BOOK
NOW
Why Echidna
Walkabout?
|
East Gippsland Region
Featuring three dramatic and totally different
ecosystems in Croajingolong, Snowy River and Errinundra National Parks,
East Gippsland is the most remote region of south-eastern Australia. It
is an unspoilt wilderness of rugged mountains, deep and pure rivers,
dense rainforest, abundant wildlife and long ocean beaches.
Where is East Gippsland?
What's the weather like? ... and best
time to visit?
Land of Diversity and Wilderness
 ...... and Poetry.
Australia’s “Big 3” - Kangaroos, Koalas
and Wombats
Wildlife & Wilderness - simply
amazing facts!
Where is East Gippsland?
It is easy to get to.......
Perfectly located half way between Melbourne and Sydney
on the south-eastern corner of Australia, East Gippsland is easy to get
to. Just a short trip from either city is a magnificent wilderness with
abundant wildlife, dramatic scenery and friendly people. top of page
What’s the weather like?
When is the best time to visit?
The weather is the best in the south -
warmer
than Melbourne
drier
than Sydney
Because East Gippsland is on the corner of Australia,
surrounded by the tempering influence of two oceans, its climate is
milder than both Sydney and Melbourne.
September to November is the best time for the glorious
blooms of Spring wildflowers and the chaotic activity of birds nesting,
egglaying and feeding their young. In Spring and early Summer the young
Koalas leave their mother’s pouch.
The coast and the mountains are delightfully cool and
restful in the heat of the Summer from December to February. Errinundra
Plateau is especially beautiful at this time of year with the late
flowering at higher altitudes and abundant wildlife.
Autumn, from March to May, is a time of great peace in
East Gippsland with hazy afternoons and red sunsets. Young wildlife is
often seen as it learns how to forage for food in the forests and the
heathlands. top of page
Land of Diversity and Wilderness
Nowhere in Australia does such diversity and remoteness
exist so close to our two largest cities.....
Highlights of East Gippsland are the near desert and
plunging ramparts of the Snowy River Gorge, the upland cloud forests of
Errinundra National Park and the endless beaches and massive sand dunes
of the Wilderness Coast.
East Gippsland’s magnificent wilderness is mid way
between Sydney and Melbourne, embraced to the west by the Australian
Alps and to the east and south by the Pacific and Southern Oceans.
The incredible diversity of East Gippsland has been
recognised by the creation of the largest area of National Parks in
Australia.
Travel through three totally different ecosystems
ranging from stunted desert vegetation, to towering eucalyptus forests,
rainforests and sandy coastal heathlands. East Gippsland has everything
for people who love wilderness and nature.
East Gippsland’s incredible diversity has been
recognised by the creation of the largest area of national parks in
Australia, covering over 1.5 million hectares, forming one of the
world’s great park systems.
Snowy River National Park is a vast
wilderness of mountains intersected by the huge Snowy River gorge - at
a thousand metres deep, Australia’s biggest and deepest gorge and the
inspiration for Banjo Patterson’s poem. Snow in winter can cover nearby
peaks whilst the base of the gorge is in a rainshadow and has near
desert climate all year. The contrast is extraordinary.
Nearby Errinundra National Park is
an upland cloudforest of immense old growth Eucalyptus trees which
often exceed 70 metres in height. Errinundra is the shimmering emerald
in the crown of East Gippsland, home to some of Australia’s rarest
animals and birds. Pockets of unique cool temperate rainforest are
found throughout the national park.
Croajingolong National Park spans the
coastline of East Gippsland like a massive sea-eagle in flight. This
World Biosphere Reserve could be described as Australia’s most
significant coastal park. Endless untrodden beaches, secluded
bird-filled estuaries and massive sand dunes give this coastline its
name: “The Wilderness Coast”. In 1770 the British navigator, Captain
Cook, first sighted Australia at Point Hicks on the Wilderness Coast.
Since then very little has changed in this magnificent park which is
renowned for its incredibly diverse and numerous bird population, its
warm temperate rainforest and its rich heritage of Aboriginal Culture. top of page
........ and Poetry.
“Where the river runs those giant hills
between....”
Banjo
Patterson - poet.
After travelling through the vast Snowy River gorge an
early explorer, overwhelmed by its grandeur, wrote that in the future
the gorge would become one of Australia’s top travel destinations.
Later the region was embedded in the Australian ethos by
poet Banjo Patterson in the famous words of the ballad: “The Man from
Snowy River”.
It’s not surprising early travellers were astounded by
East Gippsland for it contains a diversity of scenery, wildlife and
vegetation seldom seen. In one day you can travel through a staggering
array of climate zones and ecosystems.
East Gippsland’s wilderness has remained untouched,
protected by rugged terrain and bush jungles. Here visitors can forget
the noise and bustle of city life. This is the same Australia that
Captain Cook saw in 1770 - pristine, secluded and extraordinarily
beautiful. top of page
Australia’s “Big 3” -
Kangaroos, Koalas and Wombats
East Gippsland is one of the few places in Australia
where the Big 3 all occur in big numbers. We pride ourselves on knowing
the best places to see Australia’s most admired animals - kangaroos,
koalas and wombats - in the wild!
Kangaroos
Due to East Gippsland’s dramatically differing environments it is
possible to easily see up to 3 species of our larger pouched hopping
marsupials including the Eastern-grey Kangaroo, the Red-necked Wallaby
and the Swamp Wallaby. Other animals of the kangaroo family known to
occur include the Eastern Wallaroo, the Long-footed Potoroo, the
Bandicoot and the rare but exquisite Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby.
Koalas
Another marsupial, the fluffy eared Koala, is found in abundance in our
specially researched bush viewing sites. Unlike zoo-kept animals,
Koalas in the wild are bright, active and interested in people. In
summer we often see these delightful creatures with their babies riding
on their mothers’ backs - a wildlife photographer’s dream!
Wombats
Unpredictable is a good description for these large quirky animals.
Often seen in the evenings near our camp sites wombats are generally
extremely shy but can be stubborn and arrogant making for some bizarre
and humorous sightings.
“Mozart” a friendly Wombat, and one of our research subjects, has often
allowed guests to approach to within 2 metres while he happily munches
on his dinner. Many of Echidna Walkabout guests value their encounter
with a Wombat over all their experiences in East Gippsland. top of page
Wildlife & Wilderness
Simply amazing facts.....
88% of East Gippsland is public land. Most has never
been developed.
Major National Parks
|
size (hectares)
|
size (acres)
|
Croajingolong -
major World Biosphere Reserve
|
87,500
|
218,750
|
Errinundra
|
25,600
|
64,000
|
Snowy River
|
98,700
|
246,750
|
Coopracambra
|
38,800
|
97,000
|
Alfred
|
3,050
|
7,625
|
Lind
|
1,370
|
3,425
|
Alpine
|
107,000
|
267,500
|
Kosciusko
|
646,893
|
1,617,235
|
Birds - 341 species of birds have been
identified in East Gippsland. This is nearly half the total for
Australia.
Mammals - 18% of Australia’s mammals
live in East Gippsland with 23% of our large mammals represented, many
of which are marsupials. In addition sea mammals include whales,
dolphins and seals.
Reptiles - 10 snakes, many lizards
including the huge monitor lizard - the Goanna.
Plants - East Gippsland is home to
the world’s tallest flowering plant (the mighty Mountain Ash), desert
species, warm and cool temperate rainforest, coastal heathlands and
many rare and beautiful wildflowers. top
of page
Back to East
Gippsland page or Wildlife
Walkabout or Croajingolong
Journey
|
