Close encounters the new cool
A Sydney Bike tour
According to Tourism NSW, “New South Wales has the advantage of offering a wide variety of nature experiences within one state. And because we are seen as the international gateway to Australia, we are able to capture a large portion of the nature tourism market.”
Ecotourism educates travellers by taking them to unusual areas to witness flora, fauna and cultural heritage in a pristine state while creating minimal impact on the environment.
The Bonza Bike Tours combine exercise with Sydney’s scenic views while minimising the impact of conventional tourism. Much like walking tours, they steer away from polluting forms of transport such as buses and cars.
On the Sydney Classic Bonza Bike Tours, guides take participants to Sydney’s iconic sites and also lesser known places. Key sites include the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Royal Botanic Gardens, Hyde Park, Chinatown, and some museums and galleries.
Australia has some of the most unique flora and fauna in the world but Sydneysiders rarely get to see them up close, except in captivity. For plant and animal lovers, there is Centennial Park’s Centennial Parkland and Spotlight Prowl and the Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens’ free guided tours.
Centennial Park rangers lead groups into the park at dusk on a guided walk, to put a spotlight on creatures such as brush-tailed possums, Grey-headed Flying foxes,corellas and microbats.
Centennial Park ranger Rebecca Collett says, “The primary focus of the Spotlight Prowl is to join a ranger to look for animals in the park after dark as well as to educate and inform members of the public about plants and animals that are found in an urban Sydney park.”
Meanwhile, volunteer guides take groups on free tours through Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens twice daily to explore the plants and history of the gardens.
On the water, whale-watching tours get up close, especially during the Humpback whales’ annual migration to the south from the middle of May until early December. They also teach participants about marine ecology and other creatures such as the Bottlenose and Common dolphins, and on occasion, the Blue whale.
The Whale Watching Sydney blog states that mothers and calves have been seen regularly in October, often very close to shore, with curious calves swimming towards tour boats. These tours also research whether rules for whale-watching are adequate, and to study their migration path.
Kayaks on the Sydney Harbour
Sydney has countless landmarks, many of which are easily seen on foot. Adventurers can choose to travel by water, kayaking through Sydney Harbour. Sydney Harbour Kayaks take groups to familiar sites and other locations accessible only by water, and teach about their natural and social history.
Australia’s culture is rich with Aboriginal heritage, and cruises such as those run by Tribal Warrior take people on a journey to learn about the traditions of Aboriginal people. Rob Roberts, the Sales Manager at Tribal Warrior, says that the cruises connect Aboriginal and modern culture, taking participants ashore on a Sydney Harbour island to teach them about traditional Aboriginal dance and music.
“It includes informative commentary and the stories passed down from generation to generation on the Sydney Harbour clans and their hunting and fishing techniques and the first contacts between the Aboriginal
people and Europeans.”
