Wings Wildlife Park Shuttle, Burnie Shore Excursion

The star of this Burnie shore trip is the chance to walk among free-roaming kangaroos and wallabies, then watch Tasmanian devils at close range. I like the scenic inland drive and the easy return shuttle, which takes the worry out of getting back for your ship. I also like that your two hours at Wings are largely your own time, so you can follow your interests instead of staying with a group.

The main drawback is the clock. Some visitors have found that the actual park visit fell short of the planned two hours, while others felt an hour and a half was enough. You should also know that the bus is not wheelchair accessible: you must be able to walk onto it.

Key Points Before You Book

• Feed kangaroos inside an open enclosure: Bring small notes or a card for food if available, and allow time to simply watch the animals around you.
• Optional close animal encounters cost extra: Koala and baby Tasmanian devil experiences may be booked at the park for an additional fee.
• The drive is part of the attraction: Expect countryside, mountain and valley views, the Leven River, and a return through Penguin.
• Your park visit is self-guided: The guide or driver handles the transport, while you explore Wings Wildlife Park at your own pace.
• The meeting point is in central Burnie: Start and finish at 13 Wilmot Street, with the shuttle returning you to the same place unless arrangements take you directly back to the ship.
• Allow time for the whole outing: The listed duration is about 3 hours 50 minutes, including transport, with roughly 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours at the park.

Why Wings Wildlife Park Works Well From Burnie

Burnie is a practical port, but the best animal experiences are inland. Wings Wildlife Park gives you a direct way to leave the waterfront behind and see a broad mix of Australian wildlife without trying to arrange a rental car, local taxi, and return route on your own.

The excursion costs $89.66 per person. That is not the cheapest way to spend a port call, but the price includes admission and transport from the Burnie meeting point. For a ship visit, that matters. You are paying for a planned route, a driver or guide, and a return schedule designed around the limited time available in port.

You will first ride inland toward the park, then return by a different scenic route that includes the Leven River and coastal Penguin. The journey takes about 45 minutes each way according to one detailed account, though the total timing can vary with the ship schedule and road conditions. I consider the drive worthwhile because it gives you a look at rural Tasmania, not just an animal collection behind gates.

This is a good choice if you want a compact wildlife outing and do not need every minute filled with formal guiding. It is less suitable if you want a long, slow visit with time for every enclosure, café stop, photo, and optional encounter.

Finding the Shuttle at 13 Wilmot Street

The official start and end point is 13 Wilmot Street, Burnie. The area can be busy when several tour operators gather, so do not assume the first table or uniform you see belongs to this shuttle.

A useful practical tip is to walk across the market area at the meeting point and look for the tour company table on the other side. Confusion has occurred when people approached a different operator nearby. Have your booking confirmation ready and give yourself enough time to locate the correct representative.

The tour can carry up to 50 people. That means the ride may feel like a proper group transfer rather than a small private outing. On the plus side, a larger vehicle is efficient for a cruise-port schedule. On the minus side, seats near the back may make it harder to hear spoken commentary if the bus microphone is not working well.

The transport portion is guided or narrated, while Wings Wildlife Park itself is self-guided. You may hear local facts and information during the ride, sometimes from the driver or a volunteer narrator. Marie has been specifically praised for her friendly local commentary, though she is not guaranteed on every departure.

The Inland Drive Through Tasmanian Countryside

The trip begins with a change of scenery. Burnie’s coastal setting gives way to country roads, small towns, valleys, and mountain views. The final 15 to 20 minutes before the park are especially scenic, according to the detailed route descriptions shared by past passengers.

I like this part because it gives context to the wildlife visit. You are not simply being moved from a port to a zoo. You are seeing some of the countryside that makes northern Tasmania appealing, with the return route adding more variety through the Leven River area and Penguin.

If the bus offers narration, listen early in the ride. It can help you understand the region and may make the journey more interesting than a silent transfer. Some passengers have enjoyed a recorded tour on the bus, while a microphone problem once made it difficult for people in the back to hear. If commentary matters to you, sitting closer to the front is sensible.

The route also acts as a buffer against weather or ship timing changes. One departure was adjusted to accommodate a delayed ship, showing why a shore excursion with local transport can be useful. Still, Burnie is exposed to strong winds, and a ship may be unable to dock at all in bad conditions. That risk belongs to the port call, not just this tour.

Two Hours Among Australian Animals

Wings Wildlife Park houses more than 150 species, so its appeal is variety. You can expect to see Tasmanian devils, kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, koalas, parrots, and other birds and animals in landscaped grounds.

The kangaroo enclosure is the clear highlight for many people. You can enter the open area, walk among the animals, and in some cases feed them by hand. Kangaroo food costs extra, so plan for that if feeding is important to you. Even without food, the enclosure gives you a close look at the animals and some of the best photo chances of the day.

The animals are not all presented in the same way. Some are viewed in enclosures, while the kangaroos and wallabies offer a more direct setting. A friendly Gang-gang cockatoo has been singled out as a memorable character, and the park also includes fish feeding opportunities. These small interactions help make the visit feel personal rather than like a quick pass through a row of exhibits.

Tasmanian devils are the reason some people choose this outing. You may see a feeding presentation or watch the devils tear into meat. It can be fascinating, but it is not polished family entertainment. The sight and sound can be quite graphic, especially for young children or anyone sensitive to animal feeding.

The park also places emphasis on education and conservation. You can learn about the challenges facing Tasmania’s native species and the care of injured or orphaned animals. That purpose gives the visit more weight than a simple photo stop, though the amount you learn depends on how much time you spend reading signs, attending presentations, or arranging an encounter.

Optional Koala and Tasmanian Devil Encounters

You can pay extra for closer animal contact at Wings. Past prices have included about US $40 for a special encounter, though you should confirm the current fee when booking or at the park.

A koala experience may allow you to pet the animal and take photographs. One named koala, Blinky Bill, has been especially memorable when awake and active during the session. Koalas sleep for long periods, so you should keep expectations realistic. The chance to see one up close is part of the appeal, but animal behavior cannot be guaranteed.

A baby Tasmanian devil encounter is another possible add-on. Holding or cuddling a young devil can be unforgettable, especially if Tasmanian devils are your main reason for visiting. The extra fee makes most sense if you have a strong interest in wildlife photography or close animal experiences. If you are content to observe, the standard admission already gives you plenty to see.

You may also encounter a baby wallaby being raised by a caretaker. These special moments depend on the park’s current animals, care arrangements, and daily program, so do not treat any single named animal as guaranteed.

How to Use Your Time at the Park

The planned visit is about two hours, while the itinerary also gives a figure of 1 hour 30 minutes. That difference is important. In practice, you may have enough time for the main animal areas, but not enough for every enclosure, presentation, café visit, shop browse, and paid encounter.

I would make the kangaroo enclosure your first priority. If you want a koala or baby devil encounter, ask about availability as soon as you arrive. People who waited sometimes found the timing tight, while those who arranged an early encounter had more freedom afterward.

Next, set aside time for Tasmanian devils and wombats. Then visit the bird areas and smaller animals. The park ranges from mice to larger native animals, so do not rush past the less famous creatures. The birds can be among the most engaging residents, especially when they are active or accustomed to visitors.

If you want lunch, the on-site café serves Tasmanian delicacies. I would treat this as optional rather than central. A café stop can be pleasant, but every sit-down minute reduces time with the animals. The souvenir shop is useful for Tasmanian gifts, yet you can browse quickly at the end.

The grounds include landscaped areas and a lakeside setting where you might pause for a picnic or a quiet break. Families and photographers may appreciate the room to move at their own pace. If you have mobility limits, ask detailed questions before booking, since the transport requirement is stricter than simply having accessible paths at the park.

What the Return Through Penguin Adds

The ride back is not just a repeat of the morning route. The excursion returns along the Leven River and passes through Penguin, a coastal village with a distinctly Tasmanian feel.

You will see small-town streets, countryside, and coastal scenery from the bus rather than stopping for a long visit. That makes the return pleasant but not a separate sightseeing tour. If you hoped to explore Penguin on foot, this excursion does not promise that kind of free time.

The scenery can be especially rewarding late in the trip, when the road approaches the coast. Several passengers have found the drive itself worth the cost of the excursion. That is useful to know if you are deciding between this and a shorter port activity. You are buying a wildlife park visit, but you also receive a broad view of the area around Burnie.

Depending on ship timing and the day’s operations, the vehicle may return you directly to the ship rather than requiring a transfer in town. That has happened and is a welcome convenience, but the listed meeting point and endpoint remain 13 Wilmot Street. Confirm the exact return arrangement for your sailing.

Price, Timing, and Shore Excursion Value

At $89.66 per person, the outing offers solid value if you want both transport and admission. A self-arranged visit could look cheaper at first, but you would still need to solve the inland transfer and protect your return to the ship. This shuttle handles the main practical problem.

The value drops if you are mainly interested in one animal and want a long encounter. Your park time is limited, and koala or baby devil interactions cost extra. Add food, café purchases, and souvenirs, and the final bill can rise.

The tour lasts approximately 3 hours 50 minutes, including travel. That is a good fit for a port day because the schedule is compact. It is not an all-day wildlife outing. You should expect a brisk visit, especially if the bus is delayed, the ship arrives late, or the group takes longer to assemble.

The excursion is free to cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. Changes or cancellations inside 24 hours are not accepted for a refund. Most people can participate, but wheelchair users must be able to walk onto the bus because it has no wheelchair lift, even though wheelchairs can be stored onboard.

Who Should Book This Burnie Excursion?

I would recommend it to families, first-time visitors to Tasmania, animal lovers, and anyone who wants a reliable half-day plan from Burnie. The kangaroo enclosure alone can create the sort of close Australian wildlife memory that stays with you long after the port call.

It also suits you if scenery matters. The countryside ride, mountain and valley views, Leven River route, and passage through Penguin give the day a wider sense of place. You are seeing more than a single attraction.

I would hesitate if you need full wheelchair access, dislike group transport, or want a quiet, unhurried wildlife visit. I would also think twice if your main goal is a long koala cuddle, since the optional encounter is subject to park arrangements and takes time from the rest of the visit.

Should You Book Wings Wildlife Park?

Book this shuttle if you want close contact with kangaroos, a chance to see Tasmanian devils, and an easy return plan from Burnie. The combination of animal encounters and scenic countryside makes good use of a short port day.

Before paying, confirm the current departure time, the exact pickup table at 13 Wilmot Street, and any extra fees for koala or devil encounters. If you can walk onto the bus and accept a fairly brisk park visit, this is one of the stronger ways to connect with Tasmania’s wildlife without taking on your own transport arrangements.

FAQ

How long does the Wings Wildlife Park shuttle take?

The complete excursion lasts approximately 3 hours 50 minutes, including travel time. The planned visit at Wings Wildlife Park is about two hours, although the itinerary also lists 1 hour 30 minutes at the park.

Where does the excursion begin and end?

The meeting point is 13 Wilmot Street, Burnie, Tasmania. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

Is admission to Wings Wildlife Park included?

Yes. Admission to Wings Wildlife Park is included in the excursion price.

Can I feed the kangaroos?

Yes. The kangaroo enclosure is open for you to enter and walk among the animals. Kangaroo food is available for purchase, so feeding may involve an additional cost.

Are koala and Tasmanian devil encounters included?

No. Close encounters with a koala or baby Tasmanian devil require an additional fee. You can ask about availability when you arrive at the park.

Is the bus wheelchair accessible?

No. The vehicle does not have a wheelchair lift, and you must be able to walk onto the bus. Wheelchairs can be stored on the vehicle.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund.