Tasmanian Wildlife

If the wild Australian Outback is characterised by its baking red earth, Tasmania's wilds are, literally, a little more lively. From wallabies and quolls, to the Tasmanian devil. From sea birds to the rare orange-bellied parrot, a visit to Tasmania can be full of encounters with some of Australia's most unique animals.

Indeed, as the BBC's Wildlife magazine noted: 'Tasmania is such a haven for marsupials that in some parts of the state you'll find yourself almost tripping over their tails'. The still mysterious platypus and even a colony of white wallabies can be found, rather easily, in Tasmania.

Part of Mother Nature's enduring appeal is that she is, for the most part, outrageously unpredictable. Yet in Tasmania so prolific is the wildlife that encounters with wallabies and even the Tasmanian devil can be almost guaranteed, particularly for those who are prepared to venture out at night - much of Tassie's most intriguing wildlife (think devils, quolls and wombats) is nocturnal.

However, for those who want to make sure of their wildlife bet, Tasmania has a number of conservation parks where encounters with wildlife become far more intimate than in the 'wild'. In fact, at some parks it is even possible to feed animals including kangaroos and wallabies.

If the magnificence of trees is of as much interest as the fauna consider this: among Tasmania's temperate rainforests are the tallest flowering trees on earth (the Eucalyptus regnans).
Australia doesn't have to be red to be wild.

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