Wildlife Tour East Gippsland – 4 Day Tour

Cost: 
Adult: $2,560.00
Child: on request

Single Supplement applies

Location: Coastal Wilderness half way between Melbourne & Sydney

Duration: 4 Days            

Grade/Difficulty: easy               

Group Size – Maximum 8 adults Minimum 4 adults

Departs: Melbourne every Monday - September to end of May.  

All tours are on request with a minimum of 2 adults and subject to availability. (Note: no tours run on or through Christmas or Boxing Days December 25 or 26)             

Returns: to Melbourne
 

Melbourne to East Gippsland

Day 1 - Monday

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 are helping to set up a wild koala research project on the island.  Data we collect will be collated by the new koala conservation group on the island – including tree species preference, behaviour, identification of individuals and evidence of koalas drinking stemflow.  We take walks through the forest spotting koalas in the wild.  We may also see Echidnas, Swamp Wallabies and Eastern Grey 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. (L,D).

Rugged mountain forests of East Gippsland

Day 2 - Tuesday

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 classic Aussie dinner at the Homestead.

(B,L,D)

Explore secluded river estuary on the Wilderness Coast

Day 3 - Wednesday

First we walk into a large lowland (warm temperate) rainforest in search of birds including Topknot Pigeons, Superb Lyrebirds, Brown Gerygones, Black-faced Monarchs and Platypus and Swamp Wallabies (this area was not burnt). Then we walk through a heathland and along a forest-lined river – this area abuts a burnt area, so wildlife surveys here are particularly important. 

We search for White-bellied Sea Eagles, Hooded Plovers, Gang-gang cockatoos, Turquoise Parrots, Azure Kingfishers and Jacky Lizards. We visit a quiet beach with a complex dune system and frequently see beach and ocean-going birds, and Australian Fur-seals.

After lunch we 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 spend a little time on a beautiful beach removing old fishing nets or rubbish – they wash up from the sea, and sometimes wash back out, where they trap and kill sea creatures.

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 Red-necked Wallabies, Eastern Grey Kangaroos and Bare-nosed (Common) Wombats.

(B,L,D)

Mouth of the Snowy River & Krowathunkoolong

Day 4 - Thursday

This morning we depart East Gippsland after one last visit to the beach at the Mouth of the Snowy River.

On the way back to Melbourne we visit the Krowathunkoolong 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 set up there in 2013, and at the time of writing provide great viewing opportunities. They may move on at any time though).

We then transfer to Melbourne arriving in the late afternoon

(B,L)

NOTE: this itinerary is an indication only. Due to conditions on the day, weather and National Parks requirements, it can change slightly to maximise wildlife viewing opportunities.

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