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raymond island,victoria conservation tour

HIS SPECIAL TRIP to Raymond island. Data they collect will be collated TIsland allows you to become by the new koala conservation group involved and provide assistance in on the island – including tree species a region that suffered horrendous preference, behaviour, identification wildlife losses as a result of the 2019–20 of individuals and evidence of koalas ray bushfires. These fires destroyed nearly drinking stemflow (water moving down vic 2 million hectares of forest in the far the stem). They take walks through the southeastern corner of and forest spotting koalas in the wild. AG TRAVEL killed untold millions of wild animals. They may also see echidnas, swamp Raymond Island itself was not burnt wallabies and eastern grey kangaroos and has now become a significant island and many colourful parrots, honeyeaters Dates: ark for many species of plants and and seabirds, which you can help record 8–12 april 2021 animals including koalas, kangaroos, for conservation purposes. 4–8 November 2021 wallabies, echidnas and many bird Conservation Travel is all about species. Echidna Walkabout and their making a difference by getting out into email: not-for-profit Koala Clancy Foundation, the bush and affecting real change. [email protected] have teamed up with the local Landcare It’s about working with locals who phone: 0413 560 210 group and concerned residents to set know the area and how they can fix Itinerary up a wild koala research project on the the problems, but need help to do so.

1 TRAVEL Raymond Island, Victoria

Itinerary

on the island to care for koalas and the wider tion (plastic guards on very young trees) if Day 1 Thursday Arrival in biodiversity of this very important reserve. they have been damaged, mulching, watering (domestic airfare not included) You’ll also learn about what you will be and removing tree protection from older trees doing on the next day to help conserve viable and ensuring they are in good health. Make you own way to your hotel wildlife populations on the island including You should wear clothes that you would use (Holiday Inn Express Southbank). tree planting and caring for trees that have for gardening for this day as you will get dirty. Meeting with the guide in the evening. already been planted. For the rest of the day Gloves will be supplied as will lots of water we’ll take walks through the forest spotting and some snacks. This work is lots of fun and and recording koalas in the wild. We may very fulfilling! Day 2 Friday also see echidnas, swamp wallabies and Accommodation: same as previous night. Melbourne to Raymond Island, eastern grey kangaroos and many colourful Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided East parrots, honeyeaters and seabirds, which you can help record for conservation purposes. Breakfast at hotel. Early pick up in the city by Accommodation: The Abbey for 3 nights your wildlife guide to travel into East Gipps- Tree planting helps Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided provide food and land. Travel past internationally acclaimed shelter for wildlife RAMSAR wetlands of the Lakes District be- and it's fun! fore travelling by ferry to an island sanctuary Day 3 Saturday in the wetlands with a thriving colony of wild Down to business: tree plant- koalas. We’ll arrive late in the morning and ing, tree care, koala research go directly to our accommodation to settle in before having lunch. Your guide will describe After an early breakfast we head out to start the conservation program set up between working on our tree project. Today you’ll be the Raymond Island community, the Koala working with the local Landcare group to Clancy Foundation and Echidna Walkabout help plant new trees and nurture trees that and how you, as a tourist, can fit into this have already been planted. This second task project. We’ll meet with the local Landcare is vitally important to the success of any tree group who will explain what they are doing planting and involves resetting tree protec- Itinerary cont.

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Broadwalk at Raymond Island. A local Indigenous guide interprets the stories of the ancestors at the Injalak Hill rock art sites.

"Fortunately, Raymond Island was not burnt in the 2020 fires. You can help protect its wildlife, while you enjoy the island."

ROGER SMITH, ECHIDNA WALKABOUT

is weather dependent. If we cannot travel on Day 4 Sunday Explore The Lakes the water we have other options on Raymond National Park Island and in the surrounding region that are very similar to those described above but in protects the linear land-based vehicles. Dinner tonight is at your waterways and coast along Ninety Mile own expense in one of the many restaurants Beach in . The inland side of or the pub in the coastal town of Paynesville. the lakes system is well populated, but the After dinner we’ll catch the ferry across to coastal section is remote and very beautiful Raymond Island. with lots of wildlife. We’ll take a boat from Accommodation: same as previous night Raymond Island for a short cruise across Breakfast and lunch provided Lake Victoria towards the coast. We’ll visit , a famous bird-watching location, and walk across that island to Wildlife highlights Ninety Mile Beach that curves in a huge, White-bellied sea-eagle hunting for virtually untouched arc from horizon to There are many wildlife highlights fish over The Lakes to be seen on this trip including: horizon. There is a chance that we will see National Park. the newly described Burranan dolphin that Koalas cruises these lakes in small pods. We’ll see Echidnas many species of birds of both the inland waterways and the ocean including possible Eastern-grey kangaroos migratory visitors from the northern hemi- Black wallabies sphere. We’ll document all these sightings and help you to learn how to find and Burranan dolphins identify birds. N.B. Boat travel on this day Itinerary cont.

3 TRAVEL Raymond Island, Victoria c Spotting a rare Burranan dolphin from the boardwalk may be a highlight of your day!

Day 5 Monday Aboriginal Cultural experience before heading back to Melbourne Conservation component on this tour We’ll take an early morning stroll along the The Echidna Walkabout’s tours include opportunities to help with the conservation of foreshore near our accommodation looking wildlife and in ensuring the natural environment that supports wildlife remains healthy. out for wildlife, followed by breakfast, then They also work tirelessly to improve human understanding of the impacts of climate check out and pack up before taking one last change and other human induced changes to our environment. Leading by example they koala walk to see if we can rediscover some aim to ensure that wildlife continues to thrive in Australia and elsewhere in the world. of the koalas we identified on day 2. Citizen science is playing a significant role in helping scientists and others to understand Depending on availability we may say good- the major changes that are occurring in the world and that work such as theirs is bringing bye to our Landcare support group before about changes that help wildlife. This tour offers significant opportunities to experience leaving Raymond Island. East Gippsland has and document wildlife in a near-pristine environment doing the following: a rich Aboriginal history that still flourishes through the Gunaikurnai people. Much of the land that we have travelled through is jointly managed by Indigenous people. To understand more about them we will visit the Kroathunkooloong Keeping Place in where we will be introduced to the history of the region and have the opportunity to walk through this incredible building learning about the Creator Ancestors of Gunaikurnai Country, Boran the Pelican and Tuk the Musk Duck. Koala conservation & Tree planting & tree care Bird & wildlife surveys You will gain a new understanding of the research You will plant trees for For the whole trip, you lands you have been visiting. We then return In collaboration with locals koalas and other wildlife are helping wildlife – your to Melbourne arriving late afternoon and the Koala Clancy on the island and help with Wildlife Guide records all Accommodation: not included. Foundation we will identify the maintenance of current species seen and uploads You can book additional nights in and map the movements plantations to ensure they this data to online atlases for Melbourne through us. and health of wild koalas. grow to healthy mature trees. conservation purposes. Breakfast and lunch provided

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Maintaining young trees is vital to their survival and very therapeutic. cost $1848/person twin share. $378 single supplement

Costs include the following services COVID-19 cleanliness. Hand sanitiser will be available in many as per itinerary locations and in all land-based vehicles. Social As this itinerary goes public there are still distancing will always be an issue on board vehicles restrictions with borders, flights, accommo- and boats; it would be sensible for you to bring your Four nights accommodation as per itinerary dation, numbers of people allowed in a group, own face masks and hand sanitiser. We may not fill Local wildlife guides throughout days 2–5 restaurants, pubs and social distancing rules in all seats in a vehicle to allow for social distancing. Sightseeing as per itinerary by private air-conditioned place. These restrictions can be local, regional, This itinerary is subject to change without charter vehicle, boat cruise state wide and national. notice and is dependent on weather, road and sea Meals as per itinerary We realise that with these rules in place it’s conditions, fire and on the regulatory requirements difficult to plan ahead. Here are few things that of Government(s) and/or its Agencies, e.g. National Costs do not include we suggest you do to ensure that any bookings Parks Service. Activities may also be modified or you make are refundable or can curtailed dependent on the health of participants be used later: and the ability or otherwise of sub-contractors to Domestic or international airfares 1. Your booking with us: We guarantee that if provide activities. We will not provide compensa- Pre-registration, late check-out or day use at hotels a trip cannot run as a result of government- tion to participants who are unable to undertake other than specified above imposed restrictions we will refund or credit activities described in this itinerary or who become Guide services other than specified all monies that you have paid us (we will NOT injured or sick during the journey. Nor will Echidna Meals/beverages other than specified, alcohol make any booking or payment on your behalf Walkabout reimburse monies for any activities that Tips and gratuities that have non-refundable components before are modified or cancelled as a result of all or any of Optional tours/services getting your permission) the above. The same proviso is in place if, due to 2. Accommodation and meals: vehicle or boat breakdown or for any other reason, Strict hygiene conditions apply to the way we are unable to meet your scheduled flights or Packing list and other information accommodation is prepared for your stay and other ongoing activities. in the serving of meals. We highly recommend you have a total travel We will supply you with a detailed packing list and 3. Vehicles, hygiene & social distancing: insurance package that covers any of these other information when you make your booking. All activities will involve careful adherence to eventualities. Minimum pax number: 8. Maximum pax number: 20 Lakes Entrance 22km

Eagle Point Bay

Bairnsdale Eagle Point 15km Raymond Island Paynesville VIC Ferry Newlands Arm Lake Victoria

Melbourne The Lakes 250km NP Rotomah Island Ninety Mile Banksia (boat trip) Peninsula Beach

email: [email protected] phone: 0413 560 210 5