Itinerary
Day 1Sunday, 13 October 2024Arrive in Roma and check into Roma Explorers Inn. 6pm: We all meet for dinner and get to know each other. Day 2Monday, 12 October 2024Enjoy an early continental breakfast in your room. 6.30am: Park your vehicle at the Boobook Office or we can pick you up from the motel. We’ll take a group photo, check our gear and pack the 4WD for our expedition. 7am: Depart from Roma for a picturesque drive through the outback and on to the more remote area beyond Injune. 9am: Arrive at Wallaroo Outback Retreat in nearly 300 square kilometres of privately-owned bushland, which is your base for the next few days. Check in to your deluxe glamping tent and stow your luggage. 12.30pm: Lunch at the retreat. We’ll talk more about the expedition, our objectives and how we will approach our task. 1.30pm: A general orientation of Wallaroo Outback Retreat. We’ll provide insights into major habitat types, the general topography, landscape features and scenic viewpoints. 3.30pm: We’ll walk to the Dawson River survey area and set up camera traps and an Anabat recorder. Late afternoon: Rakali (Australian water rat) observation. 6pm: Return to the retreat and take a breather before dinner. 7pm: There’s a generous dinner of wholesome food and then we can relax around the firepit for a chat before bed. Day 3Tuesday, 15 October 20246am: Breakfast at the retreat. 7am: Pack your lunches from a great selection and we’ll have a short briefing on the day’s activity. 7.30am-4pm: We’ll be out all day today exploring the Upper Dawson catchment. We work in teams to undertake a protected plants survey, collect target plant specimens and observe any fauna. We’ll cover 5-7 kilometres and there will be time for a leisurely lunch amid the pristine bush. 7pm: Dinner is back at the retreat. There’s plenty of food for big appetites after our full day. 8pm: Our ecologist will take you out to spot fauna around the camp area. We’ll also identify and press our flora specimens and process the day’s data. |
Day 4Wednesday, 16 October 20246am: Breakfast at the retreat enjoying early morning nature waking up around us. 7am: Pre-start meeting. Pack lunches. 7.30am-4pm: It’s another full day exploring further into the Upper Dawson catchment. Everyone is involved in a collecting and observing team, ensuring we cover the terrain as thoroughly as possible. It’s exciting going this deeply into remote country that hasn’t been biologically mapped before and seeing what fauna and flora may be protected here far from regular human activity. 7pm: Dinner at the retreat. 8pm: Our evening spotlighting walk will go out to the upper Dawson River this evening and see what fauna are going about their nocturnal lives. And there’s the day’s identification and pressing of specimens and data processing to do too. Day 5Thursday, 17 October 20246am: Breakfast at the retreat. 7am: Our days are following a pattern and it’s time to take in the pre-exploration briefing to find out what our priorities are today. 7.30am-4pm: Each day there’s new terrain to explore in the Upper Dawson catchment and each day may be the day you’ll spot something rare or previously undiscovered. Whatever we find, you’ll get a fantastic understanding of the interconnected biodiversity here as our ecologist explains what we’re seeing and why something unusual may be somewhere close by. 4.30pm: Today we have a special excursion at sunset to catch the dusk activity around Wallaroo. We may go to the Rainbow Cave or spotlight owls, or whatever our ecologist thinks will give you additional opportunities to appreciate the fauna and terrain. 7pm: It’s our last dinner at Wallaroo and by now you and your fellow explorers will be good mates. There’s time to sit around the firepit and compare notes on the expedition and what it’s shown you. 8pm: Join our final session to identify and press specimens, and document our data. What rare and unexpected things will this year’s expedition have uncovered? You’ll be the first to know because you were part of it! Day 6Friday, 18 October 20246am: You’ll miss the daily routine of breakfast amidst the active morning birdlife of Wallaroo. Make the most of your final morning! 7am: Retrieve our camera traps and Anabat. Pack up our expedition gear and our own gear. 9am: A final meeting to share and celebrate the successes of the trip. 9.30am: Depart Wallaroo for our journey back to Roma. 12pm: Unpack at the Boobook headquarters in Roma and say our goodbyes. |
What you need to bring
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FAQs
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How far do we walk each day? Between 5-7km per day depending on our location. |
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What is the terrain like? Expect dense and thick bushes, rocks/boulders, possibly some pools/puddles, uneven ground and some steep areas. |
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Do you need experience to do this holiday? No experience is necessary. Our senior ecologist guide will provide guidance and detailed instruction throughout. |
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What equipment is provided? We carry maps, GPS, radios, a satellite phone, first aid kit, plant presses, field guides, insect nets, microscope and all other field gear. |
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Is there mobile reception? Mobile reception is limited. There is some Wi-Fi connection in certain areas of Wallaroo Outback Retreat. |
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