Home arrow Nature arrow Humans
Humans
Well-dated evidence now suggests that humans have been in Australia for at least 40,000 years. Some circumstantial evidence even hints at periods longer than this, such as over 100,00 years, but this is yet to be confirmed by multiple techniques. Over this long time, there may have been several waves of successive groups coming into Australia.

Study Tours

  • Tour FAQs

    Included here are our most frequently asked questions. They are being updated and added to all the time; if you cannot see your particular question here, please feel free to email us .

    Read more...

Plants

Eucalypts
The ‘Gum Trees’ or ‘Eucalypts’ are of course the most famous group of plants in Australia. The number of Eucalypts seems to vary quite a bit, depending on the author. It could be anywhere from 400 species, to possibly over 800 species.
Read more...
 

Birds

Boobies and Gannets
Boobie and baby
Boobie and baby
Boobies and Gannets are rather large, robust seabirds. They have big heads, strong beaks and look a little bit like a large, ocean going duck. Their feet are big and fully webbed. Their walk is a cute, duck-like waddle. When flying, their body is often described as ‘torpedo’ or ‘cigar’ shaped. The 9 species are found all over the world. While Boobies are more tropical in distribution, Gannets inhabit the colder, temperate seas. They are essentially an ocean going bird, and are only really found on land when nesting. They were given the derogatory name of ‘Booby’ from the Spanish word bobo which means fool or clown. They may plunge dive for prey from heights of up to 20 or 30 metres, with heights of 100 metres reported. Their nostrils are small and not externally visible and close to prevent seawater entering the nostrils when hitting the surface at high speeds. The air sacs under their skin are particularly well developed in the frontal region of the body and likely serve to cushion the body during their steep dives.
 

Mammals

Dogs
The first animal to be deliberately introduced to Australia by humans was probably the dingo. This 'Australian Native Dog' is, despite common misconceptions, like all breeds of domestic dogs, merely a type of the Grey Wolf,Canis lupus.
Read more...