizarre Platypus, one of Australia’s two monotreme (egg-laying mammal) species in the clean, cool rivers around Mt Field.
In the evening you will stroll around Orana, spotlighting as you go, with the hope to see Brush-tailed Possum, Ring-tailed Possum, Tasmanian Pademelon and Red-necked Wallaby, and Tawny Frogmouth or Tasmanian Boobook as they begin their evening hunting across the slopes of the mountain. If we are lucky you may see a Southern Brown or Eastern Barred Bandicoot and maybe a Short-beaked Echidna out and about during the cooler hours. As the Orana habitat is home to both the endangered Tasmanian Devils and Eastern Quoll, very elusive mammals, but a possible glimpse is something that we will always hope for.
On day three you will depart for Tasmania's east coast, arriving in time for a passenger ferry trip to Maria Island, which leaved at 9 am. The ferry crossing will take around 30 minutes, during which you have a chance of seeing dolphins, gannets, and other seabirds. Once on Maria Island your Inala guide will lead you in search of Wombats, Cape Barren Goose, the endangered Forty-spotted Pardalote, and a diverse array of other forest birds. In spring, this can be a good location to see the critically endangered Swift Parrot in some years.
Discover more about Orana here
Orana Essentials: Two Night Hobart Experience
Orana Explorer: Three Night Hobart & Mt Field Experience
Orana Wilderness: Three Night Southwest & Highlands Experience
Orana Grand Tour: Four Night Hobart, Mt Field & Bruny Island Experience
Who is this tour for?
Birders and Nature Lovers seeking a deeper knowledge of Tasmanian ecology, endemic birds and nocturnal mammals, while experiencing personalised, private guiding and extraordinary accommodation.
Tasmania is a cool temperate climate, with four distinct seasons. The warmest months are December, January, February and March. Autumn has still, sunny days. Winter runs from May through August. However, the climate can vary greatly – on any given day.
Cost for a single person: $6300
Cost per person for 2-3 people: $3590
Cost per person for 4-6 people: $2680
Twelve Tasmanian endemic birds:Â Tasmanian Native-hen, Green Rosella, Dusky Robin, Tasmanian Thornbill, Scrubtit, Tasmanian Scrubwren, Yellow Wattlebird, Yellow-throated Honeyeater, Black-headed Honeyeater, Strong-billed Honeyeater, Black Currawong, and Forty-spotted Pardalote.
Beautiful uncommon bush birds such as Pink Robin, Bassian Thrush and Olive Whistler.
Wonderful mammals: Platypus, Echidna and Wombat.
Nocturnal species: Southern Brown Bandicoot, Long-nosed Potoroo, Tawny Frogmouth, Common Ringtail Possum, Common Brushtail Possum, Bennett's Wallaby, Tasmanian Pademelon, Tasmanian Morepork, Sugar Gliders, Eastern-barred Bandicoot, Eastern Bettong
The day begins with a short walk to explore the old-growth White Peppermint Gum forest at the Orana Conservation Reserve and discover the dry woodland birds living there.
Your guide will then lead you through the varied habitats of Hobart, searching for Tasmania's twelve endemic bird species. All of Tasmania’s endemic species of birds occur within a half hour drive of the Hobart CBD, and our guides know the best places to find them. We will lead you through wet forests rich in ferns and mosses in search of Tasmanian Scrubwren, Tasmanian Thornbill, Scrubtit and Black Currawong. Drier forests are home to endemic honeyeaters, Green Rosella, Dusky Robin and the endangered Forty-spotted Pardalote, while we traverse open country to find Tasmanian Native Hen.
As a private tour, the day can be tailored to suit your personal level of physical fitness and interests, ranging from gentle sauntering within a short distance of the car, to strenuous hikes across natural countryside. We can never guarantee you will see all 12 endemics in one day, however, on a day with average weather conditions there is a high chance of at least 8-10 species.
In the evening, after a relaxed dinner at a local restaurant, your guide will take you on a night tour searching for the nocturnal creatures of Hobart's parks and reserves. Accommodation: Orana Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Today your specialist nature guide will transport you to the beautiful Mt Field national park. Along the way, we follow Tasmania’s mighty Derwent River upstream, stopping en route at a lagoon excellent for waterbirds, including Australasian Shoveler, Australian Shelduck, Black-fronted Dotterel and possibly Freckled Duck and Australian Spotted Crake.
The tour then continues to Mt Field National Park, one of Tasmania’s oldest National Parks and one of the oldest reserves in Australia. While quite small, this national park contains several habitats, from cool temperate rainforest and lush tree fern gullies with streams and waterfalls, to alpine heathlands and glacial landscape rich in lakes and tarns. This variety provides for great birding and wildlife viewing and is also rich in paleoendemic flora. Mighty Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans), the world’s tallest flowering plant, grows to a gigantic size here.
Bird species we will look for today include the endemic Scrubtit, Tasmanian Thornbill, Tasmanian Scrubwren, Green Rosella, Yellow-throated Honeyeater and Black Currawong as well as Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo, Crescent Honeyeater and Pink Robin. We also have a chance of seeing the bizarre Platypus, one of Australia’s two monotreme (egg-laying mammal) species in the clean, cool rivers around Mt Field.
In the evening, your guide will take you walk across the Orana property, spotlighting as you go. Accommodation: Orana Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today, discover Maria Island, Tasmania's only island National Park. Located off Tasmania's east coast, this pristine destination is only accessible by ferry. The car free island supports an abundance of wildlife, including large populations of wombats. This allows visitors to enjoy unique intimate wildlife encounters and incredible photography opportunities.
During your visit, your guide will help you spot marine wildlife including dolphins, gannets and other seabird species that thrive in this protected environment. The islands' ecosystem supports the Cape Barren Goose and the critically endangered Forty-spotted Pardalote. You'll also encounter wombats and a diverse array of other forest birds. During spring, guests may observe the critically endangered Swift Parrot, a truly special birding experience.
This wildlife tour combines exceptional birding with visits to Maria Islands' spectacular natural sites like the Painted Cliffs and Fossil Cliffs, and provides the opportunity to explore Australia's most intact convict probation station at Darlington. As access to Maria Island is by passenger ferry, travelling around the island requires walking, so a reasonable level of fitness is required to get the most out of this tour. Note from May- August the first ferry to Maria is at 10.30am, the last ferry to return is 3.30pm, and so the day will be adapted to suit these times.
After returning to Orana at the end of the day's touring, your guide will arrange for a meal to be delivered so you may enjoy Orana's view and peaceful location. The evening will be for your leisure. Accommodation: Orana Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Depart Orana after enjoying a leisurely breakfast. Accommodation: None Meals: Breakfast
3 nights accommodation, specialist guiding and transport for day and night tours as outlined above, all meals as outlined in the itinerary, activities outlined in the itinerary, National Park entry fees, Maria Island ferry fares, GST.   
International or domestic Australian airfares, airport transfers on arrival, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and expenses of a personal nature (snacks, travel insurance, etc).  Â
Please contact us to discuss all our short Bruny and Tasmania tours
There are terms and conditions relating to payments, cancellations, refunds, insurance and responsibility for our tours.
Inala Nature
320 Cloudy Bay Road, Lunawanna
South Bruny Island 7150
Tasmania, Australia
Phone:Â +61 3 6293 1217
Inala Nature acknowledge and pay respects to the palawa people as the traditional and original owners, and continuing custodians of this land, lutruwita, and acknowledges Elders - past and present. Inala Nature Tours and the Inala Foundation Inc are located on lunawanna- alonnah, also known as Bruny Island, the traditional land of the Nuenonne people.
