Our Wildlife News Blog
Tourism Declares : Climate Emergency
Australian tour operator joins global Tourism Declares community In 2017 Echidna Walkabout published our Position Statement on climate titled "Act Now : Stop Climate Change". Our headline graphic was this frightening chart: Now, on the eve of one of recent history's...
Give back to wildlife on a tour : bargain prices for Australians
Australians can give back to our endangered wildlife by joining a world class tour — now at special bargain prices At last Covid's long haul of lockdowns is coming to an end. On current estimates, by mid November Australians should be able to start travelling again. ...
5 reasons to learn birds at the Katherine Bird Festival
Come to the Katherine Bird Festival this September There’s lots of great reasons why you should learn birds in Katherine — and they’re not all bird related! Do you love colourful birds? The most psychedelic of them all may be Australia’s tiny Gouldian Finch (pictured...
About Koala Kallama
Kallama Origin of name: Kallama is taken from the word “everywhere” in the Wathaurong/Wadawurrung language around the You Yangs. That’s where we want koalas: everywhere they can be. .. Known since: He emerged on 17 June 2020, which makes his birthday around mid...
Enjoy Kakadu : 5 best tips
To enjoy Kakadu take your time says Kakadu Guide, Roger Smith “Rushing Kakadu doesn't work. Spend at least two full weeks in the Top End. Stay a few days in Darwin acclimatising, it’s a city like no other in Australia, vibrating with culture, markets, wildlife and...
Amazing new facts about Whale Sharks
New Facts about Whale Sharks: they recover quickly from wounds and may even regrow parts of their bodies; Big ships are hurting them, but Western Australia’s tour operators are helping; Globally endangered, but increasing at Ningaloo Reef; Male Whale Sharks grow fast when young, females grow bigger but more slowly; Whale Sharks give birth to live young, 300 at a time, but almost nothing is known about their breeding
Mallacoota Birders Big Weekend March 2021
Four days, 43 birders, 151 bird species, 3 boat trips, $1275+ for bushfire recovery, a truckload of fish & chips and quite a few bottles of wine… this was the second annual Mallacoota Birders Big Weekend over Labour Day Holiday, 5 – 9 March 2021. We were so busy!...
Cockatoos of the Grampians (Gariwerd)
See up to 7 of Australia's 14 species of cockatoos in the Grampians (Gariwerd) More cockatoos live in Australia than anywhere else in the world and the Grampians Range (Gariwerd) is one of the best places to see them. Gariwerd is the Aboriginal name for the Grampians...
Platypus : how to find one
Finding platypus is not easy - here's what to look for and where to search Platypus are mystical creatures. One may be in a river or lake near you but you won't see it; they are shy and secretive. They don't want to be found. They come and go as they please, often...
New Australian wildlife safari links coast mountains and outback
Meet "Sandy" the Racehorse Goanna Sandy is no ordinary lizard - he's 1.6 metres long and the high speed icon for our new "Coast, Mountains, Outback" tour series. Sand Monitors are beautiful, multi-coloured lizards of the Outback. Also known as goannas in Australia,...
Tourists: Did you know you planted trees in Australia?
social enterprise wildlife tour operator Echidna Walkabout runs popular wildlife tours for small groups of international and local travellers – all tours contribute financially to wildlife by planting trees & creating habitat. In 2020, our not for profit Koala Clancy Foundation planted 9000 trees for koalas on behalf of our tourists.
Echidna Walkabout contributes to bird conservation on Global Big Day
Echidna Walkabout, Australia sighted 117 birds for NatureTrek’s fundraiser for the Global Big Day/Global Bird Weekend to help BirdLife International
The latest news & amazing facts about Koalas
Latest new science and breakthroughs on koalas. Koalas drink stemflow – rain dripping down the trunk of a tree; koalas use ladder trees to make climbing easier; male koalas vocalise partly to avoid conflicts with other males; koalas use scattered paddock trees and can walk across open country; koalas use very young trees, as little as 2-4 years old.
How Boneseed Weed Affects Koalas
by Janine Duffy Boneseed (Chrysanthemoides monilifera) is an Invasive Weed of National Significance (1) that has infested the You Yangs Regional Park, VIC since being introduced for erosion control in the 1940’s. It spread rapidly after the 1985 Lara bushfires, and...
You Yangs Koala Research Report 2018
by Janine Duffy Long-term koala Phascolarctos cinererus population research in Victoria is rare, especially in the grassy woodlands away from the coast. The You Yangs Regional Park, just west of Melbourne, is home to a koala population in a dry woodland, and has been...
Amazing & Different Facts: Humpback Whales
Amazing & Different Facts: Humpback Whales Megaptera novaeangliae – the singing, dancing superstars of Australia’s coastline. But did you know they are brave heroes, loyal to their holiday spots, and no-one knows why they migrate? Here’s five different and amazing facts about them that you won’t find anywhere else.
Delightful little fish of Ningaloo Reef
Details of some of the reef fish we see snorkelling at Ningaloo Reef Western Australia, and how we record them for conservation purposes.
How To Help An Endangered Tiger Quoll
An article about ecology, life history and distribution of Dasyurus maculatus, why they are declining and what to do about it.
A Rainforest Dove of Far North Queensland
High on a mossy branch, the bird watched me bumbling about on the rainforest track below. The light in a far North Queensland tropical rainforest is both brilliant and muted. You walk in near darkness, peering into shadows, to be dazzled by a beam of pure white...
Mammals of Far North Queensland: Bizarre, Brassy & Beautiful.
a list of some native mammals we are likely to see and help on a new conservation trip to far North Queensland.
Wild animals of the Ningaloo beaches
At first glance, the beaches of Ningaloo Western Australia look too clean. Sterile. The sand is so white you wonder if its already turned into marble. The water is the clearest turquoise glass. .. If there was an animal on that wild beach or in that water surely you’d...
Tourism Declares : Climate Emergency
Australian tour operator joins global Tourism Declares community In 2017 Echidna Walkabout published our Position Statement on climate titled "Act Now : Stop Climate Change". Our headline graphic was this frightening chart: Now, on the eve of one of recent history's...
Give back to wildlife on a tour : bargain prices for Australians
Australians can give back to our endangered wildlife by joining a world class tour — now at special bargain prices At last Covid's long haul of lockdowns is coming to an end. On current estimates, by mid November Australians should be able to start travelling again. ...
5 reasons to learn birds at the Katherine Bird Festival
Come to the Katherine Bird Festival this September There’s lots of great reasons why you should learn birds in Katherine — and they’re not all bird related! Do you love colourful birds? The most psychedelic of them all may be Australia’s tiny Gouldian Finch (pictured...
About Koala Kallama
Kallama Origin of name: Kallama is taken from the word “everywhere” in the Wathaurong/Wadawurrung language around the You Yangs. That’s where we want koalas: everywhere they can be. .. Known since: He emerged on 17 June 2020, which makes his birthday around mid...
Enjoy Kakadu : 5 best tips
To enjoy Kakadu take your time says Kakadu Guide, Roger Smith “Rushing Kakadu doesn't work. Spend at least two full weeks in the Top End. Stay a few days in Darwin acclimatising, it’s a city like no other in Australia, vibrating with culture, markets, wildlife and...
Tourism Helps Western Australia’s Whale Sharks
MEDIA RELEASE 16 April 2021, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tourism Helps Western Australia’s Whale Sharks Around the world Whale Sharks are declining, but Ningaloo’s best practice tourism is helping this endangered species to thrive. Conservation Travel expert Janine Duffy...
Choose your wildlife conservation experience
Mungo Outback Journey
MUNGO MILDURA, VIC & NSW
4 DAYS, MARCH - NOVEMBER
Island Birds & Whale Sharks
WESTERN AUSTRALIA NINGALOO
8 DAYS, MARCH & JUNE 2022
Wildlife Journey
GIPPSLAND VICTORIA
5 DAYS, SEPTEMBER - MAY
Island Birds & Humpbacks
WESTERN AUSTRALIA NINGALOO
8 DAYS, SEPTEMBER 2022
Coast Mountains Outback
WESTERN VICTORIA & NSW
7 to 13 DAYS on request
Wild Top End
NORTHERN TERRITORY
7 DAYS, AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2022
Quoll Research & Bird Surveys
FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND
4 DAYS, MARCH & SEPTEMBER 2022
Groups & Aboriginal Tours
MELBOURNE AREA
HALF DAY, FULL DAY & MORE
Private Great Ocean Road
MELBOURNE, VICTORIA
3 DAYS, ALL YEAR
Koalas & Kangaroos in the Wild
PRIVATE TOUR: MELBOURNE, VICTORIA
1 DAY
Sunset Koalas & Kangaroos
PRIVATE TOUR: MELBOURNE, VICTORIA
1 DAY - AFTERNOON/EVENING
Koala Recovery Experience
Ex MELBOURNE, VICTORIA
2 or 3 DAYS, JULY - AUGUST 2022