Australia - A Naturalists Dream

Day 2 will be regained when returning home.

Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of your afternoon is free to relax. This evening get to know your fellow travellers at an informal cocktail Party.

A 1 ½ hour ferry ride from Perth takes you to Rottnest Island, where cars are prohibited and a rolling countryside and spectacular beaches invite exploration on bicycle or foot. Offshore islands like Rottnest, are often “sanctuaries” where species gain a degree of protection from mainland predators. Quokkas, a small kangaroo-like marsupial, Rock Parrots and the Banded Stilt find Rottnest Island just such a refuge.

We leave Perth and travel north to Nambung National Park to the haunting, most unusual Pinnacle Desert. The flat sandy desert is punctured with peculiar limestone pillars, some only a few cms high, some towering up to five meters. This time of year the desert comes alive with an impressive display of wildflowers. Continue along the Brand Highway, along spectacular stretches of coast to Western Australia’s main lobster-catching centre of Geraldton. We frequently stop enroute at sites of natural history interest.

We continue north to an area known as Shark Bay. Enroute we stop at Hamelin Pool, a marine reserve which has the world’s best known colony of Stromatolites – an ancient and rare form of “living rock”. We visit Shell Beach, this 100 km stretch of beach is solid shells nearly 10 metres deep. At Eagle Bluff, halfway between Nanga and Denham, we take in some of the superb views over Shark Bay. We may encounter emus enroute today!

A pre-breakfast bird walk to see the Striated Grasswren, a member of a small group of rare and difficult birds to locate. Later in the morning, we have a special visit with the dolphins of Monkey Mia. Since the 1960’s dolphins have been coming here to visit humans. They swim right into the knee deep water and will nudge up against you, even take a fish if it is offered. Later enjoy an interesting talk on CALM’s “Project Eden” – a rare native animal re- introduction program for the Peron Peninsula. After lunch, we board a wildlife sailing cruise to look for Dugongs, dolphins, rays, turtles, and sharks.

Free day to explore.

From Shark Bay we travel south again to Kalbarri National Park to spend some time exploring , birding and flower seeking the heathlands and gorges. Kalbarri National Park has over 1000 sq kilometres of bushland including some of the state’s most spectacular gorges on the Murchison River.

Enjoy a morning walk in Kalbarri National Park, Murchison River and heath plains famous for their diversity an concentration of plantlife, as well as beautiful sea cliffs. Continue to Morawa and Coal Seam Conservation Park, an excellent wildflower area and wreath leschenaultia habitat. Our accommodation this evening is a typical Aussie country pub.

Accommodation: Morawa Motel

Leave Morawa, travel through wildflower country to Northam where we stop for lunch. This busy farming centre is on the railway line to Kargoorlie. At one time, the line from Perth ended here abruptly and miners had to make the weary trek to the gold fields by road.. Via Narrogin through farming country, we continue to Katanning. The wide road verges often with colourful displays of wild flowers including many varieties of Kangaroo Paws. 

Accommodation: New Lodge Motel

Travel via Cranbrook, Red Gum Pass and Stirling Range Drive into and through the Stirling Ranges. Although we will not be able to climb to the summits of these mountain peaks, each peak is noted for its distinctive species of Darwinia (Mountain Bells), a genus of shrubs honouring Charles Darwin. Enjoy a diverse range of wildflowers, walks and scenery, spending most of the day in this area, before travelling to Albany late afternoon.

At the crack of dawn we travel to Two People’s Bay, a nature reserve. If we are lucky we may see a small colony of Noisy Scrub Birds who were thought extinct until rediscovered in 1961 as well as Western Whipbirds, Southern Emuwrens and Western Bristlebirds. This is also the domain of the Western Grey Kangaroo. Then it’s on to scenic Oyster Harbour, The Gap and Natural Bridge in Toondirup National Park. This afternoon a special visit to the residency museum of Captain Vancouver is planned.

Free day to explore Albany.

Travel via Denmark to William Bay National Park, Green Pool, Valley of the Giants and the Treetop Walk amongst the giant Red Tingle and Karri trees, enjoy a boat cruise on Walpole Inlet, travel via Nuyts Wilderness to Perup. After BBQ dinner, spotlight for rare native animals of the forest such as Phascogale (a squirrel-like, arboreal marsupial), Woylies (a rare rat kangaroo), and Tammar Wallabies.

Accommodation: Perup Wilderness Lodge

Travel down to the Great Forest Trees Drive and “Big Grove” in the Shannon National Park, a new CALM route through some magnificent forest country. Try the climb to the top of Diamond Tree Lookout (one of the fire lookout trees) before a lunch of fresh marron (a freshwater crayfish). From here we travel across to Busselton.

Accommodation:  Broadwater Beach Resort

Depart early for a full day in the region between Cape Leeuwin and Cape Naturaliste. If the winds are favorable we may see one or two Albatross species passing within sight of land. We then venture down into the cave network where you will see some impressive stalagmite, stalactite and helictite formations. Tonight we sample some of the superb local wines.

Follow the coastline with magnificent views of the Indian Ocean through a natural gateway of Tuart trees at Ludlow Forest through to Bunbury and Mandurah. Many of the estuaries and inlets in this area have prolific birdlife. Later in the afternoon, return to Perth.

We transfer to the airport to connect with our domestic flight to Adelaide. Upon arrival we are met and transferred to our hotel. The remainder of the day is free.

This morning fly to Kangaroo Island on Kendell Airlines. On arrival at Kingscote Airport you will be met by Graham Rees, where you will be given a brief history of the Island before departing for Seal Bay, home of the 2nd largest breeding colony of Australian sealions in the country. Here you can walk within 5 metre distance of the seals and observe them at close hand. After lunch Graham will take the group on a bushwalk of Vivonne Bay’s property and the Little Sahara Geological Monument. This evening a talk will be held on the Vanished Native People of the Island, known as the Kartan Mystery.

Accommdation: Vivonne Bay Outdoor Education Centre

Full day tour to Kelly Hill Caves, Flinder Chase National Park, Remarkable Rocks, Weirs Cove
Historical site Cape Du Couedic Lighthouse, Admirals Arch and the New Zealand Fur Seal Colony, returning to the Centre for Dinner. This evening enjoy a talk by Dr David Paton, an Ornithologist on his research work and the relationship between birds and plants.

This morning participate in the bird mist netting and banding project on the island. After lunch visit the Historical Eucalyptus Still, the Ligurian Honey Bee farm and the Sheep Milking Dairy prior to proceeding to the airport. A late afternoon flight will take you back to Adelaide this evening.

Depart Adelaide and travel by coach to Mt Gambier. We travel through several National Parks where impromptu stops will be made at areas of interest.

Accommodation:  Presidential Motor Inn

Enjoy the beautiful scenery of Port Campbell National Park and the Great Ocean Road. If you are lucky you may be able to spot the Eastern Bristlebird at Pt. Campbell. Enroute to Melbourne we will stop in the Otway Ranges for a walk through the temperate rainforest at Melba Gully or Maits Rest.

Morning visit to Yarra Ranges National Park to observe Lyre Birds. In the afternoon continue to
Phillip Island to see the fairy penguins parade and watch them wobble to their burrows at dusk. This evening enjoy a farewell dinner celebration which includes hot lobster

Transfer to Melbourne airport for your flights home.