Australian Wildlife Journeys

Boutique Wildlife Tours, New South Wales

The Southern Highlands is located southwest of Sydney and forms part of the Great Western Wildlife Corridor. This region is a key link for wildlife migration between the southern Blue Mountains World Heritage area and Morton National Park. Several rivers flow through the region, providing the opportunity to see one of Australia’s most curious creatures, the Platypus along with Koalas.

Boutique Wildlife Tours has been offering unique small-group wildlife viewing experiences since 2010, with day tours departing Sydney at lunchtime and returning in the evening. This allows guests to enjoy native animals at their most active time around dusk and to go spotlighting with red-filtered flashlights, to observe numerous nocturnal marsupial species including wombats, gliders and possums.

Iconic Species:
Eastern Grey Kangaroos, Red-necked Wallabies, Common Wombats, Short-beaked Echidnas, Platypus, Brush-tailed Possums, Sugar Gliders, Koalas, Laughing Kookaburras, Eastern Water Dragons.

Featured Tours:
Southern Highlands Wildlife Tour (1 day, year-round)

Access:
Sydney, New South Wales

Lords Kakadu and Arnhemland Safaris, Northern Territory

Lords Kakadu and Arnhemland Safaris has been connecting guests to the Northern Territory’s ‘Top End’ for over 25 years with expertly led private small group tours. Kakadu National Park is one of the world’s most magnificent natural reserves, boasting 280 bird species, 77 mammals, 50 species of freshwater fish, 132 reptiles and more than 50,000 years of Indigenous history and culture.

The wetlands of Kakadu are a birdwatcher’s paradise, especially in the dry season, with abundant water birds. The combination of floodplains and wetlands, savanna woodlands, sandstone cliffs and escarpments provide sanctuary for wallabies, bandicoots, dingoes, goannas and enormous cathedral termite mounds. But it is the massive populations of the world’s largest reptile, the Saltwater Crocodile, that has made this area so famous.

Iconic Species:
Saltwater Crocodiles, Freshwater Crocodiles, Merten’s Water Monitors, Agile Wallabies, Dingoes, Blue-winged Kookaburras, Magpie Geese, Brolgas, Azure Kingfishers, Great Billed Herons, Comb-crested Jacanas, herons, egrets.

Featured Tours:
Three Day Peek Kakadu (3 days, Private, May – late October)
Top End Luxury Lodges (5 days, Private, April – late October)
Lords Safaris, Davidsons Safaris & Bamurru (6 days, Private, April – late October)
Kakadu Birding Tour (3 days, Private, May – late October)

Access:
Darwin, Northern Territory

SEIT Outback Australia, Northern Territory

Australia’s ‘Red Centre’ is considered the spiritual heart of Australia, due to its incredible desert landscapes, rich indigenous history and iconic rock formations including Uluru, Kata Tjuta, Kings Canyon and Mt Conner. 

The Anangu people have been the traditional custodians for many generations, balancing the intricate relationship between people, plants, animals and landscapes. Desert wildlife weaves through local Tjukurpa (Creation Stories) and is at the crux of the story of the survival of the oldest living culture in the world.

SEIT Outback Australia has been sharing insights into this balance for many years, showcasing species that thrive in this semi-arid environments via small groups. The area is an important habitat for Red Kangaroos, numerous raptor birds, bushbirds and reptiles including the iconic Thorny Devil and Perentie.

Iconic Species: 
Thorny Devils, Central Netted Dragons, Blue-tongue Lizards, Sand Goannas, Perenties, Black-breasted Buzzards, Wedge-tailed Eagles, Whistling Kites, Zebra Finches, Major Mitchell Cockatoos, Red Kangaroos.

Featured Tours:
SEIT Red Centre Iconics (3 days, year-round)
SEIT Mt Conner 4WD Adventure (1 day, year-round)
SEIT Patji (1 day, year-round)
SEIT All (2 days, year-round)

Access:
Hobart and Launceston, Tasmania

FNQ Nature Tours

Tropical North Queensland is a wildlife enthusiast’s paradise, being the only place in the world where two World Heritage Listed areas exist side by side; The Wet Tropics and Great Barrier Reef.

Being the oldest tropical rainforest in the world, the landscapes provide a fascinating insight into the of many rainforest species. This area is home to 40% of Australia’s bird species and the highest diversity of rainforest mammals in Australia. It’s also a prime spot to observe crocodiles, frogs, reptiles, butterflies and snorkel the Great Barrier Reef.

After 10 years of guiding nature and wildlife safaris in Northern Australia, James Boettcher established FNQ Nature Tours in 2015, focusing on expertly led small group tours across the Daintree, Atherton Tablelands, Crater Lakes and Cape Tribulation/Great Barrier Reef regions.

Iconic Species:
Platypus, Green Ringtail Possums, Tree Kangaroos, Southern Cassowaries, Little Kingfishers, Victoria’s Riflebirds, Boyd’s Forest Dragons, Saltwater Crocodiles, Green-eyed Tree Frogs, Leaf-tailed Geckos, Ulysses Butterflies.

Featured Tours:
Cape Tribulation (2 days, March – late January)
Daintree Exclusive (1 day, year-round)
Tablelands and Crater Lakes (1 day, year-round)
Far North Queensland Birding Tour (3 days, year-round)

Access:
Cairns, North Queensland

Arkaba, South Australia

Arkaba is nestled amongst the ancient outback landscapes of the Flinders Ranges, famed for its beautifully sculpted ridges, spectacular deep gorges, and striking river red gum creek lines. The former sheep station was developed into a 60,000-acre wildlife conservancy in 2013, to assist in the re-establishment of endangered endemic reptiles, birds and marsupials.

The luxurious 1850s Homestead has just five guest rooms and offers a four-day immersive walk and safari drives with expert guides, to showcase the various habitats across the conservancy. Guests can also gain an up close and personal experience at Arkaba’s wildlife hide, being a favourite watering hole for many birds and mammals, including Red Kangaroos, Galahs, Australian Ringneck & Mulga Parrots. 

Iconic Species:
Red Kangaroos, Common Wallaroos, Yellow-footed Rock Wallabies, Emus, Australian Ring-neck Parrots, Wedge-tailed Eagles, Rainbow Bee-eaters, Red-capped Robins, Shingleback Lizards, Barking Geckos, Painted Dragons.

Featured Tours:
The Arkaba Walk (4 days, Mid March–mid October)
3 Day Safari (Year-round)

Access:
5 hour drive or 1.5 hour private charter flight from Adelaide, or Regional Express flight Adelaide to Port Augusta & 90 minute road transfer

Australian Coastal Safaris, South Australia

The Eyre Peninsula is considered Australia’s ultimate temperate aquatic playground, featuring striking coastlines, vast sand dunes, rugged offshore islands, secluded coves and picturesque coastal heathlands. Australian Coastal Safaris has been showcasing the region’s unique aquatic and terrestrial experiences since 2005, including snorkel encounters with Australian Sea-lions and Bottlenose Dolphins, Koala viewing, Southern Right whale watching and cage diving with the oceans most formidable predator, the Great White Shark.

Experiences are not limited to the vast shoreline, with the region home to distinctive rock formations, a rich geological history, variety of flora and rich bird life, with Australian Coastal Safaris specialising in both birdwatching and photography experiences. 

Iconic Species:
Australian Sea-lions, Southern Right Whales, Koalas, Western Grey Kangaroos, Southern Hairy-nosed Wombats, Ospreys, Emus, Port Lincoln Parrots, Western Yellow Robins, Great White Sharks, Rosenberg’s Goannas.

Featured Tours:
Port Lincoln Wildlife Encounters (2 days, year-round)
Eyre Peninsula Wildlife & Ocean Encounters (3 days, October – late May)
Southern Eyre Peninsula Birding (3 days, September – late May)
Port Lincoln & Coffin Bay Photography (3 days, year-round)

Access:
Port Lincoln, (40 mins from Adelaide Airport), South Australia

Exceptional Kangaroo Island, South Australia

Kangaroo Island is Australia’s third largest island, with over one third of land declared as National or Conservation Park. Exceptional Kangaroo Island has been providing expert interpretation of this incredible natural environment for over 25 years. Over 90% of the terrestrial wildlife habitat is mallee and woodland, dominated largely by Eucalyptus, with the balance shrubland, fernland and forest.

This provides an opportunity to spot a vast range of iconic marsupials and 260 species of birds, with endangered Glossy Black Cockatoos, Short-beaked Echidnas and Rosenberg Goannas prime species for enthusiasts. The marine environment is equally diverse, with highlights including walking on a pristine beach with Australian Sea Lions at Seal Bay and visiting the spectacular landscapes of Admiral’s Arch and Remarkable Rocks.

Iconic Species:
Kangaroo Island Kangaroos, Tammar Wallabies, Short-beaked Echidnas, Koalas, Glossy-black Cockatoos, Cape Barren Geese, Scarlet Robins, Australian Sea-lions, Long-nosed Fur Seals, Rosenberg’s Goannas.

Featured Tours:
Kangaroo Island in Style (2 days, year-round)
Flinders Chase Focus (1 day, year-round)
Island Life (1 day, year-round)
Kangaroo Island Birding (3 days, year-round)

Access:
Kingscote, Kangaroo Island (20 minute flight from Adelaide Airport or 90 minute drive from Adelaide and 50 minute ferry to Penneshaw)

Premier Travel Tasmania

Australia’s largest island is the beautiful state of Tasmania, where around 40% of land is protected via national parks and reserves. Premier Travel Tasmania has been sharing this pristine region’s abundant wildlife, diverse flora, pristine wilderness, rich heritage, gourmet food and wine and local characters for over 20 years.

Tours cover the numerous World Heritage Listed areas scattered across the state, comprised of rugged mountains, temperate rainforests, wetlands, white sandy beaches and massive dolerite cliffs. Tasmania is especially rich in marsupials and monotremes, including wombats, quolls, bandicoots, platypus, echidna and wallabies, however, it’s the Tasmanian Devil that is the star attraction for many visitors. It’s also a birdwatchers paradise, with twelve endemic species and the opportunity to see colonies of the adorable Little Penguin.

Iconic Species:
Tasmanian Devils, Platypus, Tasmanian Pademelons, Forester Kangaroos, Common Wombats, Eastern Quolls, Tasmanian Wedge-tailed Eagles, Green Rosellas, Orange-bellied Parrots, Little Penguins, Australian Fur Seals.

Featured Tours:
6- 8 Day Tasmanian Wildlife Encounter (Shared late September – late May, Private year-round)
4 Day Tasmanian Wildlife Encounter (Year-round)
1 Day Birdwatching Mt Field (Year-round)

Access:
Hobart and Launceston, Tasmania

The Maria Island Walk, Tasmania

World Heritage Listed Maria Island is located just off Tasmania’s east coast, known for its historic ruins, picturesque bays, rugged cliffs and mountains and amazing fossils. But for many visitors, it is the island’s remarkable collection of rare birds and animals, largely unaffected by human presence, that is the highlight.

The Maria Island Walk is a four-day walk that brings these remarkable wildlife stories to life through expert interpretative guides, with guests able to enjoy gentle walks by day and elegant accommodation and gourmet dining by night. Maria Island provides the opportunity to spot numerous marsupials and Tasmanian endemic birds including the endangered Forty-spotted Pardalote. It is acknowledged as one of the best locations to see Common Wombats, grazing along the spectacular coastlines.

Iconic Species:
Common Wombats, Forester Kangaroos, Bennett’s Wallabies, Pademelons, Tasmanian Devils, Forty-spotted Pardalotes, Cape Barren Geese, Yellow Wattlebird, Flame Robins, White-bellied Sea Eagles.

Featured Tours:
The Maria Island Walk (4 days, October-late April)
Maria Island Winter Escape (3 days, selected dates June -early August)

Access:
Hobart, Tasmania

Echidna Walkabout Nature Tours, Victoria

Connecting travellers with the diverse wildlife across the You Yangs, Great Ocean Road and East Gippsland has been the passion of Echidna Walkabout Nature Tours for over twenty years. A blend of magnificent lush rainforests, dramatic sea cliffs, giant alpine Eucalypt groves, pristine rivers, estuaries and vast grassy plains provides the opportunity to see a truly remarkable number of Australia’s iconic species, just outside of Melbourne.

As part of the Great Ocean Road tour, guests can venture out with a Koala researcher to learn about individuals within the colony, with the opportunity to pull out invasive weeds to save this population. East Gippsland is particularly attractive to travellers interested in shyer forest dwellers, including gliders, parrots, bowerbirds and the most famous songbird in Australia, the Superb Lyrebird.

Iconic Species:
Koalas, Eastern Grey Kangaroos, Swamp Wallabies, Short-beaked Echidnas, Common Wombats, Grey-headed Flying Foxes, Yellow-bellied Gliders, King Parrots, Superb Lyrebirds, Satin Bowerbirds, Lace Monitors.

Featured Tours:
East Gippsland Wildlife Journey (4 days, September-late May)
Great Ocean Road (3 days, year-round)
Kangaroos & Koalas in the Wild (1 day, year-round)
Tawny Frogmouths & Sandpipers Birding (2 days, year-round)

Access:
Melbourne, Victoria

Wildlife Coast Cruises, Victoria

Phillip Island and Wilsons Promontory provide a blend of spectacular coastal scenery, abundant marine wildlife, beautiful coastal heathlands and important seabird rookeries, just 90 minutes drive east of Melbourne. The team at Wildlife Coast Cruises has been educating guests about the region’s marine diversity for almost 25 years, with an onboard marine biologist providing fascinating insights into the interaction of species.

Highlights include close observation of Australia’s largest population of Australian Fur Seals (7,000+) off the aptly named Seal Rocks, spotting dolphins and several seabirds including the Shy Albatross and Short-tailed Shearwater.

Phillip Island and Wilsons Promontory plays host to majestic whales during their annual migration every winter and spring from June to November, with Humpback Whales most commonly spotted, followed by Southern Right Whales.

Iconic Species:
Australian Fur Seal, Common Dolphin, Bottlenose Dolphin, Humpback Whale, Southern Right Whale, Pied Cormorants, Shy Albatross, Australasian Gannets, Crested Terns, Short-tailed Shearwaters.

Featured Tours:
Seal Watching Cruise (2 hours, year-round)
Winter Whale Cruise (4 hours, June-early August)
Wilsons Promontory Full Day Cruise (1 day, late November – mid April)
Wilsons Promontory Whale Cruise (6 hours, September – mid November)

Access:
Cowes, Phillip Island (90 minutes from Melbourne by car), Victoria

Exmouth Dive & Whalesharks Ningaloo, Western Australia

As the region’s original eco-tourism operation, Exmouth Dive & Whalesharks Ningaloo is synonymous with experiencing the aquatic treasures of the World Heritage Listed Ningaloo Reef Marine Park. Ningaloo Reef is the world’s largest fringing coral reef, stretching over 260 km (161 miles), renowned for its bio-diversity with 250 species of corals and over 450 different species of fish.

The region is home to a myriad of marine megafauna, including the world’s largest fish, the Whale Shark, with visitors able to swim with these graceful creatures from March to August. Humpback Whales are also in abundance with swims a highlight from August to November. Diving and snorkeling experiences around the Muiron Islands and Outer Reef also provides access to gorgeous soft corals, Manta Rays, Dugongs and three species of turtle.

Iconic Species:
Whale Sharks, Manta Rays, Mobular Rays, Humpback Whales, Dugongs, Grey Nurse Sharks, dolphins, Orcas, turtles, Parrotfish, Butterflyfish, Angelfish and Anemonefish.

Featured Tours:
Deluxe Whaleshark Swim (1 day, March – late August)
Deluxe Humpback Whale Swim (1 day, August - late October)
Outer Reef or Island Dive & Snorkel (1 day, March – late October)
Ningaloo Open Water Dive Course (3 days, March – late October)

Access:
Learmonth Airport (2 hour flight from Perth Airport)

Naturaliste Charters, Western Australia

Naturaliste Charters has been offering spectacular marine adventures across Western Australia’s southwest region for over 20 years. The team is actively engaged with numerous on-board scientific projects, acoustic monitoring of whales and several environmental programs.

Bremer Canyon has become one of the most sought after whale watching expeditions across the globe, with over 100 Killer Whales returning each year from January to April. Other species seen include dolphins, Pilot Whales, Sperm Whales, Australian Sea-lions, Giant Squid and many albatross species.

Located at the edge of the Margaret River region, the picturesque seaside towns of Augusta and Dunsborough are prime locations to view Humpback Whales and Southern Right Whales across winter and spring, as they complete migrations to and from Antarctica.

Iconic Species:
Killer Whales, Sperm Whales, Long-finned Pilot Whales, Humpback Whales, Southern Right Whales, Blue Whales, Long-nosed Fur Seals, Australian Sea-lions, Wandering Albatross, Brown Skuas, Flesh-footed Shearwaters. 

Featured Tours:
Bremer Canyon Killer Whale Expedition (1 day, January – late April)
Dunsborough Whale Watching (2.5 hours, September – early December)
Augusta Whale Watching (2.5 hours, Mid May – late August)

Access:
Bremer Bay is a 2 hour drive from Albany, Margaret River is a three-hour drive south of Perth.

• Australian Wildlife Journeys
• Arkaba
• Australian Coastal Safaris 
• Boutique Wildlife Tours
• Echidna Walkabout Nature Tours 
• Exceptional Kangaroo Island
• Exmouth Dive & Whalesharks Ningaloo
• FNQ Nature Tours
• Lords Kakadu & Arnhemland Safaris
• Naturaliste Charters 
• Premier Travel Tasmania 
• SEIT Outback Tours 
• The Maria Island Walk 
• Wildlife Coast Cruises