General information about Australia

Australia is the sixth largest country in the world. It is around the same size as mainland USA and 50% larger than Europe and has the lowest population density in the world (just over 21 million people). Australia is comprised of 6 States (Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland and New South Wales) and 2 Territories (Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory. Further general information can be found in a number of references but the following links may prove to be a useful start:

Links:

Fauna and Flora

Australia’s isolation since the breaking up of the Gondwanan Supercontinent about 50 million years ago has resulted in some amazing and unique fauna and flora. It is the only continent that still has all 3 of the major taxonomic mammalian groups (monotremes, marsupials and placentals), and 379 species of Australian mammals have been recorded. Australia has no native placental carnivores except the dingo which was introduced about 3-4000 years ago, no native hoofed animals (such as sheep or cattle) and no native primates (except man- the Australian aboriginals are thought to have migrated to Australia at least 40,000 years ago). The most noticeable and dominant group of Australian mammals are the marsupials or pouched mammals-kangaroos, koalas, possums and wombats all belong to this group. The monotremes are represented by 2 species in Australia- the Platypus and Short-beaked Echidna. Placentals are relative new-comers to the continent and are comprised of bats and rodents. The microbats are thought to have arrived several million years ago while the megabats or fruit bats appear to have arrived in the last 1 million years. Australian rodents are all in the rat/mouse family (Muridae)-there are no native beavers or squirrels. Rodents comprise about 25% of the Australian mammal species and their ancestors are thought to have arrived about 4 million years ago.

Fossil evidence shows that songbirds (Passerines) may have first arisen in the Australian part of Gondwana. The fossil record shows a long-necked penguin about 50 million years ago and emu-like birds, bowerbirds and cockatoos were present 20 million years ago; many present-day species still retain primitive characteristics and many species are Australian endemics. Other species also migrate to Australia for part of the year (usually between September to March); these species include the migratory waders (Sandpipers, Godwits and Knots) that breed in the Arctic, Arctic Eurasia and Siberia. Conversely, species such as the Short-tailed Shearwater breed in Australia and travel to the northern hemisphere to over-winter (the Short-tailed Shearwater completes an annual 30,ooo km journey from south-eastern Australia to the Bering Sea, Alaska). According to the latest Systematic classification of Australian birds by Christidis and Boles in 2008, 852 bird species have been recorded in Australia and its offshore islands. Some species have very restricted distributions and are endemic to particular areas within Australia (eg the Tasmanian, the south-western Australian and north/far north Queensland endemics).

Australia is also home to a wealth of plant species - over 20,000 vascular plants, 12,000 non-vascular plants, 250,000 species of fungi and 3,000 species of lichen have been recorded. Most of the modern Australian flora had their origin in Gondwana during the Cretaceous period when Australia was covered in subtropical rainforest, and still shows its Gondwanan connections (e.g. members of the Family Proteacea to which the Banksias and Grevilleas belong, are also found in Chile and South Africa). The fossil record shows that some living Australian species (eg the members of the genus Nothofagus and gymnosperms or native pines such as Celery top and Wollemi pine) show little change to their Gondwanan ancestors and are often termed "living fossils". About 25-10 million years ago the pollen record indicates a rapid radiation of such familiar Australian genera as Eucalyptus, Casuarina, and Banksia, indicating the warming and drying of the continent as it moved away from its original position in the tropics towards its current position.

Further information on Australian flora and Gondwana can be found on the following links:

Tours of Australia

Our tours of Australia are generally personalised to suit each group so please contact us for suggestions regarding tour itineraries and quotes. It would be helpful if you provide information on your main interests, activity level, time that you may have available and approximate dates/timeframe of your proposed visit so that we can design an itinerary to best suit your requirements. Different regions of Australia can be combined to construct a private tour of your choice. Similar climactic regions of southern or northern Australia can be combined easily within the same season at any time of year, although the best time to visit the northern areas is in the Australian winter and spring while the spring to autumn is the most popular time to visit the southern areas. These different climactic zones can also be combined - the best time being between August to November or May-June, when the weather is quite favorable throughout the continent. Some highlights of areas of interest from a Natural History perspective that you may wish to include are to follow:

States and Territories of Australia

Tasmania (Tas)

A whole section has been dedicated to Tasmanian flora and fauna in a different section of this website and will not be covered again here. Please refer to the Tasmania page for further information.

Northern Territory (NT)

We also run regular wildlife and birding tours in the Northern Territory and have local guides based in Darwin and Alice Springs. This area provides a great diversity of habitat, ranging from the red sands of the Central Australian desert which includes Uluru (Ayers Rock), to the lush tropical monsoon forests and expansive wetlands of the 'Top End' near Darwin and Kakadu.

The Top End

Habitats in this area include expansive floodplains with lagoons teeming with birdlife, mangrove-fringed coastal areas, sandstone escarpments and dry savannah woodlands. Each area abounds with different forms of wildlife and some specialties of the area include Short-eared Rock Wallaby, Black Wallaroo, Dingo and huge Estuarine crocodiles. An amazing variety of birdlife can also be found here, including NT endemic species such as Hooded Parrot and Chestnut-quilled Rock-pigeon and an array of honeyeaters, flycatchers and kingfishers. It is also possible to see all 24 of the Australian raptor species in this area, including the threatened Red Goshawk, and is also the place to go to view waterbirds such as Magpie goose, Black-necked Stork, Brolga and a variety of ducks, herons and egrets in their thousands. Our Darwin guide is also very knowledgeable about the range of butterflies that can be found in the area.

Central Australia

The red sand deserts make a stark contrast to the Top End. Places to visit include the more familiar Uluru (Ayers Rock), Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) and Kings Canyon, to the MacDonnell Ranges and red sand dune country of the Simpson Desert. We can access areas that are traversed by very few other travellers, including aboriginal land and serious 4WD country which should only be attempted by experienced drivers (and we have access to one of the best!) Stand-out species that we search for on tours in these areas include Red Kangaroo, Black-flanked Rock Wallaby, Australian Bustard, Bourke and Mulga Parrot, Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo, Yellow, Orange and Crimson Chat, Cinnamon Quail-thrush and Dusky and Eyrean grasswren. This area is also botanically very interesting and some highlights include viewing such species as Red Cabbage Palms (Livistonia mariae) which are Gondwanan relicts that have persisted from an age when much of Australia was covered in rainforest, and Waddy-wood (Acacia peuce), one of the rarest and most striking trees of the Australian arid zone which now only occurs in just 3 disjunct populations on the fringes of the Simpson Desert.

South Australia (SA)

Adelaide, Flinders Ranges and Strzelecki

The Simpson Desert extends into South Australia and adjoins the Strzelecki and Sturt Stony Deserts. Tours that we organise into these areas are usually accessed from Adelaide via the Flinders Ranges where we work in conjunction with another specialist birding and wildlife guide. Species that can be encountered here include Redthroat, Gibberbird, Chestnut-breasted Whiteface, Short-tailed and Striated Grasswren. Other species such as Black-eared Miner, Red-lored Whistler, Malleefowl, and Elegant and Rock and Regent Parrot can also be worked into itineraries in the area. This is also a great place to see a variety of macropods, including Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby, Red and Western Grey Kangaroo, and Euro.

Kangaroo Island is another popular wildlife destination

Highlights in this area include macropods such as Tammar Wallaby and Western Grey Kangaroo, Australian Sealion and Rosenberg’s monitor (“goanna”), a large lizard that grows up to around 1 metre in length. Koalas have also been introduced to Kangaroo Island and are readily seen here. The island is also good for birding and includes an interesting mixture of eastern and western species.

Western Australia (WA)

Westerna Australia is a huge state covering almost a third of the whole area of Australia. It extends from the temperate south coast adjoining the Southern Ocean, to the Tropical north adjoining the Timor Sea with a corresponding huge diversity of habitats. Some areas to consider a visit include The Kimberley in the north, Shark Bay and Exmouth (including Ningaloo Reef) and South Western Australia.

The Kimberley

This area includes some amazing scenery and rugged gorges which can be accessed by land, boat or plane (a scenic flight here is well worth it). Also great for birds and wildlife and some sought-after species in the area include White-quilled Rock pigeon, Purple-crowned Fairy-wren, and the elusive Black Grasswren.

Exmouth/Ningaloo and Shark Bay

Ningaloo reef has become famous for its Whale Sharks; it is also home to the largest population of Dugong (sea-cow) in Australia and is comprised of relatively pristine coral reefs. Shark Bay is famous for its Bottlenose Dolphins which have been visiting the area each morning for many years to interact with humans, and the earths most diverse and abundant examples of living Stromatolites (living fossils comprised of an accretion of blue-green algae and sediments). Stromatolites were much more abundant in Precambrian times dating back almost 3.5 billion years, making them one of the earths earliest life-forms. They are much more commonly found in the fossil record but living specimens still exist in the shallow water in this area.

South-Western Australia

Twelve endemic bird species can be found in this area (Carnaby’s and Baudin’s Black-cockatoos, Western Corella, Red-capped Parrot, Western Rosella, Noisy Scrub-bird, Red-winged Fairy-wren, Western Bristlebird, Western Thornbill, Western Wattlebird, Western Spinebill and Red-eared Firetail) and we regularly organise birding tours to view them. This area is also noted for the diversity of its flora and is a great place to view native orchids. We have two local guides based in Perth who are excellent birders and also have good general knowledge of the flora and particularly the orchids. Also a great area to view Humpback and Southern Right whales during their migration to and from Antarctica, and a chance to see a Numbat, the only marsupial that is adapted to a diet of ants.

Queensland (Qld)

Queensland is also a huge and diverse state ranging from sub-tropical southern Queensland to Cape York in tropical far north Queensland, and containing a wealth of wildlife. Some highlights for wildlife include:

Southern Queensland (Brisbane to Lamington National Park)

Lamington National Park is listed as a World Heritage Area because of the biodiversity and uniqueness of its flora and fauna, beauty of the mountains and rainforest and significant Gondwanan connections. Around 160 species of birds have been recorded in this area and Albert’s Lyrebird, Logrunner and Paradise Riflebird are stand-out species. It is also home to Gondwanan relics such as Antarctic Beech (Nothofagus moorei - the third species of Australian Nothofagus) and Hoop Pine, one of the Araucaria species (A. cunninghamii). Red cedars, Rosewoods and Strangler Figs also abound and over 300 different species of tree have been recorded in this area.

North Queensland (Cairns, Atherton Tablelands, Daintree, Great Barrier Reef)

This area also has an amazing diversity of habitats, ranging from fringing mangroves and coastal tropical rainforests to dry savannah woodlands further from the coast. It is also home of the famous World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef. Several of the birds and mammals found in this area have restricted distributions; the north Queensland endemic birds include Fernwren, Mountain Thornbill, Macleay’s and Bridled Honeyeater, Chowchilla, Grey-headed Robin, Pied Monarch, Victoria’s Riflebird, Tooth-billed and Golden Bowerbird and Spotted Catbird. Endemic mammals in this area include the Green, Daintree River, Herbert River and Lemuroid Ringtail Possums, the Musky Rat-kangaroo and Bennett’s and Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroos. We design tours in this area to maximise the client’s chance of encountering these endemics, as well as viewing an extraordinary number of bird and wildlife species in this area using local guides with local knowledge. We also regularly organise snorkeling and SCUBA diving trips to the reef (including a one day trip to view a number of seabirds such as Noddies and terns on a sand cay) and these can be combined with land-based itineraries.

Far north Queensland (Cape York Peninsula)

This area is also well worth considering for a visit although a little more difficult to access than the more southern areas of Queensland as many of the roads have 4WD access only and accommodation is widely-spaced. However we regularly arrange private and small group tours into this area. A number of endemic species are also found here, including the far north Queensland bird species (Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Red-bellied Pitta, Tawny-breasted and White-streaked Honeyeater, Yellow-legged Flycatcher, Northen Scrub-robin, White-faced Robin, Black-winged and Frilled Monarch, Magnificent Riflebird, Trumpet Manucode and Fawn-breasted Bowerbird and Black-backed Butcherbird). Some of these species are either summer breeding migrants from, or are also found in Papua New Guinea. Species that have a larger but still restricted range from Papua New Guinea to north Queensland include Red necked crake, Papuan frogmouth, Lovely Fairy-wren, Yellow-spotted, Brown-backed and Graceful Honeyeater, Yellow-breasted Boatbill and Metallic Starling.

New South Wales (NSW)

Sydney, the capital city of New South Wales, is one of the main entry points into Australia and is often the first stop for international guests. The city provides an interesting diversity of attractions, ranging from visits to the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge, to the more natural history-based sites such as the Sydney aquarium, Museum and Botanic Gardens. A number of National Parks are located quite close to the city; further afield, some suggestions include:

Blue Mountains and Capertee Valley

A very bird-rich area which is worth a visit. Species which occur in the area include the Rockwarbler (the state’s only endemic bird), Pilotbird and Regent Honeyeater, and we can arrange a local guide to maximise your chance of success with these and a variety of other species.

Lord Howe Island

A World Heritage listed island about 600km (2 hour flight) from Sydney although technically still part of NSW. Two thirds of the island is permanent park reserve and the surrounding waters are marine park. The island is home to over 130 bird species including the endemic Lord Howe Woodhen.

Victoria/New South Wales border (southern NSW, NE and NW Victoria)

Birding tours to this area can be arranged in this area for the opportunity to see 200+ species including Plains Wanderer and Mallee Fowl.

Victoria (Vic)

Another main entry point for International visitors is Melbourne, the capital city of Victoria. Other great wildlife and birding opportunities in addition to the north-east and north-west of the state mentioned above include:

Eastern Victoria (east Gippsland, Croajingolong National Park and the Snowy Mountains)
Western Victoria

Day tours to view Kangaroos and Koalas in the wild or a more extended visit along the Great Ocean Road and beyond.