Soundwalks

Today we're visiting the Congo, to watch some chimps play. Big brother's not happy that baby's getting more attention; it can be hard when things change. You can always talk to someone or ask someone you love for a hug. It's important to remember great things can happen with change.

Today we're visiting a savannah in Tanzania, a country in East Africa. We're by a waterhole, surrounded by lots of animals. A baby zebra accidentally moves away from their mum, getting separated from the herd. Making mistakes is a part of life, it's one of the ways we learn. Baby zebra and Mum find each other. Drifting away can be dangerous, but both will learn from their mistake.

Today we're in the highlands of Lithuania, on a grassy slope surrounded by forests. Birds fly and bees buzz about – all those buzzing buddies working together to make food for the long cold winter. They work very hard together to achieve their goal.Do you have something you work hard on?

Today we're visiting Tasmania, Australia. We're in the woodlands. Some quolls play and wrestle, play-fighting, and learning. Taking deep breaths when they get puffed out from playing. How does your breathing make you feel?

Today we're visiting the African desert. There's a herd of elephants wallowing in mud. It's a hot day and some of mud is drying up. A baby elephant struggles, they are stuck in the mud. As they roll around, they realise they can't free themselves. It's time to ask for help. It's important to remember, you can always ask for help.

Today we're headed to a rocky mountain top. There's lots of snow and eagles gliding around us. A fox picks its way through the rocks, alone and looking for lunch. It can be nice to spend time alone, being happy in our own company.

Today we're visiting a park in London, England. It's doggie hour at the park, a time for dogs to come and play together. There are dogs barking and sniffing, they're so excited to make new doggie friends. How do you make friends? Maybe with a smile, a hello, or a how are you?

Today we're visiting Sydney, a busy city that's full of sounds. There's trains, bikes, people and lots of birds. A kookaburra is protecting its eggs. Their call is loud, they're feeling angry. Do you sometimes get angry like this kookaburra? It's okay to feel angry sometimes. What's most important is that we try and understand why we're feeling this way.

Today we're visiting a rainforest. There are thick climbing vines all around us. We're watching a palm cockatoo try to open a tree nut, for their lunch. It looks hard; and the cockatoo is feeling frustrated. Sometimes when life gets difficult, we can have some time away from what's making us feel frustrated, take a breath and try again.

Today we're in grasslands in Argentina. Lovely green grass for the farm animals; chickens and cows and horses. Let's see if the animals can play and include each other, despite their differences. Including others helps people feel safe and feel that they belong. How do you find ways to include people?

Today we're visiting the botanical gardens. A chorus of Currawongs is singing in the trees and a mother duck is gathering her ducklings together, ready for a walk. All families are different and that's what makes them special. Sometimes our friends can feel like family. What's important is finding the people who make you feel like you can really be yourself. Who make you feel like you belong.

Today we're visiting the Australian bush. Next to the trunk of the gum tree is a kangaroo with a joey in her pouch. The joey hops out to rummage for some food, whilst mum takes care of him. It's important to care for others. We are all stronger when we look after one another.

Today we're visiting a promontory. A promontory is a high stretch of land surrounded by water. In a nest there's a family of magpies with some new babies, ready to find their voice. It's important to find your voice so if you have something to say, people will pay attention. And when we speak, we need people to listen too. All communication must have those two parts. Someone who speaks and someone who listens. Our voices come from being heard.

Today we're visiting an island. Up above the sand dunes, there's a dingo howling to the sky. He's howling to get the attention of his pack so they can help him dig a big hole. What great teamwork. Do you sometimes work together with your siblings or friends to get something done? Just like this pack of dingoes.

Today we're visiting a savanna. A wild mob of Brumbies are galloping across the sandy desert, leaving a cloud of dust in their wake. A mare is encouraging her foal to join the rest of the group. Adventure awaits but the little foal is nervous. It's okay to feel nervous, everyone feels nervous sometimes.

Today we're visiting some mountain ranges right here in the middle of the Australian desert. Some busy grey crowned babblers are making their nest, flying up and down and up and down. Watching on, is a frill-necked lizard sitting very still. Only his chest moves as he breathes in and out. Even though he isn't moving, he is actually very busy on the inside.

Today we're visiting a Rainforest, where we meet two different kinds of birds, a yellow-bellied sunbird and brush turkey. Both birds are tending to their nests and helping their young to grow. We all need others to help us, and to help others, so we can grow and get stronger.

Today we're visiting the summit of a mountain. We're going to journey up to the top, but so that it's not overwhelming, we're going to break the trek down into small, manageable sections. Along the way we'll make some friends, as we piece each small task together to get to the top.

Today we're visiting a forest. A spotted nightjar owl flies back to his hollow where two baby owlets wait. One owlet is very talkative and extroverted, whilst the other is quiet and introverted. Are you more like the talkative owlet? Or more of a quiet type… Happy to watch and listen.

Today we're visiting a leafy, green gully. As the sun disappears, some animals are getting ready for the evening, including a wombat friend. He's dug a big burrow and is heading out for the for a night time wander. His burrow is attracting some visitors, do you think he'll share his home?

Let’s go on a journey to the beach, so that we can listen to the sound of birds, the wind and big waves crashing ashore. Do you sometimes have big feelings? Maybe sometimes you feel angry, or scared or sad? Big feelings are okay, everyone has them sometimes, and there are a few things that can help.

Being out in nature is a great way to relax, and when we’re outside there’s a lot to listen to and discover. All of these different things can make our minds feel busy. Sometimes when your mind feels busy, it can be good to stop, breathe and concentrate on just one thing.

The national park is full of wonderful nature noises, especially late in the day when birds are getting ready for bed. From cockatoos to rosellas, all our feathered friends are preparing for a good night’s sleep. What do you do to help yourself get ready for a nice rest? 

We’re sitting by some wonderful wetlands, using our imaginations to watch finches fly, and have a gander at geese. Mother goose jumps into the water and goes under to try and find some food. And her little goslings are trying too! Do you every use your courage to try new things?

Waterfalls make so many different sounds. They rumble, and crash, and gurgle and send sprays of water flying through the air. Eventually, they become a river. Calm and relaxed and flowing steadily.

Deserts are full of lots of marvellous sounds to listen to, including our friend little rainbow finch. Rainbow finch loves having lots of different finch friends and likes to go on adventures a little far from home. Sometimes this makes his friends a bit worried. Do you ever feel worried?

The rainforest is a beautiful place to relax. They’re filled with so many amazing things. From the tallest trees, to the littlest insects and everything in between. There’s so much to be grateful for, here and everywhere.

We’re down by the wetlands, and little duck is showing us his beautiful home. When you feel joyful do you enjoy sharing your happiness with others? It can feel wonderful to smile at someone and share your joy like painting a grey day with wonderful bright colours.

Let’s lie down by this soothing stream and do a full body scan. A body scan is when we check in with each part of our body, to see how it’s feeling. From the top of our head, to the tips of our fingers and toes. It’s a nice way to say hello and thank you to your body for everything it’s done for you today.

It’s early in the morning on a beautiful Aussie farm. The cows are waking up, the ducks are starting to quack and the sheep are off in search of food. But sometimes it can be hard to wake up in the morning. Maybe you’re like the farmers dog, and want to sleep in all day?

Let’s go camping under the stars! Gather round the camp fire, feel its warmth and hear the sounds of the night all around you. Cicadas sing, frogs come out to play, like the pobblebonk also known as the eastern banjo frog, eastern common froglet and brown tree frogs. Listen and you’ll hear the southern boobook owl!

Ever wondered what its like to walk in a field of wildflowers? Amongst the hundreds of colourful flowers of all shapes and size.  Their lovely perfume fills the air. The birds are out singing their songs. Hear the pied butcherbird, willie wagtail, yellow throated miner, galah, yellow rumped thornbill and southern whiteface and more.

Winter is here, it’s snowing outside but its warm inside. Time to snuggle up, wrap your favourite blanket around you and cosy up near a fireplace. Hear the soothing sounds the burning logs make.

It’s a clear Autumn day in Melbourne and a perfect day for a walk in the park. The fallen leaves create a colourful carpet under foot as you crunch your way through the park. The birdsong of the bell miner, wattlebirds, pied currawong fills the air. Whilst the waddling black ducks enjoy a swim in the pond.

It’s the sounds of Summer at Cradle Mountain lake. Let’s take a walk down the boardwalk to the boat shed by the water’s edge. So many happy sounds, kookaburras laugh, fairy wrens sing to a spotted pardalote and many more. 

Imagine you’re at the beach, walking bare foot on the sand. Hear the waves crashing on the shore. Silver gulls fly over head and hungry albatross dive for food. Listen for the little swimmer crab scampering past.

The Australian outback is a vast and beguiling place. Listen for the sounds of wild camels lolloping through the outback. Hear the zebra finches, willy wagtails, butcherbird, parrots, and honey eaters. Marvel at the soaring wedge-tailed eagle.

Relax to the soothing sounds of trickling water as it slowly becomes a cascading waterfall. Listen to the calls of the lorikeets, bowerbirds, robin and king parrot. Can you spot the sound of the green tree frog?

What does an Australian woodland forest sound like? Hear the birdsong from the lorikeets, fairy wren, the weebill to honeyeaters, and galahs. Listen for the koalas up in the trees.  

Explore the Australian Alps, listen to the cheeky laugh of the Kookaburra and the call of the cockatoo. Hear the whinnies of the wild brumbies and you may even spot a kangaroo or two.

What does an Australian forest sound like? What about the beach or the outback? Let’s go for a soundwalk together as we help you wind down and relax. Come explore all the wonder and beauty of our big brown land.