Wildlife at Bonorong to welcome Tassie tourists at home

Get up close to baby quolls, young devils, wombats, echidnas, and kangaroos when one of Hobart’s most loved tourist attractions reopens, encouraging locals to visit.

A DOSE of cute and cuddly native animals could be the perfect remedy to banish any post-isolation blues.

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary is reopening on Monday for the first time since March, with owner Greg Irons encouraging Tasmanians to be tourists in their own backyard.

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary's Greg Irons with junior Tasmanian devils Phoenix and Mali is excited to be reopening tomorrow. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

He said the Brighton park was popular with a core group of locals – particularly those with young children – but many Tasmanians only visited when they had family or friends staying from interstate or overseas.

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So he’s challenging all Tasmanians to get out in the coming weeks and enjoy being a tourist in their home state to support local businesses.

“This is about Tasmanians supporting Tasmanians,’’ he said.

“Instead of having a coffee at home, get out a have a coffee at a coffee shop you’ve never had a coffee at before, get a takeaway meal from somewhere you’ve never had a meal from before or visit a destination you haven’t been to for a while … our tourism in Tasmania is world class.’’

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary's Greg Irons with junior Tasmanian devils Phoenix and Mali is excited to be opening up tomorrow. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Mr Irons said annual passes were available for not much more than a single entry ticket, which meant families could return numerous times in the coming months.

The park will open seven days a week from 9am-5pm, with up to 40 people allowed in at once.

Mr Irons said visitors might see baby quolls or young devils plus favourites like wombats, echidnas, koalas, birds, snakes and kangaroos.

The animal hospital will open three times a week, allowing visitors to watch surgeries and talk to vets.

A new black cockatoo enclosure is also about to open.

Rather than running group tours, staff will be stationed at different animal closures throughout the day to answer questions from visitors.

Night tours and animal encounters are expected to resume later this month.

Originally published as Wildlife at Bonorong to welcome Tassie tourists at home