Into the Wild Nature Tours Australia is a nature tourism business based in Kiama on the South Coast of NSW, Australia, offering small group wildlife tours.  The business owner and operator, Darren O’Connell, is the Tour Guide and a Master’s Degree qualified Wildlife Ecologist, and has worked in environmental education for over 25 years.  Darren hosts the popular Kiama Stingray Show on Sundays at 10am at the Kiama Boat Ramp. He started ‘Into the Wild Nature Tours’ to share some of the most spectacular landscapes in Australia with overseas and other visitors. We can also offer private tours, bird watching trips and customised school excursions for science.

Land Rover

I grew up mainly in Canberra, which is actually Australia’s capital city, although way back then in the 1980s it was more bush and open space than city. My mates and I would ride our push bikes all day and play down the creek chasing brown snakes under rocks and catching yabbies.  We fished for trout and yellowbelly in the local lakes and rivers, but mainly ended up catching the dreaded introduced European Carp.  I loved the outdoors, camping down the coast and observing all the wildlife that seemed to be just a part of my life.

I went on to follow my passion for wildlife and study a Degree in Ecology and Natural Resources at the University of Canberra, and then a Masters in Environmental Management.  From there I worked and traveled around the world, eventually settling down in Kiama to raise a family. My passion for the outdoors and a sustainable planet has given rise to ‘Into The Wild Nature Tours’, so I can share local stories with others and showcase the amazing natural world we live in.

Seeya soon, Darren

Darren hand-feeding a beautiful little orphaned Bare-nosed Wombat in special care at a sanctuary. She will eventually be released in the wild.  We should see wombats on the Kangaroo Valley tour (just no cuddles with them as they are wild).