Australia

Journey to the Snowy River and Errinundra National Parks - 5 days/4 nights

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 base camps.

Day 1 BUCHAN CAVES - Easing into the wilderness LD
Depart Melbourne early and drive east to the tiny rural town of Buchan where we
explore the magnificent limestone formations of Buchan Caves. Afterwards we
enjoy a short walk in the Caves Reserve, where Eastern Grey Kangaroos, wallabies
and birdlife are frequently seen. Dinner and accommodation tonight is at
Holloways Farm surrounded by a beautiful garden.
HOLLOWAYS FARM

Day 2 SNOWY RIVER NATIONAL PARK - In the rainshadow of the Alps BLD
Today we head into one of Australia's most romanticised river systems, the Snowy
River valley, eulogised in the poem "The Man From Snowy River" by one of our
best colonial poets, Banjo Patterson. The hero of the poem is an expert horseman
whose skill in the saddle came from years riding on the slopes of the rugged
country you are about to enter. Explore the wilderness of the Snowy River
National Park, shielded from rain under the lee of the Australian Alps, dry and
precipitous in the extreme. In the cooler months, waterfalls crash hundreds of
metres from the surrounding plateaux into the valley of the Snowy. The
vegetation in the valley is extraordinary. Over 20 kilometres the annual rainfall
decreases by half from 1200mm to 600mm and the land takes on a near desert
appearance. Although the Snowy River begins on the flanks of Australia's tallest mountain, Kosciusko (2228 metres), much of its course is in the rainshadow of the same
mountains from whence it rises. Vegetation is dominated by a dryland species,
White Cypress-pine, usually found in more central and drier parts of Australia.
Immediately to the east of the Snowy is the Gelantipy Plateau and the Rodger
River Wilderness where rainfall exceeds 1400mm a year and dense thickets of
rainforest can be found. The contrasts are extraordinary.

The rest of the day is spent on a number of walks through this unique environment
which has some significance in Aboriginal history as a trade route. This area is the
habitat for the rare Tiger Quoll and the Brush-tailed rock wallaby, both very shy
animals. The birdlife is more obvious and patience near water in the evening will reward the observer. We walk local trails and swim the waters of the Snowy River
before our first night in the wilderness.
WILDERNESS CAMP

Day 3 ERRINUNDRA NATIONAL PARK - rainforests and wildlife of Errinundra BLD
Travel out of the Snowy valley to Errinundra National Park, a nearby plateau
covered in ancient eucalypts and upland rainforests. From now on the annual
rainfall increases dramatically as we approach the escarpment where we finally
come across the magnificent old growth forests of Errinundra.
From the mid 1970's to the late 80's Errinundra was the focus of a battle. A
particularly acrimonious conservation campaign came to a head in 1985 with a
confrontation between loggers and conservationists when a conservationist jumped
on the front of a logging truck as it left a logging area. Pictures of this event were
seen throughout Australia. Errinundra's indisputable international botanical
significance was the reason for the debate, a fact that has now finally been
recognised through the creation of the Errinundra National Park.
We see the magnificent splendour of Errinundra as we walk cool temperate
rainforests firstly by day and then in the magic of the night. In our camp beside
the headwaters of the Delegate River you might consider that you have been
walking today in an area which has one of the highest annual rainfall figures for
Australia - nearly 2 metres.

Plants and animals seen today are some of the rarest in the country. Tonight by
spotlight we make every effort to see the Yellow-bellied glider, a magnificent
gliding possum. Other animal sightings may be Wombat, the Red-necked
Wallaby, Eastern-grey Kangaroo, Black Wallaby and Bandicoot. We will also see
the Mountain Plum Pine which at Errinundra grows to the extraordinary height of
8 metres (normally it hugs the ground). Giant Shining Gums and Sassafras (a
rainforest tree) dominate the cool temperate rainforests of Errinundra. Birdlife of
many different varieties can be found in the rainforests with the Golden Whistler
and the brilliant red and green King Parrot being the most prized sightings. The
beautiful Crimson Rosella (another parrot) is commonly seen as a flash of red and
blue again the total green of the rainforest.
WILDERNESS CAMP

Day 4 ERRINUNDRA - A forest journey BLD
Our journey from Errinundra to the coast today has been described as one of
Australia's most exceptional forest journeys - through cool then warm temperate
rainforest stopping at secret locations to enjoy the forest. We leave the cool, often
cloud-covered plateau to drop directly down the face of the escarpment, on a road
that offer spectacular views. The winding road generally follows the course of the
Errinundra River on it journey to the sea.

As we descend the Errinundra River widens beside us before it finally meets the
Combienbar River to become the dark and mysterious Bemm River, winding its
way through dense lowland rainforest to the coast. Glimpses of this magnificent
river system are seen as it runs deeply shrouded in rainforest and impenetrable
scrub from the mountains of East Gippsland across the coastal plains to the Ocean.
The rivers of East Gippsland are some of the purest rivers in the country,
accessible only by canoe and at a few remote river crossings. Their waters contain some of Australia's rarest fish and their banks may still yield new species of plants
and animals.

After passing through Lind National Park we meet the Princes Highway near the
township of Cann River – home of the Mongta family whose traditional tribal
lands we have been travelling through since McKillops Bridge. These people are
of the Monaro Tribe, one of the greatest of all the tribes of the south-east.
Overnight at twin share motel in Cann River before returning to Melbourne
tomorrow morning.
CANN RIVER

Day 5 RETURN TO MELBOURNE BL
After breakfast we return to Melbourne stopping for lunch enroute

DEPARTURES: every Sunday from September to the end of May

PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY: US$552. Single supplement: $114

INCLUDES: Full interpretation by experienced nature guides including Aboriginal guidance, all on ground transport, all meals as listed, accommodation as listed, cooking and eating utensils, entry fees and four wheel drive support.

PRICE EXCLUDES: Items of a personal nature.

TOUR CONCLUDES: mid afternoon in Melbourne.

MEAL CODE: (B) - Breakfast; (L) - Lunch; (D) - Dinner.