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Araucaria Ecotours
Tour
About
Wildlife experts take small-group tours (usually from Brisbane) to mountains, rainforests, bushland, wetlands, beaches and genuine outback habitats to seek kangaroos, koalas, birds, reptiles, frogs and other wildlife and enhance understanding of their ecology and what makes our wildlife different from other regions.
Day tours include minimal-impact wildlife-viewing (kangaroos, koalas, bats, birds, lizards, glow worms etc.), bird-watching in forest and wetlands (beginners welcome), and an attractive little island close to Brisbane with white sandy beaches, mangroves and coastal woodlands.
A 3-day wildlife overview tour introduces Australia's major groups of wildlife and ecosystems while viewing wildlife in a variety of habitats and includes a free copy of the book "Understanding Australia's Wildlife" by Araucaria proprietor Ronda Green.
Multi-day outback tours are run in Spring and Autumn.
All regular tours have achieved advanced Eco-Certification and Araucaria has been entered into the Hall of Fame by Ecotourism Australia.
Custom tours (day-trip or multi-day) are possible with sufficient notice.
The proprietors contribute to various wildlife conservation and research projects, and guests have opportunities to be citizen scientists or conservation volunteers.
All ages and fitness levels are welcome on most tours.
Weekend nature activities are conducted for families, groups or individuals.
The Scenic Rim Wildlife Ecology Centre and nature trails on the Araucaria property are under-going renovation but partially open.
What's Available
17 featuresECO Certified (Advanced Ecotourism) by Ecotourism Australia
Available Tours
Coochiemudlo Island
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.
Wildlife and Forests Day Tour
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.
Bird-Watching Day Tour
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.
3 Day Wildlife Tour
Enjoy an introduction to Australia's major wildlife groups, their ecology and behaviour, led by a zoologist who has conducted research in the region for several decades. View wildlife in rainforests, eucalypt forests, wetlands, and other native habitats, plus a wildlife sanctuary with threatened species we won't encounter in the wild. Seek kangaroos, koalas, platypus, a colony of large and noisy fruit bats, kookaburras, bowerbirds, lyrebirds and others (no guarantees). Receive a custom-written book on Australia's wildlife, plant groups important to them and an overview of the evolutionary/ geological history of Australia that made it so different. Spend two nights in the Kooralbyn Valley (visited by wild kangaroos, many birds and occasionally koalas) or O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat (great birdlife). 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. Advanced eco-certification. Pickup mostly from Brisbane, and the tour is mostly within the mountains and valleys of the well-named Scenic Rim All ages and fitness levels are welcome.
Outback Wildlife 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.
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Where you'll be
1770 Running Creek Road
Running Creek QLD 4287