AUSTRALIAN WILDLIFE JOURNEYS WELCOMES SYDNEY BESPOKE TOURS & PERTH WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS

Sydney Bespoke Tours and Perth Wildlife Encounters are the latest additions to the Australian Wildlife Journeys collective, showcasing wildlife in the wild experiences across the country.

Led by Owner & Managing Director, Steve Nomchong, Sydney Bespoke Tours has been curating itineraries featuring the natural wonders, unique wildlife and vibrant culture of Sydney and surrounds since 2009. On the Sydney Wildlife Safari experience, guests can visit the pristine bushland of the Southern Highlands, just 90 minutes from Sydney, to observe several of Australia's most iconic species in the afternoon and evening, including kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, cockatoos, kookaburras, Superb Lyrebirds, Emus and the elusive Platypus.

Travelling in shared or private groups of up to eight guests, the experience combines walks through national parks and nature reserves, drives through pristine farmland and visits to the Southern Highlands' charming towns. Following a platypus spotting session and dinner at Australia's oldest continuously licensed Inn, guides lead a spotlighting experience, to see nocturnal species including Brush-tailed Possums and Common Wombats via red-filtered flashlights, before returning to Sydney.

“The Sydney Bespoke Tours team is delighted to join Australian Wildlife Journeys, to showcase the incredible wildlife and natural attractions on Sydney's doorstep to a greater volume of travellers desiring responsible wildlife encounters,” said Managing Director of Sydney Bespoke Tours, Steve Nomchong.

With the region encompassing the Great Western Wildlife Corridor, a key migration route between the southern Blue Mountains World Heritage area and Morton National Park, guests are encouraged to contribute to several important citizen science biodiversity projects in the region being led by the Wingecarribee Shire Council. This includes the Southern Highlands Koala Conservation Project, Southern Highlands Platypus Conservation Project and Glossies in the Mist Project, tracking the beautiful Glossy Black Cockatoo.

Perth Wildlife Encounters has been offering the opportunity to swim with wild Bottlenose Dolphins across the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park since 1989, when owner Terry Howson dedicated months of observation and interaction, to develop a truly wild dolphin encounter without feeding or touching the majestic creatures.

Boasting the only marine park reserve in an Australian capital city, guests can experience a myriad of wildlife above and below water via custom-built vessels, including Bottlenose Dolphins, Australian Sea-lions, Little Penguins, pelicans, Osprey, stingrays, terns and cormorants.

After an optional 50-minute bus transfer from Perth’s central business district to Rockingham, guests can choose immersive marine activities such as the Swim with Wild Dolphins experience or the 3 Islands Wildlife Snorkel which includes swimming with acrobatic and curious Australian Sea-lions. Alternatively, the Dolphin, Sea lion and Penguin Island Cruise, combines a relaxing glass-bottom wildlife cruise and guided wildlife walk on Penguin Island, providing exclusive insight into the local penguins, the spectacular landscapes and the natural history of the island.

Operating from late September through to early June, the Swim with Dolphins and 3 Islands Wildlife snorkel experiences, provide guests the opportunity to swim with marine life in small groups led by expert guides, complemented by spectacular crystal-clear water, rugged limestone coastlines, idyllic beaches and gourmet style platters including local fresh seafood served onboard the vessels.

Guests can also elect to visit Penguin Island via a five minute ferry ride from Shoalwater, where swimming, snorkelling, and exploring the nature trails are popular options. The island is a critical breeding ground for numerous seabirds and home to colonies of Little Penguins, with the region granted the highest conservation status of all penguin colonies in Australia.

“Perth Wildlife Encounters takes great pride and feels privileged to introduce guests from all over the globe to this special part of Western Australia,” said Co-Owner, Chad D’Souza.

“Our team plays a key role in managing this critical marine sanctuary, in partnership with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation & Attractions (DCBA), aiming to minimise human impact on the island, increase the population of vulnerable species such as Little Penguins, while promoting environmental stewardship and education. We're excited to collaborate with fellow wildlife operators across Australia, who share our passion to achieve nature-positive outcomes," he said.

Australian Wildlife Journeys’ Executive Officer, John Daw, said both organisations were important additions for expanding the collective’s experiences across key gateways.

“Since formation, the collective has compiled an incredible mix of regional-based experiences. We are excited at the possibilities of linking our existing portfolio, with these iconic cities and aviation hubs for international travellers,” Daw said.