Dates Nov 1–20, 2007
Leaders John Shaw and Darran Leal
Fee $7,895 from Sydney, Australia
Internal flights arranged at additional cost
Deposit $400
Limit 16
Terms and Conditions

Billabongs and coolibahs, bandicoots and bimbils, barramundis and wallaroos! Australia is an island continent where all life and the landforms have evolved in their own individual patterns.

Our 20-day photo odyssey takes in a multitude of habitats and as much of the continent’s wildlife as possible—including kangaroos, photogenic and cuddly koalas in eucalyptus trees, and many of the birds unique to Australia—all this plus some
of Australia’s remarkable scenery!

Our journey includes beautiful Sydney, including a visit to the Botanical Gardens with dazzling views of the Sydney Harbor Bridge, Opera House and city skyline.

On Kangaroo Island—one of the best locations for wildlife in all Australia—we’ll photograph threatened Australian sea lions, koalas, fur seals, little penguins, Cape Barren geese and, of course, kangaroos. Because of a lack of predators and the introduction of species under threat on the mainland, the wildlife here is diverse and abundant. Flinders Chase National Park, the Remarkable Rocks and the wild and spectacular coastal scenery will tempt your creative landscape skills.

We continue on to Alice Springs, the geographical
center of Australia, and explore the rugged and remote gorges of the West MacDonnell Range, a landscape of vivid folds of sedimentary rock cut with steep-walled narrow chasms featuring deep permanent water holes. These scenic oases should host a vast variety of birds and mammals.

The "Red Center" offers magical Ayers Rock, the world’s largest monolith, in Uluru National Park—a photographic highlight in this world of natural wonders. As the sun moves, there is a spectrum of changing colors—until sunset—when the changes occur by the minute! We’ll also spend ample time at the Olgas Range, or Kata Tjuta, known for outstanding landscape photography and search for "thorny devils"—extraordinary looking ant-eating lizards—along the roadway.

From the perspective of a treetop canopy walkway in Lamington National Park, we’ll experience remarkable close-up views of the birdlife of the area. And at O'Reilly's Guest House, hundreds of flamboyant crimson rosellas and king parrots are literally hand fed and extremely tame, and at dusk wallabies hop about right outside your guestroom door.

Finally, we explore Lady Elliot Island. Located at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef, the island provides a haven for over 50,000 seabirds during nesting season beginning in November. During our visit several species, including Caspian and crested terns, silver gulls, ospreys and white-bellied sea eagles will be incubating eggs or with chicks. Loggerhead turtles, measuring four to five feet in length, return to the same beaches on which they were born more than fifty years ago. At low tide the reef yields a diverse array of photo subjects, including brilliantly-colored blue starfish.

Join us as we explore some of the best nature photography this unique island continent has to offer!



Day 1
Depart on flights from the US.

Day 2
Cross the International Date Line.

Day 3 (Nov 3)
Arrive in Sydney. Meet for dinner. (D)

Day 4
Morning exploration of Sydney. Afternoon flight to Adelaide. (BLD)

Day 5
Depart for the ferry to Kangaroo Island. (BLD)

Days 6–7
Flinders Chase National Park, the Remarkable Rocks, gray kangaroos at Kelly Hill and the sea lion colony at Seal Bay are subjects for our cameras. (BLD)

Day 8
Depart early for Adelaide and our flight to Alice Springs. (BLD)

Day 9
Full day in the West MacDonnell Range. (BLD)

Day 10
We drive to the "Red Center." Sunset photography at Ayers Rock, Australia’s most iconic location. (BLD)

Days 11–12
Two full days of landscape photography, beginning with sunrise at Ayers Rock and continuing with exploration of the rounded domes of the Olgas. (BLD)

Day 13
After a final opportunity to shoot at Ayers Rock, we return to Alice Springs. Afternoon at Desert Wildlife Park to photograph many species nearly impossible to shoot in the wild. (BLD)

Day 14
Fly Alice Springs to Brisbane and drive to Lamington National Park, in one of the world’s great rain forest regions. (BLD)

Days 15–16
O'Reilly's Guest House is famous for its extraordinary photogenic birdlife. (BLD)

Day 17
Fly to Hervey Bay and begin exploring Lady Elliot Island. Evening search for nesting loggerhead turtles. (BLD)

Day 18
A full day to photograph the island’s abundant seabird species and productive reefs. (BLD)

Day 19
Final morning for photography before our flight to Sydney. (BLD)

Day 20 (Nov 20)
Depart on flights home any time today.


Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris, Inc. P.O. Box 655, Vashon Island, Washington USA 98070
Phone: (206) 463-5383   Fax: (206) 463-5484    Email: info@photosafaris.com
Copyright © 2008, Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris, Inc.