From Sydney: Australian Wildlife Safari with Lunch & Dinner

Kangaroos grazing in open country are only part of the show on this 10-hour Southern Highlands safari. You’ll look for birds and marsupials by day, then use red spotlights to search for wombats, possums and sugar gliders after dark. Platypus may appear along the way, though wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed.

I like two things in particular: the small group of no more than eight, which gives you more room to ask questions and scan for animals, and the mix of field time with a hearty pub dinner. Guides such as Emma have been praised for knowing where to look and for making the drive and wildlife stops engaging.

The main consideration is the long day and uneven terrain. You’ll need to manage walks of about a kilometre at a time, sometimes on steep, rough or slippery trails and riverbanks, and the wildlife is free to keep its own schedule.

The safari at a glance

• A 90-minute drive each way connects central Sydney with the Southern Highlands, so expect a full day out rather than a quick wildlife stop.
• Birdlife fills the afternoon: kookaburras, rosellas and cockatoos are among the likely sights, with emu also possible in open country.
• Kangaroos and wallabies are part of the search, along with a chance of seeing a platypus feeding in still water.
• Red spotlights bring the night search to life, with wombats, possums and tiny feathertail gliders among the animals you may spot.
• Lunch, dinner and field equipment are included, including binoculars, handheld spotlights and wildlife reference guides.

Leaving Circular Quay for the Southern Highlands

Meet outside the Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel at 30 Pitt Street, close to Circular Quay. The light rail stop, train station, bus stops and ferry wharves are about a two-minute walk away. If you’re staying in central Sydney, the meeting point is also within a five-to-20-minute walk of many hotels.

The drive takes about 90 minutes, giving your guide time to introduce the wildlife you may encounter and explain how to look for signs of less obvious species. That context matters. Spotting a moving kangaroo is one thing; learning to read the bush for clues to an animal that has slipped away makes the day more rewarding.

The van has air conditioning, useful after a warm afternoon outdoors or on the return trip late at night. The tour lasts about 10 hours, so plan for most of your day to be spent away from central Sydney. Exact start times vary, so check availability for your date.

Learning to read the bush

After arriving in the Southern Highlands, you’ll have a light lunch of gourmet wraps, juice and water. It’s a practical start, not a long restaurant stop: you’ll want the time and daylight for the wildlife search ahead.

The guide also introduces local conservation projects and the basics of wildlife tracking. That short lesson helps you see the bush as more than scenery. You’ll be looking for signs and habits that can tell you where an animal might feed, rest or cross a path.

Binoculars and wildlife reference guides are provided. They’re useful for picking out birds in trees and checking what you’ve seen, though you should still bring your own camera if you want photos. As recent trips have shown, an experienced guide can make a real difference to where and how you search. Emma, named by several participants, has been especially praised for her sense of where animals tend to be, and for keeping the day lively with a good sense of humour.

Bird calls and open-country sightings

The afternoon takes you through bushland and open country with a wide range of birdlife. Kookaburras may give themselves away with their distinctive calls, while rosellas and cockatoos can flash through the trees in bright bursts of colour. Keep watching the open ground too, where emu may be wandering.

This is the part of the day when patience pays. Birds can be easier to hear than to see, and a quick glimpse of colour may be all you get before a bird disappears among the branches. Binoculars help, but so does following your guide’s directions and taking time to scan rather than rushing from one stop to the next.

The range of habitats gives the day its variety. You aren’t simply visiting one enclosure to see a fixed set of animals. You’re looking for wildlife in its natural surroundings, which makes each sighting feel more meaningful, but also less predictable.

Kangaroos, wallabies and the chance of a platypus

Later in the afternoon, the focus shifts to kangaroos and wallabies. You may see kangaroos grazing and wallabies darting through the undergrowth. The guide’s knowledge of where animals are likely to appear can help you make the most of the available time, but these are wild animals, not scheduled performers.

There’s also a chance to look for platypus feeding in still water. This is the most uncertain sighting on the tour. A platypus is elusive, and the description of the experience makes clear that luck plays a part. Treat it as a possible bonus, not the reason to book.

The wildlife seen on individual outings can vary. One recent trip included kangaroos, wallabies, emu, many bird species, possums, sugar gliders and a platypus. That’s an impressive range, but it should not be read as a guarantee that you’ll see every one of them.

Dinner at a historic country pub

As daylight fades, you’ll stop for a hearty country-style dinner at a historic pub. The meal is part of the package, with a drink from the bar included. After several hours outdoors, a sit-down dinner is a welcome pause before heading out again.

The pub also gives the experience a local, country-town feel that a packed lunch alone would miss. Still, this is not a dining tour: the meal is a practical, substantial stop within a wildlife-focused day. Anyone under 18 cannot consume alcohol, and photo identification may be requested to confirm age.

Red spotlights and the night search

Once it’s dark, you’ll head back out with handheld red spotlights to look for nocturnal animals. Wombats may amble across clearings, possums may feed in treetops, and small feathertail gliders may be moving through the night.

The spotlight changes the pace of the search. You’ll be scanning the ground and trees rather than following the colourful birdlife of the afternoon. A sighting may be brief, and it can take patience to pick an animal out of the darkness. That uncertainty is part of the appeal, but it also means you should not expect every nocturnal species listed to appear.

The tour provides the lights, so you don’t need to bring a spotlight of your own. Listen to your guide and follow directions about where to point it. You’ll be sharing the search with a small group, which helps keep the experience focused.

What the $300 price includes

At $300 per person, this is a considered purchase, but the price covers more than transport to the countryside. It includes about 10 hours of guiding, air-conditioned transport, lunch, pub dinner with a drink, binoculars, spotlights and wildlife reference guides. The group is capped at eight, which is a useful advantage when you’re trying to hear explanations or get a clear view.

The best value comes from combining daytime and nighttime wildlife searches in one trip. You don’t need to arrange separate transport, meals or equipment, and the guide provides context that can help you notice more than you would on your own. If you’re keen to see Australian wildlife in the wild but don’t have a car or much time outside Sydney, that convenience matters.

Value depends on your expectations. There’s no promise of a platypus, wombat or sugar glider, and wildlife sightings are never fully under the guide’s control. If you need certainty or prefer a short, low-cost outing, this may not be the right fit. If you value a long, guided search and understand that some animals may stay hidden, the range of habitats and the night session make the price easier to justify.

Prepare for a full day outdoors

Wear comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes. You’ll be walking up to a kilometre at a time, including on steep, rough and sometimes slippery trails and riverbanks, so this is not a suitable outing if that kind of terrain is difficult for you.

Bring a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent and a reusable water bottle. Check the Southern Highlands forecast for the day and dress for the conditions. The tour supplies juice and water with lunch, but carrying your own refillable bottle is still recommended.

The minimum age is 12, so this is not suitable for younger children. It will suit older children and adults who enjoy wildlife, can handle the walking and are happy to spend a long day outdoors. The tour is in English.

Should you book this wildlife safari?

Book it if you want a guided search for native animals beyond the usual city sights, and you’re comfortable with a full day, uneven trails and the unpredictability of wildlife. The combination of birds and marsupials by day, a country pub dinner, and spotlighting after dark gives the outing a satisfying rhythm.

Skip it if you need guaranteed sightings, have trouble walking on rough ground or would rather spend your day closer to Sydney. If you do go, arrive ready to listen, scan carefully and accept that the best sighting may be the one you didn’t expect.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet?

Meet outside the Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel at 30 Pitt Street, near Circular Quay. The meeting point is about a two-minute walk from the Circular Quay light rail stop, train station, bus stops and ferry wharves.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts about 10 hours, including the journey to and from the Southern Highlands. Starting times vary, so check availability for your chosen date.

How many people are in the group?

The group is limited to eight participants.

What animals might I see?

The search may include kookaburras, rosellas, cockatoos, kangaroos, wallabies and emu. At night, you may look for wombats, possums and feathertail gliders. A platypus may be seen, but sightings are not guaranteed.

Are lunch and dinner included?

Yes. Lunch is a light meal of gourmet wraps, juice and water. Dinner is a hearty meal at a historic country pub, with a drink from the bar included.

What equipment is provided?

Binoculars, handheld spotlights and wildlife reference guides are provided, along with air-conditioned transport and a friendly guide.

What should I bring?

Bring a hat, sunscreen, comfortable clothes, insect repellent, closed-toe shoes and a reusable water bottle. Check the Southern Highlands forecast and dress for the conditions.

How much walking is involved?

You should be able to walk about one kilometre at a time. Some trails and riverbanks may be steep, rough or slippery.

Can children join, and is alcohol included for everyone?

Children under 12 are not suitable for this tour. A drink from the bar is included with dinner, but participants must be at least 18 to consume alcohol, and photo ID may be requested.