Australia
From East to West and South to Tasmania
October 17 to November 10, 2013

| At a Glance | Itinerary | Costs | Sign-up | Other Details |

Our action-packed, 25-day Aussie adventure includes the scenic Blue Mountains of New South Wales, the famous red outback of South Australia, the Dryandra State Forest in the South West region of Western Australia, and a full week in beautiful Tasmania. Our visit to Kangaroo Island features such remarkable highlights as Echidnas, Koalas, Glossy Black Cockatoo and other exceptional birds and, of course, kangaroos. Tasmania boosts unusual species such as quolls, bandicoots, pademelons, platypus, wombats, wallabies, plus wonderful endemic birds like the rare Forty-spotted Pardalote. Nighttime highlights include a visit to a Little Penguin colony and the extremely special opportunity to view the endangered Tasmanian Devil, the world's largest carnivorous marsupial. November is peak flowering season in the southwest with blooming flora adding to the fabulous photographic opportunities. Tonia Cochran, a fantastic leader, superb naturalist, and dedicated conservationist, will be joined by outstanding resident naturalists in each region to guide in the search for the amazing wildlife indigenous to the Land Down Under!

At a Glance

Cost: $12,500 per person, double occupancy Not including airfare, except for the flights between Adelaide and Kangaroo Island. Costs are based on rate of exchange of US$1 = AUS$1. Review cost details.

Leader: Tonia Cochran.

Group Size: 12, not including leaders.

Days: 25, including estimated travel days.

Conditions: This is a non-smoking safari for people who are very interested in all wildlife and spending the maximum time in the field.

Update: This itinerary was updated November 2011.

Synopsis:

Return to top

Detailed Itinerary

October 17 - 19, Thursday - Saturday Flights and overnight stay in Sydney
Depart from home by October 17 for an international flight to Sydney (losing one day crossing the International Dateline coming from North America). Your overnight in Sydney on October 19 is included at Park Regis City Centre. The hotel is located next to Hyde Park in the middle of the city and near a number of restaurants for dinner. It is within walking distance to The Rocks waterfront area and there is a taxi stand opposite the hotel. The transfer to the Park Regis City Centre Hotel from the airport is not included in the cost of the trip and meals will be on your own. Tonia will arrive in Sydney on October 19 and will meet with all participants at 8:30pm in the Park Regis reception area. See complete flight information.
Lodging on October 19: Park Regis City Centre in Sydney. Meals: None included.

Eastern Gray Kangaroo

October 20, Sunday Hawkesbury Valley, across the Blue Mountains into Capertee Valley
After breakfast, depart from the Park Regis with Tonia and our local guide, Carol Probets, for a true Australian adventure. These first four days in New South Wales are full of natural habitats including rainforest, heathland, eucalyptus forest, woodland, wetlands, and rocky escarpments. The Blue Mountains feature both spectacular scenery and the chance to see a great selection of mammals, birds, reptiles and flora. By concentrating on the World Heritage areas west of Sydney, we have the best opportunity to see and photograph some avian specialties, such as the Rockwarbler, Pilotbird, and Superb Lyrebird, as well as the colorful parrots, cockatoos, and honeyeaters this area is famous for.

Our first stop is the rich flood plain of the Hawkesbury Valley with its numerous wetlands where a wide variety of waterbirds, including herons, egrets, spoonbills, harriers and both Whistling and Square-tailed kites can be found. We then head west across the Blue Mountains into the legendary Capertee Valley where we'll check in at the Glen Davis Boutique Hotel in the town of Glen Davis and have time to enjoy the many birds in the late afternoon light. We may see Eastern Grey Kangaroos and Wallaroos emerge as the cliffs glow red in the setting sun.
Lodging: Glen Davis Boutique Hotel in Glen Davis. Meals: LD included (Breakfast not included).

October 21, Monday: Capertee Valley in the Blue Mountains
We will spend the day exploring the Capertee Valley, often called Australia's Grand Canyon and famous for its abundant birdlife, with Diamond Firetail, Little Lorikeet, Turquoise Parrot, Red-rumped Parrot, Plum-headed, Zebra and Double-barred finches. We'll also have a chance to see and photograph the "star" of this valley, the endangered Regent Honeyeater. Capertree Valley is a great place for viewing macropods, which include kangaroos, pademelons, tree-kangaroos, and wallabies. Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Euro (Wallaroo), Red-necked Wallaby, and Swamp Wallaby may be encountered, along with wombats and a variety of reptiles such as Bearded Dragons and Lace Monitors. We will have access to private properties normally inaccessible to the general public where we can sit beside a waterhole to watch and photograph big Grey Kangaroos and wallabies, as well as honeyeaters, finches, and parrots as they come to drink. Night spotting after dinner will give us the chance to see Squirrel Gliders and owls.
Lodging: Glen Davis Boutique Hotel in Glen Davis. Meals: BLD included.

October 22, Tuesday: Blue Mountains National Park
Today we travel to the Blue Mountains National Park, stopping en route at a lake and percolation ponds where we may see and photograph waterfowl, including Blue-billed and Pink-eared ducks and the remarkable Musk Duck. From here it's a short drive to the rocky escarpments, forests, and heathlands of the upper Blue Mountains and the chance to view the Superb Lyrebird, Yellow-tailed, Glossy Black, and Gang-gang Cockatoos, and Flame and Scarlet robins. The Rock Warbler, the only bird endemic to New South Wales, is also found here. Visit a Satin Bowerbird's bower with its amazing collection of blue decorations and possibly see the architect if he's in attendance. Native flora is another highlight, with rare and interesting wildflowers. We'll stay at the Jemby-Rinjah Eco Lodge bordered by national park on three sides and located at the edge of the small village of Blackheath. In the evening, join Tonia and Carol in search of Greater Gliders, possums, and owls.
Lodging: Jemby-Rinjah Eco Lodge in Blackheath. Meals: BLD included.

Return to top

Australian King Parrot

October 23, Wednesday: Blue Mountains to Sydney and flight to Adelaide, South Australia
Crimson Rosellas and King-Parrots come near the cabins to feed around breakfast time and this provides a superb opportunity for close photography of these stunning birds. One of the great things about the Blue Mountains is the proximity of many habitats within a short distance. This morning we explore some of these habitats with the aim of finding more of the characteristic and beautiful species that can be found in the area. On the way to Sydney, we'll travel through Katoomba, the largest town on the western edge of the Blue Mountains. From Katoomba it is only a two-hour drive to Sydney but we'll make a stop at Homebush Bay next to the site of the 2000 Sydney Olympics. The mangrove boardwalks over saltwater wetlands here are a nice place to look for Superb Fairy-wren and other shorebirds. After a late lunch, head to the Sydney Airport for our afternoon flight to Adelaide and meet Peter Waanders who will assist Tonia in South Australia. Check in at the Mercure Grosvenor Hotel, centrally located in Adelaide close to the parks along the Torrens River.
Lodging: Mercure Grosvenor Hotel in Adelaide. Meals: BLD included.

October 24, Thursday: Samphire Coast and Flinders Ranges with Red Kangaroos
In recent years, an increasing number of Australians and international visitors have discovered the wildlife secrets that South Australia has to offer. We'll have an introduction to the variety of habitats available in South Australia while focusing on the most special bird and mammal species. The habitats include the dry and red interior outback, the lush and green Mt. Lofty Ranges, the wetlands and mangroves around Adelaide, the estuaries in the Coorong, the floodplains along the Murray River, and the vast expanses of the famous, semi-arid, mallee eucalypt scrub.

With an early morning departure from our Adelaide hotel, we'll follow the Samphire Coast north through mangrove forests, samphire flats, and inter-tidal seagrass meadows on sand and mud flats. The Samphire Coast, named after a native succulent that grows on the salt flats, is home to thousands of shore birds (in season) and the enigmatic Banded Stilt. This stilt breeds only when the ephemeral lakes of inland Australia fill with water, which is, on average, every eight to ten years. In 2010, many inland lakes and wetlands came to life and that year Banded Stilts flew 1,000 kilometers from Coorong in South Australia to Lake Torrens, where some 140,000 of them bred from April through June, their first major breeding since the year 2000. We will also visit the Arid Lands Botanical Gardens, a superb collection of indigenous plants, shrubs, and flowers adapted to the semi-arid landscape here. Set against a backdrop of red sand dunes and the coast of the Spencer Gulf are many flowering plants that attract a wide variety of colorful birds such as White-winged Fairy-wren and Redthroat.

After lunch we arrive in the amazing Flinders Ranges on the edge of Australia's outback with its impressively steep hills and soaring rock formations. The ranges are home to three species of macropod: Red Kangaroo, Western Grey Kangaroo, and Euro (Wallaroo). Enjoy the opportunity to watch and photograph these animals grazing on the natural grasslands here, surrounded by ancient native Cypress Pine (Callitris) forests. Emus are also plentiful here. We'll stay at beautiful Wilpena Pound Resort, the only accommodation within Flinders Ranges National Park.
Lodging: Wilpena Pound Resort in Flinders Ranges National Park. Meals: BLD included.

October 25, Friday: Flinders Ranges National Park
How wonderful to have a full day today exploring the Flinders Ranges, especially on the lookout for Red Kangaroos! With rugged mountain scenery, peaceful gorges, and a huge array of wildlife and flora, the Flinders Ranges National Park is recognized as one of the finest landscapes in Australia. The centerpiece of the national park is Wilpena Pound, a natural, magnificent, sickle-shaped amphitheater of mountains that covers nearly 80 square kilometers, with St. Mary's Peak being its highest peak at 1,170 meters. There is also an opportunity to walk into the "Pound" along a stream and to return by shuttle-bus. The elusive Short-tailed Grasswren hides in the spinifex grass that covers these hills and majestic Wedge-tailed Eagles soar over the grassy slopes.

After lunch we proceed deeper into the ranges along streambeds lined with gum trees and inhabited by Elegant Parrots and Grey-fronted Honeyeaters. Our path leads through a narrow gorge that has cut deeply into geological layers. Here we'll view an 800-million-year-old stromatolite fossil (produced by the activity of ancient cyanobacteria) as well as the fossil site of the Ediacaran fauna, which lived shortly before the great explosion of multicellular life at the beginning of the Cambrian Period. As the sun sinks towards the horizon, the rock formations take on deepening shades of red and we'll observe and photograph a colony of endangered, beautiful Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby.
Lodging: Wilpena Pound Resort in Flinders Range National Park. Meals: BLD included.

October 26, Saturday: Murray River
This morning either enjoy further opportunities to photograph Emus and kangaroos or take a two-hour walk to visit indigenous aboriginal rock art at Arkaroo Rock. Later in the morning we will leave the Flinders Ranges for the drive south to Australia's greatest river, the Murray River. Lined with spectacular cliffs, the broad floodplains of the Murray River are home to waterbirds, while the upland supports populations of the endangered and localized Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat. We have access to a unique property on the banks of the Murray River with superb views through the gum trees to the water lapping against the majestic, orange-colored cliffs. Here we will enjoy a sunset dinner in a refurbished, chandelier-lit farm building. After dinner join Tonia and Peter for night spotting in the Australian bush. There's a very good chance of viewing the nocturnal Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat in its natural habitat as well as spotting Tawny Frogmouth, Southern Boobook and Barn owls.
Lodging: Mannum Motel on the banks of the Murray River. Meals: BLD included.

Cape Barren Geese

October 27, Sunday: Coorong Wetlands walks and boat trip, return to Adelaide
After breakfast, walk through a wetland reserve typically teeming with waterfowl including the rare Blue-billed and Musk ducks. Various species of raptor may be seen soaring over the cliffs, including Little and Wedge-tailed eagles, Swamp and Spotted harriers, and Australian Kite. Proceed to the township of Goolwa, located at the estuary of the Murray River. The estuary contains a huge freshwater lake (Lake Alexandrina), a coastal lagoon that is 100 kilometers long, and a chain of 30-meter-high sand dunes. The Coorong Wetlands, as this area is known, contain some of the most important wetlands in Australia. This range of habitats, with the ocean beach, fresh water lakes, lagoons, and estuaries, is particularly important for many mammals – some of which are endangered – and provides a great refuge for birds. Impressive numbers of waterfowl and shorebirds may be encountered, including thousands of migratory waders (in season), hundreds of Cape Barren Geese, and thousands of ducks. The Coorong is also an important breeding area for the Australian Pelican, Fairy Tern, egrets, ibises, cormorants, and the Nankeen Night Heron. We'll have the pleasure of exploring this area aboard a comfortable vessel. Lunch is provided on board and various landings allow for walks, including from the lagoon across the dunes to the pounding waves of the Southern Ocean. There are remains of Aboriginal campsites here. We also have a good chance of encountering a small number of New Zealand Fur Seals. Later in the afternoon, we return to Adelaide through the scenic Mt. Lofty Ranges.

Dinner is on your own tonight so you may choose from the many restaurants in Adelaide. Tonight we also need to prepare a small bag for the two nights on Kangaroo Island. Your checked luggage, not including your carry-on, must not exceed 14 kilograms or 30 pounds, which is the baggage limit on the small REX (Regional Air Express) flight. You are welcome to leave the rest of your luggage in safe storage while you are on Kangaroo Island and we will cover the storage fee at the REX check-in desk. REX has a very efficient bag storage system and the bags come back to us at the carousel when we arrive in Adelaide on the return flight from Kangaroo Island.
Lodging: Mercure Grosvenor Hotel in Adelaide. Meals: BL included (Dinner on your own).

Return to top

Koala

October 28 - 29, Monday - Tuesday: Kangaroo Island, including Flinders Chase National Park
After breakfast, transfer to the Adelaide Airport for departure to Kangaroo Island at about 9:30am. It's a 35-minute flight and is included in the cost of the trip. Upon our arrival, we will meet our naturalist guide/driver from Kangaroo Island and head to Flinders Chase National Park, which covers the entire west end of the island. In Flinders there is a breeding site for the rare Cape Barren Goose that may offer us a close approach. Flinders is also famous for having an abundance of Koalas (introduced to the island) and Western Grey Kangaroos (the kangaroo from which the island gets its name). We have a good chance of seeing and photographing these animals. We can also hope to spot the solitary Short-beaked Echidna as it forages for ants and termites. A New Zealand Fur Seal colony resides at Cape du Couedic and they can be observed along the beautiful coastal landscapes, including at Admiral's Arch, a spectacular coastal grotto. This is also an excellent area to see Tammar Wallabies, which are now extinct on the adjacent South Australian mainland. We'll have a delicious Aussie barbecue lunch one of the days in the Kangaroo Island bush (woodland) and a picnic lunch on the other day. Enjoy waterbirds at Duck Lagoon and seek out the Kangaroo Island subspecies of the Glossy Black Cockatoo. Biologists and local landholders have taken steps to expand the breeding opportunities of this endangered species. The coast here has a protected beach site for Australian Sea Lions to come ashore for rest so a walk along the beach may put us in close proximity to these incredibly photogenic seals. Along the shore we may also see several species of cormorants and Hooded Plovers.

We'll stay two nights in the small town of Kingscote at the oceanfront Aurora Ozone Hotel (named back in 1920s when Ozone meant fresh air). In the ocean right across the street from the Ozone, dolphins are sometimes seen cruising by and there are very vocal Little Penguins that come into burrows along the edge of the sea. Tonia will lead night spotting for Little Penguin when we're on Bruny Island, but you may also want to visit this colony one evening (optional: cost is about $25 and subject to change). Access to the colony is not allowed without one of the guides in charge of protecting the colony. Little Penguins are very shy, especially as they come out of the ocean, and are easily frightened back into the water. Once Little Penguins reach their burrows without any disturbance, they do not run back into the sea; they rest and relax at the burrow entrance. (Flash photography is not permitted.) Both on Kangaroo Island and in Tasmania, Little Penguins are fully protected to help increase their numbers. Dinner is on our own both nights with the closest restaurant being the Ozone's Bistro.
Lodging: Aurora Ozone Hotel in Kingscote. Meals: BL included both days (Dinner on your own both days).

October 30, Wednesday:Fly from Kangaroo Island to Perth, Kings Park and Perth Botanical Gardens
This morning, we will fly from Kangaroo Island to Adelaide, pick up our luggage, including bags stored at REX, and then transfer to the Qantas flight to Perth around midday. Frank O'Connor, our local Western Australian guide, will meet us on arrival in Perth. Visit Kings Park and the Botanical Gardens and spend time around the Perth area this afternoon. Some of the new species to find in this area include the Southwestern Australian endemic Western (White-naped) Honeyeater, Red-eared Firetail, Western Wattlebird, and both Carnaby's and Baudin's black-cockatoos. There is also a great little reserve with a large lagoon across the road from the hotel and it is worth spending some time there for waterbirds. Our hotel is ideally located next to Kings Park and the Perth Botanical Gardens and is within walking distance of Perth city.
Lodging: Sullivans Hotel in Perth. Meals: BLD included.

October 31, Thursday: Perth, Darling Range, Narrogin
Travel from Perth to the interesting Darling Range for the opportunity to walk in some splendid natural areas and see Western Spinebill, Western Rosella, Red-winged Fairy-wren, Red-capped Parrot, Splendid Fairy-wren, Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Australian Ringneck Parrot, and others. Continue to Narrogin after a picnic lunch. Our stop at a reserve near Narrogin will give us the chance to see Regent and Elegant Parrots and other great species.
Lodging: Albert Facey Motel in Narrogin. Meals: BLD included.

November 1, Friday: Narrogin to Dryandra State Forest for Numbats and other rare mammals
Visit wonderful Dryandra State Forest today. This woodland covers a total area of 28,000 hectares and is among the largest and most valuable areas for nature conservation in the central western Wheatbelt of Western Australia. Trees such as jarrah, wandoo, and powderbark are found here, and the vegetation provides habitat for several of Dryandra's rare mammals, including Tammar Wallaby and Red-tailed Phascogale. There is a good chance of seeing a Numbat, also known as Banded or Marsupial Anteater, one of Australia's few diurnal mammals, that is found in the wild only at this location. The Western Thornbill is endemic here and we may also find Bush Stone-curlew, Blue-breasted Fairy-wren, White-browed Babbler, several honeyeaters, and Wedge-tailed Eagle.

After an early dinner, walk inside an extensive enclosure within Dryandra State Forest where the Department of Conservation's amazing efforts at breeding mammals have been highly successful. We may encounter Bilby, Boodie (Burrowing Bettong), Mala (Rufous Hare-wallaby), Marl (Western-barred Bandicoot), and Mernine (Banded Hare-wallaby). The Banded Hare-wallaby, protected in this safe, fox-free environment, is the sole surviving species of sthenurine kangaroos.
Lodging: Albert Facey Motel in Narrogin. Meals: BLD included.

November 2, Saturday: Narrogin to Perth, Perth Wetlands
Depart beautiful Narrogin this morning and return to Perth, visiting a variety of habitats en route. We'll make stops along the way at the Perth wetlands where there will be more opportunities to see and photograph some great ducks and waders. Enjoy a delicious dinner at Sullivans Hotel by Kings Park.
Lodging: Sullivans Hotel in Perth. Meals: BLD included.

Return to top

Tasmanian Devil

November 3, Sunday: Fly to Tasmania for Tasmanian Devils on the Northwest Coast
We'll have an early breakfast and then transfer to the Perth Airport for our flight to Devonport, Tasmania via Melbourne. Arrive in Devonport on Tasmania's northern coastline this afternoon and meet Nick Mooney, our outstanding local Tasmanian bird and mammal guide, who will join Tonia for the week. Nick previously worked for the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service to increase protection for Tasmanian native species. His specialties are raptors and Dasyurids (carnivorous marsupials) and he is deeply involved in promoting and protecting the Tasmanian Devil and other native species. We have been very fortunate to have him as our guide on many tours in Tasmania. He is also on our Antarctica staff.

From Devonport we will drive to Arthur River on the northwest coast Tasmania. On arrival, check-in at our accommodations, then meet up with Geoff King on his nearby property "Kings Run." Half of the group will enjoy Tasmanian Devil viewing with Geoff tonight and the other half will be spotlighting with Nick or Tonia at another location. Itineraries will be swapped for each group the following night. Maintaining a small group size will maximize our chances of seeing Tasmanian Devils, an increasingly rare and reclusive species. Geoff will prepare a carcass smorgasbord for Devils outside his old ocean-side "fishing-shack" which now doubles as a hide and is large enough for us to have good views when they approaches. Interactions between Devils are very interesting, especially at a feeding site. Tasmanian Devils are now listed as endangered due to a transmissible cancer that has killed many in the north, center, east, and south of Tasmania. Studying and trying to manage the impacts of this Devil Facial Tumor Disease has been intense over the past ten years. Fortunately, the Devils here in the northwest tip of Tasmania are still healthy. Have dinner at the Marrawah Tavern with Tonia and Nick or, enjoy a quiet, take-out dinner in the shack with Geoff while waiting for the arrival of Devils.
Lodging: Arthur River Holiday Units and Sunset Holiday Villas in Arthur River. (Accommodation is limited in this area and most cottages have two bedrooms and one bathroom. While every effort will be made for each couple/pair and single to have their own cottage to avoid shared bathrooms, this will depend on the rooming arrangements of the group. Staying in Arthur River is preferable to traveling for over an hour late at night after the Devil viewing.) Meals: BLD included.

Bennett's Wallaby

November 4, Monday: Arthur River boat cruise and northwest coast for Tasmanian Devils
The Arthur River hamlet is at the mouth of the Arthur River itself and anyone up early can take the opportunity for some fossicking (Aussie term meaning to look for fossils) along the spectacular coast before we head off together. Cruise up the Arthur River with the likelihood of seeing White-bellied Sea-Eagles and Azure Kingfishers, the latter being very rare in Tasmania. The cruise includes a delicious picnic lunch onboard and a guided walk in the rainforest. Return late afternoon and get ready for another evening of Devil watching with Geoff or night spotting with Nick and Tonia. In this area we may spot Wombat, Brushtail Possum, and two species of macropods – Bennett's Wallaby (a sub-species of the Red-necked Wallaby) and the endemic Tasmanian Pademelon (also called Red-bellied Pademelon or Rufous Wallaby). There is also a good chance of seeing Tawny Frogmouth and Southern Boobook, a small owl that calls out its name "boo-book."
Lodging: Arthur River Holiday Units and Sunset Holiday Villas in Arthur River. Meals: BLD included.

Common Wombat

November 5, Tuesday: Platypus at Fernglade Reserve and Wombats at Narawntapu National Park
Travel eastwards along the northern coastline to Burnie's Fernglade Reserve along the Emu River, a beautiful meandering stream perfect for Platypus. There are huge tree ferns here and excellent birding. Continue eastward to Hawley Beach, a small town just east of Devonport and historic Hawley House, our comfortable and unique home for the next two nights. After checking in, we'll make the short drive to Narawntapu National Park (an Aboriginal place name) to see Forrester Kangaroo (the Tasmanian version of the Eastern Grey Kangaroo) and Wombats. An amazing number of Wombats come out to graze in the national park during the late afternoon. Look carefully and perhaps see a Wombat baby poking his head out of the mother's pouch from behind (Wombats have a backward-facing pouch)! Narawntapu National Park also has good numbers and variety of birds, with waterfowl on a large lagoon, and other mammals, including Tasmanian Pademelon and Bennett's Wallaby, appearing around dusk. Travel back to Hawley House for a delicious dinner and the option of a night walk with Nick to try for Little Penguin, Southern Brown Bandicoots, and Ring-tailed Possums.
Lodging: Hawley House in Hawley Beach. Meals: BLD included.

November 6, Wednesday: Warrawee Forest Reserve, Latrobe, and Wildlife Care and Rescue Center
This morning we will travel to nearby Latrobe, the self-described "Platypus capital of the world," for a walk in the Warrawee Forest Reserve. The reserve is a well-protected native gum forest along the Forth River offering not only the chance to see Platypus, but also great birding with many rosellas, robins, wrens, and honeyeaters. We'll then visit the Central North Wildlife Care and Rescue Center in Forth to see how conservationists help injured and orphaned native animals before releasing them back into the wild. This is a great opportunity to learn about this process and to see the work done by volunteers at the center. Nick will give a workshop on raptor structure at the facility and, with luck, there will be a rehabilitated raptor ready for release. Spend a second night at picturesque Hawley House, where there will be a second opportunity for a night walk to look for nocturnal animals including Little Penguin.
Lodging: Hawley House in Hawley Beach. Meals: BLD included.

November 7, Thursday: South to Hobart, ferry to Bruny Island
This morning we will turn south traveling along the main highway that joins the north and south coasts of Tasmania. We'll enjoy the view of lush, tree-covered mountains and make several interesting stops along the way. During our week in Tasmania, we'll encounter many raptors, including Wedge-tailed Eagle (endangered Tasmanian subspecies), White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Swamp Harrier, and Brown Falcon, an interesting Gondwanic relic. Travel through the old whaling town of Hobart, Tasmania's capital city, to Kettering where we'll board the Bruny Island vehicle ferry. Once on Bruny, we'll head to Tonia's property, a wonderful private reserve, on South Bruny Island. We'll overnight nearby in self-contained cottages.
Lodging: Explorers Cottages and nearby cottages on South Bruny Island. (Each of the seven cottages has two bedrooms and one bathroom. Every effort will be made for each couple/pair to have their own cottage to avoid shared baths; this will depend on the rooming arrangements of the group.) Meals: BLD included.

Short-beaked Echidna

November 8, Friday: Bruny Island
Spend this morning prowling about Tonia's 500-acre private wildlife reserve, home to all twelve of Tasmania's endemic bird species, including the endangered Forty-spotted Pardalote. Several other endangered species can also be found here, including the Swift Parrot, Wedge-tailed Eagle, and Grey Goshawk. Spend the rest of the day in landscapes ranging from heathland and spectacular rugged coastline to tall eucalypt forests and cool temperate rainforest to search for a variety of wildlife including Short-beaked Echidna, the rare albino form of Bennett's Wallaby, and a variety of birds. This evening will be spent in quest of nocturnal mammals, including Eastern Quoll, Tasmanian Pademelon, Bennett's Wallaby, Brushtail Possum (the latter species also rarely appears here as a cream color mutation), and possibly Long-nosed Potoroo. We'll also make a special stop for night spotting at the beachside burrows of Little Penguins and Short-tailed Shearwaters.
Lodging: Explorers Cottages and nearby cottages on South Bruny Island. Meals: BLD included.

November 9, Saturday: Bruny Island and Hobart
This morning there is a choice of land photography on Bruny or an optional three-hour, coastal eco-cruise by fast boat where you will have the chance to visit an Australian fur seal haul-out (subject to weather conditions), some spectacular coastline, a range of seabirds including albatross (usually Shy Albatross at this time of year), and maybe even dolphins or whales (additional price of AUD$110 per person, quoted November 2011). By late afternoon we will take the ferry back to Hobart to the Lenna of Hobart, a lovely hotel by the Fisherman's Wharf. We will have our farewell group dinner tonight. Depending on energy levels, join Nick and Tonia this evening for night spotting at the Waterworks Reserve with the hope of finding Eastern Barred Bandicoots, Tasmanian Bettongs, and perhaps Masked Owl.
Lodging: Lenna of Hobart. Meals: BLD included.

November 10, Wednesday: Depart Hobart for home or continue to Lamington for extension
It is only a 15-minute drive from our hotel to the Hobart Airport. Transfer to the international terminal of the airport for your flight home. For most, you'll gain back the day lost when crossing the International Dateline on the way to Australia, arriving home on the same day. See complete flight information.

Please let us know if you would like to stay an extra night in Hobart to enjoy this lovely city. Also consider extending your stay in Australia with our extension to O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat in Lamington National Park near Brisbane (details below). A few nights at O'Reilly's is a wonderful way to end your trip or you may choose to visit "The Rock" at Uluru in "The Red Center" of Australia. We are happy to assist you with pre- and post-tour plans. If going to O'Reilly's, you'll fly from Hobart to Brisbane.
Lodging: None. Meals: B included.

Return to top

Pre- or Post-Tour Extension to O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat in Lamington National Park

Please contact us for cost and other details if you are interested in this extension.

O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat

Day 1: Brisbane to Lamington National Park
From the Brisbane Airport, O'Reilly's is 120 kilometers southeast of Brisbane in Lamington National Park on the border of Queensland and New South Wales. A daily morning shuttle is available from the airport (contact us for times before booking your flights). The drive is about two and a half hours as you ascend the Lamington eucalypt plateau to over 900 meters. The famous O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat, run by the O'Reilly family, is located inside Lamington National Park at the edge of the plateau in the MacPherson Range Mountains, where the dry eucalypt changes to rainforest. The atmosphere and hospitality at O'Reilly's are as wonderful as the wildlife!
Lodging: O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat in Lamington National Park. Meals: D included.

Days 2 - 3: Lamington National Park
Enjoy the photogenic wildlife in and around the lodge grounds with two full days at O'Reilly's, where excellent resident naturalists do all the guiding. The mound-building Brush Turkey, bowerbirds, parrots, and Red-necked Pademelons are easily photographed. The enchanting pademelons graze near the lodge along with the incredible resident birds. Seek out the more secretive birds, including Owlet-nightjar, Eastern Whipbird, Southern Logrunner, Albert's Lyrebird, and others in the prime forest at the edge of the lodge, where excellent walking tracks offer many choices. You have a choice of exploring on your own or joining the early morning two-hour guided rainforest walk. Evening audio/visual presentations are also offered. Nocturnal wildlife, usually Mountain Brushtail Possums (Bobuck), may emerge from the forest after dark and visit O'Reilly's fruit table adjoining the dining room.
Lodging: O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat in Lamington National Park. Meals: BLD included both days.

Crimson Rosella

Day 4: From O'Reilly's back to Brisbane
On your last morning in Lamington National Park there is still time for taking more great photos and watching the fascinating interactions of the rosellas, bowerbirds, and other special fauna. Depart right after lunch on the shuttle provided back to the Brisbane Airport. The scheduled bus transfer leaves O'Reilly's around 2:15 pm and returns to Brisbane around 6:00 pm. Private transfers can be arranged at other times on request. (Schedule as of November 2011, please contact us before booking your flights.)
Lodging: None (we can arrange accommodation in Brisbane if you would like); Meals: BL included.

Return to top

Costs

Payments and Cancellations: All reservations require a deposit due at the time of making the reservation. Once we receive your deposit, we will send trip materials and travel insurance information. Until the final payment date, payments are refundable except for a cancellation fee of $150 per person. This fee may go toward another tour if reserved within six months of the departure date of the cancelled trip. There are no refunds given after the final payment due date. Please note that the trip price is based on the listed exchange rate between the US and Australian dollar. We reserve the right to charge for cost increases, including changes in the exchange rate, that occur between now and the date of travel.

Included:

• Lodging from the night of October 19 to morning of November 10.
• Meals from lunch on October 20 through breakfast on November 10, except three dinners as listed in itinerary.
• All guiding and park fees.
• Round trip flights Adelaide/Kangaroo Island on REX (Regional Air Express).
• Tasmania Devil viewing with Geoff King on November 3 and 4 (half of the group each night).
• Arthur River boat cruise on November 4.
• Ground transportation and airport transfers as listed in itinerary.

Not Included:

• International and domestic flights are not included except the round trip Adelaide/Kangaroo Island. Cost is pproximately $2,000 for international flights US to Sydney and Hobart to US, depending on departure point. Approximately $1,400 for domestic flights on Qantas.
• Airport transfers in Sydney and separate transfers if extending stay in Hobart.
• Dinners on October 27 in Adelaide and October 28 and 29 on Kangaroo Island.
• Anything listed as "optional" in the itinerary. Boat trip from Bruny Island: AUD110 per person. Visit to Little Penguin colony on Kangaroo Island: approximately AUD25 per person. Costs quoted November 2011 and subject to change.
• Extension to O'Reilly's in Lamington National Park. Contact us for cost and other details.
• Travel Insurance.
• Bottled beverages, however water and snacks will be available in the vehicles.
• Items of a personal nature, room service, alcoholic beverages, and items not on the regular menu (if you have special dietary needs, please indicate them on your reservation form).
• Gratuities: Tipping is, of course, discretionary and not customary in Australia, however we suggest budgeting a total of about $130 per participant to be distributed among all the resident naturalist assistants, drivers, and porters.

Return to top

Sign-up

To Make a Reservation: Please contact us (there are many methods of contacting us) to assure space availability and to let us answer your questions. Then, print our reservation form, fill out one form per person, and post it to us in the mail with your deposit. Or fill out our handy online information request and we will send you more information.

Return to top

Other Details

Tonia Cochran

Leaders: Tonia Cochran is a wonderful naturalist, guide, and conservationist. Since 1988, Tonia has lived at Inala, a 500-acre, private wildlife reserve on Bruny Island in Tasmania. She has a wide range of experience in Australian marine and terrestrial fauna and flora and has led a varied professional biological career. She has a Bachelor of Science degree (with a double major in Zoology and Botany) and a PhD in Zoology from the University of Melbourne. Tonia has extensive teaching experience, including a lecturing position in one of the top universities in Victoria, and has worked in close association with the Invertebrate Zoology Department at the Museum of Victoria. She was involved in sub-Antarctic and Antarctic research from 1985 to 1996, and has undertaken consulting and contract work for the Australian Antarctic Division in Tasmania since 1990, including participation in several Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition Marine Science voyages. Tonia works as an environmental consultant on a number of projects, is a member of the national recovery team for two endangered birds, the Forty-spotted Pardalote and the Wedge-tailed Eagle, and is a participant in the Swift Parrot Recovery program. Tonia is committed to promoting tourism that is ecologically sustainable and educational and has been active in establishing such a venture in Tasmania and promoting this philosophy in her position as founding Chair of the organization, Wildlife Tourism Australia. Tonia is a superb leader with a great personality and sense of humor and has hand selected exceptional resident guides to compliment and add to her expertise in each region. These guides have all worked with Doug and Gail Cheeseman and/or Tonia on previous wildlife tours in Australia.

Flights: Please let us know if you would like help arranging your flights and we will put you in contact with our excellent ticketing agent. Please book your international flights as well as the following domestic flights needed for this trip.

Arrival - Arrive in Sydney (SYD) by October 19 to meet Tonia and participants in the evening at the Park Regis Hotel. Transfers from the airport to the hotel are not included. Note that those flying from North America will loose a day crossing the International Dateline, so you'll need to leave home by October 17.

Domestic flights - Book domestic flights on Qantas with your international flights when ticketing. The Qantas Aussie AirPass includes international flights from New York, Los Angeles, or Honolulu that are packaged with discounted domestic flights in Australia, an incentive to fly Qantas on the international flights. Please book the following domestic flights. Flight times and numbers are based on current schedule for Oct/Nov 2011 (2013 schedules not yet available). Please check with us before booking the Qantas domestic flights through your international airline if any flight schedules have changed substantially.

Departure - Depart from Hobart, Tasmania (HBA) on November 10, airport transfer included. There are domestic flights from Hobart to Sydney and Melbourne for international connections. For those that lost a day coming here, you'll gain that day back crossing the International Dateline and arrive home on the same day.

Flights to Brisbane for O'Reilly's Extension - For those continuing on to O'Reilly's, there is a Qantas flight QF1010 leaving Hobart at 06:05am via Melbourne that arrives in Brisbane at 09:15am. Please contact us for more information about this extension and to check on shuttle times to O'Reilly's.

Return to top

Accommodations:

Travel Insurance: Emergency Medical Insurance is optional for this tour. Read about travel insurance and our recommendations and requirements.

Climate: Temperatures vary greatly, but will tend to be on the cool side for much of the trip. It can get quite cold, especially at night, so you should pack warm clothes, including a scarf, hat, and gloves. It will be the dry season, however rain can be encountered during any season. Bring good walking shoes with good support for uneven trails. In this season, trails are in good condition and insects are not normally a problem.

Non-smoking Policy: We have a strict non-smoking policy - smoking is not permitted at any time or any place during our tours.

Mailing List: If you would like to be on our mailing list or request information, please use our online information request form or contact us to give us your name, address, email address and phone number. Please note we will never share your personal information with anybody!

Responsibility: Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris, Saratoga, California, act only as agents and shall not be responsible or become liable for any delay incurred by any person in connection with any means of transportation, nor for the loss, damage, or injury to person or property by reason of any event beyond the control of the agency or default of such agency suppliers. We reserve the right to cancel the tour prior to departure in which case full refund will constitute full settlement to the passenger. No refund will be made for any unused portion of the tour unless arrangements are made at the time of booking. All rates are based on current tariffs, exchange rates and fuel prices and are subject to adjustment in the event of any change therein. By sending your initial deposit, you agree to accept our payment schedule as a contract. If payments are still outstanding two weeks after the due date, your space may be forfeited. Baggage is at the owner's risk.

Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris is registered as California Seller of Travel #2063050-40. Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California. Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris is a participant in the Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation (TCRC). In event of a client canceling where a refund is applicable in accordance with the schedule above, or in the event that CES needs to cancel the trip, all payments for transportation or travel service not provided to the client shall be promptly refunded, unless the client instructs us otherwise in writing. All client payments are deposited into a trust account in accordance with California law. If for any reason a valid refund is not forthcoming, the client may request reimbursement from the TCRC within six months of the scheduled end of the tour. Please feel free to ask us for more information.

Return to top

All material © Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris.
All photos © Doug or Ted Cheeseman, unless otherwise credited.
| Home | Current Trips | Site Map | Contact Us| About Us |