AUS 1-2 28/4/09 13:58 Page 52
Australasia
Wild about Australia Where to go for the best experiences of the country’s
amazing animals p52; Mind the gap Recessionistas join the ranks of gap-year
travellers p55; Hot property The latest hotel news and reviews p60
Australian wildlife
Weird and
From koalas to crocs,
Australia is famous for
its incredible animals.
James Litston reveals
the best places to send
wonderful
clients who want to get
close to the continent’s
craziest creatures
Southern cassowary, Queensland
Take an emu, dress it in black, give it a Brave-
heart-style makeover and an attitude to
match, and voila! – you’ve got the southern
cassowary. These flightless forest dwellers
are the world’s third-largest birds and are
unmistakable, with long legs, black shaggy
skirts, crested heads and bright blue necks.
Generally secretive in nature, they’re also
known for their bad tempers when cornered
and can deliver a knockout kick – so advise
clients to keep a respectful distance!
Once common, cassowaries are sadly
endangered and found only in the rain-
forests of northern Queensland, with the
green expanses hugging the Daintree coast
being a particular hotspot.
Sample package: Travel 2 has a seven-day self-
drive itinerary to Cairns and the Daintree Rain-
forest from £305pp including accommodation
and car hire. Cassowaries can often be seen on
the drive along the road to Cape Tribulation.
■
travel.2.com
Platypus, Victoria
This endearing creature, popularly known
as the duck-billed platypus, symbolises all
that makes Australia’s indigenous wildlife so
fascinating. Famous for its duck-like beak,
the platypus’s strangeness goes beyond mere
appearances. Along with its relative the
echidna (another Aussie speciality), the
platypus is the only species of egg-laying
mammal on Earth.
They’re notoriously difficult to spot in the
A southern cassowary in the Daintree Rainforest wild, but Adventure Victoria’s Platypus
52 01.05.2009
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