This Nature-Bound Australia short tour is ideal for the traveler seeking a fascinating and authentic insight into the real Australia, the creation of the continent, the evolution of its truly unique plants and wildlife, while also experiencing the lives of people in the bush from wealthy pastoral dynasties to the humble bush battler, all in an available time of 8 relaxing days.Here is a guided nature based walking holiday perfect as a stand alone journey, or for inclusion in your broader personal travel itinerary.

You'll wonder at the variety of scenery and experiences as we explore 6 Australian National Parks, most of them contained in the World Heritage declared Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves. There is an historic connection to Gondwana when Australia was once part of a super landmass including Antarctica, South America and India, opportunity to recount and wonder at the lives of Aboriginal peoples, their dreamtime stories and gatherings for learning and feasting.

You'll journey through areas of folk history and legend and visit gorges and waterfalls unknown to most Australians, wild rivers carving a tortuous path through the escarpment of the Great Dividing Range and pristine wilderness areas set down by volcanic action tens of millions of years ago. Natural habitats range from warm tropical rainforest to elevated snow gum woodlands, sometimes all within the one National Park. You'll be walking on one of the highest points of Australia one day and the next, standing on the precipitous bluff of Cape Byron, viewing glorious beaches, the swells and sea life of the Pacific Ocean, from Australia's most easterly landmark. Every day presents a variety and abundance of Australian bird or wildlife, some rare or endangered. You'll experience the world of our nocturnal wildlife as they do, at night, and enjoy day and half day guided walks where few mainstream tourists have ventured. The tour is fully accommodated and catered, commencing and concluding in Brisbane, the east coast capital city of Queensland.

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JOURNEY HIGHLIGHTS

A circuit journey from Brisbane featuring day walks in the National Parks of South East Queensland ( Qld )and Northern New South Wales ( NSW ).

The Glass House Mountains National Parks
We commence your walking vacation with a short climb to the summit of Mt Ngungun for a spectacular panoramic viewing of 9 remnant volcanic plugs discovered by seafaring explorer Lieutenant James Cook in 1770. Relive the dreamtime legends of the Aboriginal peoples, now displaced by white settlement.

Bunya Mountains National Park
Join easy half day walks in the remnant rainforests of a shield volcano featuring the largest stand of distinctive Bunya Pines in the world. View fascinating wildlife in abundance and primitive plants. Recount the rich history of Aboriginal tribal gatherings for the prized Bunya Nuts which now feature in menus of local bush food tea houses and eateries. Enjoy a relaxed retreat in mountain cottages shrouded in morning mist and embracing fresh air.

Bush villages and communities
The variety of rural endeavour unfolds on each travel day, ranging across Australia's historic peanut growing stronghold, an emerging boutique bush foods industry, award winning wineries, a vigorous cotton growing industry, prized wool and beef breeding regions. Villages, both bustling and sleepy, nestled on the banks of the historic Condamine River, are adorned with prized murals and once provided the resting point for fateful early explorers. There are quaint settler and worker cottages, and friendly characters who have lived the tough life on the land, droving sheep and cattle, months on end, in the face of droughts and flooding rains. History is ever present and evolving with National Trust properties like the Saumarez Homestead, legendary exploits of revered bushrangers and new age values and communities being pitted against traditional ways of life.

Girraween National Park
You'll share close encounters with Australian wildlife as the ranging extremities of species from cold, warm, dry and wet climates all converge on a landscape massed with huge granite monoliths, tors and balancing boulders, all defying reason as to how they came to exist as they are. Here is a study of the bold and the beautiful in this Queensland national park, with delicate ferns and orchids and a rich tapestry of wildflowers clinging to survival in the poorer soils, crevices and surfaces of the harsh weathering rock formations."Girrahween", the place of flowers.

Historic Tenterfield
Birthplace of Australia as a Federation of States, a humble historic town in NSW, thrust into the international spotlight by its famous sons, the Tenterfield Saddler, grandfather of international entertainer and Broadway star Peter Allen, A B "Banjo" Patterson, Australia's most celebrated bush poet (Waltzing Matilda and The Man from Snowy River).

Oxley Wild Rivers National Park
Relax with a day of short walks and connection with the extremes of nature at work at Wollomombi, Chandler and Dangars Falls along the Waterfall Way, rugged ravines and gorges carved into the Great Divide by wild rivers and plunging waterfalls, some of the highest in Australia. We'll share wonderful chance sightings of Eagles or Falcons in flight, maybe endangered wallabies or even Australia's living fossil, the echidna.

New England National Park
Touch the wilderness and discover your soul in this rugged pristine reserve with lookouts atop grand vertical escarpments providing vistas stretching 70 kms to the Pacific Ocean across the extinct remains of the Ebor Volcano. Here is one of New South Wales National Parks finest exhibits of world heritage wonder, with pristine habitats virtually inaccessible on foot, ranging from deep valleys of warm rainforest to elevated ridges of snow gum woodlands. A place of rapid weather change and moods at any time of day, the land dates back 500 million years and was subject to active volcanic activity until 18 millions years ago. The range of habitats contain 1000 species of plants leading to a broad range of unique bird and wildlife. The ancient Antarctic Beech trees connect this area to the Gondwana era. Nearby celebrated pastoral holdings like Gostwyck were once fit for visiting royalty and reflect on our early settler era.

Cape Byron
Accessed through some incredibly picturesque hinterland country, Australia's most easterly point is the laid-back mecca for surfers and alternative lifestylers, the retreating rich and famous, drawn to the relaxed seaside village atmosphere of Byron Bay and superb beaches on which you will surely care to roam, by sunset and dawn. The Cape is the place to welcome the new day, beneath the picturesque 1901 lighthouse and in the company of feral goats that have grazed the precipitous bluff for more than 80 years. Sailing from here you'd have a long journey to reach any landmass, Antarctica to the south, Chile to the east and Siberia to the north.

Border Ranges National Park
Historic volcanic activity created this world heritage landmass of peaks and rolling ranges, dominated by Mt Warning and protecting the finest sub tropical rainforest and other habitats. There are waterfalls, colourful birdlife, scenic rim vistas and the very head of Australia's greatest river, The Darling, waters of which make their 3,300kms journey from this point, all the way to the southern shores of Australia. The welcoming call of a Bell Bird community, 50 to 300 in number will surely be a closing highlight of your journey.

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WALKING ACIVITIES

Walks of easy to moderate grade, 1 hour to 6 hours in duration, planned for Glass House Mountains NP, Bunya Mountains NP, Girraween NP, Oxley Wild Rivers NP, New England NP, Cape Byron, Border Ranges NP
Short strolls included in all travel days as we shift from one National park base to another.

ACCOMMODATION

Self-contained mountain cottages, wilderness lodges, motor-inns, seaside holiday units or hotels offering quality twin or triple share accommodation with private facilities.

MEALS

Main meals (BLD) morning and afternoon teas enjoyed in a variety of local settings including wineries, taverns, alfresco cafes, lodges and personal gourmet lunch boxes.

GETTING THERE

This journey starts and finishes in Brisbane, Capital City of Queensland, an international gateway to Australia and a short domestic flight from Sydney in the south and Cairns in the tropical north. Qantas and Virgin Blue offer regular arrivals and departures throughout each day.

DURATION

The ultimate journey is 8 days with a possible option to leave the tour after Day 6 utilising daily regional flight connections from the New England town of Armidale.

DEPARTURES

Departing Brisbane at 7.00am and returning by 6.00pm on the final day.

BEST MONTHS TO VISIT

Virtually all year with the July / August period colder as much of the journey is in elevated tableland country and December / February period warmer.

PARTICIPANTS

Minimum of four people. Maximum of 15.
Form a small group of 4 for possible exclusive journey.
An ideal short escape for corporate executives and partners to unwind in Australia's wilderness.

INCLUSIONS

All meals as indicated, all National Park entries, accommodation twin share, transport and guide services, local guide fees where applicable, various feature entries.

EXCLUSIONS

Free time and personal costs. Optional activities chosen by participants and not part of our comprehensive guided journey. Personal travel insurances. Pre and post travel arrangements. Australian departure taxes. Food and beverages additional to those comprehensively provided.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

We invite you to read the terms and conditions of travel with Nature-Bound Australia before placing a reservation. You will be asked to confirm your understanding of these details when booking. Participation in our journeys will be on the basis you have read, understood and accepted the terms and conditions ...More

PRIVACY AND DISCLAIMER

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PRICE ON APPLICATION

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RESERVATION REQUEST

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