Plan your trip

Marine Animals and Plants

Tasmania's marine animals are among its most impressive wildlife, ranging from magnificent southern right whales surging past our east coast to delicate sea dragons drifting near forests of giant kelp.

Tasmania has more than 5,400 kilometres of coastline to explore by boat. In the winter and spring months, from June to September, you may be lucky to spot pods of right and humpback whales travelling to and from Antarctic waters. Fur seal breeding colonies can be seen off Bruny Island, the Hippolyte Rocks, the Tasman Penisula, Tenth Island - and even lurking about Constitution Dock on the Hobart waterfront.

Little penguins nest along the River Derwent, at Bicheno, on the Bruny Island Neck and along the Bass Strait coast.

From September to March each year the short-tailed shearwater returns from northern Europe to nest and breed along the coast. Check out the Summer Rangers program to find out the best spots.

 

 

Find out about diving in Tasmania.