South Launceston

After a slow day, starting with me having a treatment to ease my aches, a quick trip into the town centre (Launceston being Tassie’s 2nd largest town) and the tedious waiting for the electrics to be fixed, we decided to tick at least one of the things off our must see list: seeing little penguins coming to shore.

This was a ‘night activity’, something we don’t do often as sites don’t like you coming back late / in the dark. Also we have a very strident reversing ‘beep beep’ which would wake the dead (we drove straight in to avoid a camp mutiny).

So off we set, Chinese takeaway in tow. We stopped to have our food and bush cuppa, then onward to Low Head, where the tour started. Lovely skies and a sunset accompanied us on our drive.

The conditions seemed perfect, but turns out the little guys prefer more wind and higher tides - nevertheless eventually a few small groups land and start their slow waddle and preening process, past us and up to their chicks and burrows. Some indulging in flirting with other penguins as they go by (they’re not averse to a bit of ‘no strings’ hanky panky).

It’s moulting season, so a few looked like fluffy toys, with feathers puffed out at odd angles. They’re at their most un-appealing to others in this state, so can only observe the others having fun!

It was an adorable sight as they waddled past, they’re tiny, the smallest penguin breed (30-35cm) tall *. Our guide was mega knowledgeable, you could tell she adored them and her job.

We drove back to Launceston (about an hour) making sure we didn’t squish any wildlife - the roads and verges defo come to life at night. There were loads of pademelons (sm wallaby type creatures - loads on our site too), bunnies and other critters I can’t name.

We (and they) get home in tact. Fab evening, full of cuteness 🥰

* I love how their shadows make them seem bigger than they reallyRead more