Gunns Plains Caves & Wildlife

Descend into dramatically lit limestone caverns and wander a wildlife park inhabited by an impressive collection of Tasmanian fauna. Your picturesque drive from Burnie skirts a sizable forest preserve to reach the mysterious underground world of stalactites and stalagmites at Gunns Plains Caves. Inadvertently discovered in 1906 by a hunter in pursuit of a possum, the original method of entering these caves by rope descent has thankfully been replaced by a civilized 54-step stairway and a series of comfortable paths and steps in the caves. Your guide will point out the caverns’ most interesting geological features, many of them illuminated for added drama. See an underground river and bioluminescent glow worms. Many more unusual indigenous species await you above ground on a visit to Wings Wildlife Park, where you’ll have free time to meander the trails – encountering famous animals like the Tasmanian devil, and obscure ones like the bettong, tiny marsupials who hop around like mini-kangaroos. Other fascinating creatures who call the park home include wombats, koala, kangaroos, wedge tail eagles, boobook owls, quolls and long-nosed potoroos. You won’t find any of these at your local pet shop.