Discovering Tasmania: Burnie Shore Excursion

Tasmania rewards a little extra time. This five-hour Burnie shore excursion packs wildlife, gardens, waterfalls, and wide coastal views into a ship-friendly outing. I like the chance to see Tasmanian devils, wombats, kangaroos, wallabies, and echidnas at Wings Wildlife Park, and I like that admission to both main attractions is included. The main consideration is time: with several stops and driving between them, visits are enjoyable but not leisurely.

The $143.45 price is fair for a cruise-day tour that includes transport, entry fees, and a backup vehicle promise if something goes wrong. Guide Howard earned especially warm praise for his local commentary, while David was also noted for helping make the wildlife visit informative and personal. Still, you should confirm the pickup time carefully, since the departure may change to match your ship’s arrival.

Quick facts about the Burnie shore excursion

• Wildlife comes first in spirit: Wings Wildlife Park gives you a chance to see Tasmanian devils, wombats, koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, and echidnas in one stop.
• Emu Valley covers 11 hectares: The rhododendron gardens combine flowering plants, tall eucalypts, ferns, woodland paths, and a chance to look for wild platypuses.
• The tour runs about five hours and 15 minutes: That total includes the driving time between Burnie, the inland stops, and the lookouts.
• Several scenic stops round out the day: George Woodhouse Lookout, a waterfall stop, and Upper Burnie Lookout add views beyond the gardens and wildlife park.
• Admission is included: You do not pay separate entry fees for Wings Wildlife Park or Emu Valley Rhododendron Gardens.
• The group can reach 50 people: This is a shared coach excursion, not a small private tour, though the exact group size may vary.

A five-hour taste of inland and coastal Tasmania

This tour works because it gives you more than one version of Tasmania. Burnie is your starting point, but the route quickly heads inland toward forest, gardens, wildlife, and high viewpoints before returning along the coast.

That variety matters on a cruise stop. You are not using the whole day on a single attraction, and you are not limited to the waterfront. In one outing, you get native animals, cultivated gardens, a waterfall, and views over the Burnie area.

The total time is approximately five hours and 15 minutes, including driving. That makes it a sensible match for a port call, but it also means you should keep your expectations realistic. You will see several places, yet this is not a tour built around long walks or slow photography sessions.

The meeting point is at 13 Wilmot Street in Burnie, and the tour finishes there. It is near public transportation, and the operator says the starting time may be adjusted for different ships. You should wait for the confirmed time rather than assuming the time shown at initial booking is final.

George Woodhouse Lookout and the road inland

The first part of the route takes you inland to George Woodhouse Lookout. This is a useful early stop because it gives you a broad sense of the area before you spend time among the gardens and animals.

The drive itself is part of the appeal. You move away from Burnie and into greener country, with the chance to see the changing scenery through the vehicle windows. Guide commentary can make a real difference here. Howard was praised for explaining Tasmania along the route, so the ride is not simply dead time between attractions.

A lookout is also a smart choice for a cruise excursion. It gives you a clear photo opportunity without demanding a long hike, and it helps you understand how Burnie fits into the surrounding country. The exact amount of time at this stop is not specified, so treat it as a scenic pause rather than a major walking section.

A waterfall stop is also included in the overall route. The available details do not name the waterfall or state how long you stop there, but one account described the waterfalls as especially impressive and easy to reach on foot. If you enjoy short nature walks, this may be one of the day’s nicest surprises.

Wings Wildlife Park, where Tasmania’s animals take center stage

Wings Wildlife Park is the most interactive part of the outing. You have about 90 minutes to explore at your own pace, and admission is included in the tour price.

The park provides a chance to see several animals closely associated with Tasmania and Australia. You might encounter kangaroos and wallabies in open areas, then see Tasmanian devils, wombats, koalas, and echidnas elsewhere in the park. The range is a strong reason to choose this excursion, especially if you have never visited a wildlife park in Tasmania before.

The Tasmanian devil is the star for many people. Seeing one in person gives more meaning to the conservation issues facing the species than a quick photograph or a sign in a museum. The park also explains its work with breeding programs, habitat restoration, and animal care, so you get some useful context instead of simply walking past enclosures.

Optional animal encounters may be arranged when you arrive. These are not presented as part of the included package, so ask about the cost and availability before committing. The standard visit already provides plenty to see, and you should not feel that you must add an extra activity to make the stop worthwhile.

The 90-minute window is generous enough for a good visit, but it is not endless. You may need to choose between spending more time with one animal and making a full circuit of the park. If animal photography is important to you, keep an eye on the meeting time.

The strongest praise for this tour centered on the wildlife stop. One visitor particularly enjoyed interacting with wallabies and kangaroos, along with seeing devils, echidnas, and wombats. That combination makes Wings Wildlife Park a better fit for families and animal lovers than for people who mainly want scenery.

Emu Valley Rhododendron Gardens and a possible platypus search

Emu Valley Rhododendron Gardens sits about 20 minutes from Burnie and covers 11 hectares. The setting includes tall trees, eucalypts, ferns, rhododendrons, and other plants arranged along walking paths.

This is not just a quick flower garden beside the road. The scale gives you room to move through different sections, with trees and woodland providing a calmer contrast to the wildlife park. The gardens are especially appealing if you want a quieter stop after seeing animals.

You may also have a chance to spot wild platypuses. That possibility adds a distinctly Tasmanian touch, but it should be treated as a lucky bonus rather than a guaranteed sighting. Platypuses are elusive, and the supplied details do not promise that you will see one.

The listed time here is 30 minutes, which is the tour’s biggest limitation for garden lovers. You can walk through part of the property and enjoy the setting, but you will not have time to explore all 11 hectares at a slow pace. Wear comfortable shoes and avoid lingering too long at the first pretty viewpoint if you want to see more of the grounds.

The gardens also make the tour more than a standard wildlife outing. You get plants, birdsong, trees, and open air alongside the animal encounters. If your ideal day includes both nature and cultivated scenery, this balance is one of the tour’s best features.

Upper Burnie Lookout and the return to town

The final photo stop is Upper Burnie Lookout. By this point, you have seen the inland side of the region, and the lookout offers one more chance to pause and take in the Burnie area before returning to Wilmot Street.

This is a short stop rather than a major attraction, but those final views can help bring the day together. You have seen the road inland, the gardens, the wildlife park, and a waterfall. A last lookout gives you a clean ending and a chance to take photographs without rushing through another full attraction.

The return route follows the coast. That change of scenery is welcome after the inland portion, and it lets you see another side of the area from the vehicle. Since the drive is part of the tour’s total time, a seat by the window is useful if you enjoy watching the scenery pass.

Is $143.45 good value?

At $143.45 per person, the tour is not the cheapest way to spend a few hours in Burnie. The value depends on what you would otherwise need to arrange yourself.

The price includes entry to Wings Wildlife Park and Emu Valley Rhododendron Gardens, plus transportation between Burnie, the inland stops, and the coastal return route. It also includes the benefit of a guide who can explain Tasmania as you go. For a cruise passenger, that removes the work of arranging separate transport to two outlying attractions.

The price looks strongest if you would otherwise pay for a taxi or private vehicle. A private arrangement might give you more control over timing, but the cost could rise quickly, especially if you are traveling alone or with only one companion. This shared tour keeps the main expenses together.

It is less compelling if you only want a quick wildlife visit. In that case, the drive to the gardens, lookouts, and waterfall adds time and cost that may not fit your priorities. The tour makes more sense when you want a broad sample of Burnie’s surroundings.

The operator says a backup vehicle is available and stresses that the group will return on time for the ship. That is important reassurance on a shore excursion. No port tour can remove every delay risk, but the stated backup plan suggests the operator understands the main concern of cruise passengers.

Timing, group size, and practical details

The maximum group size is 50 people. That is large enough to feel like a standard coach tour, so you should not expect the quiet pace or personal attention of a private guide. The tradeoff is a lower shared cost and a clear, organized route.

Most people can take part, and the tour is near public transportation. The supplied information does not give detailed guidance about wheelchair access, walking distances, or the surface conditions at each stop, so contact the operator if you have mobility concerns.

The total time includes travel, not just time at the attractions. The main scheduled visits are about 30 minutes at Emu Valley and 90 minutes at Wings Wildlife Park, with the remaining time covering the lookouts, waterfall, coastal drive, and transfers.

Alcohol is served only to people over 18. That detail is unlikely to affect most visitors, but it is worth knowing if refreshments are part of your plans.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made inside that window are not accepted for a refund. The practical lesson is simple: check your cruise schedule and pickup instructions early.

Who will enjoy this Burnie outing most?

I would choose this tour if you want a varied first look at Tasmania rather than one major attraction. It suits people who like wildlife, easy scenic stops, gardens, and guided transport in one package.

Families should find the animal collection appealing, especially the chance to see kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, and devils in one visit. It also works well for first-time visitors who want a guide to provide context instead of trying to piece the route together alone.

Nature lovers will appreciate the contrast between Emu Valley’s trees and flowers, the waterfall stop, and the views from the lookouts. Photographers may enjoy the variety, though the fixed schedule can feel tight if you want to wait for perfect light or spend a long time at one subject.

I would hesitate if you dislike coach tours, want a private itinerary, or prefer to spend a full morning at one garden. The group can reach 50 people, and the schedule asks you to keep moving.

Should you book the Discovering Tasmania shore excursion?

Book it if you want a dependable sampler of the Burnie area with wildlife as the main attraction. The strongest reasons are the included admissions, the range of animals at Wings Wildlife Park, the 11-hectare Emu Valley gardens, and the scenic stops that fill out the day.

I would also give it extra credit for the cruise-friendly planning. The operator adjusts departure times for different ships and says a backup vehicle is available, which addresses the two big shore-excursion worries: confusion at pickup and getting back late.

Skip it if your priority is a slow garden visit, a private guide, or a single focused attraction. For most cruise passengers, though, $143.45 buys a well-rounded five-hour introduction to Tasmania, with enough wildlife and scenery to make the day feel like more than a quick port stop.

FAQ

Where does the Burnie shore excursion start?

The tour starts at 13 Wilmot Street, Burnie, Tasmania 7320, Australia.

Where does the tour finish?

The activity ends back at the meeting point on Wilmot Street.

How long does the tour take?

The total tour time is approximately five hours and 15 minutes, including travel between stops.

What attractions are included?

The main visits are Emu Valley Rhododendron Gardens and Wings Wildlife Park. The route also includes George Woodhouse Lookout, a waterfall stop, Upper Burnie Lookout, and a coastal drive back toward Burnie.

Are admission fees included?

Yes. Admission to Emu Valley Rhododendron Gardens and Wings Wildlife Park is included.

Can I arrange an animal encounter at Wings Wildlife Park?

Optional animal encounters can be arranged upon arrival. The supplied information does not state their cost or availability.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the local start time are not refunded or accepted.