Excursion Flamingo gardens & wildlife sanctuary tour at Fort Lauderdale

In-Transit Guests can explore the expansive Flamingo Gardens during this picturesque, half-day sightseeing excursion.

Wray Home and Museum

Depart the pier for Flamingo Gardens, an approximately 60-acre (about 24-hectare), not-for-profit wildlife sanctuary, aviary and botanical garden located just west of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Upon arrival at this Trip Advisor 'Award of Excellence' winner, your guided tour begins with a visit to the original home of Floyd L. and Jane Wray, who built a home and citrus grove on what was then the edge of the Everglades, and started a botanical collection of tropical and subtropical fruit trees and shrubs. Now a museum, the Wray Home depicts a country home of the early-1930s. Leaving the Wray Home, proceed to the Botanical Gardens.

Botanical Gardens and Tram-Ride

The Botanical Gardens are one of the most beautiful, inspiring and adventurous, yet tranquil, tours offered in Fort Lauderdale. The grounds contain more than 3,000 species of tropical and subtropical plants, including orchids, ferns, bromeliads, 200-year-old live oak trees, and over 300 species of palms. A narrated tram ride leads through the site's tropical rainforest, native hammock, wetland areas and groves. The Tropical Plant House displays orchids, calatheas and other plants. The Arboretum contains one of the largest collection of non-indigenous champion trees in the region, and the Xeriscape Garden demonstrates low maintenance, minimally-watered gardening.

Everglades Wildlife Sanctuary

Next, take a guided tour of the Everglades Wildlife Sanctuary section, which provides care for permanently injured, non-releasable wildlife. Fauna includes an American black bear, otters, alligators, bobcats, Florida panthers, tortoises, freshwater turtles, geese, swans, sandhill cranes, blue-beaked ducks, flamingos, bald eagles, golden eagles, owls, peacocks, macaws, and iguanas. The 25,000-square-foot (about 2,300-square-metre) Everglades aviary houses one of the largest collection of wading birds in the U.S. The aviary exhibits five native Florida ecosystems; coastal prairie, mangrove swamp, cypress forest, sub-tropical hardwood hammock, and sawgrass prairie. At the conclusion of your visit, re-board your coach and commence the approximately 45-minute transfer back to the pier.

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion include: Fort Lauderdale, Flamingo Gardens, Botanical Gardens, Trees, Plants, Wray Home and Museum, Tram-Ride, Everglades Wildlife Sanctuary, Wildlife, Reptiles, Birds

Note

Please note: This tour involves an extensive amount of walking for approximately 3/4 of a mile (1.2 Km), at times over uneven and gravel surfaces, with a few steps to negotiate to get on/off the coach and tram. This tour is not suitable for guests with limited mobility and guests who utilise a wheelchair. Lightweight, comfortable clothing with flat, closed-toe walking shoes and sun protection are recommended. The tour sequence may vary. A minimum number of participants is required to operate this tour option.