Camels came to Australia in the 19th century to help with the transport and construction needs of a developing colony in the central and southern parts of the continent. When the 20th century rolled around, bringing with it accessible motorized transport, the extra camels were simply released into the wild. Currently, it is estimated that more than one million feral camels are still roaming the desert, forming the only feral herds of their kind on the globe
Not all of Australia’s camels are wild, however. Some have remained faithful beasts of burden, and can be hired for camel safaris around various parts of the historic Australian Outback. Trips are handled by a variety of organizations, be they short or multi-day: Northern Australia has the Bush Safari Company and Australian Camel Safaris, while South Australia features quick tours via Pyndan Camel Tracks or Uluru Camel Tours. Western Australia also offers camel riding opportunities for tours of Cable Beach, run by a variety of Broome-based operators.
Australia has a lot more than 860 varieties of birds having a broad selection of brightly colored parrots, waterbirds, parrots of victim, and migratory parrots. Bird viewing tours can be found everywhere in the Mornington Backwoods Camp within Western Australia’s Kimberley area to Kangaroo Isle in Southern Australia whilst Zoologist Doctor. Tonia Cochran associated with Inala Character Tours provides bird viewing and pet spotting upon Tasmania’s Bruny Isle.
Horse riding is provided on a variety of outback livestock stations within Queensland, North Territory, Traditional Western Australia as well as NSW. There is also jackaroo / jillaroo schools where one can learn all of the skills required to work with an outback train station.
A number of long-distance hill bike paths offer lots of easy off-road discovering including Traditional western Australia’s Munda Biddi Path (meaning path with the forest within the Nyoongar Aboriginal vocabulary) and also the 900-kilometre Mawson Path, just northern of Adelaide in order to Blinman within South Australia’s Flinders Runs.
The first whale sharks of 2012 have been sighted in the Ningaloo Marine Park and tours offering the chance to swim with them are expected to start in Exmouth and Coral Bay this week. Whale shark tours are offered between mid March until early August, and occasionally into September if whale sharks are still in the area. The Ningaloo Marine Park in Western Australia’s Coral Coast has recently been added to the UNESCO World Heritage list and is considered one of the best places in the world to swim with whale sharks. For more information please contact Jodie Anstee – jodie@australiascoralcoast.com
Melbourne is set to bloom from 28 March – 1 April 2012 with the annual Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show, now in its 17th year. The heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens will be blanketed in fragrant blooms and intricate landscapes for five days, while visitors enjoy everything from sustainable gardening demonstrations and student works, to art, children’s entertainment, food and pampering sessions. This year’s major highlights include the prestigious Show Garden Design Award series and free Floral Design Workshops. For more information please contact Zoe Shurgold – Zoe.Shurgold@dbi.vic.gov.au
Taronga Zoo has launched a new daily Aboriginal wildlife tour, Nura Diya, showcasing the strong link between Aboriginal people, their culture and wildlife. Developed with Aboriginal people, and led by an Aboriginal Guide, Nura Diya takes visitors on a walk-through introduction to Australia’s wildlife presenting an indigenous perspective against the stunning backdrop of Sydney Harbour. Small and personalised tour groups allow for intimate photo opportunities with many native animals such as kangaroos, echidnas, wallabies and emus. The tour runs for two hours and includes morning tea at the Harbour View Café. For more information please contact Ben Gibson – bgibson@zoo.nsw.gov.au
