Tour Guide: Experience Oz
Deciding where to go on your next Aussie vacation can prove to be difficult. Many people don’t realize that the land Down Under is almost as big as as the U.S., and therefore, one cannot simply drive from Cairns to Melbourne in an afternoon (it’s roughly the same distance from L.A. to St. Louis, Missouri – about 1,800 miles – and with little in between).
But I’ve just discovered a tour company that makes decision-making easier, by providing eco-tours in specific destinations with a choice of activities (walking, cycling, canoeing, etc.), so travelers can find the one that suits them best.
Australia-based Ecotrek specializes in small-group, nature-based tours. From walking on Kangaroo Island, to canoeing the Cooper River from Queensland to South Australia, to cycling the wine regions near Adelaide, every tour allows its participants to share their passion or interest in a certain activity. I’m particularly intrigued by the Mutawintji, Kinchega and Lake Mungo Arid Lands Eco Journey, which is a cultural eco-tour of three national parks with deep Aboriginal roots.
Aside from its 4-to-5-day trips, Ecotrek offers shorter weekend getaways in South Australia and Victoria. Prices include all accommodation (ranging from tents to bed-and-breakfasts to unique heritage-listed mansions, depending on the type of tour), all meals (including one-half bottle of wine per person per meal), trail snacks, tea, equipment, and entrance fees to places you visit on the tours, etc.
I’m going to start saving for my next Aussie holiday, especially when the price includes plenty of wine.
Photo: Ecotrek
- Nat Geo Expeditions
