AUSTRALIAN WILDLIFE JOURNEYS

Exceptional Kangaroo Island is a founding member of Australian Wildlife Journeys - a network of independent Australian tour operators with a focus on wildlife in the wild.

Australian Wildlife Journeys transparent logo

Australian Wildlife Journeys was created in 2016 by a group of independently-owned, conservation-focused tour operators working as destination specialists across regional Australia.

After many years offering immersive wild encounters on Kangaroo Island, we were keen to link up with other operators offering sustainable wildlife encounters in the wild. We seek to provide you with easy access to the ‘must-do’ wildlife experiences across Australia – and do so in a co-operative manner.

The old-school business approach sees other tour operators as competition, whereas we see strength in friendship and collaboration. Our research found there was a gap in information available to travellers, where the presentation of Australia is impossibly broad, and very little of the destination and regional information has any integration.

Australia presents big challenges in deciding where, when and how to experience our extraordinary wildlife. The vast distance, climatic diversity and migration patterns all pose problems for those wanting to create a logical travel plan. Given so much of our wildlife is endemic – found in Australia and nowhere else – it holds great attraction, but how can you settle on a plan? We have a solution for you.

Australian Wildlife Journeys is a collaboration of like-minded, independently owned and operated small businesses with a shared set of values. We are all passionate about raising the profile of immersive, sustainable encounters with wildlife in their natural habitat, combined with world-class hospitality.

Collectively we focus on connecting guests to the Australian environment through a series of marine and land-based experiences derived from the antiquity of our land, the diversity of the natural history which surrounds us, and the passion of the people and the communities in which we live.

Our website is rich in information about different wildlife classes (birds, mammals, reptiles, invertebrates, fishes) and seasonal events such as breeding cycles and migratory patterns. We tell stories about the interactions between our people and the animals who live around us. Consistently we provide you with experiences which offer ‘shared space’ – leaving room for nature and behaving so that you can observe the natural behaviour of animals in the wild.

Australia is one of many global destinations threatened by climate change impacts, extreme weather, water scarcity, and unprecedented species loss, and we must provide leadership in addressing these threats. Sustainable tourism can meet these challenges head-on by protecting our fantastic destination at the same time as giving you the chance to actively contribute to local ecosystem regeneration on our tours.

AWJ MEMBER LOCATIONS

Australian Wildlife Journeys member map

AWJ INTRODUCTION VIDEO

Play Video

MEMBERS

Location: Port Lincoln, South Australia

About: Australian Coastal Safaris showcase the Eyre Peninsula’s amazing beaches, pristine coastlines along with the abundance of native wildlife with their guests.

Iconic Species: Australian Sea-lion, Koala, Western Grey Kangaroo, Hairy-nosed Wombat, Osprey.

Location: Sydney, New South Wales

About: Boutique Wildlife Tours have been offering unique wildlife viewing experiences since 2010 in the Southern Highlands, just south-west of Sydney.

Iconic Species: Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Koala, Red-necked Wallaby, Common Wombat, Platypus.

Location: Melbourne, Victoria

About: Echidna Walkabout Nature Tours provide high quality nature and wildlife experiences in Victoria for small groups of international and domestic travellers

Iconic Species: Koala, Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Swamp Wallaby, Grey-headed Flying Fox, Lace Monitor.

Location: Kangaroo Island, South Australia

About: Exceptional Kangaroo Island offer high-end small group and private tours on Kangaroo Island, promising ‘good food, good wine and wildlife in the wild’.

Iconic Species: Kangaroo Island Kangaroo, Koala, Tammar Wallaby,
Australian Sea-lion, Short-beaked Echidna.

Location: Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

About: Exmouth Dive & Whalesharks Ningaloo operate out of Exmouth on Western Australia’s Ningaloo Reef. Visit them for fantastic viewing of Whale Sharks, Humpbacks and other marine and land mammals.

Iconic Species: Whale Shark, Humpback Whale, Manta Ray, Green Turtle, Dugong.

Location: Cairns, Queensland

About: FNQ Nature Tours offer tours across the Daintree Rainforest National Park, Atherton Tablelands and surrounding regions, designed for nature-minded travellers desiring a personal, educational & interactive experience.

Iconic Species: Tree Kangaroo, Southern Cassowary, Boyd’s Forest Dragon, Saltwater Crocodile, Spectacled Flying-fox.

Location: Darwin, Northern Territory

About: Lords Kakadu and Arnhemland Safaris has been connecting guests to the Top End’s remarkable natural beauty and indigenous culture for over 25 years.

Iconic Species: Saltwater Crocodile, Merten’s Water Monitor, Agile Wallaby, Black-necked Stork, Azure Kingfisher.

Location: Margaret River, Western Australia

About: Naturaliste Charters has been offering spectacular eco-adventures off the spectacular southwest Western Australian coastline for over 20 years, including the world-famous Bremer Canyon and Margaret River regions.

Iconic Species: Killer Whale (Orca), Blue Whale, Bottlenose Dolphins, Humpback Whales, Albatross.

Location: Hobart, Tasmania

About: Premier Travel Tasmania has been offering refined encounters with nature across the ‘island state’ of Tasmania for over 20 years. 

Iconic Species: Tasmanian Devil, Forester Kangaroo, Australian Fur-seal, Short-beaked Echidna, Green Rosella.

Location: Maria Island, Tasmania

About: The Maria Island Walk showcases natural wildlife encounters in remote and tranquil settings, combined with world-class hospitality.

Iconic Species: Short-beaked Echidna, Common Wombat, Tasmanian Devil, Tasmanian Native Hen, Bennett’s Wallaby.

MORE ABOUT US

Learn more about Exceptional Kangaroo Island.

Find out more about your hosts and their team.

Read reviews from our past guests.

Keep up-to-date with news.

Frequently Asked Questions about Exceptional Kangaroo Island.

We are one of Australia’s leading eco-certified tour operators.

Find out more about the fresh, local produce we use.

We also offer specialised event management.

Exceptional Kangaroo Island logo - roos only - white

MAKE AN ENQUIRY

BOOK ONLINE

Not ready to make a booking right now? Chat with our team.

ENQUIRE

Exceptional Kangaroo Island logo - blue on transparent

COVID-19 UPDATE

Exceptional Kangaroo Island has recommenced private and small group touring operations, operated in a COVID-safe manner.