Posts Tagged ‘Birds’

Dinosaurs have arrived at Tasmania Zoo at Riverside (18kms from the CBD of Launceston) in the north of the state.  January 6th saw the official launch of the new tours;  Dan Fellow, our favourite professional tourism photographer, was there to capture all the action.  As usual, Dan lets his camera do most of the talking.  He does predict the dinosaurs will be “a great attraction” though.

Dinosaurs now on show at Tasmania Zoo; guided tours only

Tasmania Zoo: Jurassic Swamp Dinosaurs

Robert Warren is the operations manager at Tasmania Zoo.  He and his father Dick are responsible for the new exhibit dubbed Jurassic Swamp, which took two months to set up.  Forty dinosaurs were in place from the outset, with a few more to storm in to the Tamar Valley region over time.

The brilliant colours of this fibreglass dinosaur are on show at Tasmania Zoo

Dan Fellow attended the official launch of the new dinosaurs at Tasmania Zoo

Look out... dinosaurs on the ground and in the air!

Guided Tours

The only way the dinosaurs can be viewed by the general public is via guided tours.  The zoo has made a substantial investment to add the fibreglass creatures to their wildlife park.  But there’s no additional charge to see the dinosaurs in their new Tasmanian bush home.  The tours are included in the park’s entry price and operate daily at 11am and 2pm.

The dinosaurs make a very scary impression on tourists visiting Tasmania Zoo

Who would have thought? Dinosaurs at a zoo in Tasmania!

Scattered through the native Tasmanian bush, dinosaurs are set to scare you!

So if you like the idea of coming face to face with huge, scary dinosaurs in what used to be a tranquil bush setting… Tasmania Zoo might be just right for you!  The tourists from Western Australia (photographed by Dan with the dinosaurs) seem pretty impressed with the brand new attraction.

Tourists from West Australia meet with the new dinosaurs at Tasmania Zoo

Dinosaurs have arrived in Tasmania!! Meet them in Riverside... if you dare!

All the way from WA, tourists get to confront the dinosaurs at Tasmania Zoo

Not Just Dinosaurs…

Of course, there’s other reasons to visit.   Tasmania Zoo is spread over 900 acres and boasts a large collection of native and exotic animals.  Birds, Tasmanian Devils, penguins, crocodiles, wombats, echidnas, kangaroos, quolls, reptiles and monkeys all make the list.

For more information about feeding times for the Tasmanian Devils
or details of the dinosaurs at Tasmania Zoo phone (03) 6396 6100

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Map: Tasmania Zoo Dinosaurs…

Leven Canyon

by Michelle Kneipp Pegler

The Leven Canyon: in this busy, populous world we live in, it’s hard to find such a wild and dramatic area that is so easy to reach.  If you want to experience these sorts of places you mostly have to trek through kilometres of difficult terrain.

Leven Canyon is in the Gunns Plains/Nietta region of north west Tasmania

At Leven Canyon it’s easy!  Just walk along the very well-maintained track to Cruickshanks Lookout.  It’s a 20 minute return walk suitable for all ages and in no time you will arrive at the viewing platform.  Experience the breathtaking views of the Canyon floor 275 metres below (where the Leven River flows) and views of Black Bluff and the surrounding countryside.

Cruickshanks Lookout over the Leven Canyon, Gunns Plains/Nietta Tasmania

Black Bluff

Black Bluff is usually the first peak in this area to have a covering of snow in winter due to its exposure to the prevailing westerly winds.  There’s a testing 6-7 hours return walk to Black Bluff through alpine vegetation up to the 1,339 metre summit.  From here you get rewarded with views from Cradle Mountain to the Great Western Tiers.  The track starts at Taylors Flats off Loongana Road.  Be aware though: it’s not regularly maintained or well marked.

Black Bluff seen from Preston Road en route to Leven Canyon, Tasmania

Fresh Tasmanian Mountain Air

Leven Canyon is Tasmania’s deepest limestone ravine so it’s worth stopping for a while and taking in the fresh Tasmanian mountain air while you survey the spectacular views.  Even though Leven Canyon is only a 45-minute drive from Ulverstone (in Gunns Plains/Nietta in the north west region of Tasmania) it feels like you are a million miles away from civilization.

The Leven River at the Canyon floor as it weaves through Gunns Plains/Nietta

Other Walks in the Leven Canyon Reserve

• the Forest Stairs Walk: a 45 minute return walk that includes 697 stairs
  and some steep terrain.  Here you can enjoy listening to and watching
  some of Tasmania’s endemic birds and view the amazing variety of
  ferns that grow in this area.
• the Edge Lookout Track: a 30-minute return easy walk for all ages
  taking in wet forest to drier cliff-edge vegetation.  On this walk you
  can see the Canyon walls up close.

• the 20 minute return easy Fern Walk is suitable for all ages and features
  beautiful old tree-ferns up to 5 metres tall and 150 years old.  This area
  is home to the small mammals of Leven Canyon such as the eastern
  pygmy possum, dusky antechinus and long tailed mouse.
• for a more strenuous walk try the Canyon Floor Walk.  Drive to the start
  of the walk just off Loongana Road then follow the downhill track to the
  canyon floor.
• more experienced walkers can then continue to Devils Elbow, which is an
  hour return from the footbridge.  It’s a challenging walk and is part of the
  Penguin-Cradle Trail.

Magnificent forest views out over Leven Canyon from Cruickshanks Lookout

An Appetite for National Parks & Reserves in Tasmania

After these walks have worked up an appetite why not have a picnic or barbecue at one of the tables or the picnic shelter?  This area of the almost 2,500 ha reserve is very well set up and has toilets and information about the Leven Canyon and surrounds.  As with other reserves and national parks in Tasmania, be prepared for changing weather conditions.  The track surfaces may be slippery at times and be covered in ice.  And don’t forget to stay on the tracks provided to protect the unique environment.

With so many and varied national parks and reserves in Tasmania that are just a drive away, it’s a hard decision to pick which one to see first when you are holidaying in our island state.  As with the Leven Canyon, you won’t be disappointed with what you find when you get there.

Michelle about to embark on one of the Leven Canyon walks

Michelle Kneipp Pegler writes a blog called Leven River Farm
about the ups and downs of her Good Life
and occasional forays delving into the lessons of the past.

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Map: Leven Canyon Tasmania…

Wind Generators in Tasmania

by Roger Findlay

One of the windiest places I have ever visited apart from Cape Town RSA is in the north east region of Tasmania.  If you have been following the news you would have heard of Musselroe Bay and the controversial plans to erect giant wind generators along the coastline.

Musselroe Bay, north east Tasmania... proposed site for more wind generators

Many people are concerned about the impact on the local bird life including the two types of eagle and the Forty Spotted Pardalote as well as the visual effects.

A Meeting with Khalid near Montagu

Almost ten years ago, Jeanette and I stayed at a B&B in Smithton and it was there that we met Khalid who was using the facility as a base for his studies.  Khalid (an Iraqi) was quite a character.  He had studied in the UK and was known as the Greasy Arab!  He had more money than all of the other students and a flash car that made him extremely popular.  Like me, Khalid loved a beer and we enjoyed his company on a night out at the Smithton Club.

A view of Montagu Island from Stony Point, north west Tasmania

Khalid also had a small caravan out on the tiny Montagu Island not far from Montagu.  By chance, we met him on his way back from the island.  He had waded across on low tide.  He told us of the caravan with no power and the several days of solitude when he was out there doing his job.

A Study of the Effect on Birds

As a bird expert and the co-author of a major book, Khalid had been contracted by the Victorian Government to study the impact of wind generators on bird life.  Part of this assignment was to assess the number and types of bird on Montagu Island.

Up close to the wind generators on King Island, north west Tasmania

It was good to hear that in all his time conducting the study he had never seen a bird that had been killed by the giant wind mill blades.  He suggested that birds would move away from the area but then return once they got used to the sound of the rotating blades.

King Island & Woolnorth Wind Generators

We haven’t been close to the wind generators at Woolnorth but we have been very close to those on King Island.  Because of the natural wind noise, it was hard to gauge how loud the wind generators were but I guess they were much quieter than we had expected.

Wind generators at Woolnorth in the far north west of Tasmania

If ever you find yourself up at Woolnorth, take the short drive to Montagu and the reserve at Stony Point.  It is a beautiful natural setting for camping or parking the caravan.  Look over to Motagu Island.  Who knows… you may even see the Greasy Arab going about this most unusual task.

Stony Point in north west Tasmania... an interesting place to visit

Read more about the Tasmanian wind generators at
Woolnorth and King Island (and other sites) at the  website of
Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources

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Map: Places Mentioned in this Wind Generators Article…

Narawntapu National Park

by Michelle Kneipp Pegler

Narawntapu National Park, a large 4349-hectare park, is located in the north west region of Tasmania.  It’s boundaries stretch from Bakers Point, across the Rubicon River from Port Sorell, to Pebbly Beach just north of Greens Beach at the entrance of the Tamar River.  It was first declared a National Park in 1976 and has beautiful long sandy beaches, freshwater lagoons and a sandstone range increasing to 392 metres at the highest point.

Sand for miles and rock pools to explore: Narawntapu National Park, Tasmania

Bakers Beach, Narawntapu National Park, north west coast of Tasmania

Flora & Fauna; Birds & Bushwalking

There’s a visitor centre on site providing all the information needed about the park and payment of entry fees.  There’s also displays of the wildlife and plant life found within the park…  Forester kangaroos, Bennett’s wallabies, Tasmanian Devils, Tasmanian pademelons and wombats.  For the bird fancier there are many species to be found around the wetlands area.

There are numerous walks you can take to view the wide variety of wildlife; from one hour right up to nine hours in duration.  Whatever your fitness level you are sure to find one just right for you, and if you’d like to be informed along the way there are ranger-led walks as well.

Oyster Catchers on the beach in the Narawntapu National Park, Tasmania

Camping & Fishing; Swimming & Horse Riding

Narawntapu National Park is popular with locals and visitors alike for camping, picnics, fishing, swimming, hiking and horse riding.  You can come for the day or stay for longer and bring your caravan or camping gear.  Toilets are located in each camping ground, and token operated hot showers are available at the powered sites near the visitor centre.

There are picnic areas dotted around the park and a boat ramp is provided at Bakers Point.  A section of Springlawn Beach is set aside for water skiing between 1st November and 30th April.

Horse riding along the beach on the north west coast of Tasmania... divine!

Getting There…

Narawntapu National Park is easily accessed from Frankford Road (B71).  There is a bitumen road into the park as far as the visitor centre and from there to Bakers Beach, Griffiths Point and Bakers Point there are good dirt roads that are suitable for 2 wheel drive vehicles.

For more information about Narawntapu National Park visit the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife website or phone (03) 62486277.

Vast expanses of sandy beaches, and interesting things to do in Tasmania

Michelle Kneipp Pegler writes a blog called Leven River Farm
about the ups and downs of her Good Life
and occasional forays delving into the lessons of the past.

If you like this article about Tasmania, and you’d like to read more, just subscribe to our newsletter or join us on Facebook.  If you really like this article, and you want others to see it, you can choose one of the “share” options below.  We’d love that!

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Map: Narawntapu National Park Tasmania…

Stay in a Bicheno holiday house and write an article for Think Tasmania about the experience.  Gee… let me ponder that for a moment.  Okay.  Yes, I’ll do it.  In fact, let me sign up right now before you change your mind.  So we signed; we stayed and now we give you the details.

Visit the beach on the east coast of Tasmania and stay in this beautiful Bicheno holiday house

Bicheno Holiday House: Break Away

We have stayed in Bicheno before and absolutely love the place to bits.  It’s just such a relaxing and unhurried place, with gorgeous views in every direction.  And if that’s the sort of thing you’re looking for, a break from the reality of every-day stress, this Bicheno holiday house couldn’t be better.

Beautiful sunset colours over the Bicheno beach horizon towards Swansea

We arrived in the evening, driving from Hobart after school had finished for the day.  The journey up the east coast via Sorrel, Buckland, Orford, Triabunna and Swansea takes a little over two hours and is a pleasant drive.  We ate at the Beachfront Hotel, where the service was speedy and the meals were good.  But we really just wanted to get to the beach house and settle in.

Suntrap Cove is perched high on the hill to take advantage of the spectacular views

Suntrap Cove: Views for Days

Suntrap Cove, as the Bicheno holiday house is named, is on the Esplanade near the well-known Bicheno blowhole.  The house is elevated, with the living area facing the Tasman Sea, and as soon as you walk in, you just know you’ll never want to leave.  The views over the orange, lichen-covered rocks and further out to sea are magnificent, no matter what time of day.

Daytime views of the Tasman Sea from the balcony of the Bicheno holiday house

As day turns to night, the views over the lichen rocks in Bicheno are still stunning

Moonlight over the Tasman Sea and the orange, lichen-covered rocks of Bicheno

Obviously, we spent a lot of our time gazing out to sea.  You can watch whales during their migration, right from the balcony!  We forgot to pack our binoculars, even though we knew whale-spotting was on the agenda.  But Rob and Louise had some propped up on the side-table ready for us.  We should have known they would provide such extra touches.  They also own Alice’s Cottages in Launceston and have a reputation for exceeding the expectations of their guests.

Watching for whales, seals and birds in Bicheno (that's a seal on the rock... honest!!)

What you Want; What you Need

The kitchen is well-equipped, and there’s a bbq on the balcony if you decide to cook your own meals.  There’s no real need to bring supplies with you from home, as the town has an excellent bakery and butcher, and of course you can source fresh seafood.

You couldn't ask for a better place to cook the barbecue for a casual meal

A short walk from this Bicheno holiday house will have you on the rocks peering into the blowhole.  The kids loved searching for crabs that scurried between the boulders.  We peeked under one rock, only to be faced with a penguin!  It was a weekend filled with wildlife, actually.  We could see seals from the balcony, and we had birds so brave they’d take bread from our outstretched hands!

The blowhole is only a short walk from this Bicheno holiday house

A penguin on the rocks near the blowhole in Bicheno

Bird-watching (or feeding!) from the balcony of the Bicheno holiday house

Blissful Bicheno Holiday House

We were in the market for a chilled-out weekend.  We played cards and board-games and watched a DVD in between walks to the beach.  The couch was a great place to read a book!  All three bedrooms had really comfortable beds with plenty of room for the whole family to claim their own space.

Playing cards and board games... a pleasant family weekend at the Bicheno beach

While we were tempted to spend the entire weekend tucked up in our wonderful Bicheno holiday house, we did venture out for a drive north.  We had a fabulous lunch at the Iron House Brewery and investigated more things to do in the town.  We did a little shopping; did a little snorkeling from the jetty… and did a few other things we’ll have to tell you about another time!!

Glass Bottom Boat tours explore The Gulch at Bicheno in Tasmania

The writer and her family were guests at Suntrap Cove
For more details of the Bicheno Holiday House visit the website
or phone Rob and Louise Widdowson (03) 6334 2231

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Map: Bicheno Holiday House, Suntrap Cove…

The Changing Face of the Douglas River

by Roger Findlay

The Douglas River can be found on the east coast of Tasmania about 15 minutes drive north of Bicheno.  It has many changing faces as it runs down out of the hills of the Douglas Apsley National Park and out into the sea.

Spectacular beaches: Douglas River region on the east coast of Tasmania

Since we first visited about eight years ago the beach has now accumulated timber that has washed down from the hills.  You may be aware that St. Mary’s and the Elephant Pass has been hit by floods in recent times and this is the result.  This hasn’t stopped us visiting our favourite spot in Tasmania.  In fact it is quite the opposite.

Roger & Jeanette like to go fishing for bream in the Douglas River

Douglas River Family Farm

There is just one family living on the Douglas River and they’re right on the estuary where we like to fish for bream.  This family work the land right along the front and down to the beach.  Sheep, beef cattle and pumpkins provide their living and have done for years gone by.

Being such regular visitors, we are treated like family.  They are always glad to see us and we feel the same.  The evening drinks are relaxing for both parties and the conversation is non-pretentious, basic stuff: weather, Tasmanian politics, Home & Away, etc.

Douglas River: one of the pristine beaches of the east coast of Tasmania

You’ll Own the Beach!

As we are given a key to a gate, we have access to private land and a deserted beach that stretches for miles in both directions.  One day we got such a fright when another person appeared!  Walking towards Bicheno, the sand dunes have been eroded into a formation that our friends call The Porches.  Bird life is abundant and the giant seaweed creates an attraction of it’s own.

Roger is fascinated by the seaweed on the beach at Douglas River

Looking back up the estuary, the hills of the Douglas Apsley are often capped by cloud.  You can see the weather changing.  At times the Douglas River can be running fast but when the tide is out it can be extremely calm.  About a year ago the authorities installed a steel platform in the river close to the bank.  It may have been to monitor the flow.  The experienced land owners advised what to expect and, when the floods hit, the platform washed away!

The changing weather in the Douglas River region near Bicheno, Tasmania

Accommodation Near Bicheno, Tasmania

If you are looking for good, clean and reasonable accommodation near Bicheno, I can recommend Douglas River Cabins.  A three night stay would be ideal for visiting Bicheno, Coles Bay and St. Helens to the north.  For the walker, the Douglas Apsley National Park can be accessed close by.  There are two cabins that are suitable for a couple, small family or large group.  Give it a try but don’t tell the world!  You will not be disappointed.

Near the Douglas Apsley National Park on the east coast of Tasmania

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Map: Douglas River Cabins:

NosMos: We Will

NosMos is a new art/design partnership based in the beautiful region of southern Tasmania.  NosMos partners Hiedi Limebeer and Rodney J Alexander produce unique illustrated works, art focused garments and jewellery.

A collection of buttons on display at the NosMos market stall

Birds pop up regularly in the NosMos world with watercolour peacocks morphing into eyes, and little wrens on feathery vines.  “We especially love little native birds; the ones like wrens and robins.  It amuses us that they stay in the air with their little fluffy bodies and tiny wings.  Rod’s original watercolour works are soft and cheeky and reflect his gentle nature”, said Limebeer.

Nosmos Watercolours by Rodney J Alexander

“As an art/design partnership we really complement each other.  It’s a natural progression for us to follow up our music ventures with something visually creative”, said Alexander.

A Little About NosMos:

Hiedi Limebeer studied design at the Fashion Design Studio East Sydney (SIT) following in the footsteps of other designers such as Akira Isogawa, Lisa Ho and Alex Perry.  She continued on her studies with journalism/public relations at the University of Western Sydney and graphic design at Newcastle University.  She has also worked in the fashion and public relations industries.

Garments fashioned by Hiedi Limebeer of Tasmanian creative duo NosMos

One of her many accomplishments saw her establish the tertiary student show at Australian Fashion Week.  She has also worked as a publicist for a number of high profile fashion and lifestyle brands like Cartier.

Rodney J. Alexander studied fine arts at Newcastle University (Bachelor of Fine Arts) and works as a commissioned artist for discerning clients looking for their own one off creation or design project.  He also studied graphic design at Hornsby Technical College.

The creative NosMos also sell cards featuring their own designs

Being driven by the “creative” right side of the brain, people would not be surprised to find out that Hiedi & Rodney also don a second hat as working musicians.  Their recent debut CD Carry Me Away featured on ABC Radio; described by Radio National’s Geoff Wood as a ‘real find’.  They have recently performed at The Taste of Tasmania and the Cygnet Folk Festival.  Hiedi is often compared to Celtic singer/songwriters such as Loreena McKennitt and Enya.  You can find out more about their music at www.hiedilimebeer.com

Brooches on show at the Barn Market: hand-made jewellery by NosMos

Visit Hiedi Limebeer and Rodney J Alexander of NosMos
at the Salamanca Market, The Market and the Barn Market.
The next Barn Market will be a Christmas spectacular
and is scheduled for Saturday 26 November 10:00-3:00.

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