WILDLIFE WALKABOUT - INTER-CAPITAL LINK

Quote tour code: EG3L

4 day fully accommodated wildlife journey .
Departs from Melbourne on Sunday from September to end of May.
Our expert Nature Guide helps you search the bush by day and night for animals and birds in East Gippsland, a region containing the highest concentration of wildlife reserves and national parks in Australia.

Tour Location:-
Halfway between Melbourne and Sydney on the south-east coast of Australia
NOTE: This tour module can be used to link Melbourne to Sydney over 5 days

*** IMPORTANT NOTE FOR AGENTS

This tour can be used to link Melbourne to Sydney and onwards. It is the same tour as Echidna Walkabout's EG3 WILDLIFE WALKABOUT except for the following differences:
The tour begins in Melbourne but instead of returning to Melbourne at the end of the tour (Day4) it travels on to coastal town of MERIMBULA in southern New South Wales.

Merimbula has most services including:-
* Fully serviced Regional Airport with regular scheduled flights to Sydney
* Wide range of Accommodation and Restaurants
* Hire Car outlets.
* Fascinating Dolphin and Whale watching tours
Travel agents can easily access these services through the usual agent networks or through the internet. An "OPTIONAL MERIMBULA ADD-ON" is provided after the itinerary. This add on is NOT booked by us - you can make the bookings by using the information in the add-on details..

>> Our price includes all items mentioned in the following itinerary. Note carefully that on Day 4 we ONLY provide Breakfast, transfer to the Coach Terminal in Orbost and the cost of the Coach transfer from Orbost to Merimbula. All other items after that are to be booked by others.

OVERVIEW

Travel from Melbourne to the grand wilderness and wildlife region of East Gippsland in south-eastern Australia.

In the company of expert nature guides search the bush by day and night for animals and birds in a region containing the highest concentration of wildlife reserves and national parks in Australia.

See and learn about Australia's birds and animals in depth and in the wild. Relax for three nights at a friendly bush homestead B&B and get to know the locals. Catch up with the local Aboriginal people. Visit a Wildlife Shelter. All in a region containing Australia's highest concentration of national parks.

Journey by vehicle and on foot in search of Wallabies, Wombats, Gliding Possums, Koalas and abundant birdlife in the forests, the estuaries and on the ocean. During our quest we visit magnificent stands of giant eucalypt forest, walk in rainforest, along endless untouched ocean beaches and besdie secluded rivers and waterways. Enjoy night-time spotlighting rambles in search of nocturnal mammals (weather dependent).

Over four relaxing but fascinating days this journey investigates the abundant wildlife of far East Gippsland. Because much of Australia's wildlife is best seen in the late afternoon and evening, some activities on this tour deliberately begin later in the day and go on into the evening. This allows participants to enjoy a restful morning after a late evening.

Location: far East Gippsland near the city of Melbourne in south-east Australia.

Duration: 4 days Departs: Sunday from Melbourne weekly September thru May

Minimum pax: 2 Maximum:8

DETAILS:

Note that all departures are from the city of Melbourne. The tour finishes on Day 4 in Merimbula where your travel agent can arrange further touring options including accommodation, hire car, Merimbula ocean going wildlife tours. Flight, bus and rail connections to Sydney and beyond are easily arranged.

INCLUDES:

Full interpretation by experienced nature guides, charter flight, all on ground transfers, meals and accommodation as described below, entry fees and transport.

Expert Guides:
You will be guided on this journey by our friendly, experienced and knowledgeable nature guide. Many hours of research work precede the tour to ensure that you see and learn about native wildlife in its natural environment. By joining the tour you will help gain a greater understanding of the wildlife of East Gippsland's magnificent forests and national parks.

First class standards in guidance are the hallmark of Echidna Walkabout. Our in-house nature guide training program ensures that all guides have an in-depth working knowledge of the wildlife and environments you will see. Guides carry two way radios which link them to our office and to emergency services at any time.

Accommodation - Get to know the Locals:
Accommodation is at Bed and Breakfasts in far East Gippsland. B&B's are carefully selected for friendly, first class hospitality and service - they are run by the owner so you will get to know the locals during your morning relaxation time. Breakfasts are convivial and often enjoyed with your hosts.

Meals on tour:
All meals from lunch on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 4. NB Vegetarian or other food preferences should be noted at the time of booking.

Transport:
This trip departs Melbourne by vehicle or by train. In East Gippsland you will travel in our comfortable air conditioned vehicles. The tour ends on Day 4 with an early afternoon transfer out of East Gippsland to Merimbula by V/Line Coach service - this transfer is included in yourprice.

What to bring:
Strong walking shoes or boots, clothing to suit variable weather conditions (temperatures range from 0C to +35C, sun hat, rainproof coat, small torch, insect repellent, 15+ sunblock, daypack (or we can supply day pack) and 1 litre water bottle. You should also bring swimming gear.

As space is limited please keep luggage to 1 sausage bag OR 1 backpack OR 1 suitcase per person. Hand luggage should be small.

Wildlife notes will be provided to people who travel on this tour. Please note that whilst every attempt will be made to follow our planned route National Park Service requirements and weather conditions may cause amendments which will be clearly outlined to you by your guide.

BOOKINGS

Echidna Walkabout
PO Box 370, Port Melbourne Victoria 3207 Australia
telephone +613 9646 8249 fax +613 9681 9177
email: enquiries@echidnawalkabout.com.au
http://www.echidnawalkabout.com.au

ITINERARY FOR WILDLIFE WALKABOUT with Inter-capital link (EG3L)

MODULE IDEAS: see Savannah Walkabout fact sheets for further information
** EG3L can begin on the day before departing Melbourne with our Savannah Walkabout which is a 1 day wildlife trip out of Melbourne

Meals Inclusion Code: B- Breakfast, L- Lunch, D- Dinner.

EG3L - 4 days/ 3 nights

Day 1 - SUNDAY

Pick up from your Melbourne City hotel to East Gippsland by train or vehicle (dependent on availability). Near Bairnsdale in East Gippsland you will meet our tour vehicle and travel past internationally acclaimed RAMSAR wetlands to an island sanctuary in the wetlands with a thriving colony of Koalas. During the afternoon we take a walk through the forest spotting many of these delightful animals in the wild. Dinner tonight is in a local restaurant. Tonight we travel deep into a eucalypt forest with our spotlight in search of 3 species of rare gliding possums. Tonight's accommodation is a B&B near the small town of Orbost where you will stay for three nights. (LD)

Day 2 - MONDAY

Our activities today are beside the huge estuaries of two of the great rivers of East Gippsland, the Snowy and the Brodribb, where they flood the coastal plains before meeting the Southern Ocean at the Wilderness Coast. Carefully moving about the rivers, forest lined estuaries and ocean beaches we search for Black Swans, Musk ducks, Sea Eagles, Kingfishers and other rare birdlife. We visit beaches with complex dune systems and frequently see pelagic birds and waders. Dinner tonight is a classic Aussie cook-out. (BLD)

Day 3 - TUESDAY

Today we travel high into the mountains of East Gippsland firstly into the towering eucalypt forests where giant gum trees soar into the sky - the tallest flowering plants on earth. Your guide provides detailed information on the formation of these mighty forests. Next we take a walk in the fascinating transitional zone between the eucalypts and the rainforests before moving into a great stand of Cabbage Tree Palms. Birdlife is often abundant. Finally we head back to the coast at Cape Conran, a place steeped in Aboriginal history and home to the Common Wombat. We visit a refuge for injured and sick Australian wildlife and learn about their rehabilitation. After dinner tonight we go spotlighting in search of wombats and possums and any other creatures of this entrancing location. (BLD)

Day 4 - WEDNESDAY:

This morning you can relax at your accommodation or spend a few hours in the pretty town of Orbost. Take a walk beside the beautiful Snowy River. Stroll through the town and have a relaxing lunch before departing East Gippsland in the early afternoon by coach to Merimbula arriving in mid afternoon (B).

TOUR ENDS - all other tour options from this point on are booked by others

OPTIONAL MERIMBULA ADD-ON

Day 4 - WEDNESDAY:
Arrive by coach into Merimbula at about 4:30pm. Check in to your hotel, confirm your Dolphin or Whale watching tour option for tomorrow, take a relaxing stroll around the beautiful Merimbula Lakes and have dinner at one of Merimbula's many restaurants.

Day 5 - THURSDAY:
Take a Dolphin Cruise (OR Whale Watching cruise from September to end of November) on the sea cat "True Blue" from Merimbula Marina. These cruises have won a number of awards and are of a very high standard. The Whale Watching trips are guided by marine biologists. Dolphins, seals, Gannets, Albatross, Sea Eagles and Penguins are regularly seen on these trips. During Whale season there are guaranteed sightings of whales which could include Humpback with young, Southern Right, Minke and Killer with the occasional sighting of the magnificent Blue Whale.
Both these cruises finish by about 12:30pm after which you can have lunch in town before heading out to Merimbula airport to catch your flight to Sydney. Flights depart at 1:35pm and 4:30pm and take about 1 hour to get to Sydney

BOOKING INFORMATION FOR MERIMBULA

Note that Merimbula is in the tourism area known as the Sapphire Coast
A useful website for information on this region is www.sapphirecoast.com.au/merimbula.htm

Accommodation
Top Quality Apartments - in town
Crown Apartments - www.crownapartments.com.au
Penguin Mews - www.penguinmews.com.au

Motels - in town
Sapphire Waters - www.sapphirewatersmotorinn.com.au
South Seas http://southseas.asitis.net.au

Guest House - out of town in a beautiful bush setting
Robyn's Nest - www.robynsnest.com.au

Wildlife Tours
Merimbula Marina - www.acr.net.au/~merimbulamarina/ provides:
Daily 2.5 hour Bay Dolphin Cruise all year 10:30am to 12:30pm
Daily 4 hour Whale Watching Cruise from September to end November 8am to 12 Noon

Air Travel
Regional Express - www.rex.com.au provides 3 services each day to Sydney as follows:
ZL114 MIM/SYD 06:30 - 08:15
ZL126 MIM/SYD 13:35 - 14:45
ZL134 MIM/SYD 16:20 - 18:05
NOTE: Please check with Regional Express as these times and flight numbers may vary from time to time. No other carrier offers scheduled services out of Merimbula

Car Hire
Most reputable car hire outlets offer vehicles out of Merimbula.

For more details about this tour contact: roger@echidnawalkabout.com.au

Close Window