Go on holiday, save some lives!: Australian Traveller looks at some of the volunteer travel options offered by Earthwatch.
The good people at Earthwatch are offering all interested persons the chance to get up close and personal with some of Australia’s most fascinating – and vulnerable – creatures, all while immersing yourself in areas of the country you might never experience.
The not-for-profit environmental organisation whose mission it is to engage people in scientific field research is currently supporting more than 120 research expeditions around the globe – a dozen of which are right here on Australian shores. So if you’d like the chance to travel and work alongside some seriously dedicated field scientists and researchers, this could well be for you. So, which would you rather do: help the turtles of northwest WA, or look in on the echidnas of SA’s Kangaroo Island?
Turtles
In WA’sKimberley region, perhaps the least known ofAustralia’s turtles are the freshwater variety. And you’ll be camping out near stunning gorges, spending your days snorkelling and catching turtles, and your evenings measuring and examining them, then helping leading scientists process the data collected. The vital research you’ll be contributing to will help discover exactly how the population of this breed of turtle is managing in the wild, and whether or not measures are required to assist in their conservation.
Nights around the campfire, stunning Aboriginal rock art to contemplate, and a worthwhile cause to support. What could be better?
Echidnas
If you’re more keen to help out these spiky little fellows rather than their hard-shelled turtle cousins to the north, how does hiking aroundKangarooIsland sound?
On this expedition, Earthwatch volunteers will be continuing the work of a valuable 17-year look at the life histories and ecologies of individual echidnas on the island – so you’ll be helping to shed light on the fascinating biology of this species and how best to help protect the island ecosystem.KangarooIslandis teeming with an array of wildlife, so you’ll never be short of something interesting to get involved in there!
Costs range from $280 to $6000 to join an Earthwatch expedition, and each one lasts from two to 19 days. Your entry fee goes towards research costs, covers all lodging levies (accom, food, equipment), as well as on-the-job training – and even the costs of offsetting greenhouse gas emissions from travel. You don’t need any scientific skills at all to participate – just a sense of adventure, a passion for the environment and a willingness to help out.
So if you’re between the ages of 18 and 90, call (03) 9682 6828 or check out www.earthwatch.org.au and find out how you can do your part.
Hobart has quietly become our coolest capital, but the real wonder lies just beyond the city limits.
In the cool shade of Kunyani/ Mt Wellington, Hobart has earned a reputation. Home to culture-defining Dark MOFO, the city blends rugged, raw wilderness and rule-breaking galleries. But, step beyond the thrumming capital’s border and you’ll find a new perspective: historic towns, Jurassic-era cliffs and a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. With ALL Accor as your home away from home, fill your days with epicurean odysseys and wild scenery on the best day trips from Hobart.
Where to stay
Behind every good road trip is the perfect home base. Somewhere central to review your camera roll, make the most of Hobart’s dining scene and relax before setting off again.
For modern, Tasmanian-inspired design, book a stay at the Movenpick Hotel Hobart. Standing at the Salamanca Markets, look to the Hobart skyline and the award-winning hotel will catch your eye. As the third-tallest building in the CBD, the views across the harbour toward Antarctica are totally unique to your room. Here, end each day at the daily free chocolate hour (plus a free Movenpick ice cream for the little ones).
For a more budget-conscious option, head to the picture book, sandstone buildings of Macquarie Street. Nestled along the buzzing, historic streetscape, you’ll find Tasmania’s biggest hotel: the Ibis Styles. Return home each day to defrost in one of the hotel’s two saunas. Make use of the proximity to MONA, or take an easy stroll to the candy-coloured cottages of Battery Point between your adventures.
Elevate your Hobart stay with sleek style at Mövenpick.
1. Bruny Island
Craggy cliffs and tropical-hued, white sand beaches signal your arrival to Bruny Island/ Lunawanna-Alonnah.
Start your day trip at the island’s most iconic spot, the Neck Game Reserve. Scale the Trunganini steps to gaze out over the teensy stretch of land that juts through the sea connecting the two ends of the island.
Catch a rare glimpse of the white furred wallabies that call Bruny Island home at Adventure Bay. Then, for ocean-fresh oysters, pull into the drive-thru window at Get Shucked. Sample Bruny Island cheese at the cellar door before catching the ferry home with an esky full of local produce.
Begin your adventure with a climb and a view. (Image: Elise Weaver)
2. Mount Wellington
At 1271 metres, Mount Wellington watches protectively over Hobart. Follow the winding road to climb through alpine forest and tufts of snow to reach the summit. Gaze down over Hobart and out to sea, or over your shoulder to the southwestern wilderness.
Reset your adrenaline with a mountain bike ride back down. Or, make like the locals and head into the mountain on foot. Try the hike to the Jurassic-period Organ Pipes which slips under the mountain’s magnificent dolerite cliffs (perfect for families thanks to the trail’s minimal incline).
For a view of Mount Wellington itself, hike nearby Cathedral Rock.
Climb through alpine forest to the summit. (Image: Paul Flemming)
2. Port Arthur
Constructed entirely by convicts, the manicured gardens and penal buildings of Port Arthur offer a day trip that practically hums with history.
The rugged, seagirt location was chosen for its difficult escape conditions. Now, you can cruise the coast below the towering, jagged cliffs of the Tasman National Park or wander the sloping fields of fragrant lavender.
Tickets to Port Arthur include a walking tour and harbour cruise. See the Isle of the Dead where 1000 men are buried in marked and unmarked graves. And Point Puer, Britain’s first prison for children.
Wander convict-built grounds and gardens. (Image: Dearna Bond)
3. Launceston
You’ll find Launceston at the confluence of three rivers after an easy 2.5-hour drive from Hobart. Launceston is a patchwork of old and new. Here, heritage streetscapes meet modern architecture.
Visit Cataract Gorge, the green, sun-dappled heart of the town and sacred meeting point for Tasmania’s indigenous communities. Pull up at roadside produce stalls that dot the Tamar Valley, or dine out. Launceston is, after all, a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.
Should the local wine scene persuade you, simply extend your time in Launceston at Peppers Silo (but definitely at least stop by the onsite restaurant, Grain of the Silo, for a farm fresh menu) or Mercure Launceston before heading back to Hobart.
Walk the sunlit paths of Cataract Gorge. (Image: Nick H Visuals)
4. Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
Take a 35-minute drive from your hotel and you’ll find Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. This social enterprise is run by a team of extremely passionate Tasmanians with a mission to look after critically endangered species who have found sanctuary here after facing extinction on the mainland.
Choose to wander the sanctuary at your own pace or join a guided tour (free with your ticket) to come face to face with Tassie’s most iconic species. Tasmanian Devils, wombats and echidnas are part of the free tour. You can book up close encounters with your favourite animals, too.
Snap a cuddle-worthy encounter. (Image: Tourism Australia)
5. Richmond Village & Coal River Valley
Richmond is a town that belongs in a snow globe. Fifty colonial-era, Georgian buildings have been painstakingly restored and turned into cafes, cosy restaurants and galleries. Visit Richmond Gaol , said to be the home of a prisoner so vile he inspired Charles Dickens to pen Oliver Twist’s Fagin.
Then, follow the Coal River as it flows past grassy, duckling-dotted knolls and under the iconic Richmond Bridge, the oldest bridge in Australia. From the crest of the bridge, see the oldest Catholic Church in Australia. The river crawls past many cellar doors, perfect for a day of wine tasting.
Trace the river through history and wine country. (Image: Fin Matson)
Plan your trip to Hobart and beyond with ALL Accor at All.com .
