Australia is rich in experiences for people who love nature and wildlife. Check out these opportunities to hand feed kangaroos whilst helping fund a wildlife rescue service, camp in luxury by the foothills of a magnificent natural amphitheatre, have a seaplane-view over the ‘horizontal waterfalls’ off the Western Australian coast, or spot iconic wildlife at a predator-proof sanctuary on the outskirts of Canberra.
BONORONG WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
Brighton, Tasmania
There’s something magical about feeding a kangaroo; the tickle of its breath on your palm and the privilege of looking into its intelligent eyes. With roos roaming free at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, and a bag of food included in your entry fee, you will have the rare opportunity to experience the joys of handfeeding for yourself — Bonorong’s status as a sanctuary makes it exempt from the usual ban on feeding wildlife.
As a social enterprise, Bonorong ticket sales fund its 24/7 wildlife rescue service and wildlife hospital. It also offers specialised encounters and tours where you can spend quality time with a wombat or ringtail possum — or book a private ‘feeding frenzy’ tour to dole out tasty snacks to the sanctuary’s menagerie of rescues, which can include Tasmanian devils, wombats, quolls, native birds, koalas, lizards, snakes and emus. Knowing some of the creatures are endangered or extinct in other parts of Australia makes your support of the sanctuary even more special.
Target market
Individuals and families
Duration
Between 1 to 3 hours
Best Time To Visit
Open daily
Cost
From AUD$32.50
Good To Know
Ticket sales support the wildlife rescue service
Upskilling opportunity
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WILPENA POUND RESORT
Flinders Ranges, South Australia
You can walk the 800-million-year-old ranges of Wilpena Pound/Ikara alone or take a tour from an Aboriginal guide who can explain the area’s cultural significance to the Adnyamathanha people. You can even fly over the area in a light plane. But, somehow, it is when viewing the range at night, under a blanket of twinkling stars, that you really begin to grasp the enormity of this 17-kilometre long by eight-kilometre wide natural amphitheatre.
Wilpena Pound Resort, at the entrance to the National Park, makes that experience more enjoyable with glamping packages that set you up for a contemplative night in a luxurious safari tent with ensuite and private deck, surrounded by picturesque river red gums and visited by native wildlife. There are even firepits where you can toast marshmallows whilst marvelling at the Flinders Ranges’ geological and cultural wonders.
Wilpena Pound Resort | Flinders Ranges Accommodation & Experiences
Target market
Solo travellers and families
Duration
Multi-day visits
Best Time To Visit
All year round
Cost
From AUD$306
Good To Know
The resort is Indigenous-owned
Upskilling opportunity
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JOURNEY BEYOND — HORIZONTAL FALLS SEAPLANE ADVENTURES
Derby, Western Australia
The narrow gorges of the McLarty Ranges that turn fast-moving tidal currents into ‘horizontal waterfalls’ have taken millions of years to form, but it only takes 24 hours to experience the unique natural phenomena from the air and the water during this rapid-fire adventure.
Start your day with a seaplane journey from Derby, then enjoy hectic boat rides through the Horizontal Falls during the incoming and outgoing tides. After a helicopter flight over the area, you can enjoy a guided fishing charter before a relaxing cruise through the spectacular creek system. Watch a shark show then snorkel or swim in the safety of the marine viewing enclosure before sunset nibbles on board the Jetwave Pearl, where you’ll spend a luxurious night on the water before flying back to Derby.
Target market
Solo travellers and families
Duration
24 hours
Best Time To Visit
Seasonal attraction
Cost
From AUD$1,725
Good To Know
Includes 5 experiences
Upskilling opportunity
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BEST OF WILDLIFE TOUR
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
This half-day tour from Canberra offers a unique combination of the natural wonders of Australia and those of the cosmos. It begins with a 45-minute drive to the beautiful Tidbinbilla Valley, home to a sanctuary for endangered wildlife as well as NASA’s Deep Space Communications Complex.
At the NASA facility, you’ll learn about Australia’s significant contribution to the success of the first moon landing before heading to the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. The reserve’s 100 hectares of feral-predator free land provides a safe habitat to foster the recovery of endangered animals. With the help of your tour guide, you’ll be able to spot some of Australia’s most iconic native animals, including kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, emus and perhaps even the elusive platypus, in their natural environment.
Target market
Solo travellers and families
Duration
4 hours
Best Time To Visit
Start times vary throughout the year
Cost
From AUD$125
Good To Know
Includes a visit to the Deep Space Tracking Station
Upskilling opportunity
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