Tasmania self drive holiday for Australians

Planet

The operator makes a significant donation to the Tasmanian Land Conservancy (TLC) every year, and also sponsors a Tasmanian Devil protection scheme. Much of the accommodation and tours we offer on this itinerary are protected Land for Wildlife conservation areas and a number of them are part of the Tasmanian Land Conservancy scheme. The TLC is a non profit organisation that acquires and manages land in Tasmania, protecting important natural places. A recent donation by the operator contributed to the acquisition of a large area of land that is an important breeding ground for the critically endangered Swift Parrot, endemic to Tasmania. One of the properties you will stay in is 61ha and has been owned by your hosts since 1979. They have built the accommodation themselves using all Tasmanian timbers. They joined National Parks and Wildlife's scheme 'Land for Wildlife' as a commitment to their desire to preserve the natural habitat for wildlife. In 2002 they signed an agreement with both Federal and State Governments and placed a Perpetual Conservation Covenancy on the property title under the 'Private Forest Reserve' programme to protect the vulnerable forest habitat of the wet forest type Eucalyptus Viminalis (White Gum) of which there are many old growth specimens, protection for the Karst system and threatened fauna species. Like many properties, the reserve is a release for rehabilitated wildlife. In 2005 they signed with the both houses of the Tasmanian State government to register the property as a Private Nature Reserve. Under both these schemes the property can never be logged and the habitat can never be degraded. They have management schemes in place for both the extensive karst systems and the forest habitat. The reserve is home to many of Tasmania's native wildlife including the Tasmanian Devil, the Spotted Tail Quoll both threatened species, brush tail and ring tail possums, Pademelon wallabies, endemic birds of Tasmania, bats, wombats and echidnas to name a few.

You are urged not to drive at dawn, dusk or at night when wildlife is likely to be on the roads and always to take extreme caution at all times.

Tasmania has a total moratorium on any GM produce and has banned the use of hormones and antibiotics in its farming.

People

The operator is the only travel company in the world that has been established in the world dedicated to providing a comprehensive Tasmanian travel service specialising in private/locally owned authentic family run accommodation and small group/private experiences and tours. Almost every accommodation offers has been built using locally sourced labour and materials dating from the early 1800s through to present day and all are privately owned and operated by locals. The wildlife and wilderness tours recommended all use local staff, not only from Tasmania but from their regions within Tasmania. Many of the accommodation providers are wildlife carers. All operators use daily sustainable practices such as for water conservation (eg they catch their own rainwater) and most grow their own produce and/or use local producers. Much of our accommodation is run only on sustainable energy and can be considered to be carbon neutral if not carbon positive. Indeed entire regions are run on sustainable energy. Recently one of the B&Bs gifting 50% of its land back to the Aboriginal community. Only locally/family run car rental companies are used.