qanda-with-guides
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Top End Birdwatching Expedition with Dean Hoath
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 stay at the Lords Kakadu & Arnhemland Safaris permanent bush camp in Kakadu National Park,” he says....
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Exploring the Impacts of Climate Change at Mungo National Park with Roger Smith
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 climate change in a certain area, I usually profile a creature,” he says. “I’ve been visiting Mungo...
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Nocturnal Spotlighting for Tasmanian Devils and Marsupials with Holly Schorta
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 Noah’s Ark because in the 1960s a variety of threatened species, such as Cape Barren Geese and...
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Wildlife & Wetlands with Andrea Edwards
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 moved here and have been living in the Tamar Valley for more than 20 years now. Stretching...
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Diving the Muiron Islands and Outer Reef with Mark Ferguson
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 the water at every opportunity. I just love the sea and showing guests the underwater world,” Mark...
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Hear the tales of Naturaliste history film maker, Dave Riggs
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 be capable of withstanding water depth to at least 800 metres,” Dave says. “And when I do...
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Post Bushfire Surveys with Janine Duffy
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. “If it’s native and it’s wildlife, I love it,” she says. “I joke that my favourite animal...
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E-biking Adventure with Craig Wickham
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 bike path, is one of Exceptional Kangaroo Island Managing Director Craig Wickham’s highlights. “The riverside cycle is...
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Tropical Wetlands birding expedition with Matt Cornish
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,” FNQ Nature Tours guide Matt Cornish explains. “The Golden Bowerbird formations are intricate assortments of sticks and...
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Making Citizen Science Count with David Doudle
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 both guests and guides could help out with the cataloguing. “It’s not physically possible for the Landscape...
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Take a private masterclass with Yale Norris from The Islander Estate Vineyards
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. “Making wine is our passion.” Yale Norris and Jacques Lurton. Image: The Islander Estate Vineyards The birth...
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Airboating across Bamurru Plains with Sab Lord
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, its beady eyes popping up ever so briefly. To the left, water buffaloes stomp through the shallows,...
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Recording the Behaviour of the Earth’s Largest Creature with Pia Markovic
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 than dinosaurs,” she says. “And learning more and more about them every day is both thrilling and...
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Photographing Birds of the Eyre Peninsula with Fran Solly
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 tagged in November 2020 as part of the South Australian Government’s Osprey and White-bellied Sea-Eagle Recovery Program....
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Low-light Photography Workshop with Kelvin Marshall
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,” says FNQ Nature Tours photography guide Kelvin Marshall. Kelvin shares his love of both photography and the...
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Take A Bushwalk On Kangaroo Island With World Echidna Expert Dr Peggy Rismiller
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 about them,” she laughs. “But there is still so much I’d like to find out.” Dr Peggy...
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Pelagic Birdwatching with Daniel Mantle and Plaxy Barratt
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 us,” Plaxy explains. “The spray, the wind, the rocking boat… it’s magic.” The two pelagic birdwatchers are...
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Explore the Privately Owned Shared Earth Reserve With James Boettcher
When the FNQ Nature Tours vehicle pulls up to the Forever Wild Shared Earth Reserve, it’s quickly evident that something special is about to occur. “We open this big locked gate and drive into this huge expanse of land with a wealth of ecosystems,” FNQ Nature Tours owner and guide,...
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Tracking Orcas at the helm with Captain Dundee
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 of the whales we see each season personally,” he says. “After seven years in the Bremer Canyon...
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Q&A With Guides: Pia Markovic
Bremer Canyon supports one of the most astonishing aggregations of marine life anywhere on the planet and Pia Markovic has a daily front row seat as Naturaliste Charter's marine biologist! We caught up with Pia recently to find out more about her role researching some of the world's most incredible...
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Q&A With Guides: Karin Beaumont
Karin Beaumont has been part of the Premier Travel Tasmania team for more than eight years. We chatted with her just before the festive season, to find out more about her love for the Australian island-state of Tasmania! Have you always called Tasmania home? I’ve now lived over half my...
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Q&A With Guides: Craig Wickham
Recently listed as one of the Top 5 Wildlife Guides by Outside Go magazine, Craig Wickham has always had a strong passion for wildlife conservation. Craig, along with his wife and family, has owned and operated Exceptional Kangaroo Island since 1990. We caught up with Craig recently to find out...
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Q&A With Guides: Mark & Debbie Ferguson
In our latest Q&A with Guides, we chat with not one, but two guides! Husband-and-wife team, Mark & Debbie Ferguson, own and operate Exmouth Dive & Whalesharks Ningaloo, the region's original eco-tourism operation. Mark and Debbie have been involved in Western Australian marine ecotourism for over 20 years. How long...
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Q&A With Guides: David Doudle
David Doudle has lived on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula his entire life. After growing up on the family farm, David saw a great opportunity to share the natural wonders of region with international and domestic visitors. We caught up with David recently to find out more about Australian Coastal Safaris...
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Q&A With Guides: Daniel Fisher
Daniel Fisher has been guiding the Maria Island Walk for the past eight years. We were able to chat with him recently to find out what he loves about being a wildlife guide and life on Maria Island. How did you get involved with The Maria Island Walk? I moved...