Australia South: Tasmania, Kangaroo Island & the Great Ocean Road

A very important feature of our South Australia expedition is the limited group size, as nature travel and wildlife encounters are most meaningful when experienced in a quieter, low-impact context—and our environmental footprint is lighter as a result.

• Trip price includes: Accommodations, services of Nat Hab's professional Expedition Leader, local guides and lodge staff, private kayaking excursion and kayaking gear, wildlife and cultural presentations and excursions, private sanctuary tours, all meals from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on final day, some gratuities, airport transfers for those arriving by air on Day 1 and final day, all activities and entrance fees, all taxes, permits and service fees.
  

• Internal air fee includes: Private charter flight from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island, private charter flight from Kangaroo Island to Warrnambool, and private charter flight from Geelong to Devonport, Tasmania, plus any additional taxes and fees on these flights (these will be listed separately on our invoicing).

Travel to and from the start and end point of your trip, most alcoholic beverages, gratuities for Expedition Leaders, passport and visa fees (if any), optional activities, items of a personal nature (phone calls, laundry and internet, etc.), international airline baggage fees, airport and departure taxes (if any), required medical evacuation insurance, optional travel protection insurance.

Easy to Moderate
This adventure does not require a particularly high degree of physical fitness, however, walks can range from one to four miles in fluctuating weather and varied environments. Although these walks are easy to moderate in terms of physical exertion, they sometimes include fairly steep, uneven or slippery terrain. A variety of early morning and night walks, often in dim light, are offered throughout the itinerary. In order to fully enjoy the entire trip experience, travelers should be able to walk unassisted for at least two miles over sometimes-rough terrain and inclines. A few of the walks and hikes include long sets of stairs, sometimes without a handrail. On our kayaking activity in Tasmania, guests must be able to get into and out of a kayak without any type of boat ramp, and without the kayaks being perfectly still. Paddling participants must also be under 242 pounds, which is the weight restriction of the kayaks. Our days often start early and/or finish late and are full with activities, which can be tiring.

Having an Expedition Leader and local guides on each departure allows us, at times, to divide our groups according to varying physical abilities. This advantage ensures that our guests can move at the pace, and travel the distance, that suits their preference. Please note that all walks and activities are optional, and travelers should only participate in those activities in which they feel comfortable. While travelers are not required to participate in all activities, should you opt out of a scheduled activity, we cannot always guarantee alternatives will be available. Travelers who would like to take longer or more strenuous hikes may have limited opportunities to do so at their leisure. Many days involve long drives on winding roads, including over mountain passes at altitudes as high as 6,000 feet.

On custom or private departures with smaller groups, our ability to accommodate varying levels of physical abilities or interests is limited, since these trips are staffed with a single Expedition Leader who may be assisted, pending availability, by local guides.

Our journey is designed to explore elements of southern Australia that are least populated, most wild, and replete with wildlife and rugged beauty. These are destinations that are difficult to see and interpret on your own, where the expertise of our Expedition Leaders and local guides adds exceptional value to your experience. Steering away from crowds, we explore during quiet hours that allow for seclusion and intimate encounters with nature.

A Note About Travel within Australia
In addition, because towns and populated areas are often far away from the remote destinations we visit, and the nature highlights on our itinerary are often at substantial distances from one another due to the vastness of the country, drive times between activities can be long. We have done our best to minimize long drives, but we want to make sure you get the fullest experience, too. For example, Kangaroo Island is 90 miles long and 35 miles across, with fantastic wildlife viewing and landscapes on the east and south. Many roads are narrow or unpaved, and wildlife is often found near the road, which means we must drive slower than you'd typically expect. Roads in Tasmania are very winding and narrow as well. Please expect some long, taxing drives, and understand that they are a part of nature travel in Australia—while knowing that we have arranged activities and flights to minimize these challenges wherever possible. Many people visit Australia, but only an intrepid few Nat Hab travelers will experience Australia in such a rare and exclusive way.

A Note About Our Accommodations
Please be aware that in Tasmania, daytime temperatures can range between 50°F and 75°F during the day, dropping to as low as 40°F at night. This is especially important to be aware of since we stay in a tented camp in Tasmania (Truffle Lodge), and the tents can get quite chilly at night. On departures in October, November and March—or for guests on any departure who are especially sensitive to cooler weather—we strongly recommend bringing a down jacket, sweater or fleece, a long pair of pants, hat and gloves, and something warm in which to sleep during your visit. While Truffle Lodge does provide a space heater in each tent, it’s wise to be prepared with warm pajamas, and warm layers for when you get out of bed.

It is important to understand that Australia is a huge yet sparsely populated country, a remote and isolated continent filled with wildlife and landscapes that are truly unique. Australia is also an English-speaking country, which, aside from some left-side driving and happy accents, feels pretty familiar to life in North America. Yet while it may seem similar to the U.S. and Canada in many ways, the culture around travel is a bit different. Many Australians travel via camper or caravan (trailer) to remote destinations. Those who do stay at ecolodges don't expect the same level of accoutrements, service or maintenance that most North American travelers are accustomed to, even when such lodges are designated as 4- or 5-star accommodations. And since the Covid-19 pandemic, staff turnover at many lodges has been very high, making regular upkeep more difficult. So, please expect a wide range of accommodations, from simple ecolodges to a private tented camp to luxury hotels.

However: There are important reasons we stay where we do! We choose our hotels and ecolodges based on their proximity to nature and wildlife, and the experiences we are able to have from these more remotely located bases far exceed what we could expect if our primary intent was finding the most luxurious accommodation. On this trip, the luxury is in the experience, including access to nature and wildlife, which is why we will choose an ecolodge that's just minutes away from a wild reserve, for example, rather than a luxury hotel that requires a 2-hour drive.

A Note About Our Private Chartered Flights
We have included these not for an extra element of exclusivity, but because they markedly improve our itinerary. Chartered flights allow us to provide you much more time in nature, rather than being beholden to the timetables and locations of commercial flights. By chartering our own planes, we can get where we need to go when we want to go. No big city connections, no layovers...just more time with wildlife, in the peace of nature, for you. You've come this far to experience the wild wonders of Australia...and we want to make sure you spend as much of your precious time doing that as possible!

In sum: Many people visit Australia, but only an intrepid few Nat Hab travelers will experience Australia in such a rare and exclusive way!

This trip begins in Adelaide, South Australia and ends in Hobart, Tasmania. You must arrive in Adelaide by 4 pm on Day 1 in order to join your group for your orientation dinner. We recommend that you arrive at least one day prior to Day 1 of your trip to adjust to the time difference. You may depart Hobart at any time on your final day.

We can best serve you if our Natural Habitat Adventures Travel Desk makes your reservations, as our staff is intimately familiar with the special requirements of this program and can arrange the most efficient travel. Please call us at 800-543-8917. Note that while we offer you the best possible rates available to us on airfare and additional nights' accommodations, you may find better fares online.