Wings Wildlife Park Shuttle, Burnie Shore Excursion

Tasmanian devils, free-roaming kangaroos, friendly birds, and a scenic ride through northern Tasmania make this more than a simple zoo stop. At Wings Wildlife Park, you can walk into the kangaroo enclosure, buy food, and watch these wonderfully odd animals come close. Feeding the kangaroos is the big memory-maker here, while a koala or baby Tasmanian devil encounter costs extra.

I like the mix of wildlife and countryside, and I like that the guide and driver handle the port transfer while you explore the park on your own. The ride out and return adds real value, especially along the Leven River and through Penguin. The main caution is time: the plan allows about two hours at Wings, but some departures have provided closer to 80 or 90 minutes.

Quick facts for your Burnie day

• See over 150 species: Look for Tasmanian devils, wombats, wallabies, kangaroos, koalas, parrots, and other Australian animals.
• Walk among kangaroos: The open enclosure lets you feed and pet kangaroos after buying suitable food.
• Add special encounters: Koala visits and baby Tasmanian devil encounters cost extra and are arranged at the park.
• Enjoy a scenic transfer: The route runs inland on the way out, then returns by the Leven River and through Penguin.
• Explore independently: Your transport is guided, but your time at Wings Wildlife Park is self guided.
• Plan carefully for mobility: The bus has no wheelchair lift, and you must be able to walk onto the vehicle.

Why this is one of Burnie’s better wildlife outings

Burnie is a port where the countryside quickly becomes part of the day. This excursion takes you away from the waterfront and into the green interior of northern Tasmania, with Wings Wildlife Park as the main event. You get a short road trip, a wildlife park, and a return transfer built around a cruise ship schedule.

I would choose this trip if you want to see Australian animals without arranging a private car or trying to judge local transport on your own. The roughly 3-hour-50-minute outing includes travel time, and the meeting point is at 13 Wilmot Street in Burnie. The vehicle returns to that same point at the end.

The experience has two distinct parts. A guide and driver accompany the shuttle and provide information during the ride. Once you arrive, you are free to set your own pace inside Wings. That division works well for independent sightseers, families, and anyone who prefers not to follow a group around an animal park.

The park is a preserve and education center as well as an attraction. Its work includes caring for native wildlife, including injured and orphaned animals. That purpose gives the visit more meaning than simply taking pictures of unusual creatures, though you should still approach it as a managed wildlife park rather than a wilderness safari.

The ride from Burnie into Tasmania’s countryside

The drive takes about 45 minutes each way, depending on the day and road conditions. The first part leads inland through small towns, valleys, and mountain views. The final 15 to 20 minutes before the park are especially scenic, with the countryside becoming a major part of the outing.

On the way back, the route follows the beautiful Leven River and passes through Penguin, a coastal village with a distinctly Tasmanian feel. You do not get a long stop in Penguin, so think of it as a pleasant window view rather than a separate town visit.

The ride matters because the park is not right beside the port. You are paying for the transfer, but you are also getting a look at northern Tasmania that a quick walk around Burnie would not provide. A local guide or narrator may share facts during the journey. One guide, Marie, received particular praise for her local information and friendly manner, although there was one report of a microphone problem that made it hard for people at the back of the bus to hear.

The shuttle can carry up to 50 people. That keeps the price moderate at $89.66 per person, but it also means the experience is not intimate. If you sit toward the back, listen carefully when boarding and consider moving forward if the commentary is difficult to hear.

Entering Wings Wildlife Park

You have roughly two hours at Wings Wildlife Park according to the planned schedule. That is enough to see many of the main animal areas, feed kangaroos, and catch one or two presentations or special encounters. It is not enough for a slow visit to every corner, especially if you stop often for photographs.

The grounds are landscaped and include a lakeside area where you can pause for a picnic or a quiet break. The park has more than 150 species, so you will find a broad mix of Australian wildlife rather than a single headline animal.

The self-guided format gives you useful freedom. You can spend more time with kangaroos and wallabies, move quickly past animals that interest you less, or stop for a café break. You are not tied to a guide’s walking speed inside the park.

That freedom comes with one responsibility: keep an eye on the meeting time. A few minutes lost at the café, shop, or a special encounter can make the final animal areas feel rushed. I would ask the driver or guide to confirm the exact return time before heading through the entrance.

Kangaroo feeding is the main event

The kangaroo enclosure is the part I would make a priority. You can walk among the animals and purchase food for hand feeding. This is a close, gentle experience, and it gives you more than the usual view of kangaroos resting behind a fence.

The animals may approach, linger, or wander away, so patience helps. Let them come to you, follow the park’s instructions, and avoid treating the encounter like a petting zoo with guaranteed contact. The best photographs often come when you pause quietly instead of chasing an animal around the enclosure.

Wallabies add another layer to the visit. You can walk among them and watch their smaller, more cautious movements. For many people, this direct contact becomes the most memorable part of the stop, even more than seeing the larger predators.

If your time is limited, visit the kangaroos early. Feeding is one of the clearest reasons to choose Wings, and it would be frustrating to spend your first hour elsewhere and then rush through this enclosure.

Tasmanian devils, koalas, wombats, and birds

Tasmanian devils are the park’s signature animals. You can see them at close range and may hear an informative presentation about their behavior and conservation challenges. Their feeding sessions can be graphic, since devils tear into meat with considerable force. That is fascinating for some people and uncomfortable for others, so keep young children’s reactions in mind.

A special baby Tasmanian devil encounter is available for an additional fee, listed in one account as about US $40 per person. It is not part of the base price, and availability may vary. If meeting a devil is your main goal, ask about the encounter when you arrive rather than waiting until the end.

Koala interactions also cost extra. A timed visit with a koala such as Blinky Bill can include petting and photographs, but you should not assume it is included with admission. Koalas sleep for long periods, and one especially fortunate visit found the animal awake during the encounter.

Wombats, parrots, cockatoos, and other birds round out the collection. A friendly gang-gang cockatoo has made a strong impression on past visitors, and the bird areas can be a welcome change after the larger mammals. The variety is a real strength here. You can move from tiny animals to kangaroos, birds, wombats, and devils in one compact visit.

How to use your two hours well

I would approach the park with a simple order:

• Head first to the kangaroo enclosure and buy food if you want to feed them.
• Check the times and availability for a koala or baby devil encounter.
• Watch a devil presentation if one fits your schedule.
• Walk through the bird and smaller-animal areas.
• Leave time for the café, souvenir shop, and return meeting point.

The park’s café serves Tasmanian delicacies, and the shop offers local gifts. These are useful additions, but they should come after the animals if your visit is short. Two hours can pass quickly when you stop for photos and paid encounters.

Timing is the main variable to watch. The advertised plan allows two hours, while one departure provided about 80 minutes and another about 90 minutes. The exact amount may depend on traffic, ship timing, loading, and the day’s route. I would not book a paid encounter that begins at the very end of your allotted time.

Is $89.66 good value?

At $89.66, this is not the cheapest way to see a few animals, but it is a fair cruise-port price if you value convenience. The cost covers the return shuttle, the guided road transfer, park admission, and a visit timed to get you back toward Burnie. You do not need to arrange a rental car, navigate unfamiliar roads, or worry about getting back to the ship by yourself.

The price does not include optional animal encounters or food. If you add a koala visit, a baby devil experience, café purchases, and kangaroo food, the total can rise quickly. I would decide in advance which extras matter most. For me, the kangaroo feeding is the best use of a small additional spend, while the paid encounters are worthwhile mainly if a close animal interaction is central to your day.

The 94 percent recommendation rate and 4.6 rating indicate a strong overall experience, but the details matter more than the headline score. Most of the value comes from the park’s range of animals and the scenic transfer. The weak points are the sometimes-shorter park visit, group transport, and the possibility of confusion at the meeting area.

Meeting at 13 Wilmot Street

The official start and end point is 13 Wilmot Street, Burnie. There is a market area near the meeting point, and the tour operator uses a table across the market. If you arrive and someone nearby says they do not recognize the company, do not assume you are in the wrong place. Walk across the market and look for the operator’s table.

That small detail could save you needless stress, especially if several cruise excursions gather nearby. Confirm the return arrangements before boarding. On at least one occasion, the bus returned directly to the ship rather than requiring a transfer in town, but the listed end point remains the Burnie meeting point. Follow the instructions given on your departure day.

Weather also matters in Burnie. High winds can prevent a cruise ship from docking, which means the excursion may be canceled even if the park and shuttle are ready to operate. That is not a fault with the wildlife park, but it is a practical risk for any Burnie shore day.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours ahead are not refunded, and late changes are not accepted.

Who should book this excursion?

I would recommend it to families, animal lovers, first-time visitors to Tasmania, and cruise passengers who want an easy inland outing. It suits you especially well if you want to feed kangaroos and see Tasmanian devils without spending a full day on a long-distance tour.

It is also a good choice for photographers. The park provides close views, the animal areas offer many subjects, and the road includes valleys, towns, river scenery, and coastal views around Penguin.

I would think twice if you need a fully accessible vehicle. Wheelchairs can be stored, but the shuttle has no wheelchair lift, and every passenger must be able to walk onto the bus. One booking was refunded after this was misunderstood, so contact the operator before booking if anyone in your party cannot use bus steps.

You should also reconsider if you want several hours at the park. The schedule is designed as a shore excursion, not a leisurely full-day visit. The experience works best when you accept its limits and choose your top priorities before arrival.

Should you book Wings Wildlife Park?

Book this excursion if your ideal Burnie stop includes close animal encounters, a scenic Tasmanian drive, and a simple return arrangement. The kangaroo enclosure and Tasmanian devils are the strongest reasons to go, while the return route through Penguin and along the Leven River makes the transport part of the day.

Skip it if you dislike managed animal parks, need guaranteed wheelchair boarding, or want enough time to explore every enclosure slowly. For most cruise passengers who want a practical introduction to Tasmania’s native wildlife, the $89.66 price is reasonable, provided you keep paid extras and the variable park time in mind.

FAQ

How long does the Wings Wildlife Park shore excursion last?

The total duration is about 3 hours and 50 minutes, including travel time. The planned visit at Wings Wildlife Park is about two hours.

Where does the excursion start and finish?

It starts at 13 Wilmot Street in Burnie and is listed as ending back at the same meeting point.

Is admission to Wings Wildlife Park included?

Yes. The admission ticket is included in the excursion price.

Are koala and baby Tasmanian devil encounters included?

No. These are optional paid encounters arranged at the park. One account lists the baby Tasmanian devil encounter at about US $40.

Can I feed the kangaroos?

Yes. You can buy kangaroo food at the park and enter the enclosure to feed and walk among the kangaroos.

Is the excursion wheelchair accessible?

The shuttle does not have a wheelchair lift. Wheelchairs can be stored, but passengers must be able to walk onto the bus.

What is the cancellation policy?

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