More than a guest, you’re a guardian.
When you book your stay at Picnic Island, you become more than a guest. Along with our team, staff, and partners, you become a temporary guardian of one of Tasmania’s seabird sanctuaries.
For generations, Little Penguins and Short-tailed Shearwaters have called this island home, and your thoughtful participation in our conservation protocols ensures that their ancient rhythms continue undisturbed.
Our Shared Commitment to Conservation
Picnic Island’s new construction and renovations are currently underway and following a comprehensive Penguin Management Plan developed in partnership with leading seabird ecologist Eric Woehler. This isn’t bureaucratic paperwork; it’s an example of how we seek to balance human comfort with wildlife protection in all of our operations.
During your stay, your cooperation with our wildlife protocols and conservation guidelines has the potential to enrich your experience, demonstrating that environmental stewardship can enhance rather than compromise exceptional hospitality.
The island’s Little Penguin colony has nested here for longer than we know, returning each evening from their ocean hunts to burrows scattered throughout the island. During breeding season, these small but determined birds are particularly vulnerable to disruption. Your understanding of their needs allows us to offer intimate and utterly unique wildlife encounters while ensuring that the seabird colonies can thrive for generations to come.
Simple Actions, Profound Impact
Our seabird protocols are surprisingly straightforward. After dusk, we ask guests to use only red-filtered lighting and remain on designated pathways. White lights can disorient the seabirds, potentially blocking them from returning to their burrows and chicks. Your compliance with our lighting restrictions literally guides these remarkable creatures safely home each night.
We provide specialized observation equipment and position viewing areas to minimize disturbance while maximizing your experience. Maintaining appropriate distance allows you to witness natural behaviors without triggering stress responses. The reward for this respect is extraordinary: you will likely observe the birds going about their evening routines completely naturally, getting a glimpse into behaviors most people never witness.
The Ripple Effect
Your commitment to following our Seabird Management Plan creates benefits far beyond Picnic Island’s shores. You become an ambassador for responsible wildlife tourism, carrying stories and understanding that influence others’ travel choices. More importantly, you can help us transform luxury travel norms, demonstrating the extraordinary experiences that become possible when luxury and conservation work in partnership—a model we urgently need to popularize as tourism pressure increases on sensitive environments worldwide.
When you experience penguins returning to their burrows under a star-filled sky, knowing your presence supports rather than threatens their survival, you understand something essential about modern luxury: the most profound experiences come from respectful connection rather than domination. This is conservation through collaboration—and it’s only possible because guests like you choose to be partners in protection rather than mere observers of nature.
Penguin Protocol
Picnic Island is the only place in the world where you can sleep within a seabird rookery. We need to work together to protect their environment and keep them coming back for generations to come.
Coming to Picnic Island soon? Here are a few guidelines to care for the native bird life and avoid scaring off our neighbors:
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Never walk anywhere there is soil, as burrows are often invisible to the untrained eye and will be crushed if walked on. Stick to the paths and the rocky shoreline.
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Don’t wait on the shoreline for the penguins to come in as they will stay out at sea until you leave. Best wait until it is dark and sit quietly on the path without torches on.
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When you spot a bird use only the red light torches provided to get a better look. Don’t chase any birds, crowd around or shine the torches on them directly.
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No flash photography.
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Never stick your hand in any burrow or touch any birds (they
will bite!) or eggs. -
Please supervise minors and ensure that they follow these rules.
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Note that penguins can be noisy at night. This is all part of the experience of getting in touch with nature… and earplugs will be provided for light sleepers!
About Picnic Island Tasmania
Picnic Island is a private island retreat located 800 meters offshore from Coles Bay, Tasmania. The island accommodates up to eight guests in three luxuriously appointed bedrooms and an additional master suite. As a protected seabird sanctuary, the island offers unprecedented access to wildlife, including resident Little Penguin and Shearwater colonies and occasional visits from whales, dolphins and seals, all while providing sophisticated luxury and exceptional service.
Reach out to [email protected] to enquire about your travel dates and create your dream visit with our concierge team.
