Blog

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 3 Dec 2023

Marine biologist Jennah Tucker has been in and around water since growing up in Broome, and has long been passionate about whales. "The Humpbacks come up to the Kimberley each winter to breed...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 24 Nov 2023

Leigh Dalton loves the great outdoors, so to take guests around his backyard is a dream come true. "A great destination makes for great holidays, and as a guide I am able to...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 13 Nov 2023

There's something special about the symphony of nature's whispers. The crunch of feet on the leaf litter. Birdsong in the distance. Rustling in the reeds. Although there's plenty to talk about, there's also...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 5 Oct 2023

All Echidna Walkabout tours focus quite heavily on wildlife spotting so, for Hayley Forster, joining the guiding team was a natural fit. "I majored in Wildlife and Conservation Biology in my Environmental Science...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 12 Sep 2023

There are so many wombats on Maria Island, "they're a tripping hazard", Georgia Currant jokes. The young guide has spent countless family holidays on the isle off the east coast of Tasmania, so...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 5 Sep 2023

To spend time with Australian Coastal Safaris' David Doudle is to get a window into the fourth-generation farmer's enchantingly free-range childhood. David grew up on a sheep and grain farm on South Australia's...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 29 Aug 2023

When James Boettcher was a kid, he thought everyone swung through the trees, slid down rapids and fashioned fish traps from spiky rainforest vines. Growing up in Cairns, the World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 15 Aug 2023

Growing up in the Riverland town of Renmark, Tony Sharley saw first-hand the dramatic effects of the Murray River in flood when he was a student in high school - he even did...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 1 Aug 2023

Roger Smith remembers clearly, when he was a child, seeing a mob of kangaroos hop into a grove of trees in the middle of a paddock. "I thought I'd sneak out straight across...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 18 Jul 2023

Lisa Preston first went to Christmas Island on holiday in 1996. Her visit happened to be right in the middle of one of the world's greatest natural spectacles: the red crab migration, in...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 3 May 2023

When Craig Wickham spots a goanna scuttling across the road, he doesn't tell his guests to get out of the way. Instead, he invites them into the bush to see where it has...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 13 Apr 2023

Since he was a 15-year-old crewing on a tug boat on Sydney Harbour, Andrew Ellis has spent his career on the water. He ended up in tourism, working on floating restaurants and cruise...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 1 Apr 2023

When travel agent Daniel Schoedler flew from Switzerland to Tasmania for a trade show in 2015, it didn't take long for the Apple Isle to make an impression. "I was invited on a...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 8 Mar 2023

Paul Cross has travelled more than 52 countries, but if you ask him to pick the most beautiful place in the world, it's his ocean-lapped backyard every time. Growing up near Bunbury, south...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 15 Feb 2023

The first time Debbie Ferguson saw a whaleshark was on her honeymoon. She and husband Mark wanted something to remember their special occasion with, and the enormity of the gentle, spotted giant -...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 18 Jan 2023

More than 30 years ago, when Peter Clutterbuck was a teacher, he was posted to the town of Port Lincoln, on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula. He spent some time driving around, looking for...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 14 Dec 2022

You'd expect a man raised on a Kakadu buffalo and crocodile-hunting station to be a character, and Sab Lord doesn't disappoint. He also knows everything - and everyone - there is to know...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 31 Aug 2022

A recent study of marine life found that flexible plastics are responsible for the largest proportion of marine life deaths. In the case of whales, once ingested the plastics can accumulate in the...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 25 Aug 2022

A mini rainforest of useful plants awaits FNQ Nature Tours guests visiting Botanical Ark, a private sanctuary owned and managed by husband-and-wife team Alan and Susan Carle. “Botanical Ark is my wife and...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 18 Aug 2022

According to Mark Holdsworth, Indian Ocean Experiences' bird expert, one of the best times to experience Christmas Island’s birds is during Bird ‘n’ Nature Week. “May to November is our dry period here,...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 11 Aug 2022

Owner and founder of Murray River Trails, Tony Sharley, never tires of seeing guests discover a destination through the presence of its birds. “We spend the bulk of our time in the Riverland...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 4 Aug 2022

Marine scientists say that the Humpback Whale call is one of the most complex animal sounds there is. “It’s a very beautiful and melancholy song and sounds a little like a door creaking...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 28 Jul 2022

The complexity of a Humpback Whale song astounds scientists every day, and anyone who is privy to hearing a Humpback Whale sing firsthand is almost always left breathless by the beautiful – and...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 26 Jul 2022

When Christmas Island is mentioned, most people first think of the Red Crabs. It’s estimated that there could to be close to 120 million crabs on the island (many more than the previous...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 7 Jul 2022

With each step, the climb gets a little more challenging, but the reward of the sprawling views of Lake Morris and Dinden National Park below is worth every step. “As we hike up...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 30 Jun 2022

The Murray-Darling Basin spans an area of one million square kilometres, and for owner and founder of Murray River Trails, Tony Sharley, its protection is crucial. “Having a basin like this is significant,”...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 24 Jun 2022

Photo identification programs have been the backbone of marine mammal studies for decades, allowing researchers to identify individuals by comparing photos in existing catalogues. “We track Humpback Whales by photographing the underside of...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 12 May 2022

The founder of The Maria Island Walk, Ian Johnstone, has always been passionate about both showcasing and taking care of Maria Island, drawing that philosophy into his teachings and subsequently into the guides’...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 5 May 2022

For Norm Jurrawaa Stanley and his wife Nikki McKenzie, everything is tied to connections. “When I take guests to the You Yangs we look at traditional life and how it compares to our...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 28 Apr 2022

When holidaymakers visit the Ningaloo region for the first time, they often book tours of the Ningaloo Reef first, attracted to the open ocean and everything that it offers. But Exmouth Dive &...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 7 Apr 2022

Tasmania’s convict history trail is full of fascinating sites to explore, ranging from the well-known to some that many people have not heard of. “Convict labour was used to build new colonies to...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 31 Mar 2022

When Dean Hoath, one of the lead guides with Lords Kakadu & Arnhemland Safaris, takes guests to admire rock art at Injalak Hill, he is always accompanied by an Aboriginal guide. “In the...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 17 Mar 2022

There’s something magical about cruising along the Daintree River listening only to the sounds of only nature. “In 2002, after working on larger petrol driving boats, I started a business that allows people...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 2 Mar 2022

For guide and keen outdoor enthusiast, Davis Hinton, there’s no one singular moment that stands out over the others when completing one of the two mountain hikes on offer during The Maria Island...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 17 Feb 2022

Steven Thomson – or Thommo to his mates – knows a thing or two about oysters. He’s also the only oyster farmer in the Eyre Peninsula who takes guests to his oyster lease...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 10 Feb 2022

The spring and summer months are the favourite time of year for birdwatching in East Gippsland for Echidna Walkabout Nature Tours guide, Martin Maderthaner. “It’s an active time for birds, and it’s a...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 20 Jan 2022

There’s only one place in the world where Orange-bellied Parrots (Neophema chrysogaster) breed in the wild, and that’s in Tasmania’s Southwest Wilderness World Heritage Area, a vast and ravishingly beautiful region that is...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 13 Jan 2022

Manta Rays have been around for millions of years, and their reliable aggregations are an important part of Western Australia’s marine ecotourism offering. Yet, it was only discovered as recently as 2009 that...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 3 Jan 2022

For seafood lovers visiting the Eyre Peninsula, the Australian Coastal Safaris Private Seafood Masterclass can’t be missed. The exclusive experience starts with seafood chef, Kris Bunder, opening up oysters as guests arrive, greeting...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 17 Dec 2021

Janine Mackintosh spent a great deal of time on Kangaroo Island throughout the years before finally deciding to call the paradise home in 2012. “My partner Richard and I purchased a large heritage...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 10 Dec 2021

There’s only one tour company that is permitted to enter and explore the Mikinj Valley, and that is Lords Kakadu & Arnhemland Safaris. “I’ve spent decades working closely with local Aboriginal clan groups,...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 20 Nov 2021

This year, the Echidna Walkabout Nature Tours team, together with hundreds of volunteers, is aiming to plant 50,000 trees across the Melbourne and East Gippsland region... and 2022 is set to be even...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 11 Nov 2021

The geological site that excites The Maria Island Walk guide, Dan Fisher, the most is the one that is visited last. “On the last day of The Maria Island Walk, guests visit the...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 4 Nov 2021

When Geoff Curry, long-standing guide with Premier Travel Tasmania, talks about plants, he likes to focus on their ever-evolving relationship with their surroundings. “I’m very interested in how everything interacts with each other....  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 1 Nov 2021

Exmouth Dive & Whalesharks Ningaloo scuba diving and snorkelling guide, Chiara Bussini, believes that once you start taking photographs underwater it can easily turn into a life-long hobby. “I started with land-based photography...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 25 Oct 2021

The 2019/2020 bushfires had a devastating effect on Kangaroo Island and its wildlife, with more than two-thirds of the island burnt. As a result, a large number of animal and plant species were...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 12 Oct 2021

The sun sets earlier in winter, and on a sunny cloud-studded day 5pm is a stunning time to be out watching the sky transform into a kaleidoscope of pinks, oranges and yellows. The...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 7 Oct 2021

When looking for a rural holding more than 30 years ago, Peter Clutterbuck, a long-standing guide with Australian Coastal Safaris, stumbled upon a property on the eastern tributary of the Big Swamp. “I...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 29 Sep 2021

“Maguk is magical,” Bianca Di Nuzzo, the newest guide to join the respected team at Lords Kakadu & Arnhemland Safaris says. “It’s a really interesting location to show guests, with a big and...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 24 Sep 2021

When you ask long-standing Echidna Walkabout Nature Tours guide, Martin Maderthaner, to describe the hoot a Powerful Owl makes, he doesn’t hesitate. “It’s a very loud and deep hoot, a double hoot, really,”...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 20 Sep 2021

When you ask The Maria Island Walk guide, Danny Pulbrook, what he likes to do in his spare time, he doesn’t hesitate to answer. “I’m heavily interested in birds,” he says. “I watch...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 9 Sep 2021

Ningaloo Reef is one of the best places in the world to swim with Whale Sharks, with hundreds congregating in the world- renowned marine park from March to early August. “I’m very fortunate...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 2 Sep 2021

“Dusk in certain locations is a wonderful time to start exploring,” Karin Beaumont, tour guide with Premier Travel Tasmania, explains. “When we visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park,...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 26 Aug 2021

There’s an iPhone feature that sorts photos using facial recognition, categorising frequently photographed faces into groups. Interestingly, it can work for Southern Right Whales too, albeit a little more haphazardly. “Basically, there are...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 17 Aug 2021

Kangaroo Island is home to over 260 species of birds and, according to long-standing birding and tour guide with Exceptional Kangaroo Island, Tim Williams, it’s easy enough to find 40+ species in the...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 11 Aug 2021

A Yellow Water Cruise along the Yellow Water wetlands is one of those must-do experiences when visiting Kakadu, with seasons – and even times of the day – offering different perspectives. Bianca Di...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 5 Aug 2021

Bicycle tourism is fast gaining popularity, as being in the saddle is a great way to see the sights. For David Doudle, founder of Australian Coastal Safaris, launching electronic mountain bicycle tours in...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 28 Jul 2021

It’s hard for Dean Hoath, longstanding guide at Lords Kakadu & Arnhemland Safaris, to name just one favourite bird. “I love all birds, but one of my favourite birdwatching experiences is when we...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 21 Jul 2021

When you ask Roger Smith, co-founder of Echidna Walkabout Nature Tours along with Janine Duffy, about climate change at Mungo National Park, he cites an example. “To help people understand the impacts of...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 14 Jul 2021

Maria Island is renowned for its abundance of wildlife, including a variety of both native and introduced species, some of which are more active when the sun goes down. “The island is nicknamed...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 7 Jul 2021

German-born Andrea Edwards was living in Queensland when she discovered the island paradise of Tasmania. “I came from Brisbane for a one-week holiday and fell in love with the island,” she says. “I...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 2 Jul 2021

For Mark Ferguson, co-founder and skipper of Exmouth Dive & Whalesharks Ningaloo, every day out in the water is a good day. “I learnt to dive when I was 24 and am in...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 22 Jun 2021

What life is hiding on the sea floor? Naturaliste history film maker and Naturaliste Charters tour guide, Dave Riggs, will soon find out. “I’m in the process of sourcing camera systems that will...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 17 Jun 2021

Janine Duffy, founder of Echidna Walkabout Nature Tours along with Roger Smith, knows a thing or two about Southern Emu-wrens... but then she knows a thing of two about hundreds of wildlife species....  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 7 Jun 2021

It’s hard to pinpoint the best part of the day of the Exceptional Kangaroo Island e-biking adventure, although the cycle along the meandering Cygnet River, with massive sugar and red gums shading the...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 5 Jun 2021

The smallest of the 10 species of Bowerbirds in Australia – the Golden Bowerbird – builds the largest structures of all the Bowerbirds to attract their female counterparts. “We call the structures bowers,”...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 11 May 2021

When Australian Coastal Safaris' guests are out on the road, they are usually seeing an abundance of wildlife, so founder David Doudle approached the Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board in 2019 and suggested that...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 28 Apr 2021

Yale Norris and Jacques Lurton look upon winemaking as an art form, with Kangaroo Island as the main source of inspiration and drive. “We are both deeply connected to the land,” Yale says....  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 6 Apr 2021

Thousands of Magpie Geese lift off into the candy-pink sky as the airboat skims along the mud-spattered surface of a gigantic floodplain. To the right, a Saltwater Crocodile lurks just under the water,...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 31 Mar 2021

When you ask Naturaliste Charters marine biologist Pia Markovic what she loves most about Blue Whales, there’s no wavering when she answers. “Blue Whales are the largest animal on the planet – bigger...  Read more

Posted by Tatyana Leonov 12 Mar 2021

A group of keen birdwatchers recently named a bird after Fran Solly. The award-winning photographer – who escorts Australian Coastal Safaris guests on photography tours – explains that the Western Osprey chick was...  Read more

Posted by Tatyana Leonov 17 Feb 2021

In the Far North Queensland Wet Tropics, rain is king. “The start of the Wet Season triggers a myriad of life cycle changes – chrysalis to butterflies, tadpoles to frogs, buds to flowers,”...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 9 Feb 2021

When you join world expert echidna researcher Dr Peggy Rismiller (OAM) for a bushwalk, it’s no ordinary stroll. “I’ve been working with Short-beaked Echidnas since 1988, so I know a thing or two...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 5 Feb 2021

Seabird guides Daniel Mantle and Plaxy Barratt say there’s something extraordinary about observing birds while at sea. “Watching seabirds mastering the strong oceanic winds is just about the pinnacle of birding for both...  Read more

Posted by Australian Wildlife Journeys 19 Jan 2021

As soon as Captain Andrew Johnstone (better known as Captain Dundee), a Naturaliste Charters skipper with a huge smile, starts talking, you realise that you’re in for a treat. “We know around 150...  Read more