Friends of Burnie Penguins volunteers present free guided tours nightly at dusk between 1st of October and the 31st of March.
Located at Parsonage Point adjacent to Cradle Coast campus of the University of Tasmania in Burnie. The colony is located along the sea front behind the Burnie Makers Workshop, Parsonage Point. No bookings are required for our interpretive penguin viewing experience . Please wear warm dark clothing, turn off the flash on your camera or video, use a red cellophane cover (available from the guides
06/08/2026
KEEP WATCHING THIS SPACE!
It will soon be time to welcome those interested in joining our group of volunteer penguin guides in Burnie. Details of the training and how to register will be posted here in the near future.
17/07/2026
Winter-time is still a busy time for our volunteers. Non-nesting season means we can get into the rookery and do some maintenance and upkeep. Yesterday we were joined by a wonderful team from UTAS Sustainability Group. These hard workers removed over 50 bags of weeds!
This video was taken by a member of Friends of Burnie Penguins while taking part in a regular mid-winter colony observation. Not only did Little Penguins appear, but one of the resident rakalis cruised along foraging for tasty tidbits along the shore. In the background you can hear the sound of winter chicks asking to be fed. Thank you Sarah for sharing
21/06/2026
H5 bird flu has been confirmed in Western Australia. It has not been detected in Tasmania.
Find out more information and how to report suspected bird flu at www.nre.tas.gov.au/BirdFlu
Do not touch sick or dead birds or other animals
H5 bird flu has been confirmed in Western Australia. It has not been detected in Tasmania.
Find out more information and how to report suspected bird flu at www.nre.tas.gov.au/BirdFlu
Do not touch sick or dead birds or other animals.
21/06/2026
‘A genuine wildlife emergency’: everything you need to know about the arrival of H5 bird flu in Australia What is the virus? Where did it come from? Are humans at risk? What does it mean for the agricultural sector and wildlife? Experts answer your questions
19/06/2026
Rakali share the Burnie Little Penguin colony, often seen foraging along the rocks and water line. They are a native water rat with luxuriant fur and a distinctive white tip on the tail. Once hunted for their fur, they are now a protected animal, and not a threat to the penguins.
09/05/2026
Little penguins nest and moult in coastal areas, and it’s common to see them crossing roads between the shoreline and their nesting sites. This is particularly the case in areas where the road is very close to the beach.
At the moment, we’re seeing another increase in penguin activity and have been receiving calls from concerned members of the public noticing them crossing roads or seeing them in the vegetation beside the road. It’s always encouraging to see people looking out for local wildlife, and we’re very glad to see people taking an interest in keeping penguins safe.
Little penguins can naturally travel up to 1 km inland in search of suitable shelter, burrows, and nesting sites. Vegetated areas near roads often provide important habitat and safe places for nesting.
While it can be concerning to see penguins crossing roads, it’s important that they’re able to move freely between the coast and their nesting areas without unnecessary interference. Penguins crossing roads after dusk is a normal part of their behaviour and is not usually a cause for alarm.
Drivers can help protect them by slowing down, especially between dusk and dawn, and staying alert in coastal areas where penguins may be present. Penguins do have some awareness of traffic, but they’re no match for a moving car.
If you’re nearby, there are a few things to keep an eye out for:
• Penguins out in the open during the daytime
• Penguins with obvious injuries
• Penguins approaching humans
If you notice any of the above, please call us. If we are handling birds, we may not be able to answer the phone immediately, so please leave us a message.