Posts from FNQ Nature Tours
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12 Threatened Australian Species You Can See In the Wild
Australia is home to a remarkable array of wildlife, many of which are found nowhere else on Earth. However, numerous species are currently facing critical threats and are classified as endangered. In this article, we explore some of Australia's most vulnerable creatures that you can observe in their natural habitats....
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Best Places to See Platypuses in the Wild
Encountering Australia's wildlife in its natural habitat is a magical experience. Observing animals in the wild, where they explore freely and behave naturally, offers a unique and unforgettable connection to nature. One of the most sought-after wildlife experiences in Australia is spotting the elusive platypus in the wild. This semiaquatic,...
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Nursing Bats Back to Health with Jenny Mclean
Jenny Mclean has extensive knowledge about bats and has dedicated the last two decades of her life to their wellbeing and conservation. "We started Tolga Bat Hospital in 1990, and now we're the largest bat rehabilitation and tourism facility in Australia, caring for up to 1,000 bats each year," she...
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Storyteller Series: James Boettcher from FNQ Nature Tours
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 was at his fingertips. After finishing high school, he spotted an advertisement in a newspaper about guiding....
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Explore the Botanical Ark with Alan Carle
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 I attempting to leave a green footprint on the planet – and at the same time educate...
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Hike the Lamb Range with James Boettcher
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 to the summit, we pass giant gum trees and beautiful savanna habitation, but there are no glimpses...
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Private solar-powered wildlife cruise with David White
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 to get close to nature without the sounds of an engine and the smell of fumes,” explains...
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Species Feature: Platypus
The Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is an iconic egg-laying mammal endemic to eastern and south-eastern Australia. Where are Platypuses (also Platypi) found in Australia? Platypuses are found in freshwater systems along the eastern and south-eastern coastline of Australia, including the island state of Tasmania. They are often sighted floating along the...
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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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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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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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FNQ Nature Tours: Our Story
After ten years of guiding nature and wildlife safaris in Northern Australia, James Boettcher established FNQ Nature Tours in 2015, with a firm belief that tourism is the key to the protection and conservation of this World Heritage area. The company offers tours across the Daintree Rainforest National Park, Atherton...
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New Tour Helps Aussie Tiger Quoll In Far North Queensland
MEDIA RELEASE 17 June 2020 The Tasmanian Tiger died out 80 years ago, but their cousin: the poorly-known Tiger Quoll, still survives in small numbers in Far North Queensland. A new 4 day tour has been designed to help this threatened Aussie marsupial, by getting Aussies to visit, enjoy the...
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Our Favourite Member Photographs: April 2020
Rainbow Lorikeet - Echidna Walkabout Nature Tours Image credit: Echidna Walkabout Nature Tours (via Facebook: @echidnawalkabout) Recommended tour: Great Ocean Road (3D/2N) Australian Sea-lions - Australian Coastal Safaris Image credit: Australian Coastal Safaris (via Facebook: @auscoastsafaris) Featured tour: Port Lincoln Wildlife Encounters (2D/2N) Common Wombat - The Maria Island Walk...
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Our Favourite Member Photographs: March 2020
Killer Whale - Naturaliste Charters Image credit: Naturaliste Charters (via Facebook: @bremercanyonkillerwhaleexpeditions) Recommended tour: Bremer Canyon Killer Whale Expedition Eastern Grey Kangaroos - Echidna Walkabout Nature Tours Image credit: Echidna Walkabout Nature Tours (via Facebook: @echidnawalkabout) Recommended tour: Great Ocean Road (3D/2N) Emus - Australian Coastal Safaris Image credit: Australian...
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Our Favourite Member Photographs: February 2020
Kangaroo Island Kangaroo - Exceptional Kangaroo Island Image credit: Exceptional Kangaroo Island (via Facebook: @exceptionalkangarooisland) Exceptional Kangaroo Island came across a couple of local Kangaroo Islanders who seemed to be getting into the spirit of Valentine's Day! Recommended tour: Kangaroo Island In Style (2D/1N) Killer Whale - Naturaliste Charters Image...
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Our Favourite Member Photographs: November 2019
Life on the Reef - Exmouth Dive and Whalesharks Ningaloo Image credit: Exmouth Dive and Whalesharks Ningaloo (via Facebook: @exmouthdiveandwhalesharksningaloo) The Ningaloo Reef provides magical marine encounters throughout the year! Recommended tour: Deluxe Whaleshark Swim (full day) - available from March 4 until August 31, 2020. Figbird with Young -...
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Our Favourite Member Photographs: October 2019
Red-bellied Pademelons - The Maria Island Walk Image credit: The Maria Island Walk (via Facebook: @mariaislandwalk) Extinct on mainland Australia, these cute creatures are widespread in Tasmania and Maria Island! Recommended tour: The Maria Island Walk - available until April 30, 2020. Whale Shark - Exmouth Dive and Whalesharks Ningaloo...
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Our Favourite Member Photographs: September 2019
Rainbow Lorikeet - Australian Coastal Safaris Image credit: Australian Coastal Safaris (via Facebook: @auscoastsafaris) South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula region is home to a diverse range of birds, none more stunning than the Rainbow Lorikeet! Featured tour: Port Lincoln Wildlife Encounters (2D/2N) Common Wombat - The Maria Island Walk Image credit: ...
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FNQ Nature Tours gains private access to new Shared Earth Reserve
FNQ Nature Tours is excited to announce that they have been granted exclusive use of a 5000-acre nature reserve to share with guests. The Shared Earth Reserve is now owned by conservation organisation Forever Wild, who work to protect Earth's last great wildernesses for societal well-being, biological diversity and its...
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Our Favourite Member Photographs: July 2019
Grey-headed Flying-fox - Echidna Walkabout Nature Tours Image credit: Echidna Walkabout Nature Tours (via Instagram: @echidnawalkabout_) The Grey-headed Flying-fox is one of many wildlife sightings available in the East Gippsland region of Victoria. Echidna Walkabout Nature Tours offer multiple tours which visit this region. Recommended tour: East Gippsland Wildlife Journey...
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Our Favourite Member Photographs: May 2019
Buffalo - Lords Safaris Image credit: Lords Safaris (via Facebook: @lordssafarisnt) Lords Safaris encountered some Buffalo out on the Mary River floodplain, north of Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory. These tours are conducted using airboats, which offer great access to a diverse range of wildlife including Saltwater Crocodiles,...
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Species Feature: Saltwater Crocodile
The Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) is perhaps northern Australia’s most famous resident. These extraordinary creatures, who have survived since the age of dinosaurs, are found across northern Australia, including Kakadu & Arnhem Land and Far North Queensland. Australia is home to two species of Crocodile (the Saltwater as well as...
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Our Favourite Member Photographs: April 2019
Here are some amazing April images across the Australian Wildlife Journey group! Flinders Ranges Sunrise - Arkaba Conservancy Image credit: Brooke Saward (via Instagram: @worldwanderlust) The Flinders Ranges region of South Australia is famous for its stunning landscapes as well as it's wildlife diversity. As part of the Arkaba Walk...
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Our Favourite Member Photographs: March 2019
Take a look at some of our favourite posts from our members in March 2019: Short-beaked Echidna - The Maria Island Walk The Short-beaked Echidna is found across Australia, including Tasmania and surrounding islands. A tour group completing the Maria Island Walk recently came across this one who was taking...
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Q&A With Guides: James Boettcher
We recently caught up with wildlife guide James Boettcher to find out what he loves about the Far North Queensland region and learn about some exciting updates on the horizon for FNQ Nature Tours. What do you enjoy most about being a wildlife guide? Well, I like the ability to...
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Australia's Top 10 Most Beautifully Coloured Birds
Australia is home to a some of the world's most iconic birds - 828 individual species, according to a 2008 study (Christidis and Boles). Some Australian birds are known for their audible abilities; some for their size, and others for their spectacular colourings. Let's take a look at what birds...
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Our Favourite Member Photographs: February 2019
Take a look at some of our favourite posts from our members in February 2019: Orca - Naturaliste Charters Image credit: Michael Haluwana (via Instagram: @aeroture_aus) Naturaliste Charters get you face-to-face (literally!) with Orcas in the Bremer Canyon region of Western Australia! The season operates from January through to April,...
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Help Australia's Marsupials by Taking a Tour!
Wildlife-based tourism is growing rapidly as more people travel the world. However, not all animal experiences are created equal. It’s widely agreed that the only sustainable and ethical experiences are those where humans simply observe animals going about their daily lives in their natural habitat – no touching, no feeding,...
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Australia's Most Amazing Aquatic Adventures
Australia is surrounded by water brimming with a vast variation of marine species and home to a large number of creeks and rivers that coil their way around the vast land. There is no other country in the world where – if you wanted to – you could can swim...
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Australia's Top 11 Quirkiest Birds
Australia is teeming with fabulous quirky birds – birds with extraordinary songs, birds that break eggs with stones, birds that run like the wind, and birds that dance like no one is watching (ironically, these birds are dancing precisely to be watched). “Some Australian birds have evolved to have amazing...
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Facts You Didn't Know About Kangaroos!
Kangaroos are macropods and there are over 50 species of macropods (a general term for kangaroos, wallabies, pademelons, potoroos and bettongs) found in Australia – and a few more in Papua New Guinea. Most macropods have hind legs that are bigger than their forelimbs, big feet and a muscular tail....
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Lizard Spotting on Safari across Australia
From Saltwater Crocs to the world’s most venomous snakes, Australia houses more reptile species than any other country on the planet. With more than 600 known species distributed throughout Australia, lizards are the most diverse – and arguably underrated – members of the group. Everywhere you go in Australia you...
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Species Feature: King Parrot
Across the cooler coastal and mountain forests of eastern Australia, a highlight for many wildlife lovers is to see the magnificent scarlet underside and red head of the male King Parrot (Alisterus scapularis). This species resides all the way from Cooktown near the top of Queensland to Southwestern Victoria. Australian...
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Species Feature: Southern Cassowary
The purpose of the Southern Cassowary’s distinctive casque (helmet), which is unique to every individual, is unknown, but recent research suggests that it may help cassowaries to feel the low vibrating sound made by other cassowaries over long distances. This unusual sense, called infrasound, was used by some dinosaurs, and...