Cangaroos, devils, and a river drive. This shore excursion is built for real-time travel decisions: you get scenic inland views plus up-close Tasmanian wildlife without losing your whole day. The rhythm is simple, the payoff is big, and the park time is short enough to feel efficient.

What I love most is the chance to see so many animals in one compact visit, especially feeding kangaroos and getting face-to-face with Tasmanian icons like devils and koalas. I also like how the bus part of the trip adds context, with at least one run described as having a narrator volunteer on board, plus friendly on-route guidance such as a driver named Marie.

One drawback to plan around: your time at Wings is limited, and on at least one occasion it ran a little shorter than expected. If you want every nook and interaction, you may finish hungry for more.

Key Highlights You Should Plan For

• Scenic route with Penguin and the Leven River on the return side, so the transport is part of the experience
• 1.5 hours at Wings Wildlife Park with admission included, a good match for shore time limits
• Hand-feeding kangaroos in an open enclosure, one of the most praised moments
• Optional paid encounters like koala interaction and a baby Tasmanian devil experience
• Self-guided roaming at the park, so you can move at your own pace once you’re there
• Small-ish group size (maximum 50), which helps the day feel organized

From Burnie Port Area to Wings Wildlife Park: More Than Just a Ride

This shuttle is designed like a shore excursion should be, tight schedule, clear start point, and a return that respects your ship timing. You meet at 13 Wilmot St, Burnie TAS 7320, and the tour ends back at the same spot. Total time is about 3 hours 50 minutes, and that includes travel.

That matters because Burnie days can get chopped up fast once you factor in getting from town to the countryside and back again. Here, the transport is part of the value. The route heads inland to Wings, then on the way back you ride along the Leven River and pass through the coastal village of Penguin. Even if you only care about wildlife, you still get a satisfying “Tasmania in motion” feeling before and after the park.

The bus format is also practical. You have a guide/driver, and your park time is self guided. That split is a smart combo for most cruise visitors. You get context while traveling, then you’re free to chase the animals on your own schedule instead of being herded on a fixed loop.

One small note I’d keep in mind: you’re near public transportation, but the day is built around the shuttle timing. If you want to be super relaxed, I’d treat the meeting point time as serious, even if you feel early.

Wings Wildlife Park Time: 1.5 Hours That Still Feels Like Enough

At Wings, you have about 1 hour 30 minutes. That’s the big limiter, and it’s also why this excursion works at cruise pace. It forces you to choose what matters most and then enjoy it without guilt.

In my view, this is the sweet spot for travelers who want animal time without turning your day into a marathon. Most people can see the main enclosures and catch a few “wow” moments in 90 minutes, especially when the park is set up for easy wandering.

You also get admission included, so you’re not nickel-and-diming your way into basic entry. Once you’re on the grounds, you can move through the landscaped spaces and focus on the animals. There’s even room for calmer moments, like resting near the lakeside picnic area (a nice option if the park layout puts seating near your favorite enclosures).

Because it’s self guided, how you spend those 90 minutes is on you. I’d treat it like a mini mission:

• Start by hitting the animal must-dos first
• Then do the rest based on what you see active right then
• Save any extra-fee encounter for when you’re ready, not when you panic

And yes, a couple of people noted they wished for more time at the park. That’s the trade you make for a shore-friendly schedule. If you’re the type who wants to linger for every feeding, every bird, every photo setup, you might feel rushed.

The Animals You Actually Came For: Koalas, Kangaroos, Devils, Wallabies

Wings is built around Australian wildlife in a setting that emphasizes care and conservation. On paper, you see a long list, but the real value is that the animals are the “right” ones for a first Tasmania visit: kangaroos, wallabies, Tasmanian devils, koalas, and parrots.

The most repeatedly praised moment is the kangaroo enclosure experience, including the chance to walk in and feed kangaroos by hand. That’s not just a photo opportunity. It changes your whole experience from viewing to interacting, and that is why it becomes the highlight for so many people. If you only remember one thing from the park, make it this.

For the Tasmanian devil fans, you get the chance to see them up close. One review describes it as a “devilish” experience, including an encounter booked for an extra fee. If you’re hoping for that, be aware that the encounters are separate from the base entry and cost extra.

Koalas are similar. There’s the normal in-park viewing, and there are paid interaction options that can include petting. One person even mentioned petting a koala and called it surprisingly soft. In plain terms, if you’re doing a short visit and you want the koala to be the top memory, plan your extra-fee moment deliberately.

Bird lovers also get something here. Parrots are part of the lineup, and one reviewer specifically called out the gang gang cockatoo as friendly. That kind of detail matters because birds can be hit or miss in many animal parks depending on the day and timing, so when they’re active and curious, it’s extra special.

Finally, you’ll likely encounter other species across the grounds too. The park experience is often described as spanning everything from small animals up to bigger marsupials, so even if you miss one major moment, there’s usually another “there it is” surprise nearby.

Optional Extra-Fee Encounters: Worth It or Just Expensive?

Wings offers optional encounters that cost extra. The exact price can vary, but you should assume these are add-ons, not included in the standard admission.

The extra experiences mentioned in the reviews include:

• Koala interaction (including petting)
• Baby Tasmanian devil encounter or cuddling-style interaction

One review mentioned an extra fee described as about $40 US per encounter. I can’t promise that’s your cost, but it gives you a real-world scale: it’s not a token charge.

So, how do you decide? I’d use a simple filter:

• If you want hands-on contact and you can afford the add-on, do one encounter.
• If you’d rather spread time across more animals, skip the extra fee and spend that energy wandering and feeding kangaroos.

For me, the logic is clear. The base visit already delivers the best crowd-pleasers, especially kangaroos. The encounters are for people who want the rare, physical, “only-here” moments, like a baby devil interaction or a koala petting memory.

If you do book an encounter, be careful with your time pacing inside the park. Because your total Wings window is short, you don’t want to spend your best minutes stuck in admin and waiting. Choose a main animal priority, then build around it.

The Scenic Drive Through Burnie and Beyond: Penguin and the Leven River

Here’s the underrated part of this excursion: the drive is not just logistics.

The route goes inland to reach Wings, then returns along the Leven River, passing through Penguin. That means you get at least two “views phases,” the country-side approach and then the river back toward the coast.

One reviewer described the drive as worth the tour by itself, and that matches what I’d expect from a shore excursion that includes a proper scenic corridor instead of a straight shot down the highway. Tasmania travel has a way of making short road trips feel like a story, and this one is built to deliver that effect.

If you like local context, pay attention during the bus narration portion when it’s available. At least one person mentioned a narrator volunteer speaking on the bus with facts and information, which turns your transport time into part of the learning.

Also, keep in mind that in some cases audio can be imperfect. One review mentioned a microphone issue where people at the back couldn’t hear. It wasn’t described as a deal-breaker, but it’s a reminder that if you want the narration, pick a seat where you can hear clearly.

Where the Park Fits: Café, Souvenirs, and Quick Recharges

Even with a tight park window, there are two practical wins at Wings: an on-site café and a souvenir shop.

The café matters because it keeps you from having to race back into town for a snack. After a drive and then 90 minutes of walking, having food and drinks on-site is a quiet but real quality-of-life improvement.

Souvenirs matter because wildlife parks can be where you turn a memory into something you’ll actually use later. Expect Tasmania-themed gifts, and plan on browsing if you’re not rushing to make an optional encounter.

If you want a calmer rhythm, build your schedule like this:

• Do kangaroos first, while you still have energy
• Then move through devils, koalas, and wallabies
• Finish with birds and any shop time

It’s a small thing, but order helps you catch the moments that are most likely to be active.

Value Check: Is $89.66 a Good Deal?

At $89.66 per person, this is not a budget excursion. The value comes from what you’re buying all at once:

• A shuttle that picks you up at 13 Wilmot St and returns you there
• A scenic ride that includes inland driving and the Leven River route via Penguin
• Admission included for Wings Wildlife Park
• A time-boxed experience that respects a shore schedule (about 3 hours 50 minutes total)
• A self-guided format once you arrive

When I judge value, I look at whether you’re paying for travel and entry, or whether most of the day is your own time. Here, you are paying for both the transport experience and the park entry, and you’re not spending hours in transit. That is exactly what many cruise visitors struggle with, so the structure is part of the bargain.

The optional encounters can add cost, but you’re not forced to do them. The base experience still has multiple high-demand animal moments, especially the kangaroo feeding and hand-feeding experience that so many people remember as their favorite.

If you’re traveling with kids, or you’re the kind of adult who wants one big hit of wildlife early in a Tasmania trip, this excursion is strong for that. It’s also good if you want a managed shore day but still want to roam at your own pace inside the park.

Who Should Book This Burnie Wildlife Shuttle?

This is a good fit if:

• You have limited time on shore and want a wildlife payoff without long transfers
• You care most about iconic Australian animals rather than a multi-stop day
• You like a planned day but still want self-guided freedom at the park

It might not be perfect if:

• You’re the type who needs unlimited time at exhibits
• You plan to do multiple paid encounters and want time to spare
• You’re relying on wheelchair access, since one account says there is no wheelchair lift and passengers must be able to walk onto the bus

If you’re on the fence, ask yourself one question. Is your top priority a high-impact wildlife memory, delivered on a shore schedule? If yes, this shuttle matches that goal.

Should You Book This Wings Wildlife Park Shuttle from Burnie?

I’d book it if your ideal Burnie day looks like: a scenic drive, a short but meaningful wildlife visit, and then back to your ship timeline with minimal stress. The park experience gets repeatedly praised for the animal variety, the clean, well-run feeling, and especially the hands-on kangaroo interaction.

If you can only afford one “extra” memory, consider spending your energy on kangaroos and then choose one optional encounter only if it fits your budget and your timing. The base entry already lands a lot of hits.

Just go in with realistic expectations about park time. Ninety minutes is great, but it’s not a whole-day wildlife safari. If you want the slower pace, look for a longer independent visit to the park in another trip format.

FAQ

How long is the Wings Wildlife Park shuttle from Burnie?

The total duration is about 3 hours 50 minutes, and that includes travel time. You also get about 1 hour 30 minutes at Wings, with admission included.

Where do I meet for the tour?

You start at 13 Wilmot St, Burnie TAS 7320, Australia. The tour ends back at the same meeting point.

Is time at Wings Wildlife Park self guided?

Yes. The tour includes a guide/driver, but your time at Wings Wildlife Park is self guided.

What animals can I expect to see at Wings?

You’ll have the chance to see iconic Tasmanian animals such as kangaroos, wallabies, Tasmanian devils, koalas, and parrots.

What if the weather is bad in Burnie?

A weather-related cancellation due to high winds was mentioned in a review, so weather can affect docking and the ability to run the shore excursion.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Based on one experience described in the provided reviews, the bus does not have a wheelchair lift and passengers need to be able to walk onto the bus, even though wheelchairs may be stored on the vehicle.