Birding & Wildlife Conservation Journey, East Gippsland Victoria
AT A GLANCE
| Dates | 20 – 23 November 2023 5 – 8 February 2024 25 – 28 November 2024 (If the dates listed are not suitable, please contact our team [email protected] or call 1300 241 141 to enquire about alternative dates if you prefer to travel with your own private party) |
| Activity Level | Easy – walks of around 3km are included as part of the tour. Some terrain is hilly. There could be one to three walks of this duration each day. |
| Duration | 4 days, 3 nights |
| Prices | From $2412 per person twin share From $549 single supplement |
| Group size | Minimum 4, maximum 6 guests |
| Featuring Regions | Orbost, East Gippsland, Gippsland Lakes, Cape Conran Coastal Park, Snowy River |
WHAT TO EXPECT
Help the wildlife. Find koalas in magnificent stands of giant eucalypt forest, walk in rainforest listening for lyrebirds, watch sea-eagles soar along untouched ocean beaches and spot huge goanna lizards beside secluded rivers and waterways.
East Gippsland is famous for its forest wildlife, particularly big mammals, birds and reptiles. It is a fabulous place for parrots and cockatoos – they are numerous, visible and noisy.
Your highly experienced wildlife guide will also show you where to look for wild wallabies, kangaroos, echidnas, parrots, cockatoos, black swans and many other animals.
Help to conserve the beautiful places and wildlife you see. Spend a little time on a glorious beach removing fishing nets that trap fish, birds and sea mammals. Along the coast and estuaries see Australian fur seals, white-bellied sea-eagles, pelicans, gannets, cormorants, oystercatchers and even a bottlenose dolphin.
Share this remote area with your experienced wildlife guide and each night return to the comforts of owner-operated lodge-style accommodation.
Wildlife sightings may include:
- Mammals: eastern grey kangaroo, red-necked and swamp wallaby, wombat, koala, brush-tailed possum, sugar glider, echidna, platypus, grey-headed flying fox
- Reptiles: goanna, Jacky lizard, eastern water dragon, common bluetongue, southern water skink, rock skink, grass skink, red-bellied black snake
- Birds: king parrot, turquoise parrot, eastern & crimson rosella, gang-gang cockatoo, glossy-black cockatoo, top-knot pigeon, eastern whipbird, pilotbird, superb lyrebird, large-billed scrubwren, brown gerygone, black-faced monarch, olive-backed oriole, scarlet, Lewin’s & white-naped honeyeater, southern emu-wren, rose robin, azure & sacred kingfisher, hooded plover, little tern, eastern curlew and sooty oystercatcher.
ITINERARY
DAY 1: Melbourne to East Gippsland (pick ups commence from Melbourne at 8.00 am)
Picks ups will commence from your individual Melbourne hotel from 8.00am. Please advise us which hotel you are staying at so we can arrange your pick up. Alternatively, why not let our friendly team help to recommend a hotel for you to stay in Melbourne.
Travel past internationally acclaimed RAMSAR wetlands of the Lakes District of East Gippsland before travelling by ferry to an island sanctuary in the wetlands with a thriving colony of wild koalas. We take a walk through the forest spotting these delightful animals in the wild, and learning about their lives. We may also see echidnas, wallabies and kangaroos and many colourful parrots, honeyeaters and seabirds, which you can help record for conservation purposes.
Dinner tonight is in a local restaurant.
Tonight’s accommodation is a homestead in a small town where you will stay for three nights.
Accommodation: Snowy River Homestead, Orbost or similar.
Lunch and dinner provided.
DAY 2: Rugged mountain forests of East Gippsland
After a relaxing breakfast we travel into the rugged mountain forests of East Gippsland.
The diverse forests of East Gippsland are the reason that wildlife is so abundant.
Today we will visit both dry and wet mountain forests, visit the famous Snowy River, and walk beside a wilderness creek where the landscape changes dramatically from the sunny, dry slopes to the near-rainforest of the gully. Your Wildlife Guide provides detailed information of the formation of these mighty forests, and helps you search for lyrebirds, parrots, goannas, wallabies and honeyeaters. Birds and reptiles are abundant, but other human visitors are few.
We finish the day with a home cooked meal at the Homestead.
Accommodation: Snowy River Homestead, Orbost or similar.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided.
DAY 3: Explore secluded river estuary on the Wilderness Coast
This morning we will walk and explore in a large lowland (warm temperate) rainforest in search of birds and wallabies. Afterwards, take a discovery walk through a heathland and along a forest-lined river to its estuary in Australia’s coastal wilderness.
Today we will search for sea eagles, cockatoos, kingfishers, swans and huge goanna lizards. We visit a quiet beach with a complex dune system and frequently see beach and ocean-going birds.
After lunch take a walk on the nearby rocky headland, peering into rock pools, walking past wind-sculpted coastal shrubs looking at the expanse of the 90 mile beach.
We have a unique conservation opportunity to spend time on a beautiful beach removing ghost net – discarded fishing net from the beach at Cape Conran. You will be provided with the equipment necessary to perform this tasks with your efforts going towards removing this dangerous hazard to marine life.
Our dinner tonight is a picnic in the bush overlooking the beach (weather permitting). On our way back to our homestead we search the plains for wallabies, kangaroos and wombats.
Accommodation: Snowy River Homestead, Orbost or similar.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided.
DAY 4: Mouth of the Snowy River & Krowathunkooloong to Melbourne
This morning we depart East Gippsland after a final visit to a forest or the coast to look for any species that may have eluded us.
On the way back to Melbourne we visit the Krowathunkooloong Keeping Place, an informative Aboriginal Cultural Centre in Bairnsdale. We also search for grey-headed flying-foxes in their daytime roosts beside the river at Bairnsdale – a large colony is usually present in the warmer months.
Return to Melbourne arriving in the late afternoon approximately 5pm. Why not stay longer in Melbourne and have some time to explore, ask our friendly team for suggestions.
Breakfast and lunch provided.
Conservation component:
This tour includes opportunities to help with the conservation of wildlife and to ensure the natural environment that supports wildlife remains healthy. Your wildlife guide records all species seen and uploads this data to online atlasses for conservation purposes. On this trip, you have the opportunity to remove ghost net – discarded fishing net from the beach at Cape Conran on the third day. The nets wash up from the sea, and sometimes wash back out, where they trap and kill sea creatures. Participants will help to remove large quantities of this dangerous hazard to marine life and will receive a certificate of thanks for your conservation efforts.
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Three night’s accommodation as per itinerary
- Experienced wildlife guide(s) throughout days 1–4
- Sightseeing as per itinerary by private, air-conditioned charter vehicle
- Meals included: daily breakfast, 4 x lunches, 3 x dinners
- Goods and Services Tax
COSTS DO NOT INCLUDE:
- Domestic or international airfares
- Pre-registration, late check-out or day use at hotels other than specified above
- Guide services other than specified
- Meals/beverages other than specified
- Tips & gratuities
- Optional tours/services
CONTACT US
Want to know more or register your interest?
Send us an email to [email protected] or call 1300 241 141.
We look forward to hearing from you !
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