Tasmanian Devil Unzoo (Taranna Wildlife Park)
5990 Arthur Highway, Taranna, Tasmania, 7180
As its name suggests, the Tasmanian Devil Unzoo in southeastern Tasmania isn’t a traditional zoo—it’s an experimental sanctuary that aims to provide the resident animals (and visitors) with the most natural wildlife experiences as possible. Here, you can interact with Tasmanian devils and other animals as they roam unrestricted, free from the pens, cages, and other barriers found at typical zoos.
The basics
Admission tickets grant access to four Tasmanian devil habitats, a free-range kangaroo field, a botanic garden, a paddock where wallabies and native hens forage, and the surrounding forest. Devil Tracker Adventures, which take travelers on guided 4WD tours through the native forest to spot Tasmanian devils and learn how they're professionally tracked, require separate booking. The unzoo also organizes wildlife presentations, guided walks, and feeding times regularly; check the website for daily schedules.
Things to know before you go
Allow at least two hours to explore the unzoo, or three hours if you’re embarking on a Devil Tracker Adventure.
The Devil Tracker Adventure is not suitable for children under 8 years old.
Devil Tracker tour tickets also include admission to the unzoo.
The unzoo has a visitor center, gift store, and playground for kids.
How to get there
The unzoo is less than half a mile (0.3 kilometers) north of Taranna along Arthur Highway (Route A9) in southeastern Tasmania and about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southeast of Hobart along routes A3 and A9. Driving is recommended, but for those traveling from Hobart, the 734 bus from City Interchange Stop #D4 can make the trip in about two hours.
When to get there
The unzoo is open daily, from early in the morning to late afternoon, year-round. If you’re taking a Devil Tracker Adventure, consider that you’ll need to plan on being at the unzoo for about three hours if you also want to explore the sanctuary grounds. Feedings and guided nature walks are held daily roughly every 30 minutes; they usually start with a Tasmanian devil feeding mid-morning.
How is an unzoo different from a zoo?
Unzoos mimic organic environments and encourage the natural behavior of animals by removing (or hiding) the human–animal barriers typically found at traditional zoos. The unzoo flips the concept of the zoo on its head—here, animals are much freer to roam as they wish. The unzoo also provides heightened opportunities to learn about conservation efforts and the lives of the resident Tasmanian devils, kangaroos, possums, wallabies, various birds, and other animals.
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