Shuttle day that still feels like a real outing. From Burnie, you get a scenic inland drive and a smooth return along the Leven River, with Wings Wildlife Park time built in for maximum animal contact (then you’re back to your meeting point in time to meet your ship’s schedule). What I liked most is the combo of the views on the bus and the chance to get up close with Aussie icons, especially kangaroos. The one catch is timing: your park visit is short, so you’ll want to plan what you most want to see first.

I also like that the format is simple. You have a guide/driver on the shuttle, but once you arrive at Wings you’re self-guided, so you can move at your own pace through the landscaped grounds and animal areas. The park’s conservation focus shows up in the way the staff share info and the way the enclosures feel cared for. If you’re the type who wants to read every sign and linger, factor in that you may not finish everything in one pass.

Key highlights at a glance

• Scenic route plus Leven River return with passing through the coastal village of Penguin
• About 1.5 hours at Wings (and sometimes closer to 2) depending on your schedule
• Up-close animal moments, including feeding kangaroos in their enclosure
• Optional paid encounters such as petting a koala or cuddling a baby Tasmanian devil
• A conservation-minded park setup with education baked into your visit
• On-site café and souvenir shop for a quick food break and Tasmanian gifts

Burnie-to-Wings: why this shuttle works for shore time

If you only have part of a day in Burnie, this is the kind of excursion that makes sense. It’s built around a short, efficient trip: transportation out of town, a focused block of time at a wildlife sanctuary, then you’re back. For many cruise shore days, the hard part is always the distance—and this one solves that with a direct shuttle plan and a clear end back at the meeting point.

The duration is listed at about 3 hours 50 minutes, and your ticket includes park admission. Practically, that means you’re paying for the whole package, not just a transfer. One big reason it feels like good value is that you’re not losing your shore hours to wandering around town first.

The shuttle size is kept to a maximum of 50 travelers, which matters more than people think. Smaller groups usually feel calmer, especially when you’re trying to get off the bus, line up for any optional encounters, and still enjoy the park.

The bus ride: inland scenery, plus Leven River on the way back

The drive is not filler time. The route takes you inland, then brings you back along the Leven River, passing by the coastal village of Penguin. If you’re picturing Tasmania as all cliffs and fog, this route adds a different angle: river country, small settlements, and the sense that you left the coast behind for a while.

Even with the short overall day, that bus segment gives you something simple and real: fresh air, changing views, and time to get your bearings. A few people also pointed out that the final stretches near the park and on the return can be especially pretty, with that last chunk of countryside arriving right when you’re starting to feel the day settle into vacation mode.

What makes this part feel smoother is the tour format itself. You have a guide/driver on the bus, and there can be extra narration depending on the day. One reviewer specifically mentioned having a narrator volunteer on the bus who shared facts and info. If that’s available on your departure, it can turn the ride into a mini-lesson without slowing anything down.

Meeting at 13 Wilmot St and the “find-your-table” reality

Your start point is 13 Wilmot St, Burnie TAS 7320. That’s the ticket redemption and the activity end point, so you’re not stuck playing guess-the-bus at the end of a long day. The pickup is near public transportation, which is helpful if you’re combining it with anything else in Burnie before or after.

One very practical tip came through: there can be a bit of confusion around the market-area meeting point, and someone advised walking across the market area to find the tour company table. That sounds small, but on shore days you don’t want to waste 20 minutes hunting. If you’re arriving early, do a quick lap, confirm where your shuttle operator is set up, and then relax.

Also note the overall pattern: you’re being transported from the port and back in time for ship departure based on the shore excursion schedule. In some situations, you may even hear of direct returns to the ship when timing works, but the posted plan is that the day ends back at the meeting point.

Wings Wildlife Park: what you actually do with your time

Once you arrive, you get the main event: Wings Wildlife Park. The park is set up so you can roam landscaped grounds and see a lot of animals in a relatively compact time frame. The animal count is described as over 150 species, which is exactly what you want for a short excursion. You won’t see everything in one go, but you’ll see enough to feel satisfied.

The visit is self-guided, which is a big plus. You can choose your pace. If you’re drawn to the dramatic stuff first—like Tasmanian devils—that’s easy. If you want to start with the calmer, cuddlier moments—like koalas—that works too.

The park also leans into education and conservation. In practice, that means you’re not just walking past enclosures with no context. Staff share insights about the animals and their conservation needs, and the park’s mission comes through in the way the habitats look maintained. Multiple reviews also highlighted how clean and well-kept the facility feels, plus how lively the animals appear.

How long is long enough?

This is where you should be honest with yourself. The park time is listed as 1 hour 30 minutes in the itinerary, and the overview also describes 2 hours at Wings. Either way, it’s short. A few people said 1 hour 30 minutes was perfect, and one person wished the time had been longer because they couldn’t see everything.

So here’s the practical approach: before you board, decide your top two priorities. For most people, those are (1) kangaroo interaction and (2) Tasmanian devils or koalas. If you also want the optional hands-on encounters, plan around those first, because they can take time.

Up-close animals: kangaroo feeding and the optional encounter fees

If I had to pick the main reason people book this shuttle, it’s the animal contact. This isn’t a distant-view photo safari. Wings gives you moments where the animals feel part of your day.

Kangaroos and wallabies: the hands-on highlight

Kangaroo feeding is a standout feature. In reviews, people describe being able to walk into the kangaroo enclosure and feed them by hand. That kind of close interaction is what turns a wildlife visit from seeing to experiencing. You’re not just observing from the edge—you’re right there at their level.

Wallabies show up too, and people also mention feeding fish in some form along with the kangaroos. Even if you don’t do every optional activity, the kangaroo area alone can be worth the trip for many first-timers.

Tasmanian devils: dramatic, and sometimes interactive

Tasmanian devils are the iconic pull. People mention seeing them up close, including a description of a gory-feeding moment. The tone here is important: this is real wildlife behavior, not sanitized theatre.

There are also optional paid encounters related to baby Tasmanian devils. One reviewer mentioned an upcharge of about $40 US for a baby Tasmanian devil encounter. If that’s on your wish list, you’ll need to budget extra and also accept that it may take longer than standard viewing.

Koalas: petting can be an extra charge

Koalas are included in the animal mix, and there’s an optional paid koala interaction. One review focused on paying extra to pet a koala and described it as surprisingly soft. Another person shared the idea of booking the koala experience after arriving on an early bus.

So the smart move is simple: once you arrive, check what optional encounters are available and how they fit your time window. With a short visit, you don’t want to discover the encounter slots are gone after you’ve already walked half the park.

Birds and parrots: the small-moment payoff

Parrots and other birds are also part of the lineup. One reviewer mentioned a friendly gang-gang cockatoo that liked to visit, which is the kind of bird moment you remember long after the main photos. Birds also tend to be easier to fit into a tight schedule because you can stop briefly and still get a good look.

The café and souvenir shop: what to do between animal zones

Food matters on a shore day. The good news is you’ll have access to an on-site café, and you can enjoy Tasmanian delicacies there. You’re not locked into eating only before the excursion or only afterward.

The souvenir shop is another small but real advantage. If you buy gifts, you’ll want to do it while you’re already there rather than trying to hunt for something specific back in Burnie. Reviews mention picking up unique Tasmanian gifts, and it’s also a handy place to spend a few minutes if you’re waiting for an encounter time slot.

For timing, keep your food plan compact. With about 90 minutes to 2 hours total at the park, treat lunch as a snack-and-sip rather than a full sit-down meal.

Value check: what $89.66 buys you (and what costs extra)

At $89.66 per person, this isn’t the cheapest way to use a shore day. But it often feels fair because the price bundles in transportation plus park admission plus a structured route that returns you on schedule.

Here’s the value logic I’d use:

• You get scenic travel with a planned return route along the Leven River
• You get entry to a park with over 150 species
• You get up-close animal areas, including kangaroo feeding
• Optional interactions like koala petting and baby Tasmanian devil cuddling can add costs, but you’re not forced to buy them

The extra fee add-ons are real, and you should expect them. One person quoted about $40 US for a baby Tasmanian devil encounter, so if you add multiple interactions, the total day can rise quickly. Still, for many people the payoff is emotional: people describe these moments as memorable in a way that’s hard to recreate elsewhere.

Who should book this shuttle, and who should think twice

This shuttle is a great fit if:

• you want a short shore excursion that packs in a lot of animal time
• you’re excited about kangaroos and the chance to feed them
• you like a scenic drive and don’t want to rent a car
• you’re okay with a self-guided park visit where you choose your own priorities

It may not be ideal if:

• you want a long, slow visit where you can read every sign, join every optional tour, and take your time
• you know you’ll need extra accessibility support beyond walking onto the bus

A wheelchair access note is important. One review stated the trip was not accessible for someone using a wheelchair because the bus does not have a wheel chair lift, and passengers need to be able to walk onto the bus. The operator said wheelchairs can be stored on the vehicle, but the key limitation is the step onto the bus. If accessibility is a deciding factor, confirm details before booking and plan for the walking requirement.

Final verdict: should you book Wings Wildlife Park from Burnie?

I’d book this if your goal is a high-contact wildlife day that fits cruise timing. The best parts are the same ones that keep showing up: the scenic ride, the clean, well-run park feel, and the chance to interact closely with kangaroos. The self-guided setup is also a practical win—no waiting around for the group to move at someone else’s pace.

I’d hesitate if you’re hoping for a full-day deep park experience. You may leave wishing you had more time to see everything, especially if you add optional paid encounters. With a short visit, decide your top priorities before you arrive and treat the rest as bonus.

If you want a shore day that feels genuinely Australian—animals, countryside, and conservation in one tidy plan—this one is a strong choice.

FAQ

How long is the Wings Wildlife Park shuttle tour from Burnie?

The total duration is listed at about 3 hours 50 minutes, including travel time. Your park admission time is listed at about 1 hour 30 minutes, and the overview also describes around 2 hours at Wings depending on how the day runs.

How much time do I spend at Wings Wildlife Park?

The itinerary shows about 1 hour 30 minutes for the park visit with admission included. The overview also mentions 2 hours at Wings, so your exact experience may feel closer to one and a half to two hours.

Is admission to Wings Wildlife Park included in the price?

Yes. The park admission ticket is included as part of the excursion.

What animals can I expect to see at Wings?

You can expect iconic Tasmanian and Australian animals such as kangaroos, wallabies, Tasmanian devils, koalas, and parrots.

Can I feed kangaroos during the visit?

Yes. There is a kangaroo feeding experience mentioned, including access to the kangaroo enclosure to feed them by hand.

Are the park activities guided or self-guided?

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

Are there optional encounters that cost extra?

Yes. Optional paid interactions are available, including encounters such as petting a koala and a baby Tasmanian devil interaction, which one reviewer described as an upcharge.

Where is the meeting point?

The meeting and redemption point is 13 Wilmot St, Burnie TAS 7320, Australia. The tour ends back at the same meeting point.

How many people are in the group?

The maximum group size is listed at 50 travelers.

Is wheelchair access available?

A review described the trip as not accessible for a wheelchair user because the bus has no wheel chair lift and passengers must be able to walk onto the bus. The operator said wheelchairs can be stored on the vehicle, but boarding still requires walking.

What is the cancellation/refund policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, based on the experience’s local time. Changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted.

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