with Nature Travel Specialists, Nature & Wildlife tour, North Queensland.

William and Jefferson College, brought over by Roy Ickes, explored Australia. Their first major stop was the north eastern part of the continent, also known as the ‘wet tropics’. Unfortunately, delayed flights meant the group were late coming in, but we managed to catch up and covered all the highlights aimed for. The group was comprised of biology students, and there was a focus on seeing as much native wildlife as we could.

After arrival, we were headed up to the Atherton Tablelands. One of our first stops was Lake Barrine, part of Crater Lakes National Park. The gardens here are often good for honeyeaters and butterflies in the summer months. We enjoyed lunch and a cruise of the lake. That afternoon we headed for Tarzali Lakes where we spotted platypus. We then continued on to our accommodation, Chambers Rainforest Apartments (www.rainforest-australia.com).

Lake Barrine cruise with pacific black duck

That first night was a combination of two nights’ wildlife viewing, so there was plenty to do. First, we watched the Red-legged Pademelons, a type of rainforest kangaroo, emerge from the jungle around the lodge. This was followed by a search for the tiny sugar gliders. After a quick dinner at the local Tree Kangaroo Cafe, we then headed out for some spotlighting in higher altitude rainforest about an hours drive from the lodge. It was a successful night with different views of various species, including a very low down Green Ringtail Possum and the usual entertaining and personable Coppery Brushtail Possums. We also made a special stop where Roy called in a new life species, the Lesser Sooty Owl.

green ringtail possum

The next day we explored the rainforest edge and the ‘dry country’ of the savanna woodlands. We made a visit to the always interesting Hastie Swamp, where the magnificent hide overlooks a dried lagoon with various waterbirds. We then visited the Tolga scrub where there is a large colony of Spectacled Flying Fox. And then it was off to the always entertaining Granite Gorge. Here, Mareeba Rock wallabies live within the cracks and crevices of the giant granite boulders. This was followed by a visit to Kuranda where we caught the last of the cable cars down to Cairns.

rock wallaby