Family with Teens Wildlife Adventure

Sydney & Southern Highlands - Shared Tour

Day 1: Sydney. On arrival in Sydney, you will be transferred by private vehicle to your downtown accommodation. 

Accommodation: Flexible Options Available*

Day 2: Southern Highlands. After departing Sydney late morning or early afternoon, you'll journey to the tranquil Southern Highlands to encounter Australia's iconic wildlife, including eastern grey Kangaroos, Red-necked and Swamp Wallabies, Common Wombats, Emus, and Platypuses, along with vibrant bird species like Eastern Rosellas, Crimson Rosellas, King Parrots and Sulphur-crested Cockatoos. You'll explore private farmland and pristine bushland, learning about the Great Western Wildlife Corridor's importance in connecting native species between the southern Blue Mountains and Morton National Park.

A visit to Fitzroy Falls will provide you with spectacular views and birdwatching, with a chance to spot the Superb Lyrebird, renowned for its incredible mimicry and fascinating mating display. At dusk, you will have the chance to search for the elusive Platypus, contributing to local conservation efforts. After dinner at Australia's oldest licensed inn, you will embark on a nocturnal spotlighting adventure to see Brush-tailed Possums, Wombats, and with some luck Tawny Frogmouths, before returning to Sydney in the late evening.

Accommodation: Flexible Options Available*

East Gippsland - Private Tour

Day 3: Melbourne. After taking a flight from Sydney, explore the history and attractions of the city. The many attractions of the city vary from the spectacular parklands and gardens that surround the city to the museums and festivals that are a continuing part of city life. Excellent restaurants are on every corner and cater to every taste.

Accommodation: Flexible Options Available*

Day 4: Gippsland Lakes. After departing Melbourne, you will head east to Gippsland's Lakes District, a RAMSAR-protected region vital for waterbirds like Black Swans, Chestnut Teals, and Fairy Terns. Upon arrival, take a ferry to Raymond Island, which is a natural sanctuary for native animals, and where you will help set up a wild koala research project. This involves tracking tree preferences, and behaviours, and identifying individual koalas, with the data aiding local conservation efforts. In the afternoon, you will explore the island's forests, spotting koalas, echidnas, kangaroos, and various birds including parrots, honeyeaters and seabirds. The journey continues through eucalypt forests, estuaries, and beaches, with opportunities to assist in the recording and monitoring of endangered Little Tern nesting sites.

Overnight Accommodation: Snowy River Homestead

Day 5: Mountain Forests. After a relaxing breakfast, you will travel into the rugged mountain forests of East Gippsland. This is one of the few regions in the world that has a large unbroken chain of forest stretching from the Alps to the sea. The abundance of wildlife is due to the diversity of these forests; from giant Alpine Ash forests, native cypress pines, Mountain Plum Pines to Shining Gum and Cut-tail Gums, many of the trees are hundreds of years old. You will visit both dry and wet mountain forests, visit the famous Snowy River, and walk beside a wilderness creek where the landscape changes dramatically from dry slopes to fern-filled rainforest. Your Wildlife Guide will help you search for animals such as wallabies, Satin Bowerbirds, Superb Lyrebirds, cockatoos, parrots, goannas and abundant honeyeaters. Finish the day with a classic Aussie dinner at the Homestead.

Overnight Accommodation: Snowy River Homestead

East Gippsland Wilderness Coast & Snowy River - Private Tour

Day 6: Wilderness Coast. Today you will start with a walk into a large lowland (warm temperate) rainforest in search of birds, Platypus and Swamp Wallabies. Then walk through a heathland and along a forest-lined river – this area abuts a burnt area, so wildlife surveys here are particularly important. Search for White-bellied Sea Eagles, Hooded Plovers, Gang-gang cockatoos, Turquoise Parrots, Azure Kingfishers and Jacky Lizards.

Visit a quiet beach with a complex dune system and frequently see beach and ocean-going birds, and Australian Fur-seals. After lunch, take a walk on the nearby rocky headland, peering into rock pools, walking past wind-sculpted coastal shrubs looking at the expanse of the 90-mile beach. Spend a little time on a beautiful beach removing old fishing nets or rubbish – they wash up from the sea, and sometimes wash back out, where they trap and kill sea creatures. Dinner tonight is a picnic in the bush overlooking the beach (weather permitting). On the way back to the Homestead, search the plains for Red-necked Wallabies, Eastern Grey Kangaroos and Bare-nosed (Common) Wombats.

Overnight Accommodation: Snowy River Homestead

Day 7: Snowy River. You will depart East Gippsland after one last visit to the beach at the Mouth of the Snowy River. On the way back to Melbourne, a visit to Krowathunkoolong Keeping Place, an informative Aboriginal Cultural Centre in Bairnsdale, provides an opportunity to learn about how the Aboriginal people have lived amongst these captivating landscapes for thousands of years. Following this, guests will venture to a river in Bairnsdale to spot Grey-headed Flying-foxes in their daytime roosts, before arriving in Melbourne. 

Overnight Accommodation: Flexible Options Available*

Tasmanian West Coast Wilderness - Shared Tour

Day 8: Launceston. After your morning flight from Melbourne to Launceston, meet your local guide at 1 pm to start your journey to UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cradle Mountain National Park. En route, stop in Sheffield to see the famous murals. Travel through lush rolling farm pasture before reaching the alpine bush of the Cradle Valley. Enjoy an introduction to this captivating alpine environment before settling in at your accommodation for the night.

Accommodation: Cradle Mountain Hotel

Day 9: Cradle Mountain. Today you will be mesmerised by the beautiful alpine landscapes of Cradle Mountain, where in many places, dolerite cracked into vertical columns has resulted in spectacular sculpted mountains and cliffs. On a clear day, the rugged grandeur of Cradle Mountain is reflected in the tranquil waters of Dove Lake, or you may experience the drama of its craggy peaks through swirling mist. Your guide will introduce you to the many endemic fauna and flora species of the region, including the magical forests of Pandani, Sassafras, King Billy Pines and species such as echidnas, Pademelons and wombats.  In the afternoon, travel towards the rugged west coast and the quaint fishing town of Strahan.

Accommodation: Strahan Village

Tasmanian West Coast Wilderness - Shared Tour

Day 10: West Coast Wilderness Railway. This morning, be transferred to Queenstown where you board the nostalgic West Coast Wilderness railway. Join a four-hour Rack and Gorge tour and take a heritage steam train journey through remote rainforest to the incredible King River Gorge, turning at Dubbil Barril before returning to Queenstown. In the afternoon, continue the scenic journey on the road and visit a mining pit and waterfalls before you arrive at Derwent Bridge on the picturesque Lake St Clair.

Accommodation: Strahan Village

Day 11: Lake St Clair. Depart the Cradle Valley and travel to the rugged Tasmanian west coast. Pass old but still active mining towns such as Roseberry and Tullah. In Zeehan, visit the very informative West Coast heritage centre. The centre offers a unique insight into the history of the West Coast of Tasmania and gives visitors a comprehensive experience and understanding of the heritage of the area, adding value and significance to your visit to this beautiful region of Tasmania. Arrive in Strahan in the later hours of this afternoon.

Accommodation: Derwent Bridge Chalets

Day 12: Mt Field National Park. After a hearty breakfast your guide will take you into Mount Field National Park, the oldest in the state. Be mesmerised by the lush forest landscapes, from eucalyptus temperate rainforest to alpine moorland. Explore the green forest canopy where you can crane your neck to see some of the tallest flowering trees in the world. This cool temperate rainforest allows you the opportunity to search for some of Tasmania's 12 endemic bird species including Scrub Tit, Black Currawong and Tasmanian Thornbill along with the Platypus. After lunch, return to Hobart in the late afternoon where the tour concludes at around 4 pm.

Overnight Accommodation: Flexible Options Available*

The Maria Island Walk - Shared Tour

Day 13: Casuarina. After a morning pickup in Hobart, you will be transferred to Triabunna, where you will take a cruise across Mercury Passage to Maria Island, reaching its pristine sandy isthmus. These untouched beaches are home to various bird species, including Pied and Sooty Oystercatchers, Crested Terns, and Hooded Dotterels. After a delicious lunch overlooking Shoal Bay's azure waters, you'll walk to the tranquil Casuarina Beach camp. The afternoon offers a trail through tall eucalypt forests to the stunning Haunted Bay, known for its vivid lichen-covered granite rocks. On the return, watch for Short-beaked Echidnas, Pademelons, wallabies, and Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos. In the evening, after a gourmet Tasmanian dinner, enjoy a sunset beach stroll with a glass of wine, reflecting on the day's adventures.

Accommodation: Wilderness Glamping at Casuarina Beach Camp | Walk length: approximately 8km

Day 14: Casuarina. Waking to the chatter of Yellow Wattlebirds, you'll enjoy breakfast and then embark on a scenic walk along five stunning beaches. Watch Bottlenose Dolphins surf and White-bellied Sea Eagles soar while strolling past exotic shells. Traverse grassy tussocks, sand dunes, and reach Bloodstone Beach, retracing the steps of French explorer Nicholas Baudin from 1802. Visit the historical Point Lesueur probation outpost before heading to White Gums Camp. Enjoy a swim or spot numerous bird species, including the rare Forty-spotted Pardalote and various honeyeaters, as well as Common Wombats, Bennett's Wallabies, and Forester Kangaroos. In Spring, look for cuckoos nesting in other birds' nests. Relax with fellow walkers and savour a candlelit dinner featuring fine Tasmanian food and wine, concluding your perfect day.

Accommodation: Wilderness Glamping at White Gums Camp | Walk length: approximately 13km

The Maria Island Walk - Shared Tour

Day 15: Mt Maria or Bishops and Clerk. Today, your local guides will lead you inland to explore the lush, majestic forests and the world's largest stand of giant Tasmanian Blue Gums. You might spot Common Wombats and the endangered Swift Parrot, which nests in tree hollows along the east coast of Tasmania in August. For a breathtaking experience, choose to climb Mt Maria or Bishop and Clerk for panoramic views of Tasman Island, Freycinet, Schouten Island, and the Ile Des Phoques. At the peaks, you'll see remnants of the last glaciation, including dolerite boulders. In the evening, arrive at Darlington's World Heritage-listed settlement and stay at the colonial Bernacchi House. Enjoy a final night banquet with fine wine, while observing Bennett's Wallabies and Tasmanian Pademelons in the garden.

Accommodation: Bernacchi House | Walk length: approximately 9-17km

Day 16: Darlington. The final day commences with a delicious breakfast followed by a walk around the northern tip of Maria Island. This trail covers a variety of spectacular woodlands and forests, before arriving at the dramatic sea cliffs of Fossil Bay. These massive limestone cliffs store a prolific volume of fossils from a 280 million-year-old sea bed including fully formed shell fossils. Arriving back at Darlington, it is common to see grazing Common Wombats, Forester Kangaroos, Bennett's Wallabies, Cape Barren Geese, and Tasmanian Native Hens, with a keen eye spotting pairs of beautiful Flame Robins darting around. Before boarding the boat to go back to mainland Tasmania and Hobart, walkers will enjoy a celebratory farewell lunch to reminisce about the amazing four days of walking across this beautiful Island.