Devils and Wombats and Platypuses

We had a few days to ourselves after the Bay of Fires walk, and decided to spend most of our time at animal sanctuaries that had been been recommended by guides during earlier phases of our trip.

Our base of operations was Calstock Country Guest House near the town of Deloraine in north central Tasmania. The house is an Australian heritage site, and the earliest construction dates to 1837. Ginette & Remi Bancal are gracious hosts, and Remi deserves his reputation as an outstanding chef.

Craig Williams had suggested Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary as one of the best places to see Tasmanian Devils, and we weren't disappointed. In addition to the Devils, Trowunna offers close looks at wombats, quolls, kangaroos, koalas, and a host of other critters.

Graeme Allen mentioned that the Platypus House at Beauty Point was a good place to view platypuses. Not only is that true, but the staff was exceptionally friendly and informative. Getting good photos with low natural lighting and fast-moving platypuses is a challenge, but I made a few attempts.

We also ran into Dawn, one of our fellow hikers from the Bay of Fires Walk, at Platypus House. Small world.

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Front view of the main house at Calstock Deloraine, Tasmania	So this is where last night's dessert came from Deloraine, Tasmania	Plaque on the stables at Calstock Deloraine, Tasmania


Our room at Calstock Deloraine (Tasmania)	Dining room at Calstock Deloraine (Tasmania)	Tasmanian Devil in the classic pose. (This can be misleading, because the "yawn" indicates that the devil is anxious or frightened.) Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary (Tasmania)


Tasmanian Devil Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary (Tasmania)	Sleepy devils. Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary (Tasmania)	Tasmanian Devils like to sunbathe Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary (Tasmania)


Bill with a couple of his hand-raised Tasmanian Devils Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary (Tasmania)	Devils competing for a chunk of wallaby Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary (Tasmania)	Koala chewing eucalyptus leaves Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary (Tasmania)


Wombat Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary (Tasmania)	Michelle with Watson, an orphaned wombat Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary (Tasmania)	Forester kangaroo Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary (Tasmania)


Forester kangaroo resting at mid-day Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary (Tasmania)	Echidna searching a log for lunch Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary (Tasmania)	Climbing echidna Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary (Tasmania)


Kookaburra Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary (Tasmania)	Platypus House Platypus House (Beauty Point, Tasmania)	Platypus swimming Platypus House (Beauty Point, Tasmania)


Platypus moving just a little too fast for me Platypus House (Beauty Point, Tasmania)	Swimming platypus seen from below Platypus House (Beauty Point, Tasmania)	Platypus foraging Platypus House (Beauty Point, Tasmania)


Platypus underbelly. Watch out for the poisonous spurs near the legs Platypus House (Beauty Point, Tasmania)	Michelle with a blue-tongued lizard Platypus House (Beauty Point, Tasmania)	Michelle made me photograph this Platypus House (Beauty Point, Tasmania)

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