You Yangs & Great Ocean Road
The You Yangs and Great Ocean Road region is only a short distance southwest of Melbourne and is characterised by dramatic coastal scenery, wet hinterland rainforests, spectacular heathlands and vast grassy plains.
The You Yangs are the best known granite ridges in the area, rising 350m above the Werribee Plains. The grasslands and low woodlands around the You Yangs are home to more than 200 bird species such as White-naped, White-plumed, New Holland and Brown-headed honeyeaters, Laughing Kookaburras, White-winged Choughs, Eastern Yellow Robins, as well as a key habitat for Eastern Grey Kangaroos, possums and Koalas.
The Great Ocean Road region stretches from Geelong to Portland in south-western Victoria with the limestone rock formations and cliffs being one of Australia’s most famous landscapes. The Twelve Apostles are 20 million year old limestone towers that rise dramatically out of the sea; a result of being pounded for centuries by the raging Southern Ocean, with other striking natural features in the area including the Loch Ard Gorge and the Blowhole.
Inland from the coastal landscape lies the cool, wet hinterland rainforests. Home to Eastern Kangaroos, Swamp and Red-necked Wallabies, possums, Southern Brown Bandicoots, Short-beaked Echidnas, King Parrots and Crimson Rosellas, the Great Otway National Park is a landscape of tall eucalypts and Myrtle Beech dominated forests, rushing waterfalls, cascading streams and tranquil pockets of fern gullies. These forests are alive with vividly red and green coloured Australian King-parrots, Crimson Rosellas, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos as well as 38 species of butterfly.
Quick facts
- Some of the world's most dramatic and rugged coastal scenery
- Wet hinterland rainforests a sanctuary for numerous marsupials and parrots
- You Yangs key habitat for Koalas
- Western Plains prime opportunity to see kangaroos and raptor birds
Experiences
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Australian Walks & Wildlife
From $4,799 USD
13 days/ 12 nights
Wildlife Interests: Birds, Fish & Marine Invertebrates, Land Mammals & Marsupials, Marine Mammals, Reptiles & Amphibians
Wildlife Interests: Birds, Fish & Marine Invertebrates, Land Mammals & Marsupials, Marine Mammals, Reptiles & Amphibians
Australian Walks & Wildlife
From $4799.00 USD
13 days/ 12 nights
Australians love the great outdoors, and what better way to pay homage on a visit than to get out and about and see the stunning scenery and meet the native wildlife.
Wander the laneways and arcades in Melbourne before traveling out of the city for the opportunity to walk through... -
Bushfire Recovery Wildlife Journey
From $175 USD
1 - 3 days per region
Bushfire Recovery Wildlife Journey
From $175.00 USD
1 - 3 days per region
Are you a traveller that would like to assist with land rehabilitation activities to refuge bushfire affected wildlife and critical remaining populations of native species?
Members of Australian Wildlife Journeys have created a series of coordinated 'conservation action days' across multiple regions of Australia from July onwards. These itineraries will... -
Great Ocean Road
From $1,070 USD
3 days/2 nights
Wildlife Interests: Birds, Land Mammals & Marsupials, Reptiles & Amphibians
Wildlife Interests: Birds, Land Mammals & Marsupials, Reptiles & Amphibians
Great Ocean Road
From $1070.00 USD
3 days/2 nights
This small group three day journey covers some of the most rugged and awe-inspiring coastline in Australia!
Explore the Serendip and You Yangs National Parks, the Great Ocean Road, Great Otway National Park, the Twelve Apostles, the Shipwreck Coast and volcanoes and lakes of the Western Plains. You will be... -
Koalas and Kangaroos in the Wild
From $171 USD
Day Trip: Approximately 8 hours
Wildlife Interests: Birds, Land Mammals & Marsupials, Reptiles & Amphibians
Wildlife Interests: Birds, Land Mammals & Marsupials, Reptiles & Amphibians
Koalas and Kangaroos in the Wild
From $171.00 USD
Day Trip: Approximately 8 hours
Traversing through captivating natural bushland across the You Yangs and Serendip National Parks, this one day adventure provides you with up-close encounters with Australia’s most endearing animal, the Koala!
Spot wild Koalas through eucalypt forests with a naturalist guide, who will share stories about each individual koala’s history, social life... -
Sunset Koalas & Kangaroos In the Wild
From $189 USD
Day Trip: Approximately 7.5 hours
Wildlife Interests: Birds, Land Mammals & Marsupials, Reptiles & Amphibians
Wildlife Interests: Birds, Land Mammals & Marsupials, Reptiles & Amphibians
Sunset Koalas & Kangaroos In the Wild
From $189.00 USD
Day Trip: Approximately 7.5 hours
Experience the beautiful You Yangs and Serendip National Parks on this fully inclusive small group tour, perfect for observing animals Koalas and Kangaroos as they become active in the late afternoon.
Dusk is the optimal time for spotting large mobs of wild kangaroos along with Koalas, that exhibit a number...