High 10 Wildlife Excursions in Australia

As a child, Australia all the time appeared like essentially the most unique and faraway place I may think about, filled with weird and great creatures. Mammals that lay eggs! The largest sharks and crocodiles on the planet! Large flightless birds who may disembowl you with one kick! Bats as huge as foxes! The world’s largest coral reef teeming with sensible fish! Improbable reptiles at each flip! And naturally kangaroos hopping all over the place!

Then I met Hal and he advised me about all his wildlife adventures and all of the Australian animals he met throughout his street journey in Australia.  All of it turned out to be true. Australia really is a wildlife watcher’s paradise. However should you don’t consider his tall tales and need to discover out for your self, dive into our listing of the highest wildlife excursions in Australia that we’ve handpicked, and make your down underneath desires come true.

*This put up is sponsored by Australian Wildlife Journeys*

A fast intro to native Australian wildlife

Whenever you consider Australian distinctive wildlife you in all probability image essentially the most well-known mammals of Australia, the marsupials particularly the kangaroos. You in all probability additionally keep in mind that marsupials elevate their younger in a pouch. Properly carried out! Certainly just about each fatherland mammal on the Australian continent is a marsupial, excepting some rodents and bats. (We’ll save the talk about whether or not dingoes ought to be thought of native for one more day!)  

The radiation of marsupial life right here is really astonishing, filling each ecological area of interest possible, from wombats, to koalas, to the Tasmanian satan (an endangered species), and 80 % of them are discovered nowhere else on Earth. Stranger nonetheless are the egg-laying mammals, the monotremes, represented by two of the world’s most fascinating creatures, the echidnas, and the duck-billed platypus. Mammal lovers, put together to have your imaginative and prescient of the world turned on its head.

Birders are in for a fair greater kick within the life-list with greater than 800 species, practically half of that are endemic. From penguins to parrots, and cassowaries to kookaburras, a number of the planets most lovely and entertaining birds name Australia residence. Add to that, extra reptile species than another nation (together with the world’s largest: the saltwater crocodile) and you may see why any stroll from tropical rainforest to the driest desert is more likely to flip up stunning wildlife sightings. 

For many who want to look underneath the waves, you’ve come to the precise place. Australia’s waters host greater than 5,000 species of fish, together with extra half the world’s sharks and ray species. Need to swim with whale sharks, dolphins, Australian sea lions or humpbacks? From the Nice Barrier Reef to the Ningaloo Marine Park, Australia has obtained you lined.

Prepared for the Australian wildlife journey of a lifetime? Listed below are a number of wildlife excursions in Australia that you just’ll always remember.

– North Queensland Wildlife and Conservation Safari –

Venturing into North Queensland is like stepping again in time. It’s residence to the Daintree rainforest, the oldest tropical rainforest on the earth. At an estimated 180 million years previous, it’s regarded as the positioning the place songbirds first advanced. It’s additionally proper subsequent door to the world’s largest coral reef system, the magnificent Nice Barrier Reef. It’s the good place for an Australian wildlife safari.

FNQ Nature Excursions focuses on immersive Queensland wildlife excursions, conservation excursions, and wildlife pictures excursions of this unbelievable vacation spot. 

Throughout their 4-day Wildlife and Conservation Safari, friends not solely have the chance to expertise the magic of Daintree and its distant locations, however can actively assist to preserve it. By particular partnerships nurtured by FNQ Nature Excursions through the years, friends will take part in citizen science information assortment, wildlife rescue, and wildlife rehabilitation. 

For instance, the tour features a go to to the Wildlife & Raptor Care Queensland (WARCQ), the Tolga Bat Hospital, and the Tree Roo Rescue the place Dr. Karen Coombes will introduce you to some cute tree-kangaroos which can be in restoration and also will go to a forest to go to a wild inhabitants of Lumholtz’s tree kangaroos. 

Friends get to be citizen scientists for a morning as they be a part of researchers of the Australian Quoll Conservancy on a behind-the-scenes tour to places restricted to most of the people whereas they seek for proof of spotted-tailed quolls.

Then head deep into the forest on a Daintree River safari for some iconic Australian wildlife. Spot saltwater crocodiles (the most important residing reptile) of their pure surroundings, as you navigate down river. To attenuate your influence on the ecosystem the boat runs on photo voltaic! No engine noise and no pungent fumes that might in any other case upset the wildlife you got here right here to see. 

Spherical out the journey with an evening safari and a go to to the Curtain Fig, one of many largest bushes in North Queensland. Nonetheless need extra? How about an possibility to go to the Nice Barrier Reef to swim in pristine coral reefs to place the icing on high of this well-thought-out tour! 

Among the wildlife chances are you’ll spot on their pure habitat on this tour embody cassowary, platypus, water dragon, red-legged pademelon, sugar glider, ringtail possum, agile wallaby, inexperienced tree snake, Boyd’s forest dragon, lace monitor, Australian scrub python, Orange-thighed tree frog, dainty tree frog, azure kingfisher, wompoo fruit-dove, blue-winged kookaburra, white-lipped tree frog, chestnut-breasted mannikin, red-backed fairy wren, and others.

Enjoyable truth! Kookaburras are terrestrial tree kingfishers!

– Tasmania Wildlife and Wilderness Tour –

Premier Journey Tasmania presents a number of totally different journeys to Tasmania, from wildlife excursions to historic Tasmania, to Tasmanian luxurious getaways.

The 5-day Wildlife of Tasmania tour begins with a bang. Your first outing is a ‘behind the scenes’ evening tour of Bonorong Sanctuary and their work rescuing and rehabilitating endemic Tasmania wildlife. Among the characters you would possibly meet throughout this immersive expertise embody Tasmanian devils and japanese quolls. 

One other favourite of this journey to this South Australia location is a night spent with one other Tasmanian native animal, the little penguins! You’ll go to a colony of the world’s smallest penguin, the little penguin (additionally known as fairy penguins) on non-public land on a guided stroll. 

Alongside the way in which you’ll see St. Columba Falls, the best waterfalls in Tasmania, and take a ship cruise alongside the Freycinet Nationwide Park shoreline. Discover pristine seashores solely accessibly by boat, like Cooks and Bryan, and revel in a full day hike that can take you convey you head to head with the Tasmanian wilderness. 

Tasmanian birds usually seen on this journey are Brief-tailed shearwater, inexperienced rosella, Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle, pink robin, yellow wattlebird, and plenty of others.

The journey features a day journey to Maria Island the place wombats, Tasmanian pademelons, forester kangaroos, and Cape Barren geese are the protagonists. Excited by a multi-day mountain climbing tour of Maria Island? Try the strolling tour beneath!

Premier Journey Tasmania contributes to the Tasmanian satan’s plight. This features a donation to the ‘Save the Satan program’ for each get together that joins the tour.

– Orca whales of  Western Australia –

Only a five-hour drive southeast of Perth, in south Western Australia, Bremer Canyon brings you one of the best finest probability for orca whale sightings. Naturaliste Charters have an 8h orca whale expedition  to see these unbelievable predators. They’ve been fortunate sufficient (even when it may be ugly) to witness profitable whale hunts. 

Bremer Canyon is a 1.5h catamaran journey from Bremer Bay, and each January to April, over 100 killer whales return to this underwater canyon, and it’s virtually assured to see them day by day. Orcas on this space are very pleasant and like to research boats by swimming across the bow. Marine biologists on board will interpret orca whale habits and interactions with different marine species. The aim of the tour is for guests to depart extra educated about these apex predators than earlier than the tour.

A method that vacationers can provide again is by turning into scientists for a day for Undertaking Orca. Imagery that vacationers take, be it dorsal fin pictures or eye patches, can be utilized by researchers that create catalogs to observe populations and to grasp wildlife actions. 

An thrilling addition to those excursions is acoustic monitoring the place you’ll have the ability to hearken to totally different pods. This info is utilized by scientists to establish totally different pods and their actions. 

Different wildlife that may be noticed in the course of the outings: sperm whales, oceanic sunfish, long-finned pilot whales, big squid, pigmy whales, and the rarer beaked whales or blue whales. If it’s your fortunate day, you would possibly even come up shut and private with pods of striped, bottlenose dolphins. Also can spot totally different species of sharks together with nice white sharks, whaler shark and blue shark. 

Pelagic hen fans could have the pleasure to see Indian Yellow-nosed albatross, petrel, flesh-footed shearwater and wandering albatross profiting from any scraps that the killer whales left behind from their looking expedition.

– Tasmanian devils and wombats. Strolling tour of Maria Island, Tasmania –

There are a number of the explanation why it is best to go to Maria Island within the winter. Firstly, there are fewer guests this time of 12 months so that you and your get together will be the solely people round. Good for a Maria Island stroll with skilled guides.

Secondly, winter months (June, July, and August) are when wildlife viewing will get actually thrilling on Maria Island as native wildlife is busy. Tasmanian devils emerge from their dens, wombats are accompanied by their joeys, the attractive Cape Barren geese are busy constructing their nests, and Tasmanian native hens are having disputes over their territories. It’s really a paradise for wildlife vacationers. 

Over the previous 20 years, The Maria Island Stroll tour firm, have been guiding individuals by way of this small island off Tasmania sharing the historical past, wildlife, and tradition of this place with vacationers from all over the world and incomes quite a few awards. Their dedication to wildlife and sustainability reveals in each element of their journeys.

For instance, they keep away from single-use gadgets like plastic water bottles, they deal with their used water on web site, and their natural waste is all regionally composted. In addition they choose up any litter they discover throughout their journeys encouraging friends to affix them. They’ve donated greater than $10,000 to the Tasmanian Land Conservancy to plant bushes for the endangered swift parrot (there are fewer than 300 people remaining within the wild).

Throughout your 3-day Maria Island Winter Escape, you’ll expertise totally different northern Maria Island walks. Since that is one in every of their small group excursions (most 8 friends) you’ll have the ability to select which nature path you’d prefer to take that day. 

For instance, on in the future you’ll have the ability to select between a simple stroll or a strenuous hike. The primary follows Reservoir Circuit or Oast Home Circuit for excellent alternatives for marsupial encounters. The latter will take you on an 11-mile hike to the towering peaks of Mt Maria or Bishop and Clerk to benefit from the views. 

The final full day is reserved for a grassland go to to observe kangaroos, Bennett’s wallabies, Cape Barren geese, and the attractive flame robin.

You’ll have loads of alternatives to listen to tales out of your guides and different vacationers whereas having fun with candle-lit dinners, Tasmanian produce, and superb wines. 

Enjoyable truth: The swift parrot is the world’s quickest flying parrot. 

–  Swimming with Australian sea lions and dolphins, Eyre Peninsula –

An amazing addition to your Adelaide-based adventures, the 3-day Eyre Peninsula and Ocean encounters with Australian Coastal Safaris tour presents one of the best of land-based and water-based adventures.

On one hand, you have got the unbelievable expertise of swimming with playful Australian sea lions at a spot simply off Jones Island. Australian sea lions are very inquisitive, they usually love to review swimmers. After this, you’ll be taken to deeper waters to seek for dolphins and also you’ll get to get within the water with them. Keep in mind that dolphins are wild animals and really highly effective predators and we must always all the time cease the urge to achieve out to the touch them.

And the opposite hand you have got 2 days to discover iconic nationwide parks like Lincoln Nationwide Park and Coffin Bay Nationwide Park.

A go to to the Huge Swamp Wetland brings sightings of many duck species, like gray teal geese, pink-eared geese, chestnut teal geese, musk geese, and black swans.

Throughout your go to to Coffin Bay Nationwide Park, you’ll be busy attempting to identify a number of the 150 species of birds, 11 species of terrestrial mammals, 20 species of lizards, 12 species of marine mammals, and 6 species of snakes.

The 70,000 acres of Lincoln Nationwide Park supply rugged cliffs, secluded coves, white sandy seashores, sheltered bays, and scenic offshore islands. On the southern facet of the park, you’ll discover the large, wind-sculpted sand dunes.

Spot osprey, white-bellied sea-eagles, swamp harriers, and whistling kites alongside the rugged cliffs, and alongside the extra sheltered coves you’ll discover Australian pipits, striated pardalotes, dusky woodswallows, western yellow robins, and blue breasted wrens.

Different wildlife noticed on this tour are quite a few skinks, Rosenberg’s goanna, dragon lizards, swamp harrier, Australasian shoveler, japanese curlew, long-nosed fur seals, and bottlenose dolphins.

When you ever wished to learn the way oyster farming works, that is your probability as this 3-day tour consists of an outing with an area oyster farmer the place you’ll get to be taught all bout oyster farming and do some oyster tasting.

Stroll round Mikkira Station, residence of the one wild koala colony close to Port Lincoln. Mikkira Station is a non-public property the place the manna gum bushes are stunted. The leaves of those bushes are the koala’s favourite so that you’ll get to have shut encounters with them as they’ll typically be feeding at head peak or simply above your head. Western gray kangaroos and emus are additionally the wildlife spotlight along with wooden sandpiper, Australasian shoveler, japanese curlew, diamond firetail, and scarlet robin.

Add an additional day to your tour and go to the Neptune Islands the place you’ll be able to observe nice white sharks from a cage. Through the day outing, you’ll have loads of alternatives to identify white-bellied sea eagles, Australian sea lions, long-nosed fur seals, and sometimes pilot, blue, or southern proper whales in the course of the winter season.

– East Gippsland Wildlife Journey with Echidna –

Janine is a little bit of a star within the wildlife tourism world. She based Echidna Walkabout Nature Excursions 30 years in the past along with her accomplice Roger they usually’ve been finding out Australian wildlife and main wildlife excursions collectively ever since. Their dedication to accountable wildlife tourism was acknowledged by the tourism neighborhood after they gained gold on the WTM Accountable Tourism Awards. In addition they went the additional mile by founding the Koala Clancy Basis and, with the assistance of some beneficiant landowners, they began restoring land for the wild koala inhabitants by planting native bushes. (73,000 bushes planted since 2016!)

Now you’ll be able to be a part of them on their East Gippsland Wildlife Journey and be taught in regards to the magnificent wildlife and various landscapes of the area. 

This 4-day journey east of Melbourne takes you thru the RAMSAR wetlands of the Lake District. It’s on this space of lush eucalypt forests the place you’ll be rewarded with iconic Australian wildlife like koalas, kangaroos, echidnas, parrots, and honeyeaters. Throughout this outing, you’ll assist file wildlife species sightings for scientific functions. 

The remainder of the journey is spent in Big Alpine Ash forests and woodlands, the right habitat for recognizing gliders, visiting a fancy dune system, and studying about how Aboriginal individuals have lived on this historical panorama for hundreds of years at Krowathunkoolong Conserving Place, an Aboriginal Studying Heart. 

Alongside the way in which, the group can even assist get better discarded fishing nets from the seashores. 

A biodiversity-rich space, some species that you just would possibly encounter are platypus, dingos, dunnarts, quolls, diamond pythons, flying foxes, galahs, king parrots, wallabies, wombats, bandicoots, rosellas, and lace monitor. 

 

One of many magnificent birds you’ll spot on this journey is the Excellent Lyrebird, identified for its unbelievable mimicry expertise and for sounding similar to R2D2! 

Enjoyable Truth: Koalas usually are not bears, even when typically they’re known as the koala bear. 

– Chook tour at Kangaroo island –

Kangaroo Island is the third largest Australian island and is simply southwest of Adelaide. Over a 3rd of the island is protected and its various geology, climate, and panorama make it a haven for a variety of wildlife. Actually, you possibly can spot greater than 260 species of birds! For this reason Kangaroo Island is the good place to e book a non-public birding tour with Distinctive Kangaroo Island. 

A hen tour in Kangaroo Island is sluggish and immersive. Whereas many guests rush to get to Flinders Chase Nationwide Park and its distinctive rock formations (just like the well-known Exceptional Rocks and the stalactite lined Admirals Arch), your group can even cease and observe different wildlife you see in the course of the drive.

Since it is a non-public tour, this may all the time be fine-tuned to your pursuits. There are good probabilities to see Kangaroo Island kangaroos, tammar wallabies, and short-beaked echidnas in the course of the drives to totally different birding places.

At Exceptional Rocks it’s time to drag your binoculars out and scan for Australian kestrels, southern emu-wrens, tawny-crowned honeyeaters, white-bellied whipbirds. 

At Admiral’s Arch you’ll be able to go to with Australian ravens, Pacific gulls , sooty oystercatchers, crested terns, and a long-nosed fur-seal colony.

One of many stars of this tour is the shiny black-cockatoo. To not point out galahs, little corellas, and gray currawongs. You’ll take a ship experience to a conservation space to watch protected hen colonies of white-bellied sea-eagles, royal spoonbills, and Australian pelicans.

Throughout your journey you’ll have the chance to take a non-public tour amongst Australian Sea lions at Seal Bay, taking your time to observe sea lion habits and find out about their biology out of your guides. You may also encounter caspian and crested terns, hooded plovers, sooty oystercatchers, japanese ospreys, and pied cormorants.

This non-public tour will provide you with the chance to be taught extra in regards to the pure historical past of the island out of your educated information and in addition get pleasure from scrumptious meals in attractive environment, like a picnic on a clifftop or a seafood barbecue. 

– Swim with whale sharks and humpback whales at Ningaloo Reef –

If you end up in Western Australia, a go to to Ningaloo reef is so as. Ningaloo Marine Park protects 1.5 million acres alongside the coast of Exmouth peninsula, together with the Ningaloo reef. The reef is only a few meters from the shore and simply accessible. Guests to this marine park can swim with whale sharks, turtles, manta rays, and even humpback whales of their pure habitat. 

Yearly round 30-40,000 humpback whales migrate to the realm from Antarctica from June to late October. It’s then after they convey their calves to the feeding grounds. A chance to not solely witness this glorious wildlife spectacle however to be within the water with them is life-changing. This is without doubt one of the the explanation why whale watching in Australia is without doubt one of the  finest on the earth.

A full-day journey with Exmouth Dive & Whalesharks will take you on a swim with humpback whales outing of a lifetime. The boat has a particular license to method the whales inside a distance of 250 ft. That is the place the boat stops and snorkelers are allowed within the water. An skilled crew will information you thru the expertise and can advise you on the correct habits round these unbelievable animals. 

Whereas these excursions usually are not a multi-day occasion, you are able to do a number of of those and swim with whale sharks, swim with humpbacks, and spot manta rays and sea turtles throughout the identical journey when you are primarily based within the space. 

Timing is all the things although. Whale sharks are within the space from March to August, humpback whale journeys run from mid-July to late October, and manta rays are discovered cruising alongside the reef between April and November. 

Different marine life seen throughout these outings is spinner dolphin, dugong, Australian humpback dolphin, parrotfish, butterfly fish, damselfish, potato cod, coral trout, black-tip reef shark, and others.

In case you are a diver check out their diving journeys. On one in every of their current outings,  they noticed a uncommon Czeblukov’s sea snake! 

–  Crimson crab migration and birdwatching at Christmas Island –

Christmas Island’s purple crab migration is without doubt one of the most unbelievable wildlife spectacles on Earth. Throughout October-November, with the arrival of the primary rains, hundreds of thousands of purple crabs depart their houses within the forest and make their method by way of the forest and to the ocean to breed. 

Right here’s a tip: the crab migration solely lasts a number of days (a few days on their technique to the ocean, and a few days on their method again to the forest) so strive including a birdwatching tour and snorkeling journey throughout purple crab migration to spherical out your wildlife expertise!

With over 60% of the island lined by Christmas Island Nationwide Park, the island is legendary not just for its purple crabs however for its implausible bird-watching alternatives and snorkeling. 

Indian Ocean Experiences supply a birdwatching tour on Christmas Island that mix two or extra of those pursuits. 

Christmas Island is residence to one of many world’s most well-known rookeries, the place 80,000 sea birds nest yearly. That is your solely alternative to see Christmas Island frigate birds and the endemic Abbott’s booby. They spend most of their lives looking at sea and Christmas Island is the one place the place they nest. The colony helps about 3,000 birds. 

Different birds that you just’ll spot throughout your tour are Christmas Island hawk owl, Christmas Island emerald dove, brown booby, widespread noddy, red-footed booby, golden bosun, nankeen kestrel, sacred kingfisher, red-tailed tropicbird, Christmas Island white-eye, Christmas Island thrush, Christmas Island imperial pigeon, and Christmas Island goshawk. 

Snorkel within the newly proclaimed Christmas Island Marine Park habitat safety zone the place whale sharks, turtles, manta rays, spinner dolphins, coral reef species, oceanic fish, and an unlimited array of seabirds name this magical place residence. Discover your subsequent favourite abandoned seashore!

 

Enjoyable truth! Do you know {that a} bioluminescent fungi grows within the Christmas Island Nationwide Park?

– Murray River safari on a houseboat, South Australia –

Be a part of this multi-activity 3-day river safari on Australia’s longest river. The Murray River winds its method throughout the dry outback remodeling the arid panorama into an oasis of lakes, floodplains, billabongs, islands, historical purple gum forests, wetlands, and riverine forests. And it’s filled with unbelievable wildlife. Unbelievable that this oasis is so near Adelaide.

Dwelling on a river doesn’t imply roughing it, as throughout your Murray River Safari  you’ll be staying on a luxurious houseboat the place you’ll be able to get pleasure from nature out of your snug room throughout your downtime. Alternatively, benefit from the river from the recent tub on the highest deck. Watch the darkish evening sky, marvel on the river sundown, get pleasure from luxurious meals together with your fellow vacationers, and share tales whereas sipping on native wines. 

Your houseboat is ideal for a wildlife cruise. As a small capability boat housing not more than ten individuals, you’ll get pleasure from 2 loos with sizzling showers, a spacious lounge and a contemporary kitchen. The river safari with Murray River Trails follows the Depart no Hint method as no waste is dumped within the river and no infrastructure has been constructed within the river. And since you’re on a houseboat, your sundown tour is included.

After boarding the luxurious pontoon cruiser your guides will educate you in regards to the river system and the historical past of the realm. After lunch, a guided cliff stroll will take you increased as much as marvel on the views of the river and its forests, and will probably be an ideal alternative to identify some rainbow bee-eaters as they nest within the sand dunes and cliffs.  

Dinner doesn’t imply the day is over, as you’ll get to expertise a guided evening stroll to identify tawny frogmouths and brush-tailed possums and hearken to the totally different frog species that reside within the floodplain. 

Your second day on safari includes a nature drive alongside the ephemeral lakes to get pleasure from some birdwatching. Some hen species you would possibly spot are white-winged fairy-wrens, black swans, sharp-tailed sandpipers, white-winged trillers, Australian pelican, red-capped robin, bluebonnets, emus, pied stilts, red-necked avocets, and raptors. Additionally, you’ll have alternatives to identify purple kangaroos, koalas, and short-beaked echidnas. 

Your final day will take you on a guided canoe journey on the Riverland Ramsar river system the place you’ll discover the backwater and small creeks whereas listening to the sounds of this pure system. Spot western gray kangaroos, lace screens, and yellow rosellas. 

As a farewell to the river, lunch is served on the highest deck of the houseboat over the past leisure cruise. 

In 2020, Murray River Trails based the Murray River Trails Fund, a sub-fund of the Australian Communities Basis. The Fund supplies grants to registered charities that work on initiatives to enhance the well being of the river floodplain; enhance biodiversity; and  encourage individuals to look after the river system. You’ll be able to donate right here. 

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As you’ve seen there are many alternatives to observe wildlife in Australia. Becoming a member of an Australian wildlife tour is the way in which to go as they know the place the animals are, their habits, and ecology, and also will present you the numerous other ways you’ll be able to assist native animals throughout your travels. 

Have you ever chosen one Australian wildlife tour but on your future journey?

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