Flannery to lead Melanesia expedition

Conservationist, scientist, explorer and former Australian of the Year Professor Tim Flannery will escort a one-off trip to uncover the secrets of Melanesia in October next year.

Professor Flannery will lead the World Expeditions trip from October 8-21, sharing his extensive scientific knowledge of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, along with his passion for exploration and discovery.

The 14-day Melanesia Discoverer tour sails 50 passengers onboard Spirit of Enderby with plenty of opportunities for landings, village visits, kayaking and snorkelling.

The tropical waters have some of the greatest marine diversity in the world and for birders the itinerary offers sightings of rare species on remote islands where few have been before.

A prolific author and prominent climate change activist, Professor Flannery has undertaken many expeditions throughout Papua New Guinea where he has discovered numerous species and subspecies of mammal and studied the climate change effects on amphibians. 

He even has a critically endangered greater monkey-faced bat named after him, the Pteralopex flanneryi.

Professor Flannery has published more than 140 peer-reviewed scientific papers, has named 25 living and 50 fossil mammal species and has published 32 books.

The tour costs from $US6995 ($A9084) per person for a triple cabin.

worldexpeditions.com or 1300 720 000.

Top picture: Ben Crabtree, The West Australian.