Australia
AWOL organises trips to three regions in
Australia: the Northern Territory, Outback to Uluru
and Tropical North
Queensland.
Tours can include some of the following activities or interests.
Adventure
– Consider scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef,
the world’s most extensive coral reef system — the area being the
richest in terms of faunal diversity, having combination of glorious
weather, pristine rainforest, white sandy beaches and blue ocean, which
make it a great place to include in any adventurous journey. Other
options include hot air balloon rides over the central Australian
desert or horse riding on vast cattle ranches or hiking through the
eucalypt rainforests of the Sunshine Coast.
Culture
– The Aboriginals have inhabited Australia for more
than 40 thousand years, and although much of the culture has been lost
due to colonisation, it is still strong in the Northern Territory.
Various rock sites have Aboriginal paintings that tell a story of
ancient times, including life style, floods, and how the tribe moved to
higher lands and caves to escape from these floods. We can arrange
permits for visits to Aboriginal reserves and so as to gain insight
into the indigenous culture with experienced local guide. Visit the
Tiagarra Aboriginal Culture Centre and Museum, spend ‘dream time’ with
indigenous Aboriginal communities learning about plants and natural
medicines used by their ancestors; study aboriginal dot art and talk to
them about problems they face in the modern world.
Nature
– visit Kakadu one of the most beautiful National
Parks in Australia with plenty of wild life and varieties of
native plants. The spectacular Katherine Gorge in Nitmiluk
National Park has 13 wonderful gorges which began to develop
23 million years ago as torrents of water pouring along tiny cracks in
the earth. Travel through the West Macdonald ranges to Kings
Canyon, a mighty chasm of pastel-coloured walls reaching a
height of 656ft (200m) and stretching for a 2km. A trip to the heart of
Australia lie Uluru or Ayers Rock, considered the
largest loose rock on the face of the earth, takes you through various
landscapes. Fraser Island National Park has vast
tracts of sand dunes with deep midnight blue freshwater lakes, balanced
with lush rainforest and surrounded by endless white beaches. Native
wildlife abounds including dingoes, echidnas, wallabies and 206 species
of birds: Peregrine Falcons, Kingfishers and Jabirus just to mention a
few. Travel through the wet tropics of Queensland in
search of rare species such as the brush-tailed bettong and the
yellow-bellied glider.
Agriculture
– tours to various agricultural farming businesses where guests can get
first hand experience, and discuss conservation and land care issues
with landholders. Or try your hand at sheep shearing or heading cattle
along stock routes.
Birdwatching
– The over 800 species of birds found naturally in Australia occupy a
vast range of habitats. There are tropical birds of paradise in the
north, parrots in their thousands in the semi-arid and arid interior
and unusual ground dwellers like the malleefowl, lyrebird, emu and
southern cassowary. Listen to the laughing kookaburra and whip bird
calls in Maleny, watch the rainbow lorikeets fly through the
rainforests or the Magpie geese return after migration
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about our South African tours...
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