Gluepot - A birders honeypot in Southern Australia

South Australia is home to many of the country’s best-known creatures, including Koalas, kangaroos, Little Penguins and albatrosses, plus colourful landbirds such as the elusive and fascinating Malleefowl and a great range of noisy and exotic parrots.

All this against a backdrop of some of the world’s most attractive cities and amongst spectacular habitats ranging from towering eucalypt and rainforests, to arid bush and magnificent ocean and riverine environments.

Naturetrek’s brand new 17-day holiday ‘down under’ focuses on the stunning wildlife of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia and includes a special visit to Gluepot Reserve, one of the country’s foremost bird reserves. Tour departs London 8th October 2008.

The holiday commences in Sydney and includes a boat trip from Macquarie Harbour to the continental shelf, offering the opportunity to spot many pelagic bird species including Wandering and Black-browed Albatross, plus a day’s exploration in Royal National Park, on the edge of the Great Dividing Range. Established in 1879, this is the world’s second oldest park after Yellowstone and is home to a wide range of waterbirds, parrots such as Yellow-tailed Cockatoo in the tall eucalypt forest, and in the rainforest, Satin Bowerbird, Superb Lyrebird and the endangered Powerful Owl.

Next, fly to Merimbula and transfer to Gypsy Lodge in Mallacoota, a small guesthouse set at the head of Mallocoota Inlet on East Gippsland’s Wilderness Coast. Surrounded by national park and waterways, the lodge has a feeling of remoteness and offers outstanding wildlife viewing. White-bellied Sea Eagles and Azure Kingfishers fish the rivers patrolled by one of Australia’s largest lizards, the colourful Gippsland Water Dragon. Visit Phillip Island to view the Little Penguins as they waddle to and from their nest burrows in the sand dunes, before embarking on one of the world’s most famous coastal drives along Great Ocean Road.

Travel on to Grampians National Park in western Victoria, renowned for its rugged scenery, rich Aboriginal and European heritage, and rich bird and mammal population, including large numbers of Emu, Eastern Grey Kangaroos, Black Wallabies and Echidnas. Stay overnight in the Little Desert National Park with its rich diversity of birdlife, including the endangered Malleefowl, known for the mounds it builds to incubate its eggs.

Last, but by no means least, head north via the meandering Murray River, to Waikerie, where, during a two-night stay, visit Gluepot Reserve. This is Birds Australia’s first publicly funded reserve and its 50,000 hectares of semi-arid virgin mallee scrub protects no less than six nationally endangered bird species, including Black-eared Miner, Red-lored Whistler and Scarlet-chested Parrot, and is also home to 42 species of reptile. Gluepot is one of the ‘crown jewels’ in Australia’s reserve system, and a fitting conclusion to a fascinating and rewarding wildlife holiday ‘down under’.

The tour costs £3,995 p/p including flights, transfers, comfortable lodge, hotel and motel accommodation, all meals and expert naturalist guiding.

For more information, visit Naturetrek.co.uk.