DETAILS

FULL LENGTH TOUR DESCRIPTION
Depart Station Pier and travel 60 minutes out into the bush to Serendip Open Range Sanctuary, where you are immediately amongst wild kangaroos and native birds, and your entrance is often heralded by the screeching of Cockatoos or the chattering of Honeyeaters. Here your walkabout guide will take you on a short ‘kangaroo’ walk, to meet the kangaroos, after which you will begin your special Safari Drive around the Sanctuary to see emus and huge wild mobs of kangaroos. You will stop often to enjoy the antics of the animals, and disembark for short walks to the billabong (home to large populations of waterbirds) and through the gum trees. Before lunch you will visit a protected population of wallabies and get close to some strange Australian birds. Your BBQ lunch is served in an open-air setting at the Sanctuary, and includes delicious Australian "Billy tea". Your guide will explain the history and recipe for this traditional tea of the Swagmen.

Leaving Serendip, you will travel 15 minutes to the bushland of the You Yangs Regional Park. You will meet some of the people of the local Aboriginal tribe, the Wathaurong, who will share elements of their fascinating culture with you and perform some music on the wonderfully evocative didgeridoo. You will have time to ask plenty of questions because your Aboriginal friends will continue on with you this afternoon. You Yangs is home to a large and healthy population of wild Koalas, which your guides research and monitor to ensure the best possible sightings. You will take a very easy walk through the gum trees, searching for koalas, wallabies, kangaroos and birds in their natural setting. Your guide will point out plants and features of interest, explain some of the history of the area and, where possible, introduce you to known, named koalas that are part of the research project. The area you walk through is of great significance to the local Aboriginal People of the Wathaurong Tribe. Towards the end of the walk you will visit Big Rock Aboriginal Cultural Site with the Aboriginal Guides. This is one of the most significant living sites in the region and has spectacular views out over the surrounding plains. Your guides will share their knowledge of this area with you before you return to the port.
 
SHORT LENGTH TOUR DESCRIPTION
This guided eco-tour gives you quality time to learn about wildlife and enjoy the wide open spaces of Australia. Get close to kangaroos, koalas and abundant birdlife. Discover a rich Aboriginal heritage when you meet Aboriginal people, hear their stories and music and visit one of their significant cultural sites in the bush. You will venture into the “real Australia” to learn about native animals and plants both in the famous open-range grasslands of Serendip Sanctuary on the Western Plains and in the granite hills of the You Yangs Range. These environments provide the perfect introduction to Australia's unique wildlife and indigenous culture. See and walk amongst kangaroos in large free ranging groups. Spot emus, wallabies, koalas and other unique Australian wildlife and enjoy a hearty bush lunch.
 
TIMING BREAKDOWN
00:00 Depart from pier by luxury coach with Echidna Walkabout Guide
01:00 Arrive at Serendip Sanctuary and begin kangaroo walk
02:30 Begin drive around Serendip, including another short billabong walk
03:15 Enjoy a BBQ Lunch
04:00 Depart Seredip to You Yangs Regional Park
04:15 Arrive You Yangs Regional Park and begin koala walk
05:00 Drive to Big Rock Aboriginal Cultural site
05:15 Short walk to Big Rock with Aboriginal people
06:00 Board coach and return to Melbourne
07:00 Arrive back at pier

Approximate duration: 7 hours
 
OPERATIONAL NOTES
- Although this tour is vehicle based, a large part of the day is spent outside the vehicle on a number of easy, flat terrain walks
- Participants should bring good walking shoes and clothing to suit variable weather conditions (temperatures range from 5C to +35C), sun hat, rainproof coat, insect repellent, 15+ sun block and water bottle
- Bush lunch includes - Starter: Fruit & Cheese Platters; Main Course: Barbecue Hamburgers, Continental Style Sausages, Vegetable Burgers, Garden Salad, Coleslaw, Bread & Butter; Drinks: Coke, Iced Water, Coffee, traditional Billy Tea, Choice of 1 bottle of beer or 1 glass of wine
- Vegetarian or other food preferences should be noted at the time of booking
- Activity Level is Mild. Required walking is approximately 1 kilometre on generally flat formed and unformed walking paths

BACK TO TOP