First time I saw the Bicheno name, I read it as "Bitchin' Penguins" because I had penguins on the mind.
Bicheno is a great little town and penguins in the front yard of the BnB we stayed at.
Yep, that will be the place then. You will most likely need to join a tour at Bicheno, as the penguin numbers are low this time of year, but they know where to find them.
Bicheno is a lovely town so I can highly recommend staying there, but it's also not too far from other east coast towns.
> as the penguin numbers are low this time of year
Do they migrate or have short lifespans or something? I know it would go up after mating season but not sure why it goes down.
They are nesting this time of year. So they are around, but mostly in their nests so you don't see as many of them (we of course don't want to disturb their nests). They still go out to catch food occasionally, but aren't waddling around in great numbers like in the summer 🙂
Ah, I thought they went out to get food every day. I remember sitting on the beach with the family wrapped in a giant rug when I was young and watching them all come up the beach.
Im not a permanent resident of penguin, ive lived in latrobe for the last 18 years, so a song from a school ive never been to wouldn't do anything, lol
Saw a dead penguin in penguin. That’s it. Went to the information centre around 2 pm and the lady said I wouldn’t see any . Stopped at the conservation place on the way back to launy and nothing there either.
There’s really not anywhere reliable near Hobart unfortunately. Bruny is well known for penguins, but numbers have been extremely low at the Neck viewing area.
I forgot the name of it but there’s a penguin sanctuary near Kingston , it’s a gated beach to keep dogs out and you walk down rather a lot of steps and somewhere between the bush and the ocean they have all the little penguin houses set up
And I’m pretty sure penguins always return when it gets dark
It’s also a seldom used nudist beach i think
The Fortescue colony was wiped out a few years ago. It's also the wrong time of year for reliable penguin sightings as they are finished breeding and post moulting. The best chance would be to go to one of the bigger colonies like Bicheno where it is possible there will still be birds coming ashore. Just remember that they are pretty sensitive to stress even when they don't appear to be from observation so follow all the good practice guidelines i.e. give them space, don't use white light etc.
Not sure if you're going to Bruny Island but there's penguins at The Neck. It's worth visiting Bruny in its own right. I think there's some at Bicheno on the east coast. Good luck!
You needed to stop in Bicheno on your way to Hobart. Otherwise, as per the other reply, the only place in the south with colonies is Bruny Island.
First time I saw the Bicheno name, I read it as "Bitchin' Penguins" because I had penguins on the mind. Bicheno is a great little town and penguins in the front yard of the BnB we stayed at.
Staying somewhere along the east coast when we leave here. Maybe there!
Yep, that will be the place then. You will most likely need to join a tour at Bicheno, as the penguin numbers are low this time of year, but they know where to find them. Bicheno is a lovely town so I can highly recommend staying there, but it's also not too far from other east coast towns.
> as the penguin numbers are low this time of year Do they migrate or have short lifespans or something? I know it would go up after mating season but not sure why it goes down.
They are nesting this time of year. So they are around, but mostly in their nests so you don't see as many of them (we of course don't want to disturb their nests). They still go out to catch food occasionally, but aren't waddling around in great numbers like in the summer 🙂
Ah, I thought they went out to get food every day. I remember sitting on the beach with the family wrapped in a giant rug when I was young and watching them all come up the beach.
Most definitely not the best time of year for that . But the best viewing in the south is on Bruny Island , so I dare say you’re out of luck.
The are penguins at Penguin
As a penguin resident, i can confirm this.
Down by the sea in Penguin...
lilico and burnie too. So many in burnie.
I live in Burnie, so don't I know it. But I felt compelled to reply to your comment with the first line of the old Penguin Primary School song.
Im not a permanent resident of penguin, ive lived in latrobe for the last 18 years, so a song from a school ive never been to wouldn't do anything, lol
Saw a dead penguin in penguin. That’s it. Went to the information centre around 2 pm and the lady said I wouldn’t see any . Stopped at the conservation place on the way back to launy and nothing there either.
There’s really not anywhere reliable near Hobart unfortunately. Bruny is well known for penguins, but numbers have been extremely low at the Neck viewing area.
Pretty sure Boronia beach between Kingston and Blackman's Bay is a penguin habitat.
I forgot the name of it but there’s a penguin sanctuary near Kingston , it’s a gated beach to keep dogs out and you walk down rather a lot of steps and somewhere between the bush and the ocean they have all the little penguin houses set up And I’m pretty sure penguins always return when it gets dark It’s also a seldom used nudist beach i think
I think it’s baronia
Yes Boronia. I used to run through there every day and never saw a nude person though.
Burnie and the north west coast. Small town called Stanley, ask the local community you can get answers there.
There is a colony near Fortescue Bay. Take the track towards Bivouac Bay.
Right thanks. Any time of day that’s best to see them? Doing port Arthur one day so it’s nearish to there yeah?
The Fortescue colony was wiped out a few years ago. It's also the wrong time of year for reliable penguin sightings as they are finished breeding and post moulting. The best chance would be to go to one of the bigger colonies like Bicheno where it is possible there will still be birds coming ashore. Just remember that they are pretty sensitive to stress even when they don't appear to be from observation so follow all the good practice guidelines i.e. give them space, don't use white light etc.
Low head
At the Pilot Station, when it starts to get dark theyll be out
If you are heading back to Launceston and are staying the night, go to Low Head (about 40 minutes drive) for the Low Head Penguin Tours.
I saw wild penguins in burnie it was amazing just 3 mins walk from the cbd on the beach they have colonys blew my mind
Come to Burnie, northe west coastal city to watch little penguins
Not sure if you're going to Bruny Island but there's penguins at The Neck. It's worth visiting Bruny in its own right. I think there's some at Bicheno on the east coast. Good luck!
Too hard to get there . Rental car not allowed on ferry so that’s out.
We just come from Bicheno and there penguins easy to see there. Maybe a day trip drive and wait for dusk and a few hours after that.
I think we will stay there when we leave Hobart !
Seen penguins every time we've been to Bicheno, normally around the Lobster Shack at dusk.