Araucaria Ecotours

For absolute beginners through to professional ornithologists, visit eucalypt forests, rainforests, coastal habitats and/or wetlands (and sometimes heathlands). Travel with a research ornithologist who has studied birds in four Australian states, but especially in Queensland's Scenic Rim.

Not all venues will be visited on a particular day. The usual route includes Eagleby Wetlands and Lamington National Park.

The main focus is on seeing (and often photographing) birds in their natural habitat and discussing their behaviour and ecology, the differences in Australia's birdlife compared to other world regions and conservation issues.

Tours involve gentle, short walks (unless you advise beforehand that you want extended walks, or have mobility problems: you can still see a lot from a wheelchair). Let Araucaria know at the time of booking if your interests are mainly seeing as many species as possible, seeing particular species, learning about local birds, or just experiencing the rainforests and other habitats with birds as a delightful component of this.

The first guest to book for the day chooses the starting time (usually between 6am and 8am).

The tour has advanced eco-certification.

For extended birding, consider a three-day wildlife overview tour, outback tour or a custom tour.

The basic tour is for 6 days and 5 nights, taking travellers way out west through brigalow, mulga and other semi-arid habitats in true outback red sand country, stopping along the way to see red kangaroos, emus, Major Mitchell cockatoos, mulga parrots, other colourful outback parrots, wood swallows, brolgas, shingleback lizards, sand goannas or other wildlife. The main destination on this version is Bowra, a well-known birding hotspot, also harbouring kangaroos and reptiles.

Advanced eco-accreditation.

Other venues are possible on longer trips if requested well in advance, such as the red sand dunes of Wyndorah, the Cosmos Centre and Bilby Centre of Charleville, the Cactoblastis Memorial Hall (yes, a building dedicated to a caterpillar), dinosaur and more recent megafauna fossils, Currawinya National Park, or an extensive outback botanic garden. Prices are adjusted according to distances and accommodation styles.

Enjoy a zoologist-designed overview of Australia's major wildlife groups, their ecology and behaviour, the evolutionary/biogeographical reasons Australia is so different from other world regions, and what makes the Scenic Rim such a special part of our continent. Visit wonderfully scenic wild places. View wildlife in rainforests, eucalypt forests, wetlands, wild coasts and other native habitats, plus a wildlife park run by National Parks. All ages and fitness levels are welcome.

Seek kangaroos, koalas, platypus, kookaburras and other icons as well as lesser-known creatures. See a colony of large and noisy fruit bats and watch for dolphins from coastal cliffs. Receive a custom-written book on Australia's wildlife detailing the major groups, some of the plant groups important to them and an overview of the evolutionary/ geological history of Australia.

Spend two nights in the Kooralbyn Valley resort which is visited by wild kangaroos, many birds and occasionally koalas.

Advanced eco-certification.

With sufficient notice this tour can be extended to four days to allow other experiences such as whale-watching (in winter), snorkelling, horse-riding or Aboriginal culture.

See wildlife in forests in Greater Brisbane, the SCENIC rim and the Gold Coast. Visit rainforests, eucalypt forests and tea-tree wetland, looking for wild koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, fruitbats, birds, lizards (in warmer months), butterflies and other wildlife, and learn about their ecology and behaviour. There are no guarantees of particular species, but you will certainly see wildlife. Visit a realistic man-made cave to see thousands of glowworms (only visible at night in the wild) and walk through a koala enclosure run by National Parks. Experience the rainforest canopy on a safe elevated platform. Morning tea and lunch included. All ages welcome.

Enjoy a day of gentle walking on scenic sandy beaches, rocky shores, mangroves, tea-tree wetland and eucalyptus forest, with flora and fauna interpretation, close to Brisbane but away from the crowds. Fauna on the island usually includes raptors (especially whistling kite, brahminy kite, osprey and white-bellied sea-eagle), bush stone-curlews and other birds, butterflies, molluscs and crabs (sometimes hundreds of blue soldier crabs marching across the beach if the tide is right), molluscs and other shore life.

Advanced eco-accreditation.