interNATIONAL PARKtours - Group Walking Tours to National Parks and Natural places in Australia and Overseas. Enjoy walking tours and holidays with experienced andknowledgeable guides.

Discover the heart of Polynesia, 3000km north east of Auckland. From the majestic peaks of Rarotonga to the untouched rainforests of Atiu and the breathtaking lagoon of Aitutaki - the beauty and charm of these South Pacific islands is matched only by the warm hospitality of its friendly people. Your local guide will introduce you to the culture, people and natural beauty over two weeks.

On the main island of Rarotonga, we visit the colourful weekly market, walk through pristine rainforest to The Needle (a legendary rock pinnacle) and join local guides into a conservation area and on a tour around the island. We soak up the spirit of the famous Cook Island dancers at a legendary island night.

There are few places left in the world like the island of Atiu. Explore the native jungle, the Kopeka caves (home to rare birdlife), visit a coffee plantation and arts studio, then spend a day with local guide Birdman George. Our time of Atiu ends with an umukai, a traditional Polynesian feast.

On Aitutaki we contract a day cruise on the beautiful lagoon, and a safari & history tour to Paengariki Marae. With the tour ex Rarotonga, flights and extensions can be arranged via New Zealand.

Join us for a two week journey through the spectacular landscapes of New Zealand’s South Island. Snow-covered peaks tower above tranquil lakes, waterfalls tumble from misty heights and walking tracks meander through moss-draped beech forests. Travelling via Dunedin, an overnight stay at New Zealand’s only castle gives us access to the birdlife of the Otago Peninsula.

On the scenic south east coast, we have two days to explore the dense temperate rainforest of Catlins Forest Park. At Stewart Island, we walk to the wilderness of Maori Beach and visit nearby Ulva Island, a predator-free sanctuary for birds such as the kiwi. From Te Anau, there’s the opportunity to visit the Fiordland wilderness that provides habitat for Bottlenose Dolphins, New Zealand Fur Seals and the Fiordland Crested Penguin. Near Lake Wanaka, Mt Aspiring National Park is unveiled on the Rob Roy Alpine Walk.

Crossing Haast Pass to the coast, our destination is Lake Moeraki Wilderness Lodge, located in the heart of the 2.7 million hectare South West New Zealand World Heritage Area. An optional walk on Fox Glacier is a highlight before we finish our tour in Christchurch.

Wilsons Promontory National Park is a peninsula of sculptured granite boulders, tall forests, coastal heath land, fern grottoes and pristine beaches. Walks to the most southerly points on mainland Australia contrast with time in World Heritage listed Croajingalong National Park.

Three nights at Tidal River gives you a choice of warm-up walks before a challenging circuit hike. Your destination is the remotely situated Wilsons Prom light station, in the southern section of the park overlooking islands in Bass Strait. The completely restored light keeper’s house is home for two nights. Inside you can relax in cosy comfort and later venture down to the Southern Ocean’s edge to watch the mesmerising display of the short-tailed shearwaters returning from their epic migratory flight. You won’t want to leave this “world away from the everyday”.

Croajingalong National Park is a stunning region of wilderness coast, rainforest, dune fields and coastal heath land. Wildlife includes 300 bird species, seals, whales and dolphins off the coast. The tour finale is two nights at Point Hicks, the tallest lighthouse on Australia’s mainland. Stay in cottages built in 1890 from timber salvaged from shipwrecks and enjoy pristine beaches, coastal and dune walks.

This is a journey of red earth, white-barked eucalypts, sandstone gorges, remote coastlines, wildflowers and wildlife. Over 17 days, travel from north to south through the best of Western Australia wilderness areas.

After a flight from Perth to Paraburdoo, the immersion begins as you explore gorges and side chasms up to 100m deep in Karijini National Park. A walk over ancient fossil reefs at Cape Range National Park contrasts with the weightlessness of snorkelling at nearby Ningaloo Marine Park, the largest fringing coral reef in Australia.

Further south, World Heritage listed Shark Bay, is home to a profusion of marine life including dolphins, dugongs, turtles, rays, sharks, other fish and ancient Stromatolites. North of Monkey Mia, Francois Peron National Park, a former pastoral station, provides a refuge for rare and endangered flora and fauna.

At Kalbarri National Park, the Murchison River enters the sea through a series of sandstone gorges. Explore the river gorges and sea cliffs and admire the floral beauty of the surrounding sand plains. Closer to Perth,  bizarre limestone pillars rise from the shifting yellow sands at the Pinnacles Desert in Nambung National Park.

Stretching along the southern rim of the Tweed / Mt Warning Caldera, the Nightcap Ranges are a walker’s paradise and part of the Gondwana Rainforests World Heritage area. Designed by your local guide, this seven day circular walk leads you to hidden waterfalls, palm valleys, misty lookouts and lush subtropical and temperate rainforests. At week’s end, feel rejuvenated in body, mind and spirit while learning about the natural and human history of Northern NSW.

Starting at Doon Doon near Nimbin, we join the Historic Nightcap Track, part of the original trail used by travellers and postal workers between Lismore and Murwillumbah in the late 1800s. Camping at Rummery Park for two nights, we walk through Blackbutt and Brushbox forests to the base of spectacular Minyon Falls. Traversing the catchment of the Rocky Creek Dam, we follow old logging tracks into Terania Creek (site of environmental protests in the late 1970s).

We spend some time with locals Nan & Hugh Nicolson, authors of the Australian Rainforest Plants series and lifelong conservationists. Our journey continues via the Caldera Rim and the Walls of Jerusalem cliff top walk back to our starting point at Doon Doon.

The tropical landscapes of North Queensland range from cool rainforests to majestic mountains, colourful reef, pristine islands, crater lakes, towering waterfalls & the turquoise Coral Sea.

Journey through the lush Atherton Tablelands and enjoy walks around the crater lakes of Barrine and Eacham. Waterfalls are another feature and we take hikes to Wallaman, Nandroya and Millaa Millaa Falls. From Mission Beach we take the launch to Dunk Island to hike the island circuit track. Shorter options available for those who want to relax and swim.

After leaving our base at Yungaburra, we travel north to the Mareeba Wetlands, a 5000 acre sanctuary for much of tropical Australia's savannah and wetland wildlife plus indigenous heritage.

Located on the Endeavour River, historic Cooktown gives us a glimpse into the early settlement life in northern Queensland. The Botanic Gardens in Cooktown feature an exotic plant section, a "palmetum" and a comprehensive collection of native plants. From Cairns, our final destination, we travel to Kuranda, where we enjoy a bird’s eye view of the rainforest on the famous Kuranda Skyrail. A cultural performance at the renowned Tjapukai Dance Theatre completes the trip.

Join this trip together with Lava Tubes to Lawn Hill to enchance your stay in Tropical North Queensland.

The heart of Carnarvon National Park is a place of rambling creeks, hidden waterfalls and delightful side gorges. To the south east, are the wide open vistas of Arcadia Valley beneath the moody ridges of the Expedition Ranges. Journey to Queensland’s Central Highlands and spend time in these beautiful destinations, not just on the road!

After meeting in Rockhampton, we overnight on the Capricorn Coast and enjoy beach swims and headland walks. Travelling south west via historic Mt Morgan and Moura, we arrive in Arcadia Valley, our base for three days. Here cattle stations back onto the Expedition Ranges and from our homestead, we enjoy private walking trails and quiet, starry nights. Nearby are the lookouts of Lonesome National Park and the waterlilies and birdlife of Lake Nuga Nuga.

One hour west is the Carnarvon Gorge section of the much larger Carnarvon National Park. We explore the main gorge and its side canyons on a series of half day walks. Wards Canyon shelters the giant King Fern; the Amphitheatre quietens our voices and the Art Gallery features over 2000 Aboriginal engravings and stencils. We return to Rockhampton after a week in Queensland’s sandstone country.

Outback North Queensland is a land of red rocky ridges, abundant wetlands, lush gorges, rippling grasslands and country towns. Join a two week journey from Cairns to the Gulf of Carpentaria, south to Mt Isa and back to the east coast.

Local guides introduce the fascinating world of Undara Volcanic National Park as we explore the world’s longest single vent lava flow. Board the historic Gulflander (the “old tin hare”) for the train ride from Croydon to Normanton. Journey north to Karumba, the Gulf of Carpentaria’s major fishing port. A sunset cruise on the Norman River is a chance to spot saltwater crocodiles, endemic mangrove and migratory birds.

Boodjamulla National Park features Lawn Hill Gorge, palm-fringed waterholes and sheer sandstone walls. Canoe the waterways, swim in rock pools and walk to viewpoints and Aboriginal rock art. Visit the laboratory at the Riversleigh Fossils Centre in Mt Isa and take an optional guided tour of one of the world’s largest underground mines. At the John Flynn museum in Cloncurry, experience the history of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. East in the small town of Richmond, is the renowned marine fossil museum at Kronosaurus Korner. Your tour ends in Townsville.

Why not join this tour and North Queensland Coast to complete your Tropical North Queensland experience.

Captain Cook described it as paradise. Convicts in its infamous penal colony would have disagreed. Paradise returned to Norfolk Island with the arrival of the ‘Bounty’ mutineer descendants and their South Pacific wives. These days, residents and visitors revel in the history and charm of this subtropical island 2½ hours flight from Sydney or Brisbane. Developed by creative locals in association with EcoEscapes and IPT’s guide, Barry Davies, this is a week of Norfolk’s gentle walks, great food, history and meeting the locals.

Naturalist, Margaret Christian will lead walks to explore forests of ancient Norfolk Pines, palms and massive tree ferns. More than 40 endemic plant and bird species are protected in the island’s national park and reserves. Other walks lead to island viewpoints and follow coastal cliffs. Share in the Islanders' heritage on excursions with John Christian and cultural shows with Donald Christian.

Enjoy dinners in private homes, local produce and traditional Tahitian cuisine. Historian, Arthur Evans, will bring Norfolk’s colourful history alive. There’s also the option to cruise to nearby Phillip Island and hike to the top, past huge colonies of nesting seabirds.

IPT is 35 years young in 2010 and we invite you to join us on a celebratory tour to three of our favourite places. Join IPT founder Tony Groom on this 10 day tour to Girraween, Mt Barney and Lamington National Parks. Enjoy easy strolls by creeks, optional ascents of local peaks, and walks through sub-tropical rainforest.

Girraween National Park near Stanthorpe offers walks to granite domes, improbable balancing boulders and exquisitely water worn creek forms. We stay three nights in secluded style at Girraween Environmental Lodge.

Returning east across the Great Dividing Range we enter the national parks of the Scenic Rim. Staying three nights at Mt Barney Lodge, we explore the Lower Portals, take in the views from the summit of Mt Maroon (optional) and spend a day visiting local food producers and artists.

Binna Burra Lodge in Lamington National Park is our final destination. At your doorstep, graded hiking trails lead through World Heritage listed rainforest to hidden waterfalls, ancient beech trees and views of the Mt Warning caldera. Join our final dinner where you can take a walk down memory lane and share a birthday toast with the IPT staff.