On our way along the Great Ocean Road we stopped in Apollo Bay for the night to do an amazing Wildlife Wonders tour to see native animals. Wildlife Wonders is owned by the Conservation Ecology Centre. This privately-owned enterprise is aiming to save the native animals of the Otway Ranges. And their work on forest and fire ecology is paving the way to restore the region’s natural processes. It is hoped that the animals we saw on this tour might one day become re-established in the wild.
Our experience began at 6:30pm with dinner among other guests on the dining table. Before we’d even finished eating, an emu and six chicks appeared outside the window to drink from a small pond. After a brief orientation we headed into the 37ha predator-proofed sanctuary. Our aim was to search for the animals as they emerged on dusk. We immediately stumbled across a Red-necked Wallaby preening itself in the evening light.
Eucalypt Forest
This site used to be a farm and the path weaves its way through a restored eucalypt forest with a tree fern understorey. Above our heads were several koalas, all sitting precariously on narrow limbs. Their butts, we were told, are made of cartilage and wrap around the branch for extra purchase!
On the forest floor, a Long-nosed Potoroo appeared. These animals are hanging on by a thread in the wild in the Otways. Cousins of the kangaroos, they have a long face and Roman-nose.
The Grassland
Exiting the forest, we emerged onto a grassy plain overlooking the vast blue southern ocean. There was a cool breeze but the sky had cleared and the colour contrasted with the golden haxe of the introduced grasses and the green coastal vegetation.
The emus reappeared and followed us along the path. All the animals here are accustomed to visitors and act as sentinels for our journey through the Otway’s natural history. We paused to take in the view of Cape Otway before rounding the headland and marching back uphill towards the visitors centre.
The male emu guards the chicks and we were careful to remain a respectful distance. They were foraging in the grass as he watched us through glowing orange eyes.
On the hill top next to the visitor cente stood the largest of the site’s marsupials. Several Eastern Grey Kangaroos, including a large male, females and young joeys stood proudly against the blue sea. Their pelts gleamed in the setting sun as they bounded back towards the forest cover.
Visitor Centre
At the top of the hill is the visitor centre where we stepped inside to read information and look at specimens such as shed snake skins, birds’ nests and skulls arranged in glass cabinets.
By the time we stepped back outside, the evening light was glowing orange and the sun was filtered through the feathery fronds of the coastal sheoaks.
We had one more surprise in store. A Rufous-bellied Pademelon bounded across the path and settled in the short grass nearby. These diminutive wallabies are extinct on mainland Australia and only hang on in Tasmania. These and all the animals we saw tonight are only semi-wild. They were introduced here to give visitors an impression of what the bush used to be, and might be once more, in the future. It’s hard to imagine how animals like this could once again be super-abundant throughout our landscape.
There ended a wonderful tour, wonderfully led by our guide Erin and of course, all the natural wildlife wonders Australia has to offer. As we reached the beautifully stocked gift shop, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos were descending to roost. A Satin Bowerbird called from a nearby copse and Gang Gang Cockatoos flew over, giving off their rasping call.
If you’re ever in Apollo Bay, this amazing Wildlife Wonders tour is a must-do. It’s very good value for money, highly enjoyable and informative. What’s more, the entire experience is contributing to a healthier future for the region and our planet.
My thanks go to the centre’s wonderful founders Lizzie Corke, Shayne Neale and all their colleagues, for making this possible.
To find out more, visit: https://www.wildlifewonders.org.au/
