TRAVEL Far North Queensland Lake Eacham Crater Far North Queensland Wildlife & Conservation Safari AR NORTH QUEENSLAND is a wildlife enthusiast’s Fparadise! This small group tour explores the rainforest habitat, concentrating on the endemic wildlife found within. We have a firm belief that tourism is the key to the protection and conservation of this World Heritage Area. Our passionate and knowledgeable guides are eager to fnq qld share the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area with you. Our tours have a major focus on observing and AG TRAVEL photographing wildlife. It’s not uncommon for you to observe a southern cassowary, tree kangaroo and platypus Dates: on a single tour! The trails and boardwalks we access are 16–21 May 2021 11–16 July 2021 the longest and most immersive compared with other email: commercial operators. In addition, many of our nature [email protected] viewing locations are on private land or reserves for phone: 0413 560 210 complete exclusivity. This increases your opportunities to observe wildlife in the wild. Itinerary 1 TRAVEL Far North Queensland Mossman Gorge Itinerary Cape Tribulation rainforest in Australia. Walk the quiet tracks Day 1 Arrival in Cairns (domestic airfare not included) to witness the complex ecosystems in this World Heritage Area. Jindalba nature trail After arrival in Cairns make your own way to Daintree offers unique and remarkable opportuni- your hotel. ties to experience the natural scenery and Accommodation: Doubletree by Hilton endemic wildlife within the national park. Wildlife sightings may include the southern Cairns Mount Lewis QLD National Park cassowary, Boyd’s forest dragon, wompoo Port Douglas fruit dove and many more. Lunch at a local Day 2 Cairns restaurant enroute. After lunch continue Daintree/Cape Tribulation to Cape Tribulation (where the rainforest World Heritage National Park meets the reef). This famous valley resembles a giant amphitheatre with a semicircle of Breakfast at the hotel. Palm Cove hills dominated by Mt Sorrow (850m) and Pick up from your hotel by your professional Mt Hemmant (1000m). The south-eastern guide. Witness the magical Great Barrier Biboohra rainfall trapped by this valley results in a Reef Drive as we head north on the scenic Cairns lush tropical climate with high temperatures, coastal highway. Learn about the unique humidity and rainfall. Several walks, scenic habitats within the local environment and lookouts and beach areas are located in the observe the changes in biodiversity as we get Mareeba coastal community. We highly recommend a closer to the Daintree tropical rainforest. swim in the azure waters of Emmagen Creek Walk the Jindalba Interpretive Rainforest before settling in at Heritage Lodge for our Trail. The Daintree is an area of ancient tropical rainforest spanning 120,000 hectares, Atherton making it the largest portion of tropical Itinerary cont. 2 TRAVEL Far North Queensland Beach walking on day 2. their research projects. ■ The spotted-tailed quoll is the largest marsupial mammal in the world! ■ Sadly its closest cousin, the Tasmanian tiger is already extinct. ■ Spotted-tailed quoll populations in North Queensland are now critically low and sadly this amazing creature is at real risk of extinction. ■ This precious animal needs our help so that future generations can appreciate their magnificence and beauty. Accommodation: Chambers Wildlife Rainforest Lodge. Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided Day 5 Cairns Atherton Tablelands overnight accommodation and dinner for The wildlife on the Tropical Wetlands SER Breakfast at the lodge. the evening. Heritage Lodge is an environ- is incredibly diverse, and the property has Birdwatching at Hasties Swamp, a large mentally friendly resort set in the heart of some of the highest avian diversity anywhere seasonal wetland renowned for its diverse a lush coastal rainforest, a short stroll from in Australia – more than 220 recorded range of resident and migratory birds. Cooper Creek for a swim! species, with the highest bird count for a More than 220 species have been identified Optional night walk single day sitting at 98 species. We know the and a large bird hide, with informative Night spotting in the Northern Daintree property is critical habitat for buff-breasted identification signs, offers excellent water A wildlife tour in Far North Queensland is buttonquail, one of the world’s rarest birds, bird viewing opportunities. not complete without a night walk. A large and there is also a healthy population of the We then continue to Lake Barrine, an portion of the local wildlife has adopted a endangered northern quoll. outstanding location for nature activities. nocturnal lifestyle to avoid to heat of the day Our group has exclusive access to this site. Several walks are available offering great in the tropical climate. We often visit two Our accommodation for the night, wildlife and birdwatching opportunities. sites to experience the overall diversity of Chambers Wildlife Rainforest Lodge, is hid- Let’s toast our wildlife spotting achievements nocturnal wildlife in the Wet Tropics. den in 486ha of Lake Eacham’s lush, tropical at Lake Barrine Tea House with some local Accommodation: Heritage Lodge in the highland rainforest in the beautiful Water- tea/coffee and its famous scones with jam Daintree falls and Crater Lakes district of the Atherton and cream. The lake cruise is a highlight – Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided Tablelands. you’ll spot reptiles such as water dragons, Dinner at a local restaurant. birds, eels, fish, other reptiles and several Accommodation: Chambers Wildlife Wet Tropics endemic species. Lunch at Lake Barrine Tea House. Day 3 Daintree Rainforest Lodge. Atherton Tablelands Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided One of our major focus points of the day, spotting wild platypus! Learn about their Breakfast at the lodge. elusive behaviour and take as much time as We have an early start today to maximise Day 4 Conservation Tour you need to get that perfect photo! our wildlife viewing on the Daintree River. In the afternoon arrive at Cathedral Fig A short drive of 30 minutes will have us at Breakfast at the lodge. Tree, one of the most incredible trees you’ll our cruise location for a private 2-hour Become a citizen scientist for a day! see in your life. This ancient fig is an epic Daintree River Cruise on the beautiful We are offering an exclusive opportunity to rainforest survivor that supports a very Daintree River in the dawn light, spotting work alongside industry experts and assist in complex ecosystem. We then return to wildlife on a quiet, clean solar-electric boat conducting valuable research that will aid in Cairns, arriving late afternoon. with zero impact on the environment. the preservation of Far North Queensland’s Accommodation: Double Tree by Hilton. Get closer to nature... hear, smell and endangered wildlife! Breakfast and lunch provided experience without noise and fumes. This behind-the-scenes tour provides a We have a 99 per cent success rate for unique opportunity to enter research spotting crocodiles, excellent bird-watching locations not accessible to the public to Day 6 Cairns opportunities and other wildlife possibilities observe the endangered spotted-tailed quoll. End of tour such as snakes, frogs and fish and bats. Justin McMahon and Alberto Vale are our Make your way to the airport orairport or Lunch at a local restaurant. expert research guides and they have been extend your trip at the beautiful Thala Beach After lunch we continue to Shared Earth carefully studying these fascinating and Nature Reserve near Port Douglas. Reserve (SER) adjacent to the Hann Table- mysterious creatures for several years. Breakfast provided land National Park. Join them in the rainforest and take part in 3 TRAVEL Far North Queensland Spotted-tailed quoll. conservation COMPONENT HE BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOUR in its sixth year of operation. Several Species Ton Day 4 provides a unique opportunity James Boettcher Recovery Units are now established in Victoria to enter research locations not accessible Nature Guide and North Queensland. AQC emphasises to the public to observe the endangered the need for the recovery of these species in James Boettcher fell spotted-tailed quoll. those areas, with unique, innovative and in love with guiding Justin McMahon and Alberto Vale are our non-invasive monitoring methods that in his early twenties. expert research guides and they have been transcend current Animal Ethics, scientific The prospect of carefully studying these fascinating and methodologies and requirement. sharing and mysterious creatures for several years. interpreting what he AQC AIMS Join them in the rainforest and take part in loves most, nature, ■ To dramatically increase global awareness of their research projects. was an unrivalled spotted-tailed quolls ■ The spotted-tailed quoll is the largest opportunity. James ■ To bridge the gap between tourism and marsupial mammal in the world! has guided wildlife and nature safaris in science, allowing a deeper educational journey ■ Sadly, their closest cousin, the Tasmanian Northern Australia for over 12 years and has into the Wet Tropics tiger, is already extinct. been based in Cairns since 1998. His passion ■ To undertake and assist with studies into ■ Spotted-tailed quoll populations in North and enthusiasm for the region is highly quoll habitats and biology Queensland are now critically low and this contagious. With a particular interest in the ■ To contribute – not many wildlife experi- amazing creature is at real risk of extinction. Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, James ences allow guests to directly contribute to the ■ This precious animal needs our help so that most enjoys interpreting the evolutionary prosperity of native animals. future generations can appreciate their magnif- history of the tropical rainforest and its Guests will join our researchers and other icence and beauty. invaluable story. James loves to share team members as they check camera traps and photography tips and is usually found motion detection areas to catalogue sight- The Australian Quoll Conservancy (AQC) birdwatching on his days off.