Tasmania wildlife tour

Planet

Several of the B&Bs on this itinerary are protected Land for Wildlife conservation areas and many have reached advanced Eco Certification standard. Their owners continue to take immense care to ensure that the wildlife and native fauna are protected at all costs, including extensive signage and information, and giving free guided wildlife tours to ensure that visitors follow their strict practice in ensuring the animals' and birds' welfare. A number of the properties are part of the Tasmanian Land Conservancy scheme. The TLC is a non profit organisation that acquires and manages land in Tasmania, protecting important natural places. Many are within or on the edge of national parks. For example, one of the properties you will stay in is 61ha and has been owned by your hosts since 1979. They have built the accommodation themselves using all Tasmanian timbers. They joined National Parks and Wildlife's scheme 'Land for Wildlife' as a commitment to their desire to preserve the natural habitat for wildlife. In 2002 they signed an agreement with both Federal and State Governments and placed a Perpetual Conservation Covenancy on the property title under the 'Private Forest Reserve' programme to protect the vulnerable forest habitat of the wet forest type Eucalyptus Viminalis (White Gum) of which there are many old growth specimens, protection for the Karst system and threatened fauna species . Like many properties, the reserve is a release for rehabilitated wildlife. Many of the owners are wildlife carers and rescue, care for and rehabilitate injured and orphaned animals, and have extensive qualifications to permit them to do this. Water in all accommodation is from natural sources such as rainwater or fresh spring water and you are asked to follow careful guidelines when utilising the precious resources. Some, such as Huon Bush retreats, are even carbon positive. The Tours are equally passionate about conservation - the cruise around Bruny Island has won many awards for its approach to tourism conservation and donates a substantial portion of its profits to conservation schemes every year.

Members of the TLC have signed with the both houses of the Tasmanian State government to register the property as a Private Nature Reserve. Under both these schemes the property can never be logged and the habitat can never be degraded. They have management schemes in place for both the extensive karst systems and the forest habitat. You are urged not to drive at dawn, dusk or at night when wildlife is likely to be on the roads and always to take extreme caution at all times. The operator makes a donation to the Tasmanian Land Conservancy every year.

People

The company is the only one in the UK, Europe and USA that has been established world to only inherently Tasmanian experiences and locally owned authentic family run Tasmanian bed and breakfast accommodation. Almost every accommodation has been, built using locally sourced labour and materials dating from the early 1800s through to present day. The wildlife tours recommended all use local staff, not only from Tasmania but from their regions within Tasmania. Many of your accommodation providers are wildlife carers and the wildlife sanctuaries you may visit during your tour are NOT zoos - all the animals are rescued as orphans or injured animals, brought back to health or raised until they are old enough to survive in the wild, rehabilitated and released if at all possible. Entrance fees to these sanctuaries goes towards the wellbeing of Tasmania's wildlife, such as Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary which runs the state's official wildlife rescue line, and many operators donate a high percentage of their profits to wildlife and conservation schemes.