O’Reilly’s has introduced an exciting new activities week for those who like things wild – Wildlife Week (20-26th January) will focus on a range of native species, making it the ideal way to celebrate what it means to be an Aussie.

Furry friends like possums, pademelons and potoroos, and not-so-cuddly bats and echidnas are odds on to be spotted, while participants will also get up close with snakes and other reptiles, while listening out for the spectacular sound of a chorus of frogs, singing in celebration after all the recent rain.

The rainforest will be at its luxuriant best and the wildlife is certain to be active with almost a metre of rain since the start of the year bringing World Heritage listed Lamington National Park and surrounding eucalypt forests to life.

O’Reilly’s Activities Coordinator Tim O’Reilly believes the program will have broad appeal as a fun and educational way to experience the diversity of species in Lamington.

“The timing couldn’t be better as the frogs in particular will be very active and with experts in mammals, frogs and reptiles there will be plenty to learn,” Mr O’Reilly said.

“Everyone knows our iconic mammal species like kangaroos, koalas, wallabies and possums, but there are a whole range of smaller mammals that ‘hide out’ in the rainforest and eucalypt forest.”

“We will be having daily ‘Creature Features’ where we display the small mammals we have trapped, with participants given the chance to encounter rarely seen animals at very close quarters.”

There will be several ‘wild’ nights spotlighting for mammals and going in search of frogs, with trips down and off the mountain to encounter eucalypt and lowland habitats.

Hopes are high to break the record sighting of 50 mammal species achieved in 2004, and to see some more elusive species like the threatened Hastings Rivers Mouse, which made a reappearance in 2005 and 2006.

Summer is the ideal time for spotlighting the creatures of the night and organisers expect to sight around 10 species of microbats, along with the better known flying-foxes and nocturnal favourites like various varieties of possums.

Even if some species do prove elusive, a special presentation by guest speaker Martin Fingland – ‘Martin’s Mammal Menagerie’ – will bring some unusual species to participants for an up-close look.

Kids are always first in line for these close encounters, and Wildlife Week makes an ideal family adventure, combining fun with education and conservation, with free family time part of the program.

O’Reilly’s famous Scrub Club, which provides a real ‘theme park’ experience in the rainforest, will be running throughout the school holidays, giving parents the option of participating in some of the Wildlife Week activities solo, while the kids are entertained.

When it comes to finding frogs their celebratory calls are certain to make them easy to spot - a wet season that has produced half the average yearly rainfall in just a couple of weeks has certainly given them something to sing about.

A froggy ‘choir’ of up to a dozen different species should be on song, and the damp conditions should bring out the rarer species who have been shy in drier years.

“While there is time to relax and unwind, it is a busy program for those who like to burn the candle at both ends,” Mr O’Reilly said.

“We suggest guests bring sturdy shoes, along with a sense of adventure.”

The program also includes expert presentations and plenty of time for socialising. Of course it wouldn’t be complete without the Aussie tradition of a barbeque.

Expert Guides include Dr Ian Gynther, Senior Conservation Officer with Queensland Parks and Wildlife (QPWS), Harry Hines, expert Herpetologist also from QPWS and Ed Meyer of the University of Queensland.

A stay at O’Reilly’s makes the perfect alternative to a summer beach holiday - a chance to beat the heat in the cool rainforest and a great way to get kids interested in zoology and the environment. The stars are bright, the evenings are warm and the glow-worms come out for their nocturnal show.

By day, temperatures average 4-5 degrees below Brisbane and Gold Coast maximums, while night-time minimums of around 16-17 degrees make for comfortable torchlight treks through the forest.

Warm O’Reilly’s hospitality is a great compliment to the cooler conditions, making for the most relaxing of stays.

For further information, contact O’Reilly’s on 1800 688 722 or visit www.oreillys.com.au 

ENDS.

Further information on O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat.
Further information on O'Reilly's Discovery Weeks.

MEDIA:
For further information on this press release, please contact:
Amanda Tidmarsh
Phone: 07 5502 4900
Fax: 07 5502 0988
E-mail: communications@oreillys.com.au
Or
Kathy Bourke
Phone: 07 5539 9883
Mobile: 0419 757 622
E-mail: kathy@articulatecommunications.com.au