Australia South: Tasmania, Kangaroo Island & the Great Ocean Road

Discover Australia’s diverse ecosystems on sustainable safaris spanning wild coasts, remote Outback, lush rainforests and iconic wildlife.

In celebration of World Rainforest Day, Expedition Leader Matt Cornish shares an in-depth look at Australia's Daintree Rainforest in northern Queensland—the oldest continuously surviving tropical rainforest on Earth. Discover what makes this ancient ecosystem so unique, from towering strangler figs and rare cycads to elusive tree kangaroos, saltwater crocodiles and the striking southern cassowary. Matt offers insights into the Daintree’s hidden wonders, its evolutionary history, and the endemic species that have thrived here for hundreds of millions of years.

You’ve heard of the Tasmanian devil (thanks, Looney Tunes!), but how about the Tasmanian tiger? This striped carnivore—which resembles a cross between a wolf, a fox and a large cat—was once the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world until it was hunted to extinction in the 1930s. Now, the Tasmanian devil holds that title. Expedition Leader Matt Cornish shares the similarities between these two Australian animals and how conservationists are using the lessons learned from the loss of the Tasmanian tiger to protect the Tasmanian devil.

Marsupials might be the main attraction on our Australian adventures, but Oz also offers plenty of opportunities for birders! Expedition Leader Jamie Smith-Morvell introduces some of the winged wonders we encounter Down Under, from emus and honeyeaters to kookaburras and cassowaries. Explore bird habitats across the continent, and find out why some Australian birds have such confusing names (like the magpie-lark that's neither a magpie nor a lark). Jamie also shares tips for photographing the birds of Australia.