Blue Bonnet Parrots, Mungo National Park Catherine Douglas
Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
Join this tailored itinerary especially designed for wildlife photographers. With our expert guides travel on an exclusive expedition to wildlife rich Mungo National Park and East Gippsland is south-eastern Australia
Mon 29 September to Sat 11 October 2025
Itinerary : 13 days | Just Photos
Take your time and get the best photographs with our expert guides. Spend time at the same location for longer so you can capture top quality wildlife photos in the best light, at the best time of day.
This exclusive, once only, photography expedition is for experienced photographers from both overseas and from Australia.
We spend extended time in two very different wildlife rich regions:
- the outback country of Mungo National Park and
- the coastal forests of East Gippsland
Small group of 4 to 5 people
Trip departs late September and runs into October 2025
Prices from: AU $8,400 per person
CHECK OUT OUR PHOTO ALBUMS:
Bookings & Questions
Email us with this code: Photo Expedition
Tailored Itinerary
Included Meals shown thus: B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
Day 1: Mon 29th Sep – Arrive Melbourne
Arrive Melbourne Airport. Transfer to Melbourne hotel.
Free time in Melbourne.
Overnight Melbourne
Day 2: Tue 30th Sep – Melbourne to Mungo National Park
Early morning transfer from your hotel to Melbourne Airport for flight to Mildura (arr approx 0930). At Mildura you will be picked up at the airport to begin your journey. We’ll stop at a few small nature reserves to search for birds and kangaroos, have a picnic lunch then head into the outback aiming to arrive at Mungo Lodge mid to late afternoon. Settle in then scope out initial photo opportunities in Mungo National Park.
Overnight Mungo Lodge (4 nights) (B,L,D)
Days 3,4 & 5: Wed 1st to Fri 3rd Oct – 3 full days of photography in Mungo National Park
Around Mungo there are numerous locations for excellent wildlife photography. There are a number of waterholes that attract both birds and mammals especially in the late afternoon. Early morning is the best time for birdlife (cockatoos & parrots) and to catch up with two species of kangaroos that are often out in the open and afford great photo opportunities in the morning light. During the rest of the day Emus move around the dry lakebeds looking for food and , in warmer weather, there’s the chance of seeing reptiles (monitors and dragon lizards)
Landscape photography at Mungo is dramatic especially at sunrise and sunset when the low angle of the sun and the desert atmosphere provides special opportunities for magical photos.
We’ll plan these days based on light, weather conditions (heat and wind), available water sources and the movements of wildlife.
Overnight Mungo Lodge (BLD)
Day 6: Sat 4th Oct – Mungo to Melbourne
Morning departure from Mungo Lodge. En route to Mildura Airport we’ll stop at the junction of Australia’s two largest rivers that both flow through dry country and are therefore a great place to catch up with birds that are more reliant on water. This is also a very beautiful location for a short walk before your guide drops you off at Mildura Airport for your return flight to Melbourne.
Upon arrival at Melbourne Airport you will be met and transferred back to your Melbourne hotel
Overnight Melbourne (B)
Days 7 & 8: Sun 5th to Mon 6th Oct – Melbourne to East Gippsland (Raymond Island)
Morning pick up from your hotel in Melbourne to begin your journey into the wilds of East Gippsland. Most of the morning will be spent getting into the region although there will be some stops en route including the chance of seeing and photographing the elusive Echidna, a monotreme covered with spines that looks a little like an overgrown hedgehog and is the Platypus’ closest relative.
We’ll arrive at the ferry to Raymond Island in the early afternoon and get onto this island refuge in time for lunch. The rest of the day will be spent walking and driving the small island in search of Koalas and Eastern-grey kangaroos. We’ll also have another chance to see Echidnas and good opportunities to see Black Swans and other water birds.
Having checked out where the wildlife is on Raymond Island we’ll follow up with an in-depth dive into photographing the wildlife especially the abundant koalas
Overnight on Raymond Island at The Abbey (BLD)
Days 9,10 & 11: Tue 7th to Thu 9th Oct – 3 full days in far East Gippsland wilderness
This morning we’ll leave Raymond Island and head further east into the wildlife wonderland that is far East Gippsland. For three days we’ll explore the forests and coastline of this magical wilderness searching for wombats, possums, wallabies, kangaroos and the elusive platypus.
East Gippsland is famous for its nocturnal wildlife, including flying possums, but finding and photographing nocturnal animals can be challenging both on equipment and on people. So be prepared!
Depending on temperatures we may see snakes and the giant monitor lizard called the goanna (Lace Monitor).
Mornings and late afternoons into the evenings are the best time to see Australian marsupials. Our plan will be to start early each day and go to specific locations to search for specific wildlife. We’ll take an early afternoon break to rest up before going out again in the late afternoon and into the evening to spotlight for nocturnals. Timings will depend on weather and on moonlight. Some evenings could be quite late. Some meals may be taken with us and eaten near where we are working.
Overnight Snowy River Homestead (BLD)
Day 12: Fri 10th Oct – return to Melbourne
Today we’ll have a relaxing breakfast before returning to Melbourne with some potential stops on the way for any final chances to see wildlife
Overnight Melbourne (BL)
Day 13: Sat 11th Oct – tour ends. Depart Melbourne for ongoing travels
This morning we’ll arrange an early transfer from your hotel to Melbourne Airport to arrive in time to check in and board your onwards flight (B)
Bookings & Questions
Email us with this code: Photo Expedition
Potential wildlife sightings
Wildlife on the Mungo leg of the trip:
parrots (many species, all gorgeous), cockatoos (at least 3 species including the Pink Cockatoo), kangaroos (2-3 species), reptiles, emus (numerous) NB Mungo is the land of the kangaroo, one of the best places to see them
Wildlife on the East Gippsland leg of the trip:
koalas, kangaroos, wallabies (2 species), wombats, echidna, platypus, numerous parrots and cockatoos, reptiles including large monitor lizards. Also possible are ocean mammals.
Tour inclusions
- expert wildlife guide with photographic support experience
- all accommodation meals as shown above
- airport transfers
- air conditioned vehicles
Not included
- international flights
- internal flights
- gratuities
- dinners in Melbourne (you’ll have fun choosing your own, Melbourne has heaps to choose from and we can make some recommendations)
- alcoholic beverages
- camera equipment
- any accommodation, meals or transfers outside of those described in the itinerary
Cancellations & Travel Insurance
Cancellations by us
If you have booked and paid for a tour that is cancelled by us prior to the departure date we may do one only of the following:
- Offer you the tour on another occasion
- Offer an alternative tour
If neither of the above is possible we will refund the amount you have paid us for the tour (this amount does not include flight).
During the tour – Echidna Walkabout will always attempt to run your tour as per our itinerary. However, travel in remote locations can be influenced by a wide range of conditions and factors that are often out of our control and which may cause us to modify the tour.
We may have to modify the itinerary due to extreme heat, wet weather, poor road conditions or as a result of police, health or emergency services requirements. We will always try to get you back for your flights. However you must be aware that we will not compensate you in any way whatsoever for any losses or liabilities you may incur.
Cancellations by you
If you need to cancel your booking with us please note the following conditions:
- We will refund your deposit, less any administration costs, up to 61 days prior to the start date of the tour. NOTE: an administration fee may include non refundable deposits or full payments we may have made for your tour to accommodation providers or any other provider
- Final payments are NOT refundable. In this case final payment is due 60 days prior to the start date of the tour.
Travel Insurance
We highly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance before you book your flights.
Photo Credit
Thankyou to our previous guest, Catherine Douglas, for the use of her photos in this article. Catherine’s photos are Copyright and must not be used without her permission.
Echidna Walkabout is a Founding Member of Australian Wildlife Journeys.
We also create, guide and operate tours for Australian Geographic Travel
