Australia and New Zealand

Come watch wildlife with us! Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris' distinctive worldwide tours travel to destinations unique for abundant and photogenic mammals, birds and nature. We emphasize maximum field time and action-packed wildlife photography during the best season at each destination. Hand-picked leaders and local guides combine amiable personalities with extensive knowledge of each region. All our tours provide a non-smoking policy in small groups. As a small company, we provide a personal touch and attention to every detail - just as we have done for over thirty years. We are dedicated to delivering the best possible wildlife encounters to you. Join us for an amazing experience!

Reserve early! Our trips can fill fast. To reserve your space, follow the instructions in each itinerary. Please contact us if you have any questions. If a trip is full, ask us about our wait list and other options.

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Australia - The Tropical North

The Centre from Alice Springs to Uluru, Kakadu in the Top End, and North Queensland
September 9 to 24, 2010
Leader: Tonia Cochran
15 participants
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Trip now full! Please contact us for options

Extend your stay in Australia by taking both the north and south tours back-to-back!

Eucalypt Forest
in Atherton Tablelands

Begin your Aussie experience with a true outback adventure traveling by four-wheel drive from Alice Springs through Finke Gorge National Park to remote Kings Canyon. Spend four days in The Red Centre including Uluru National Park for beautiful views of Kata Tjuta and The Rock. Fly to Darwin for three days in the Top End at Kakadu National Park, featuring the best time of year for a Yellow Waters cruise at dawn. Visit ancient sites with beautiful rock paintings and incredible wildlife. The North Queensland journey begins on the Atherton Tablelands with fabulous birds, several species of kangaroos, and Platypus. Night spot in the Misty Mountains for owls, rare ringtail possums, tree kangaroos, and more on a beautiful forest reserve owned by our resident guide, Jonathan Munro. Then descend back to Cairns for snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef with the option of a second full day Reef trip or a free day in Cairns. We are really excited to have Australian biologist and superb guide, Tonia Cochran, leading throughout along with some of the best regional resident naturalists in these rich wildlife areas of Australia.

September-October is an excellant time to see wildlife on the "Top-side"!

• The summer migratory waders that migrate from places such as Eurasia/Siberia can be found along the shores of Darwin and Cairns. Most of these don't arrive in Australia until about September (Little curlew, Wood sandpiper, Grey-tailed tattler, Little-ringed plover, Oriental plover).
• Other summer migratory bird species (example: Pied Imperial Pigeon and Yellow Wagtail) move into the area during this time.
• There is also a chance of seeing New Guinea migrants such as the exquisite Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher which don't arrive into north Queensland until October.
• Sarus Cranes are also more common in north Queensland at this time of year, where it is possible to see large flocks.
• There is also a better chance of seeing more reptiles such as Boyd's Forest Dragon at this time of year and crocodiles would also be more noticeable than over the Aussie winter months.
• October is technically at the end of the dry season, so the waterholes and lagoons will be quite clearly defined and the wildlife (particularly birds) concentrated in these areas. During the wet season and into the early dry season (May), the water is everywhere and the wildlife is more dispersed and harder to view.
• The average temperature and humidity for September-October is just about the same as the winter months (April-May).

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Australia - The Incredible South

Galah on Kangaroo Island

Lamington National Park, Kangaroo Island, and Tasmania
September 22 to October 7, 2010
Leader: Tonia Cochran
13 participants
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Trip now full! Please contact us for options

Extend your stay in Australia by taking both the north and south tours back-to-back!

Enjoy some of the most incredible wildlife experiences possible touring these three wonderful regions of southern Australia. Begin in spectacular Lamington National Park with three days at famous O'Reilly's Mountain Resort. Close encounters with the resident wildlife will include amazing views of Crimson Rosellas, King Parrots, Satin and Regent bowerbirds, as well as endemic marsupials. Travel to Kangaroo Island for two days of remarkable wildlife, wonderful Aussie cuisine, and stunning scenery. Highlights will include Koalas, Echidnas, Sea Lions, a host of new birds and, of course, kangaroos. The grand finale is a full week in Tasmania for an in-depth look at its unique flora and fauna. We'll devote two evenings for night viewing of Tasmanian Devils, something few people on this earth have the chance to experience. Enjoy a beautiful forest reserve with perfect streams for Platypus then visit Narawntapu National Park for great views of Wombats, wallabies, and pademelons. Bruny Island, in southern Tasmania, is not only our guide Tonia's home, it is also the place to see the rare Forty-spotted Pardalote and other Tasmanian endemic birds as well as Eastern Quolls and Little Penguins after dark. Tonia will also be our guide throughout the Tropical North safari, immediately preceding this tour. Our outstanding resident naturalists will join Tonia to show you the amazing wildlife indigenous to the land down under!

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New Zealand - Best Parks and Pelagic Trips

Hooker Sea Lion

Leader: Karen Baird
November 9 to 28, 2011
8 participants
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Experience the distinctive wildlife of New Zealand in a wide range of habitats - wetlands, forests, mountains, coastline, and sea. New Zealand is a region rich in seabirds and marine mammals, as well as a number of endemic land birds. Take full advantage of the ocean treasures with some great pelagic trips. Visit Tiritiri Matangi Island, a beautiful native bird and native plant sanctuary. Travel south to Fiordland National Park where an overnight on Milford Sound will allow you to search for the Fiordland Crested Penguins. Explore Stewart Island and enjoy night spotting to look for kiwi, New Zealand's national symbol. Embark on boat trips from Kaikoura and the Hauraki Gulf for spectacular seabirds and marine mammals such as albatross, petrels, dolphins and bachelor Sperm Whales. Leader Karen Baird has led wonderful New Zealand wildlife tours for us since 2001, garnering great praises from our travelers. The spectacular scenery of New Zealand, such as at Mt Cook, is reason enough to travel there and when you consider the havens for endangered species we encounter on this tour that Karen Baird, our guide knows so well, this is truly an amazing journey!

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All material © Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris.
All photos © Doug or Ted Cheeseman, unless otherwise credited.
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