Australian Natural Adventures

Custom Australia itnerary for Ronie & John continues.....

Day 10 - Saturday, July 30: Cairns / Atherton Tablelands
This morning pick up your rental car and head south and west to to the Atherton Tablelands, about one hour away. The drive up the side is spectacular, with wonderful views across Trinity Bay to the Coral Sea. As you increase elevation you will notice a sudden transition from dry eucalypt forest to wet rainforest. Your accommodation tonight is Chambers Rainforest Lodge, deep in the rainforest. John, your host, is a wealth of knowledge about the area (and a bit of a character), and will assist you while there. As the lodge is self-catering, with a small kitchen area, you should pick a few supplies on your way – Cairns will be easiest for this, although there is a store in Yungaburra, near the lodge. Of course, you will most likely eat at one of the several nearby restaurants, but having a few snacks, and/or a bottle of wine, on hand is always a good idea. The lodge grounds are rich in wildlife, from birds to mammals, many of which are unafraid and will visit your cabin.At 1pm you will meet Alan Gillanders at the Yungaburra Information Centre, next to the Yungaburra Hotel (very hard to miss!) on Cedar St. Alan is a local naturalist guide, who will take you for an afternoon and then after dinner (not included) evening wildlife finding expedition. Alan is a “step-aboard” guide, meaning that he will join you in your vehicle for the tours. . As well as gaining an understanding of this unique rainforest area, you will look for platypus, musky rat-kangaroos, birds and many others. After dinner you will spend a couple of hours spotlighting for nocturnal wildlife, including the rare and endemic possums that occur only here, owls, and possibly the strange Lumholtz tree kangaroo. You will return to the Lodge about 10pm. Don't forget that it will be cooler up on the Tablelands, especially at night.

Day 11– Sunday, July 31: Atherton Tablelands
Today continue to explore the Tablelands with Alan. The Curtain Fig and Cathedral figs are both spectacular trees, and the large Red Cedar at Gadgarra shows how impressive these trees can be. The walk around Lake Eacham is very enjoyable, and may give good views of large Scrub Pythons sunning on the lakeside grass, eels, and other wildlife. The day's itinerary will be decided in part by Alan's experience, and seasonal wildlife activity, but visits to wetlands, Granite Gorge and other highlights will be part of your day. This evening dinner can be had in one of several restaurants in Yungaburra, or you can make your own and enjoy the verandah of your lodge with the wildlife. You should make sure you are there just after sunset for John's own wildlife exposition.

Day 12 - Monday, August 1: Atherton Tablelands / Cairns
After an easy morning - there are several nice walking tracks on the property - make your way back to Cairns. We suggest you talk to Alan about the things you haven't seen, and take the day to continue to look around. Perhaps a drive to the ex-logging town of Ravenshoe, where has become something of an arts and crafts center, and even driving to the Tully Falls lookout, for views across to the now-trickling (due to a dam) but once mighty Tully River. The river still creates a major waterfall, and extensive flooding, if there's heavy rain during the Wet, and provides year-round Class 4 whitewater rafting. The sugarcane season will have begun, and your drive will take you past several farms. Although the cane is no longer burnt prior to harvest, you will see the small trains - "trams" - making their way about the fields. They also cross the roads, so take car at the indicated tram crossings. Return to the Tradwinds Hotel in Cairns. Return to the Tradewinds Hotel in Cairns. Your rental car is due back this afternoon by 5pm (when the office closes), although you could keep it until 9am tomorrow morning (or whatever time you picked it up Saturday) at no extra cost. You may also keep it for an extra day, at added expense, and return it to the airport depot tomorrow – please advise the rental company if you choose either of these options.

Day 13 - Tuesday, August 2 - Cairns / Darwin
Most of today is free to relax and perhaps visit some of the art galleries in town. Several, including the Cairns Regional Art Gallery, include local and Aboriginal artists in their exhibitions. There are several other galleries in Cairns, several of which specialize in wildlife and nature art, and photography. If you didn't get a chance to visit the opal showroom in Sydney, you may wish to visit to the Outback Opal Mine, where as well as buying opals you can learn from a educational film and display how and where they are mined. A call to this interesting store and museum will have them coming to collect you, and drop you off later, at no obligation. Taxi to the airport late this afternoon for your Qantas QF800 6.15pm flight to Darwin, arriving at 8.15pm. On arrival at Darwin Airport collect your rental car and drive south to the Howard Springs Holiday Village. There’s a map in your packet, but you may also wish to check directions with the rental people. Once again, the park is self catering, so you may wish to pick up a couple of supplies along the way – there is a supermarket on the highway at Palmerston, a little south of the airport. There’s also a kiosk at the Park. Please drive slowly and with great care once you turn off the highway – wallabies often cross the road at night, coming from nowhere.

Day 14 - Wednesday, August 3: Darwin / Ubirr / Cooinda
Today begins your adventure in one of Australia's prime natural destinations, Kakadu National Park and the surrounding lands and Parks. Drive back to the highway, go a little south then turn east on the Arnhem Highway. Along the way (you'll receive maps of the drive, and area) stop in at Fogg Dam (preferably early in the morning), and enjoy the walk along the entry road. Fogg Dam is about 25 km from the turnoff.) Along the way (you'll receive maps of the drive, and area) stop in at Fogg Dam (preferably early in the morning), and enjoy the walk along the entry road. Fogg Dam is about 40 miles from Darwin.) A few miles further on is Windows on Wetlands, which has additional displays about thee wetlands, but also expansive views across the floodplains. Kakadu itself is a further 50 miles on, and the Bowari Visitor Centre 50 miles past that. At the visitor centre pick up brochures and guides to the Park, and enjoy the educational displays. Rangers lead walks at both Ubirr and Nourlangie, and at times in other parts of the park. Make sure you ask about these, and sign up if necessary. Try to fit them in with the suggested times for attractions in this itinerary. The Kakadu National Park website also has maps that you can download prior to your visit, as well as additional information. Gagadju Lodge Cooinda, your accommodation for the night, is about 30 miles south of the visitor center. Ubirr Art Site is about 22 miles north of the visitor centre, and you should arrive there about an hour before sunset, or perhaps a little earlier. Plan to be there until sunset (as do many others, as you will see), as the view from the escarpment over the plains at that time is one of the most beautiful views in the park. If you go all the way to the cliff edge, which means going down just a little, and look over, patient searching should reveal rock wallabies lower down. The walking tracks around the art site are somewhat rough, but should present no problems. the walk up the track to the lookout area involves some flat rock crossing, but once again is easy enough. Drive to Cooinda for the night.

Day 15 - Thursday, August 4: Cooinda / Mary River
Wake early this morning and drive a mile or so to the Yellow Waters departure jetty. Here you will enjoy an 1 1/2 hour naturalist-led cruise on the extensive lagoons, which are covered in water lilies, lotus lilies and many birds, from tiny kingfishers to noisy magpie geese. Yellow waters is also home to many saltwater crocodiles, and your guide is an expert at finding these. Return to the Lodge for breakfast, check out, and retrace your steps back towards Jabiru. Turn off the road after about 13 miles to Nourlangie Rock. By arriving as early as possible you may see black wallaroos along the track, especially in the lusher area at the start. It's a 2 mile easy loop through the art sites, some of the most impressive in the park. Again, there are ranger-led walks several times each day, and you should arrange your timing to take advantage of the first of these. Expect to spend about 2 hours at Nourlangie. After this head back out of the park the same way you came in, heading for Mary River. Take the turn to the Mary River Park, a private area and home to a wealth of wildlife. On arrival check in, and you will be taken care of for the next two days. Your first tour here is at 3pm, and we have arranged a late lunch for an expected arrival of about 1pm. Should you be later, please give them a call. There’s a phone at Kakadu Village and the Bark Hut. You'll spend the time at Mary River being taken to various areas nearby, looking at the extensive wildlife and flora of the area, including two species of crocodiles, wallabies and buffaloes. One evening you'll enjoy a sunset cruise and stargazing outing.             L,D

Day 16 - Friday, August 5: Mary River
Continue to explore the Mary River area with your guides. The Bamboo Walk, estuary area, and many other nearby places will be visited, leaving you with a much better understanding of the rich but ephemeral nature of the vast wilderness of Australia's Top End.               B,L,D

Day 17 - Saturday, August 6:
After your final morning activities at Mary River return to Darwin. This is an easy 1 1/2 to 2 hour drive. Return your vehicle – please note the depot closes at 4pm today - and relax for the evening at the centrally located Darwin Central Hotel. Darwin has good shopping for Aboriginal artifacts and artwork both old and new. The walk along the clifftop Esplanade may reveal birds such as honeyeaters not seen elsewhere. You should arrange your taxi or shuttle to the airport tomorrow tonight wit your hotel. Car rental is expensive in the Territory, and it will be much cheaper to return your vehicle and taxi or shuttle to the airport.          B,L
        

Day 18 - Sunday, August 7: Darwin / Adelaide / Kangaroo Island
A big travel day today as you fly from the very top of Australia to near the bottom of the mainland. Don't forget to carry on a jacket, as the temperature in Adelaide will be very different to what you've been used to for the last week or so. Unfortunately it's a very early flight, Qantas QF82 at 5.30am. You'll arrive in Adelaide at 9.05am. As you will be flying to Kangaroo Island later this afternoon, you can take this opportunity to have a look at Adelaide, a pretty small city,as it's only a ten minute taxi ride from the airport. Return to the airport for your Regional Express (Rex), flight 4771, 5.30pm 20-minute flight across to Kangaroo Island, where you'll be met and taken to your accommodation (Wanderer's Rest) for the next two nights.             *B,D

Day 19 - Monday, August 8: Kangaroo Island
This morning you begin your exploration of this wonderful island. You are met upon arrival, and begin your day of exploration. You’ll first visit the redgum forest along the Cygnet River valley to 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. Here we walk through the habitat of Kangaroo Island Kangaroos, Tammar Wallabies and the endangered Glossy Black Cockatoo. For lunch enjoy a delicious seafood barbeque served with fine South Australian wines before heading to a colony of Australian Sealions. At Seal Bay Conservation Park a walk among Sealions on a beautiful sandy beach may reveal watching pups nursing or playing in the surf. Old bulls bear the scars of territorial disputes, as your guide explains when he tells us about their unique breeding biology. In the afternoon we visit Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park including D'Estrees Bay - where ospreys nest, and kangaroos come out late in the day to feed. After this you are dropped off at your accommodation. This evening you will enjoy a spotlighting tour, including seeing the tiny Fairy Penguins which return to their burrows each evening from foraging in the sea.          B,L,D

Day 20 - Tuesday, August 9: Kangaroo Island / Adelaide
Flinders Chase National Park is a 74,000 hectare (190,000 acre) wilderness which covers the entire west end of the Island. We’ll visit Rocky River Homestead - originally a small farm and now the Park headquarters. This area is home to kangaroos, wallabies, possums, goannas, echidnas, koalas, platypus and many birds including the rare Cape Barren Goose. At Cape du Couedic on the south-west tip is a New Zealand Furseal 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 you might take a walk to a secluded cove, or watch for a platypus by a quiet pool. You return to the eastern end of the island via Vivonne Bay, one of the few protected bays on the south coast At the end of your exciting day you will be taken to the airport, for your 6.35pm Rex flight 4772 back to Adelaide, arriving at 7.05pm. From here it's a very short taxi ride to your hotel (Mercure Grosvenor), for, sadly, your last night in Australia.                    B,L

Day 21– Wednesday, August 10: Adelaide / Sydney / Los Angeles
Your last day in Australia. This morning taxi to the airport for your early flight home, via Sydney (Qantas QF740 departing 7.25am arriving Sydney 9.45am, Qantas QF107 departing 10.50am). Due to the International Dateline, you arrive in Los Angeles at 7.10am today, the same day you left Australia. *L,*D,*B

B:breakfast; L: lunch; D: dinner; M:meal; * inflight meal

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