You can spend your winter babysitting Tassie devils – here’s how

Taylah DarnellBy Taylah Darnell
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It’s just one of 10 unique internships on offer this winter.

Tassie is one of those places that gets even better during the cooler months, and this one may just be its best yet. Tourism Tasmania has unveiled its new Winternships program – a clever portmanteau of ‘winter’ and ‘internships’ – designed by local experts to help Australians embrace the cold. The best part? It’s completely free. All you have to do is choose your dream Wintership and apply – who knows? You could be one of the lucky chosen few.

What Winternships can I choose from?

There are 10 Winternships up for grabs this season, each hosted by a different local business across various regions of the state. But our favourite? You can apply to babysit a Tasmanian Devil at Devils@Cradle Wildlife Sanctuary in Cradle Mountain. Not only is the north-west region home to this precious endangered species, it’s also a natural playground full of outdoor hikes, wilderness spas and fishing spots, making it an ideal winter weekend away.

Devils@Cradle in Cradle Mountain, Tasmania
You’ll be tasked with caring for the adorable joeys. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Your job will be to watch over the adorable baby joeys as their parents hibernate through the winter. Tasmanian devils enter a torpor-like state during the cooler months, where their body temperature and breathing rate drop significantly, allowing them to survive periods of reduced food availability.

However, due to their young age, devil joeys would rather stay awake to play – and this is where you come in. You’ll prep bottles, gather late-night snacks and get the babies ready for bed each night. Other duties include escorting any visitors out of the area (as it is restricted) and keeping it quiet while the joeys are resting.

Devils@Cradle in Cradle Mountain, Tasmania
The babysitting gig is one of 10 Winternships on offer. (Image: Laura Helle)

You’ll need to be a bit of a night owl too, as these little guys must be monitored and fed throughout the evening and into the early morning hours. Two nights of accommodation will be included in your Winternship, as well as return flights, car hire and a selection of delicious Tassie treats.

If you’d rather do something a little different, there are plenty of other options up for grabs. Become a fragrance forager for Undersong Perfumery in Bicheno. Take on a calf concierge at Borradale Stanley , keeping an eye out for newly born baby cows. Ensure Australia’s only sauna boat on Tasmania’s iconic sauna trail is toasty enough for Kuuma guests as a sauna skipper.

Blue Derby Pods Ride in Derby, Tasmania
Trial mountain bike tracks in Derby. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Test out the mountain bike tracks at Blue Derby Pods Ride as a trail trialler. You can even host a barn party for Hideaway Farmlet ’s herd of goats as its official goat doofer. There’s also barrel butler, scenic seat-warmer, splinter specialist and tunnel to table taster internships available.

How do I apply?

Requesting to join the program is relatively straightforward. Head to Tourism Tasmania’s website and find the Winternship you’d like to take on. Each one has its own application process, which follows a series of questions, as well as its own terms and conditions.

After filling in a few personal details, you’ll have a maximum of 50 words to explain why you want to become a winter person with a Tasmanian Winternship. Applications are now open and will close at midnight on 17 June 2025. All candidates must be over 18 years of age and be Australian citizens.

Taylah Darnell
Taylah Darnell is Australian Traveller's Writer & Producer. She has been passionate about writing since she learnt to read, spending many hours either lost in the pages of books or attempting to write her own. This life-long love of words inspired her to study a Bachelor of Communication majoring in Creative Writing at the University of Technology Sydney, where she completed two editorial internships. She began her full-time career in publishing at Ocean Media before scoring her dream job with Australian Traveller. Now as Writer & Producer, Taylah passionately works across both digital platforms and print titles. When she's not wielding a red pen over magazine proofs, you can find Taylah among the aisles of a second-hand bookshop, following a good nature trail or cheering on her EPL team at 3am. While she's keen to visit places like Norway and New Zealand, her favourite place to explore will forever be her homeland.
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5 of the best day trips from Hobart

    Rachel LayBy Rachel Lay
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    Hobart has quietly become our coolest capital, but the real wonder lies just beyond the city limits.

    In the cool shade of Kunyani/ Mt Wellington, Hobart has earned a reputation. Home to culture-defining Dark MOFO, the city blends rugged, raw wilderness and rule-breaking galleries. But, step beyond the thrumming capital’s border and you’ll find a new perspective: historic towns, Jurassic-era cliffs and a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. With ALL Accor as your home away from home, fill your days with epicurean odysseys and wild scenery on the best day trips from Hobart.

    Where to stay

    Behind every good road trip is the perfect home base. Somewhere central to review your camera roll, make the most of Hobart’s dining scene and relax before setting off again.

    For modern, Tasmanian-inspired design, book a stay at the Movenpick Hotel Hobart . Standing at the Salamanca Markets, look to the Hobart skyline and the award-winning hotel will catch your eye. As the third-tallest building in the CBD, the views across the harbour toward Antarctica are totally unique to your room. Here, end each day at the daily free chocolate hour (plus a free Movenpick ice cream for the little ones).

    For a more budget-conscious option, head to the picture book, sandstone buildings of Macquarie Street. Nestled along the buzzing, historic streetscape, you’ll find Tasmania’s biggest hotel: the Ibis Styles . Return home each day to defrost in one of the hotel’s two saunas. Make use of the proximity to MONA, or take an easy stroll to the candy-coloured cottages of Battery Point between your adventures.

    A stylish, Tasmanian-inspired bedroom at Mövenpick Hotel Hobart, your perfect base for relaxing after the best day trips from Hobart.
    Elevate your Hobart stay with sleek style at Mövenpick.

    1. Bruny Island

    Craggy cliffs and tropical-hued, white sand beaches signal your arrival to Bruny Island/ Lunawanna-Alonnah.

    Start your day trip at the island’s most iconic spot, the Neck Game Reserve. Scale the Trunganini steps to gaze out over the teensy stretch of land that juts through the sea connecting the two ends of the island.

    Catch a rare glimpse of the white furred wallabies that call Bruny Island home at Adventure Bay. Then, for ocean-fresh oysters, pull into the drive-thru window at Get Shucked . Sample Bruny Island cheese at the cellar door before catching the ferry home with an esky full of local produce.

    Bruny Island Neck is an isthmus of land connecting north and south Bruny Island.
    Begin your adventure with a climb and a view. (Image: Elise Weaver)

    2. Mount Wellington

    At 1271 metres, Mount Wellington watches protectively over Hobart. Follow the winding road to climb through alpine forest and tufts of snow to reach the summit. Gaze down over Hobart and out to sea, or over your shoulder to the southwestern wilderness.

    Reset your adrenaline with a mountain bike ride back down. Or, make like the locals and head into the mountain on foot. Try the hike to the Jurassic-period Organ Pipes which slips under the mountain’s magnificent dolerite cliffs (perfect for families thanks to the trail’s minimal incline).

    For a view of Mount Wellington itself, hike nearby Cathedral Rock.

    No matter where you are in Hobart you are never far away from the City's beloved mountain, Kunanyi / Mount Wellington
    Climb through alpine forest to the summit. (Image: Paul Flemming)

    2. Port Arthur

    Constructed entirely by convicts, the manicured gardens and penal buildings of Port Arthur offer a day trip that practically hums with history.

    The rugged, seagirt location was chosen for its difficult escape conditions. Now, you can cruise the coast below the towering, jagged cliffs of the Tasman National Park or wander the sloping fields of fragrant lavender.

    Tickets to Port Arthur include a walking tour and harbour cruise. See the Isle of the Dead where 1000 men are buried in marked and unmarked graves. And Point Puer, Britain’s first prison for children.

    The Port Arthur Historic Site is one of Australia's most important heritage sites and tourist destinations. Located on the scenic Turrakana / Tasman Peninsula in the south east of Tasmania, it offers a unique and essential experience for all visitors to the area.
    Wander convict-built grounds and gardens. (Image: Dearna Bond)

    3. Launceston

    You’ll find Launceston at the confluence of three rivers after an easy 2.5-hour drive from Hobart. Launceston is a patchwork of old and new. Here, heritage streetscapes meet modern architecture.

    Visit Cataract Gorge, the green, sun-dappled heart of the town and sacred meeting point for Tasmania’s indigenous communities. Pull up at roadside produce stalls that dot the Tamar Valley, or dine out. Launceston is, after all, a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.

    Should the local wine scene persuade you, simply extend your time in Launceston at Peppers Silo (but definitely at least stop by the onsite restaurant, Grain of the Silo , for a farm fresh menu) or Mercure Launceston before heading back to Hobart.

    Walk the sunlit paths of Cataract Gorge. (Image: Nick H Visuals)

    4. Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary

    Take a 35-minute drive from your hotel and you’ll find Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary . This social enterprise is run by a team of extremely passionate Tasmanians with a mission to look after critically endangered species who have found sanctuary here after facing extinction on the mainland.

    Choose to wander the sanctuary at your own pace or join a guided tour (free with your ticket) to come face to face with Tassie’s most iconic species. Tasmanian Devils, wombats and echidnas are part of the free tour. You can book up close encounters with your favourite animals, too.

    Bonorong is a Sanctuary for wildlife run by a passionate team of like-minded people. We're a social enterprise: a little business with a big heart.
    Snap a cuddle-worthy encounter. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    5. Richmond Village & Coal River Valley

    Richmond is a town that belongs in a snow globe. Fifty colonial-era, Georgian buildings have been painstakingly restored and turned into cafes, cosy restaurants and galleries. Visit Richmond Gaol , said to be the home of a prisoner so vile he inspired Charles Dickens to pen Oliver Twist’s Fagin.

    Then, follow the Coal River as it flows past grassy, duckling-dotted knolls and under the iconic Richmond Bridge, the oldest bridge in Australia. From the crest of the bridge, see the oldest Catholic Church in Australia. The river crawls past many cellar doors, perfect for a day of wine tasting.

    Richmond is a picture-perfect town in the Coal River Valley wine region, offering a glimpse into early colonial life, one of the best day trips from Hobart.
    Trace the river through history and wine country. (Image: Fin Matson)

    Plan your trip to Hobart and beyond with ALL Accor at All.com .