Journey to the Snowy River and Errinundra National Parks
4 days/3 nights - Melbourne to Melbourne

This fully guided four-wheel-drive supported camping and walking expedition visits the most remote and unexplored region of south-eastern Australia - an area of rugged mountain ranges, deep and pure rivers surrounded by dense rainforest, long ocean beaches and unspoilt wilderness containing the greatest density of national parks on the island continent. Naturalist guides provide a comprehensive ecological overview/interpretation of many aspects of the environment and of Aboriginal cultural traditions of the areas we travel through. Road travel is minimised with most time spent on a wide variety of bush-based experiences from our B & B.(Bed and Breakfast)

Day 1 RAINFOREST BIRDS & KOALAS by DAY / GLIDERS by NIGHT
Depart Melbourne at midday for the short flight to East Gippsland- Meet your guide and travel beside the Gippsland lakes system to find Koalas before beginning a beautiful rainforest walk with abundant birdlife including a number of parrots, many honeyeaters and lyrebirds. We stroll though this place as an introduction to East Gippsland discovering some of the rare plants of the re 'on. A delicious twilight outdoor bush dinner with wine beside the rainforest precedes an evening of spotlighting in the eucalypt forest for the great flying possums of this area. We search for the large Greater Glider abundant in the forest and quite sedentary in its habits, the smaller Yellow-bellied glider, active and aggressive in its search for food, often seen volplaning through the forest canopy. Also the Sugar Glider, about a foot long with a GT strip down its back, a beautiful creature and quite active; and we may also see the tiny Feathertall glider, vulnerable and highly erratic in its movements. We then return to our B&B accommodation for the next two nights. (D)

Day 2 WI]LDLIEFE beside the OCEAN & WATERBUMS of the ESTUARY
After a late night this morning you can take a break and enjoy the hospitality of your accommodation.
Relax with a coffee and a rambling breakfast. Chat to your hosts or simply stroll in the beautiful rural surroundings of your accommodation set on the flood plain of Australia's famous river, the Snowy. Late in the morning your guide will pick you up to travel to a remote wildlife reserve beside the Southern Ocean.

Here we'll walk slowly through coastal heathlands, beside shallow marshes on the inland side of the primary dunes in search of wallabies and wombats and some of the lesser known freshwater wading birds. Our walk takes us out onto the Ninety Mile Beach, a pristine beach that curves off in each direction into the horizon. Here we may see Sea Eagles, dotterels of many kinds, oyster catchers, Australasian Gannets, Pelicans and a number of other sea birds. Occasionally pods of dolphins surf near us in the waves. Towards late afternoon we cross over the dunes to the large esturine Lake Tyers where we are met by our cruise boat for an evening's watching of waterbirds. We move slowly close to the shoreline across 20 kilometres of silent waterways over the next few hours as day passes into might. We are completely surrounded by the bush and our local guide points out the secret haunts of many birds including two beautiful species of kingfisher, two species of spoonbill, large groups of Black swans, herons, ibis, ducks (including the weird Musk duck), egrets, hawks and many more. We dine on the vessel as we watch the sun set over the still waters, between the gum trees. This is a magical place. As night draws in we take our spotlight and search the shoreline for possums and other creatures of the night. At the end of the journey we travel back to our B&B. (BLD)

Day 3 TALL EUCALYPTS & GIANT PALM TREES
Once again your guide arrives about mid morning for the last day of your East Gippsland sojourn. This is a relaxing day of short walks through three magnificent and very different ecosystems all in close proximity to our lodgings.
First we travel by vehicle high into the mountains backing onto the coast. We rise at an ever increasing rate into huge stands of white tree marked eucalypts standing anything up to 200 feet over us.

These forests abound in East Gippsland and entering them is like moving into a towering cathedral - many of the trees are over 300 years old. Steep mountain streams rush past our vehicle in and out of steep forest glades. Our first walk today takes us along an easy track under the canopy of towering eucalypts to a waterfall set wnongst the meeting zone of cool and warm temperate rainforests - a place of unbelievable beauty called "Murrungowar", a respectful Aboriginal word. Later, on our way back to the coast we stop to walk through a fascinating grouping of Cabbage Tree Palms set in dense lowland rainforest. The birdlife here is staggering and we often see very unusual species here including some of our shyer pigeons and doves. The place is often teeming with Rainbow lorikeets and other parrots. The "pinging" ring of the Bell Miners echoes across the rainforest - an entrancing sound. Our last stop today is at Cape Conran, a place of enormous significance to Aboriginal people, a granite headland jutting out into the Southern Ocean. On warm days you can take a swim or simply take a stroll along the beach or on a boardwalk that walks around this rocky headland. Your guide will show you some of the Aboriginal places on the headland before we return to our accommodation. (BLD)

Day 4 Transfer out of East Gippsland
This morning we travel back to Melbourne, a return flight can also be organised for an additional charge. (B )

Includes: Full interpretation by experienced nature guides including Aboriginal guidance, all on ground transport, all meals as listed, accommodation as listed, entry fees, one way night to East Gippsiand

Departure: 2001-2002 From Melbourne every Sunday from September to end of May and returns midday to Melbourne on day 4.

Minimum: Tour operates on a minimum of 2 clients.

Includes: Full interpretation by experienced nature guides including Aboriginal guidance, all on ground transport, all meals as listed, accommodation as listed, entry fees, one-way flight to East Gippsland.

Price excludes: Items of personal nature.

Prices: Adult- (twin share) A$1095.00 p.p. Single Supplement- A$285.00 p.p. Party of 4 persons:- A$995.00 p.p.

What to bring:
Strong walking shoes or boots, clothing to suit variable weather conditions (temperatures range from (50C to +350C), sun hat, rainproof coat, small torch, insect repellent, 15+ sunblock, daypack. You should also bring swimming gear. As space is limited please keep luggage to 1 sausage bag OR 1 backpack OR 1 small suitcase per person. Hand luggage should be small.

Itinerary:
Whilst every attempt will be made to follow the above itinerary, please be aware that national park requirements and weather conditions may cause amendments wluch Will be clearly outlined to you.