In a time when we are continually warned of bushfires, floods, and draughts, The Nature Glenelg Trust (NGT) emerges as a ray of optimism, committed to nurturing nature's resurgence.

Established by Mark Bachmann, NGT is dedicated to the rejuvenation and safeguarding of our natural world, with a special focus on water centric ecosystems. As NGT’s Managing Director, Mark Bachmann explains, “NGT exists to confront and overcome the challenges facing nature and inspiring others to follow suit, by working with people across our landscape and designing solutions that use the best available knowledge and latest science to inform our work.”

Now, NGT invites you to embark on an immersive 6-day journey across southern South Australia and western Victoria, where the wonders of nature are being rekindled.

With its name inspired by the Grand Tours of Europe, where travellers would immerse themselves in new ideas, the NGT Grand Tour is a multi-site, self-drive adventure that promises a different experience every day. Participants have the flexibility to join for a single day or immerse themselves in the full 6-day journey, witnessing remarkable restoration efforts along the way.

“The theme for the 2023 SA Nature Festival is The Nature of Home, so it’s fitting that the NGT Grand Tour will illustrate how habitat restoration works underpin the future of a wide range of threatened species that now call these special, recovering places home,” says Mark. “First and foremost, we believe people who come on the tour will leave with a sense of optimism and hope.”

Day 1: Urban Oasis and Critically Endangered Swamps

Starting in Adelaide, the first stop takes you to Oaklands Wetlands, a remarkable urban oasis within the City of Marion. Tour the wetlands with aquatic experts for the rare chance to get up close with the southern purple spotted gudgeon, a threatened species of freshwater fish.

Next, you will travel to the critically endangered Fleurieu Peninsula Swamps in Stipiturus Conservation Park; discover who calls these swamps home on a guided tour.

Day 2: Woodland Restoration at Frahns Farm

Day 2 brings you to Frahns Farm near Monarto, in the eastern Mount Lofty Ranges. Here, Bio R is actively replanting native woodland vegetation, focusing on creating habitat complexity for a suite of very special threatened woodland birds.

Day 3: Red-Tailed Black-Cockatoo Habitat

The wind dances through the gums at the expansive Eaglehawk Waterhole Restoration Reserve in the upper south-east. Venture through the home of the nationally endangered south-eastern Red-tailed Black-cockatoo and walk with ecologists to explore the large-scale woodland restoration.

Day 4: Wetland Restoration at Mount Burr Swamp

Traverse Mount Burr Swamp Restoration Reserve in the lower south east of SA, and discover how the former farmland has been restored through community partnerships with local First Nations students.

Day 5: South West Victoria Wonders

Day 5 takes you across the border to south west Victoria, where you'll visit Long Swamp in Discovery Bay Coastal Park and NGT's Mount Vandyke Restoration Reserve in Drumborg.

Day 6: Walker Swamp Celebration

Celebrate the spectacular expansion of the Walker Swamp Restoration Reserve. This momentous occasion is a testament to community support and a decade of NGT's relentless efforts to restore wetlands and floodplains.

“Once a year, the SA Nature Festival provides a valuable reminder of just how much nature means to us all. It is a chance to share experiences, learn about, explore, and immerse yourself in nature, and to be around others who share a passion for our natural world,” explains Mark Bachmann.

The NGT Grand Tour offers a unique opportunity to witness nature's resilience and the incredible work of NGT in this very special once-off road trip. Join the journey and connect with nature, the world around you, and yourself. We know it is going to be a great experience, so what are you waiting for? Your adventure awaits!

Find out more about the NGT’s Grand Tour here.

More information from the Nature Festival 2023 edition of WeekendPlus: