Australian Natural Adventuresnature travel, wildlife tours, adventure travel and general travel to Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific
Nature Tour ItinerariesBoth nature and wildlife tour itineraries can be enjoyed at any time of the year, but due to the size of Australia - from latitude 10S to 50S - you will have somewhat different experiences in the different seasons. Our Summer in Australia nature tour is best in the austral summer - the northern winter. Suggested travel time for this itinerary is December through April; the Winter in Australia nature tour is best from May to November. To broaden your experience add more to these sample itineraries - see Extensions. We also have tours just of Tasmania, which can be added to other parts of Australia, of course. Although not itemized on these itineraries, usually between one third and one half of meals during the tour are included are included.
Day 1 - Los Angeles / In flight Day 2 - In Flight Day 3 - Sydney / Adelaide Day 5 - Kangaroo Island Day 6 - Kangaroo Island / Adelaide / Brisbane
/ Lamington National Park Day 7 - O’Reilly’s Day 8 - O’Reillys / Brisbane Day 9 - Brisbane / Gladstone / Heron Island Day 10 - Heron Island Day 11 - Heron Island / Gladstone / Brisbane
/ Sydney Day 12 - Sydney Day 13 - Sydney Day 14 - Sydney / Los Angeles
Day 1 - Los Angeles / In Flight Day 2 - In Flight Day 3 - Sydney / Adelaide Day 5 - Kangaroo Island Day 6 - Kangaroo Island / Adelaide / Cairns Day 7 - The Great Barrier Reef Day 8 - Atherton Tablelands Day 9 - Atherton Tablelands Day 10 Daintree National Park Day 11 - Cairns Day 12 - Cairns / Sydney Day 13 - Sydney Day 14 - Sydney Day 15 - Sydney / Los Angeles
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First
seek out koalas sleeping in the forks of the trees, then travel through
some of the best wool-producing areas on the island to a conservation
park on the north coast. Walk through the habitat of Kangaroo Island
Kangaroos, Tammar Wallabies and the endangered Glossy Black Cockatoo.
At Seal Bay Conservation Park a walk among Sealions on a beautiful
sandy beach may reveal pups nursing or playing in the surf. Visit
Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park, where ospreys nest and kangaroos
come out late in the day to feed. This evening look for wildlife at
night, including the tiny Fairy Penguins which return to their burrows
each evening from foraging in the sea.
rapidly
expanding. These animals can be observed at rest on the rocks or frolicking
in the surf under Admirals Arch - a spectacular coastal grotto. On
the headland above is Cape du Couedic Lighthouse which plays an important
role in navigation. Further down the coast are the Remarkable Rocks,
huge natural granite sculptures on the cliff top. Lunch today is a
picnic in the bush before exploring more of the island. Depending
upon the day we might take a walk to a secluded cove, or watch for
a platypus by a quiet pool.
,
Crimson Rosella, Scarlet-backed Fairy Wren, Superb Blue Fairy Wren,
Rainbow Lorikeet, Pied Currawong, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Brush Turkey,
Wonga Pigeon, Paradise Riflebird and King Parrot are found within
walking distance of the lodge. After breakfast enjoy several walks
including the canopy walk amongst the tops of the trees. 
On
the guided walks your naturalist guides will point out the unique
plant and animal life along the trail, through both open country and
rainforest. Late afternoon birding down one of the many tracks may
provide views of Alberts Lyrebird or Noisy Pitta. As dusk falls the
sunset from your room's verandah or from the garden setting can be
quite spectacular. As the evening approaches Pademelons - small rainforest
wallabies - emerge to feed on the lawns; Sugar Gliders and Common
Ringtail Possums feed in nearby trees and a Boobook Owl or Tawny Frogmouth
may be seen. In the evening activities can include audio-visuals,
visiting the glow-worms, and spotlighting for nocturnal creatures.
Heron Island is one of only three true coral cays on the Great Barrier
Reef where one can actually stay. It’s a very small island,
easily walked around. The only inhabitants here are the resort, a
Queensland University research station, and thousands of seabirds,
turtles and other wildlife. The island is virtually surrounded by
coral reef, 
and
one can simply walk off the beach and bend over to see the coral and
other animal life; much of the reef is exposed at low tide. Interpretative
reef walks, ecology and bird walks, turtle viewing, star talks and
wildlife presentations are all included in our stay, as are open-air
movies. Other added-expense activities including outer edge reef trips,
introduction to scuba diving and fishing trips are also available.
nic
lunch, and enjoy it wherever we choose on the island. As it is summer
turtles should either be laying their eggs or hatching on the island
– watching the tiny turtles run for the beach is a wonderful
thing to experience (unlike the typical documentary scene, most hatchlings
emerge at night and make for the brightest horizon, the sea; major
predation by seabirds is therefore not the norm.) Queensland National
Parks & Wildlife Service Rangers conduct research here, enabling
us to view the activities at night without disturbing the turtles.
the
settlement, and are convict-built. After this take a
guided tour of the famous Sydney Opera House, with an option to dine
in the restaurant, with its superb views across Sydney harbour, afterwards.
With prior arrangement a concert or opera can be attended (season
permitting) – please check with us for a program. There are
also many small restaurants around the Quay, a wonderful place to
eat and watch the evening light over the Opera House.
and a colony of huge Grey-headed Fruit-bats, whose wingspans are approximately
three feet. The Australian Museum, with its impressive collection
of Aboriginal artifacts and art, is also close by. The Taronga Zoo
is a ferry ride across the harbour, and a 
lunch
or dinner cruise is a good way to truly appreciate this water-side
city. A tour to the Blue Mountains can also be arranged for those
interested. 
where
kangaroos, koalas, and penguins can all be seen. First seek out koalas
sleeping in the forks of the trees, then travel through some of the
best wool-producing areas on the island to a conservation park on
the north
coast. Walk through the habitat of Kangaroo Island Kangaroos, Tammar
Wallabies and the endangered Glossy Black Cockatoo. At Seal Bay Conservation
Park a walk among Sealions on a beautiful sandy beach may reveal pups
nursing or playing in the surf. Visit Cape Gantheaume Conservation
Park, where ospreys nest and kangaroos come out late in the day to
feed. This evening look for wildlife at night, including the tiny
Fairy Penguins which return to their burrows each evening from foraging
in the sea.
platypus
and many birds including the rare Cape Barren Goose. At Cape du Couedic
on the south-west tip is a New Zealand Fur Seal colony which is rapidly
expanding. These animals can be observed at rest on the rocks or frolicking
in the surf under Admirals Arch - a spectacular coastal grotto. On
the headland above is Cape du Couedic Lighthouse which plays an important
role in navigation. Further down the coast are the Remarkable Rocks,
huge natural granite sculptures on the cliff top. Lunch today is a
picnic in the bush before exploring more of the Island. Depending
upon the day we might take a walk to a secluded cove, or watch for
a platypus by a quiet pool.
heads
of coral with their assortment of fishes, and hard and soft corals.
Parrot fish glean algae from the coral, and small and medium predators
search for food. Schools of fish twist and flash between the outcrops.
An occasional sea turtle may be seen. You glide around the coral in
a semi-submersible submarine, dry and with your ordinary cameras,
while a marine biologist describes the species seen and some of the
processes at work. For those interested, there are guided snorkel
tours led by a marine biologist; for those who are certified, scuba
diving is an option, or a non-certified introductory dive. On your
trip out, one of the marine biologists explains the development of
this and other reef systems and gives us an introduction to many of
the animal species that you see. Lunch is a tropical smorgasbord.
In the afternoon you return to Cairns, under sail if the winds are
right. Your transport to the reef is a 105 foot luxury, motor-sailing
catamaran. There is time after your return this evening to visit Cairns,
or you may wish to relax poolside at the hotel. For experienced
snorkelers, or Scuba divers, your visit to the reef today can be aboard
a 
protected
for the natural and cultural heritage represented here. North Queensland
is unique in the world in having two World Heritage Areas –
this and the Great Barrier Reef - adjacent to each other. These rainforests,
at an elevation of about 2,500 ft, are home to some of Australia’s
rarest and most unusual animals, including four kinds of very restricted
possums, gliders, and the definitely weird tree kangaroo, a kangaroo
which has adapted to a life in the trees, rather than on the ground.
Your guide will take you to a small stream to wait for platypus
,
the egg-laying mammal unique to Australia, all the time describing
the plants and dynamics of the surrounding rainforest. A variety of
rainforest birds and other animals, perhaps including the leaf-tailed
gecko - eight inches long and colored and shaped like a piece of bark
- will be found and seen. After dinner out, a couple of hours will
be spent spotlighting for nocturnal animals, always a highlight of
the day. Our accommodation tonight is a small lodge in the heart of
the rainforest, where wildlife such as the small pademelon wallaby
comes right to our door.
In
addition to the crocodiles, your guide will explain the workings of
the mangrove forest, an important nursery for marine life ranging
from large pelagic fish to many of the inhabitants of the Great Barrier
Reef. Over the course of the day some of Australia’s most colorful
birds, from parrots to honeyeaters, will be seen, as will trees considered
to be the oldest group of flowering plants in the world, with fossils
found of the same species dated at over 120 million years. Some of
the fern species still growing here have been found in the fossilized
dung of ancient dinosaurs. We have an opportunity for a refreshing
swim in a rainforest stream, and lunch also served in the forest.
Tonight return to Cairns.
the
Great Barrier Reef, while others may choose the award-winning 
culture,
often ignored and looked down upon by its own people, is of great
value and interest to others throughout Australia and the world. Through
dance and theatre, and traditional activities including spear and
boomerang throwing, food and medicinal plants identification, and
shelter construction, there is much to learn here about Aboriginal
life. There are many other possibilities today in addition to the
two mentioned. All options today are at additional cost.
years of the settlement, and are convict-built. After this take a
guided tour of the famous Sydney Opera House, with an option to dine
in the restaurant afterwards, with its superb views across Sydney
Harbour. With prior arrangement a concert or opera can be attended
(season permitting) – please click 
shops
to buy the needed souvenirs and gifts, just a short walk is the Botanic
Gardens, which has good views of the harbour, an abundant bird life,
and a colony of huge Grey-headed Fruit-bats, whose wingspans are approximately
three feet. The Australian Museum, with its impressive collection
of Aboriginal artifacts and art, is also close by. The Taronga Zoo
is a ferry ride across the harbour, and a lunch or dinner cruise is
a good way to truly appreciate this water-side city. A tour to the
Blue Mountains can also be arranged for those interested.