Between the devil and the deep blue sea’s creatures

Sadly you won’t spot the extinct Tasmanian Tiger anywhere but stuffed and mounted in museums, but it’s a different story for all the island’s other native creatures great and small at these special places. Get up close to loads of lively critters, from devils to platypuses.

There are so many different critters at Wings Wildlife Park you’ll be glad they have on-site accommodation. From native bandicoots, blue-tongue lizards, rosellas and devils to exotic and domestic animals including meerkats and miniature horses, this family-run operation is an amazing menagerie.

Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary is dedicated to native animals: waterbirds and amphibians around the lake, the shrub-land habitat’s pademelons (the kangaroo’s little Tassie cousin), and more – including devils, of course! Some are temporary residents being rehabilitated for release into the wild, or just passing through this sanctuary surrounded by 10 hectares of untouched bush

Immerse yourself among Tasmanian devils at Devils@Cradle, where experiences include after-dark feeding tours and baby-devil close encounters. The Dine with the Devil small-group option gives you the chance to roast marshmallows around a campfire near Cradle Mountain, as the sun sets and those feisty devils screech!

Platypuses are superstar swimmers and super-cute too, so don’t miss Platypus House – where you can also see the world’s only other monotreme (those unusual mammals that lays eggs). Yes, echidnas are in residence too, and although they don’t have their platypus pals’ agility they’re equally cute and intriguing.

Nearby, Seahorse World also offers more than the name suggests. It’s mainly dedicated to seahorse breeding, conservation and education – you can hold a seahorse in the palm of your hand! – but it’s also a good spot to meet other curious ocean creatures like weedy seadragons and giant cuttlefish.

Tasmania Zoo has everyone’s favourite creatures, whether you’re into crocs and cassowaries, penguins and pythons or devils and ducks. Close encounters are available with some species, including red pandas, koalas and capybaras, a giant South American rodent that’s actually pretty cute.

It’s rare to spot endangered devils anywhere but in zoos and sanctuaries. The Devils in the Dark experience’s 10 hectares of bushland offers the next best thing to a truly wild encounter though. These little nocturnal critters roam virtually free but safe from danger, and participants are almost certain to see them.

Meet lots of sociable locals at Natureworld, from the staff at this family-run sanctuary to native animals like bettongs, wallabies and cockatoos. In a setting that’s friendly to humans and animals, including walk-through aviaries, a lagoon and an area dedicated to devils, you’ll love getting back to nature.

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary is a haven for native animals including wombats, eastern quolls and the star attraction, Tasmanian devils. Operating a wildlife hospital and the state’s first 24/7 wildlife rescue service, it’s also heaven for wildlife-loving humans, with exciting experiences like animal feeding and night tours.

At Tasmanian Devil Unzoo, the traditional zoo experience is out and seeing animals like devils and tawny frogmouths behaving naturally is in. Barriers have been concealed or removed entirely from their habitats, and there are no boundaries around this property’s native garden so truly wild visitors regularly drop in too.

There aren’t many second chances for sick and injured birds, but Raptor Refuge is one of them. Locals like peregrine falcons and white-bellied sea eagles are rehabilitated here, in facilities such as three of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest raptor aviaries. This refuge’s visitor experiences include rescue-to-release and raptor photography workshops.

Information included in this blog is correct at the time of publishing. Please contact individual operators for further information.