Experience Tasmania's unparalleled wildlife diversity on this comprehensive 10-day birding and wildlife tour showcasing all 12 endemic bird species plus iconic threatened mammals. From Southern Ocean pelagic adventures to World Heritage wilderness areas, this expertly guided expedition covers Tasmania's premier wildlife destinations.
Complete Endemic Bird Coverage
Target all 12 Tasmanian endemic species including the critically endangered Forty-spotted Pardalote, cryptic forest specialists like Scrubtit and Dusky Robin, Black Currawong and flightless Tasmanian Nativehen. Visit the conservation-covenanted Inala Reserve on Bruny Island - home to one of the largest known Forty-spotted Pardalote colonies - for the chance to see sought after species such as Swift Parrot, white-morph Grey Goshawk and Wedge-tailed Eagle.
Southern Ocean Pelagic & Wildlife Highlights
Board a charter vessel for exceptional pelagic birding where Tasmania's continental shelf attracts multiple albatross species including Wandering, Royal, Shy, and Campbell Albatross, plus White-headed Petrel, Hutton's Shearwater, and storm petrels. Search for both Australian monotremes—the Platypus in mountain streams and Short-beaked Echidna in coastal heathlands. Night tours seek threatened marsupials including Eastern Quoll and possibly Tasmanian Devil.
Explore Maria Island's abundant wildlife, Cradle Mountain's ancient Gondwanan rainforests, and Mount Field's towering Mountain Ash. This Tasmania wildlife tour includes expert Inala guides, comfortable en-suite accommodation and all meals. Small group sizes ensures personalised attention throughout this unforgettable wildlife experience.
World Heritage Wilderness Optional Extension
Join the pre-tour flight to remote Melaleuca in Tasmania's Southwest Wilderness to see the critically endangered Orange-bellied Parrot, plus Southern Emu-wren, Beautiful Firetail and chance of Eastern Ground Parrot in pristine habitat.
Who is this tour for?
This tour is ideal for birders and wildlife enthusiasts seeking complete endemic bird coverage, combined with threatened mammal encounters, pelagic birding, and wilderness experiences in Tasmania's most spectacular national parks and reserves.
For those with limited time, the Endemic Birds of Tasmania tour is a shorter version of our ever-popular Tasmanian Endemic Birds & Mammals tour, giving guests the opportunity to see all 12 of Tasmania’s endemic birds while enjoying a glimpse of everything our incredible island has to offer.
This tour is strategically timed for late spring/early summer, providing excellent conditions for wildlife observation and comfortable travel.
October offers spring birding advantages with active breeding birds and fewer tourists, but visitors need to be prepared for changeable weather with good rain gear and warm layers. It is a notably wet climate with an average of 15 rainy days and 76.7mm precipitation. Temperatures are moderate, with maximum around 17°C, minimum around 7°C.
November brings pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 19°C and minimum night time temperatures around 9°C, with moderate monthly rainfall. This represents ideal spring birding conditions when breeding birds are most active and visible.
Melaleuca pre-tour cost:
Only available if joining main tour.
Late 2026 price: $1150 pp. Includes flights, guided tour and lunch. Based on 4 guests taking this option
Early 2027 price: $1630 pp. Includes flights, guided tour and lunch. Based on 4 guests taking this option
The October & November departures are designed to join our South East Australia - Birds & Wildlife Tour
The October & November departures are designed to join our South East Australia - Birds & Wildlife Tour
Twelve Tasmanian endemic birds: 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.
Breeding endemic birds: Swift Parrot and Orange-bellied Parrot and seasonal delights such as Blue-winged Parrot, Satin Flycatcher and Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo.
Beautiful uncommon bush birds such as Pink Robin, Bassian Thrush and Olive Whistler.
Glorious raptors such as Grey Goshawk (white morph) , Wedge-tailed Eagle and Brown Goshawk.
The two wonderful monotremes - Platypus and Echidna.
Iconic mammals like Tasmanian Devil, Eastern Quoll, Common Wombat, Tasmanian Pademelon and Bennett's Wallaby.
If joining the Melaleuca excursion, you will need to make your way to Hobart today. You may wish to book into the same hotel that the remainder of the main tour participants will be staying - please contact the Inala Nature Tours office for assistance.
Accommodation: Own expense
Meals Included: None
Today, in a pre-tour excursion, we will embark on a spectacular flight to Tasmania’s remote South West World Heritage area. Inaccessible by road and breathtakingly scenic, this is one of the most remote areas in Australia and is famed for its unspoilt wilderness and birdlife.
At Melaleuca, we have a chance to see one of Australia’s rarest birds, the critically endangered Orange-bellied Parrot. With less than 100 individuals left in the wild, this vivid parrot is teetering on the brink of extinction. Other specialties we hope to see are the elusive Eastern Ground Parrot, Striated Fieldwren, the delightful Southern Emu-wren, and the aptly named Beautiful Firetail. The area is also rich in history. When we return from Melaleuca, we will join the other tour participants at 6:30pm for a welcome dinner and orientation.
Please note that this flight is weather dependent. If the flight is cancelled, guests will be refunded a portion of the total price, and will be offered a guided day tour of special birding locations around Hobart.
Accommodation: Hobart Hotel (en suite rooms)
Meals Included: Pre-tour participants: L D
*Same Day as the Melaleuca pre tour extension*
Make your own way Hobart today, in time to meet the group for a welcome dinner. Please note that if you are not on the Melaleaca extension, no activities have been planned for today.
Accommodation: Hobart Hotel (en suite rooms)
Meals Included: Hobart arrivals: D
Setting out to Triabunna, we take the ferry across to Maria Island, looking our for seals and dolphins.
Maria Island has abundant bird life, with 11 of the 12 Tasmanian endemics occurring here. We'll stroll slowly around the northern part of the island, taking in the outstanding scenery and the chance of seeing bird species including Cape Barren Geese, Australian Pipit and Flame Robins on the grazed grasslands, and the chance of Swift Parrot, migratory Cuckoos and several species of honeyeaters in the wooded areas. We can also expect to see Forester (Eastern Grey) Kangaroo, Tasmanian Pademelon, Bennett’s (Red-necked) Wallabies and Common Wombat.
Accommodation: Hotel on Tasman Peninsula (en suite rooms)
Meals included: B, L, D
Boarding a charter vessel, we make our way into the vastness of the Southern Ocean in our quest for pelagic birds. High species diversity and the nearness of the continental shelf have earned Tasmania an international reputation as an excellent place to see pelagic species.
Departing Pirate’s Bay, we will hopefully encounter Short-tailed Shearwater in considerable number. This is one of the finest places on the planet to see a diversity of albatross, with Antipodean & New Zealand Wandering, Northern & Southern Royal, Shy, Campbell, Black-browed, and Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross all possible. Possible petrels include White-chinned, Great-winged, Grey-faced, the striking White-headed, Gould’s, Cook’s and Mottled. Shearwater diversity is also good with Hutton’s, Fluttering, Buller’s, Sooty and Short-tailed Shearwater all possible. Wilson’s, Grey-backed and White-faced Storm Petrels and Fairy Prion are also regularly seen. Mammals we may encounter include Australian Fur-seals, Hump-backed Whale, Common and Bottlenose Dolphin.
On our return to shore there will also be a chance to visit some nearby geological formations and if time permits explore Tasman National Park before heading back to our hotel.
If you choose not to partake in the Pelagic cruise, you can have the day to yourself to explore the beaches and forests near to the hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel on Tasman Peninsula (en suite rooms)
Meals Included: B, L, D
Accommodation: Cottage style accommodation - South Bruny Island (en suite cabins)
Meals Included: B, L, D
Today we have a full day to explore Bruny Island. We start the day birding at the Inala Conservation Reserve, a 1,500-acre privately owned sanctuary 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.
At this time of year, we can expect to 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 also visit a variety of habitats on the island, from coastal beaches for Hooded Plover, Pied and Sooty Oystercatcher, Pacific and Kelp Gull, to rainforest areas in search of Pink Robin and the endemic Scrubtit, Tasmanian Scrubwren and Tasmanian Thornbill.
Accommodation: Cottage-style accommodation - South Bruny Island (en suite cabins)
Meals Included: B, L, D
Today we depart Bruny Island and will spend time exploring the reserves in the Hobart area including Kunanyi/Mount Wellington. This mountain, at a height of 1,270m (4,150 feet), affords spectacular views of the city and surrounding landscape on a clear day.
Further endemic highlights we look for today include Green Rosella, Tasmanian Native Hen, Black Currawong and Yellow Wattlebird. We will also visit a lagoon for the chance to see a variety of waterbirds like Australasian Shoveler, Australian Shelduck and Black-fronted Dotterel before heading to our accommodation for tonight at an award-winning farm-stay overlooking picturesque Lake Meadowbank, close to Mt Field National Park.
Accommodation: Mount Field area (en suite rooms)
Meals Included: B, L, D
We spend the entire day exploring Mount Field National Park and surrounding areas. This area is an excellent site for our endemic target species, notably Scrubtit and Black Currawong, and is a great place to experience a range of habitats from fern gullies with waterfalls, alpine heathland and cool temperate rainforest boasting some of the tallest trees in the world - the mighty Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans). Today we also have our first chance of seeing Platypus. In the late afternoon we return to our farm-stay for a relaxed second night.
Accommodation: Mount Field/New Norfolk area (en suite rooms)
Meals Included: B, L, D
This morning we travel north to Cradle Mountain National Park. We enjoy wonderfully diverse scenery and will stop many times en-route to bird and stretch our legs, including at an alpine lake with incredible flora and landscape, and the possibility of Flame Robin and Striated Fieldwren. If time allows, we shall incorporate a visit to a beautiful location near Latrobe with an excellent chance of seeing Platypus.
In late afternoon we arrive at our accommodation within Cradle Mountain National Park. The accommodation provides a wonderful opportunity to view Wombats and Wallabies near the cottages. Echidnas and Platypus are also often seen in the area.
Depending on weather conditions, on one of our two nights staying at Cradle we take a night drive into the National Park after dinner, where we hope to see Spotted-tailed Quolls, Eastern Quolls or even the iconic Tasmanian Devils.
Accommodation: Hotel Cradle Mountain (en suite rooms).
Meals Included: B, L, D
Today we have a full day to explore the spectacular landscape around Cradle Mountain. This should provide a good chance to see more of Tasmania’s endemic bird species. 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 Tanglefoot Beech (Nothofagus gunnii) - Tasmania’s only deciduous tree. The national park is also a great area to view the adorable Common Wombat. While watching for Pink Robin and Crescent Honeyeater in beautiful riverine rainforest habitat, we will also have more chances of spotting Platypus.
The day will include a visit to Walheim, the replica hut built in the site of Gustav Weindorfer’s original home - a naturalist whose passion was instrumental in the establishment of the National Park protection of this area.
Accommodation: Hotel Cradle Mountain (en suite rooms).
Meals Included: B, L, D.
This morning, we travel to Launceston after breakfast, for departing flights. If time permits, we will visit wetlands en route where there is a chance to view several wetland species including Australasian Swamphen, Spotless Crake, Australian Shelduck, Black-fronted Dotterel and Little Grassbird.
Accommodation: none
Meals Included: B.
Nine nights en-suite 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 (including the pelagic cruise and Maria Island excursion), National Park entry fees, Bruny Island ferry fares, GST.
International or domestic Australian airfares, airport transfers on arrival, accommodation on the night before the Melaleuca excursion and breakfast on day 1, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and expenses of a personal nature (snacks, travel insurance, internet, laundry, tips etc).
Additional services:Â We can arrange either self-guided or guided extensions to other parts of Tasmania or Australia to compliment this tour.
Arrival in Hobart: There is a regular shuttle bus service Skybus between Hobart airport and the main hotels in the city. Alternatively, you may wish to take a taxi to the city – readily available outside the terminal building.
Meals and drinks:Â Breakfast generally consists of a continental style breakfast with cereal, fruit and yoghurt, tea and coffee. Lunch will generally consist of a packed lunch style meal eaten in the field, with sandwich or filled roll and fruit. Dinner is usually two course and consists of several options for main, with the choice of either an appetiser or dessert. Drinks (soft and alcoholic) are generally not included, however, juice may be available at breakfast and lunch.
The itinerary:Â While we aim to follow the itinerary as planned, please note that the itinerary provided should only be used as a guideline. The itinerary is dependant on individual trip circumstances, weather, and local information. The guides reserve the right to make changes as they see fit.
The South West flight and the pelagic: Both of these activities are weather dependent. If the south west flight is cancelled, guests will be refunded a portion of the total price, and will be offered a guided day tour of special birding locations around Hobart.
If the pelagic is cancelled, we will arrange a day of land based birding around the beautiful Tasman Peninsula.
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.
