Experience the best of Australia’s Wildlife on this incredible 18 night tour from £9,709 per person. The package includes all flights, airport transfers, accommodations and selected tours.
Get up close to some of Australia’s best and most iconic wildlife on this 18 night tour. Swim with whalesharks and other marine life in Ningaloo Reef, spend time touring Kangaroo Island looking out for koalas, kangaroos and wallabies, stay on a unique houseboat on the Murray River and spot crocodiles in Queensland’s Tropical North.
DAYS 1 – 2
Perth
Characterised by numerous waterways, green parks, a compact city centre and uncrowded beaches, Perth is the first stop on your Australian adventure. On arrival you will be transferred to your hotel for a two night stay. Days in Perth can be spent touring the city by motorised tram, joining a cruise on the Swan River or enjoying a glass of Western Australian wine in a riverside restaurant.
DAYS 3 – 4
Exmouth
Fly to Learnmounth Airport and transfer to Exmouth where you will spend the next three nights. The following day discover the wonders of the Muiron Islands and Ningaloo Marine Park, regarded as one of the most beautiful underwater wilderness areas in Australia.
Upon cruising out across the pristine waters, you will spend the day exploring different snorkel and dive sights accessible by boat only, with dolphins, rays and turtles all regular encounters. Look out for colourful tropical fish including parrotfish, butterflyfish, angelfish and anemonefish amongst the spectacular coral bombies.
DAY 5
Ningaloo Reef
The opportunity to swim with whalesharks is one of the world’s greatest interactive marine encounters. The whaleshark is the largest of the shark family and the largest fish in the world at an average of 12 meters in length, it is a harmless plankton eater, with a graceful and passive nature. Experience an unforgettable day out on the water of the World Heritage listed Ningaloo Marine Park.
DAYS 6 – 7
Adelaide
Fly to Adelaide today, an idyllic city that’s surrounded by stunning green parklands, Adelaide Botanic Garden and the Oval. Spend the next couple of days exploring the city. Rundle Street is a hive of activity featuring award winning restaurants, outdoor cafes, markets, elegant buildings and gardens. South of here is the Adelaide Central Market, offering a variety of fresh produce, tiny cafes and a vast array of goods.
DAYS 8 – 10
Kangaroo Island
Kangaroo Island is a safe haven for large populations of native Australian animals, making for some incredible opportunities to see them up close and a real sense of sanctuary that you would be hard-pressed to find anywhere else in Australia.
There’s two days of touring included by a specialist guide to make sure you make the most of your time here. Look out for koalas, wallabies, kangaroos and a variety of other birds, plants and animals. Head to Seal Bay Conservation Park to see the sea lions on the beach. The following day travel to Flinders Chase National Park and explore the Remarkable Rocks before stopping for an elegant picnic lunch in the bush. Afterwards, travel to Admirals Arch – a coastal grotto which provides a haul out for a large colony of Long-nosed fur seals swimming
DAYS 11 – 12
Murray River
Say goodbye to Kangaroo Island as you travel back to Adelaide. Collect a car and drive approximately three hours to Paringa. Stay at The Frames, a luxury accommodation consisting of only three spacious villas and set on the peaceful banks of the Murray River. There’s plenty of activities here including a wet and wildlife safari, birding tours, walks and a gondala sunset cruise.
DAY 13
Murray River Cruise
Meet your guides this morning as you board the pontoon cruiser and begin cruising along the Murray River. Discover river country with keen eyes scanning the tree line for koalas and waterbirds.
Arrive at the houseboat where lunch has been prepared and settle into your room before setting off on a guided walk with possibilities of spotting Wedge-tailed Eagles, honeyeaters, and migratory bee-eaters, emus, kangaroos and Fairywrens. The evening is spent on the houseboat admiring the sunset from the top deck spa as your guides prepare dinner paired with local wines to complete the day.
DAY 14
Murray River Cruise
After a nourishing breakfast enjoy a driving tour to the great ephemeral lake system on the outer floodplain where spectacular birdwatching can include thousands of ducks, black swans and their cygnets, Pied Stilts, Red-necked Avocets, Yellow-billed Spoonbills, migratory waders and rarer Blue-billed ducks.
Return to the houseboat for lunch and a rest before departing on a two hour guided canoe along the quiet creeks where you can encounter pelicans, darters, cormorants, spoonbills, and the spectacular Sacred Kingfisher.
Evening relaxation may include browsing the range of books in the onboard library while enjoying a local tasting plate and local beverages.
DAY 15
Adelaide Hills
Enjoy a leisurely houseboat cruise along the magnificent red-ochre-coloured cliffs on the way to the lunch site on the river. Lunch is prepared by the guides and served on the top deck of the houseboat.
After lunch drive to Adelaide Hills where you’ll spend the night at Mount Lofty House, a grand hotel with two vineyards on its grounds. On arrival enjoy a history tour and taste some of the regions delicious wine.
DAYS 16 – 17
Port Douglas
Fly to Cairns and transfer to Port Douglas, a charming village with a variety of restaurants, bars and shops. Renowned for the palm tree-lined Four Mile Beach, with its white sand curving along the coast, a visit to Port Douglas is not complete until you have dipped your toes in the water here.
DAY 18
The Daintree Rainforest
Cruise the beautiful Daintree River on a solar electric boat where you can get close to nature, look out for crocodiles, birds and other wildlife such as snakes, frogs and fish and bats.
Arrive at Cape Tribulation, a World Heritage area with pristine beaches, rainforest, cool streams, towering mountains and freshwater valleys that captivate visitors.
After dining at one of the region’s finest restaurants, you will experience an interpretative guided nocturnal walk, revealing a different side of the Daintree Rainforest and an opportunity to spot wildlife such as the Daintree River Ringtail Possum, Northern Long-nosed Bandicoot and Northern Bettong.
Contact Wildlife Escapes for more information
