AU Wildlife of the Great Ocean Road 3D/2N

Overview

  • From $1,650.00*
  • 3 (Approx.)
  • 2
  • P060F1

Availability

J F M A M J J A S O N D
                       

Overview

Want to see wild animals in Melbourne? Join an experienced Wildlife Guide with chance to find wild Koalas, Kangaroos, Echidnas and birds in their natural habitats on this 3 day Great Ocean Road wildlife tour. Take time to enjoy the scenery and country hospitality.  Stay at 4.5 star boutique accommodation in idyllic locations. Walk along the beach and feel the waves of the mighty Southern Ocean. Photograph wallabies and wildflowers in species-rich heathlands – the Great Ocean Road wildlife tour is perfect for photographers. Let yourself be driven along a hidden river as it opens up into a wonderland of lakes and wetlands, home to egrets and eagles, lizards and lorikeets. View the plains from the top of an extinct volcano. 

Itinerary

Day 1 Stroll through a national park looking for wild koalas, cockatoos and kookaburras. Your Wildlife Guide and Koala Researcher will explain the behaviour and individuality of each of the koalas you meet. Help create habitat for a wild koala. Walk quietly up to a wild mob of Kangaroos on the plains and in open bushland. They are thrilling animals to watch. Their natural instinct is to flee humans, but with care we often get close enough to observe their complex social life. We may also find parrots, fairy-wrens, emus, honeyeaters, wallabies and reptiles on this first day of your Great Ocean Road wildlife tour. Your Wildlife Guide will help you understand and enjoy them. A substantial picnic lunch is included. Accommodation tonight is at a 4.5 star boutique property in the tiny outback town of Little River. Dinner is at the local Pub – a real Aussie experience! (L,D).

Day 2 See some of the world’s most spectacular coastal scenery. We follow the Great Ocean Road to the surging surf coast, and walk in the magnificent rainforests of the Otway National Park. Your Wildlife Guide will explain the formation of these mighty forests and help you find parrots, kookaburras, koalas and wallabies. Travel through Port Campbell National Park, looking out for echidnas, wallabies, lizards and colourful birds which make their home in the coastal heathlands. Linger a while to take in some of nature’s handiwork at the Twelve Apostles and the Loch Ard Gorge. Hear stories about the terrible shipwrecks of the past. Dinner and accommodation tonight are at a 4.5 star B&B near Port Campbell. (B,L,D).

Day 3 This morning we have one last look at the coast in the dramatic morning light before returning to Melbourne across the vast grasslands of the Western Plains. Created by intense volcanic activity over the past 2 million years, the 7000 volcanoes of the Western Plains are now extinct but the resultant savannah is pasture to a rich wool growing area – a wonderful example of Australia’s great range lands. We stop en route to drive to the top of an extinct volcano with spectacular views across the plains. From the summit we see some of the hundreds of volcanic lakes scattered across the plains.  This is a great place to view raptors – birds of prey – including Wedge-tailed Eagles, Nankeen Kestrels and Brown Falcons.Later we pass Lake Corangamite, the largest permanent lake in Australia, often covered with prolific birdlife. We return to Melbourne in the late afternoon. (B,L).

Inclusions

  • Full interpretation by an experienced Wildlife Guide
  • All meals from lunch on Day 1 to lunch on Day 3. 
  • Easy walking
  • Transport from pickup on Day 1 to drop-off on Day 3 in our comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle.  
  • Pickup and drop-off to Melbourne city or Southbank hotel included.  
  • Accommodation: 2 nights at 4.5 star boutique properties included. Stay at friendly, comfortable boutique properties in the region, all with ensuite rooms.

Exclusions

  • Any items of a personal nature.
  • Any meals or drinks not specified in inclusions.
  • Anything not included in the list of inclusions (above).
  • Domestic flights, unless specified in inclusions.
  • Laundry.
  • Travel insurance.

*Price

If you do not wish to share your room with another person: add $260. Prices shown are valid from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2022.  The child rate applies from 2 to 13 years of age inclusive. Infants to 2 years are not accepted on this tour. Child restraints or booster seats are legally required for children up to seven years of age. We can arrange child seats for about $20 AUD per seat.


Product 29284


Itinerary

Includes

Excludes

Highlights

Payment Terms

COVID-19
The initial deposit is refundable for 5 days - a cooling off period long enough for us to send you precise final terms. Note, many of these are still being negotiated but this first payment will be held in trust, giving us time to determine the conditions for final payment without putting this payment at any risk.

1. RESERVATIONS
Reservations are confirmed on receipt of a non-refundable deposit of $A500 per person or per booking, or the amount specified on your booking. On receipt of your reservation form and deposit, we will, subject to availability, reserve your place on your selected travel module. Additional deposits may be required and will be advised at time of booking. Final payment of land costs are due at least* 60 days prior to arrival and all reservations will be cancelled if full payment is not received by the due date, with loss of deposit. On receipt of your payment, we will send tour information and vouchers. Please ensure that you receive the information before you travel. Bookings made at least* less than 60 days prior to departure must be paid in full. Due to time constraints, tour information and vouchers may be collected on the first day of departure with Wildiaries from its tour guide. These arrangements will be confirmed to you in writing prior to travel. Every reservation amendment will incur an AUD$50.00 charge, subject to availability. Note that if travel documents have been issued, the fee will be AUD$100. *Special conditions may apply to some trips. You will be notified if this is the case.

2. CANCELLATIONS
All cancellations must be made in writing to Wildiaries, and all tours are subject to the following cancellation charges based on the number of days before tour departure: Over 60 days:   No refund of tour deposit Between 0 and 60 days:   No refund of tour cost There is no refund for any unused portions of the tour once the tour has commenced. [Please note that if the reason for cancellation falls within the terms of any holiday insurance policy which you hold, then any such charges will normally be refunded to you by the insurance company, subject to the terms of your insurance]. Any cancellation fees imposed by hotels, ground operators or other principals or suppliers of goods and services will be charged to you in addition to the cancellation amounts stated above.

3. BAGGAGE
Baggage restrictions may apply to charter air travel and small group tours and must be strictly adhered to. We recommend that you ensure you adhere to any weight restrictions indicated.

4. WILD ANIMALS
Please be aware that travel may take you into areas of extreme weather conditions [eg. heat] or bring you in close contact with wild animals. Cases of dehydration and attacks by wild animals are rare, but no tour can guarantee that this will not occur. Neither Wildiaries, its contractors, agents or staff can be held responsible for any injury or incident on your tour. Neither does Wildiaries guarantee sightings of any wild animals, even if these are listed as animals possible to see on a tour.

5. PASSPORT, VISAS & DEPARTURE TAX
The onus is upon you to ensure that passports and visas are valid. Wildiaries, their contractors, agents or staff cannot be held liable for any visas etc. not held by you. The onus is on you to ensure departure tax is included when the airline ticket is purchased prior to arrival in any country.

6. RESPONSIBILITIES
Wildiaries, its contractors and agents act only as agents for the passenger with respect to services provided, including, but not limited to hotels, restaurants, touring, and all forms of transportation. Wildiaries shall not be liable for any loss whatsoever arising from any cause whatsoever, and without restricting the generality of the foregoing, shall particularly not be responsible for loss or damage arising from any errors or omissions contained in its brochure or other literature, late or non-confirmation or acceptance of bookings, loss or damage caused by delays, sickness, injury or death, whether occasioned by negligence or not. In addition Wildiaries shall have the right at any time at its discretion to cancel any tour or the remainder thereof or make any alteration in route, accommodation, price or other details, and in the event of any tour been rendered impossible, illegal or inadvisable by weather, avalanches, strike, war, government or interference or any other cause whatsoever, the extra expenses incurred as a result thereof shall be your sole responsibility. Wildiaries may at its discretion and without liability or cost to itself at any time cancel or terminate the passenger’s booking and in particular without limiting the generality of the foregoing it shall be entitled to do so in the event of the illness or the illegal or incompatible behaviour of the passenger, who shall in such circumstances not be entitled to any refund. The person making any booking will, by the making of such booking, warrant that he or she has authority to enter into a contract on behalf of the other person/s included in such a booking and in the event of the failure of any or all of the other person/s so included to make payment, the person making the booking shall by his/her signature thereof assume personal liability for the total price of all bookings made by him/her.

7. CHANGES TO SCHEDULES
Although every effort is made to adhere to schedules it should be borne in mind that Wildiaries reserves the right to alter any tour arrangements due to local conditions while providing similar tour inclusions.

8. REFUNDS
Whilst Wildiaries uses its best endeavours to ensure that all anticipated accommodation is available as planned, there shall be no claim of any nature whatsoever against Wildiaries for a refund either in the whole or part, if any accommodation or excursion is unavailable or the passenger was unable to use that service. [Please note that if the reason for cancellation falls within the terms of any holiday insurance policy it is your responsibility to refer the matter to your insurance company to seek a refund].

9. INSURANCE
You must take out comprehensive insurance cover before travel for cancellation, medical expenses, personal baggage and money. This should be arranged at the time of payment of any non-refundable costs to cover you for cancellation at that time.

10. PRICING & INSURANCE
We will do the utmost to keep to the prices published. Should increases be forced on us by tour operators, etc. Wildiaries reserves the right to surcharge without notice. All tour costs are based on all known costs at the time of publication.

(a) This agreement is made subject to and shall be governed by and construed according to the laws of Australia.

(b) Wildiaries cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies or changes which may occur after that time. All materials contained in any brochure and web site including text, maps, graphics and photographs remain the property of Wildiaries and may not be copied or reproduced.

(c) Clients with special dietary problems are advised to warn us in advance of departure.

(d) For flight information on how to get to the starting point of your tour, contact your travel agent. Please ensure that you re-confirm all your flights prior to air travel.

11. MEDICAL & HEALTH
(a)Hospital facilities in remote locations are often unavailable and evacuation can be difficult and expensive. Wildiaries assumes no liability regarding provision of medical care. A Medical Certificate must therefore be filled out and returned to Wildiaries. If you are aged 65 or older, the Medical Certificate must be signed by your physician. Once you have been confirmed on a trip, normal cancellation penalties apply if your doctor does not approve the Medical Certificate.

(b). It is vital that persons with medical problems make them known to us well before departure. The tour leader has the right to disqualify anyone at any time during a tour if he or she feels the tour member is incapable and/or if a tour member’s continued participation will jeopardise the individual involved or the group. Refunds are not given under such circumstances. The tour leader’s decision is final and neither Wildiaries nor the tour leader shall be subject to any claims or liability in respect of such disqualification.

12. CONSENT
The payment of the deposit OR any other partial payment for a reservation on a tour constitutes consent to all provisions of the conditions and general information contained in this brochure. The terms under which you agree to take these tours cannot be changed or amended except in writing signed by an authorised officer of Wildiaries.

PLEASE NOTE
(a) Share Basis for Single Travellers
Accommodations (both hotels and tented) are usually based on double occupancy. If you are travelling alone and wish to share accommodations, we will assign you a room-mate if possible. If there is no one with whom you can share, or if you prefer single accommodations, you are requested to pay a Single Supplement Fee.

(b) Tour Information
Whilst Wildiaries makes every effort to ensure accuracy in tour information and descriptions, we are reliant on the tour operators and accommodation providers providing us with accurate data. Since tour operators and accommodation providers are constantly changing facilities and services, we cannot be liable for any errors or omissions herein. If any feature is of critical importance to your holiday, it is your responsibility to ask Wildiaries to check whether such features will be available at the time of occupancy.

NOTE:
Payment of your deposit is acceptance of terms and conditions. I/we understand that by sending the deposit(s) on behalf of myself and everyone in my party is acknowledging that we have read and accept the Wildiaries Terms & Conditions.

Booking Guide