This tour is aimed at the international birder who wishes to see many of Australia's unique and colourful birds on one comfortable yet comprehensive trip.
Six major regions will be visited on this twenty two day fully-accommodated tour.
Starting at Melbourne in the deep south of the continent, we then visit the mallee region of inland Victoria, the island of Tasmania, the Sydney area, Lamington near Brisbane, and finally Cairns and the Atherton Tablelands.
We will be moving to a new region every three or four days to increase the opportunity of viewing the greatest number of species possible. Also the small group size enables every guest to get fantastic views of the birds. Within each region a great diversity of habitats and locations will be visited, some boat trips for pelagic species will be included.
Travel will be in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle. Accommodation in birding lodges where possible or hotels, on a twin share basis. All accommodation, meals, flights, pelagic tours and local guides will be included. So once you are on the tour you don't need to worry about a thing, just enjoy the fantastic birding and scenery.
We meet in Melbourne and travel to the Dandenong Ranges, an area of incredible tall eucalypt forest. We bird the Sherbrooke area which is rich in diversity and is home to the Superb Lyrebird. Later we visit Werribee, one of the premier wetlands in Australia. In the late afternoon we reach Port Campbell on the Great Ocean Road where we spend the night at the Loch Ard Motor Inn.
After early morning birding for the Rufous Bristlebird and other species, we drive to Halls Gap in the Grampians. This National Park west of Melbourne is an area of mostly drier eucalypt forest which holds over 200 species of birds, including many cockatoos and parrots. Overnight at Halls Gap Kookaburra Lodge.
Many excellent walking trails provide the chance to view a great variety of bush birds in the morning. We depart Halls Gap and visit some lakes and wetlands on our way west to the Little Desert National Park. This park in the Victorian mallee holds a number of special species. Overnight Little Desert Lodge.
The morning includes a tour to find the amazing Malleefowl, and we search for other mallee species around the lodge. After lunch we drive north to Hattah-Kulkyne National Park where we look for Regent Parrot and Mallee Emu-wren. This is a fantastic area for parrots and other dry-land species. Overnight at the Mallee View Motel, Ouyen.
The morning is spent birding the mallee and spinifex covered sand dunes near Hattah Lakes. We hope to find species such as the Striated Grasswren and Mulga Parrot. In the heat of the day we travel east towards Deniliquin visiting wetlands along the way. In the evening there will be a spotlighting trip for the Plains-wanderer. Overnight at the Coach House Motel, Deniliquin.
There is excellent birding at Gulpa State Forest just south of Deniliquin, in the morning we will search this area for the Superb Parrot and other species. Later in the day we travel further east to Chiltern which is one of the best birding areas in inland Victoria. Overnight at the Chiltern Colonial Motor Inn.
In the morning we will bird the box-ironbark forests around Chiltern. There should be many new species including the Turquoise Parrot and Regent Honeyeater. After lunch we start back towards Melbourne, birding en-route to the airport and take our flight to Tasmania. Overnight at the Fountainside Motor Inn, Hobart.
Tasmania has twelve endemic birds and is a great place to view many other interesting species. The Mount Wellington area near Hobart will be our first stop, here we can see a variety of species including Scrubtit and Pink Robin. In the afternoon we make our way to scenic Bruny Island where we spend two nights at Inala.
We take a morning tour of Inala with a local birding guide. Inala is a land for wildlife property which holds all twelve endemics including the rare Forty-spotted Pardalote. Later we explore the island, visiting some of the best birding spots, at dusk the Little Penguins may be seen returning to their colony. Overnight Inala, Bruny Island.
After some early morning birding on the island we take the ferry back to the mainland. On our way back to Hobart we visit a conservation park to clean up anything we may have missed. We then drive to the airport for our flight to Sydney. Overnight at the Gazebo Hotel, Elizabeth Bay, Sydney.
Today we take a full day pelagic tour on the Halicat out of Sydney. The Halicat is a 50 ft catamaran which is very stable and fast. There are a great variety of seabirds possible including Wandering and Black-browed Albatross, Providence Petrel and Wilson's Storm Petrel. Overnight at the Gazebo Hotel, Elizabeth Bay, Sydney.
We have a morning at Royal National Park which boasts an impressive list of birds in a variety of habitats, this can be a good site for the Powerful Owl. Then we continue south to Kiama and visit Barren Grounds Nature Reserve, a fantastic place to see specials like the Eastern Bristlebird. Overnight Kiama Terrace Motor Lodge.
In the morning we return to Barren Grounds where we hope to see species such as the Beautiful Firetail and Pilotbird. We then drive north through the Blue Mountains to the Cappertee Valley which is one of the best birding areas in NSW. Overnight in a self contained cottage at Kadisha Herb Farm.
The morning is spent birding the Cappertee Valley where we hope to see Plum-headed Finch and have another chance at the Regent Honeyeater and Turquoise Parrot. There will be a chance to look for the Rock Warbler as we travel back to the airport for our flight to Brisbane. Overnight at the Canungra Motel, Canungra.
After a pre-breakfast bird walk we travel to Lamington National Park which is an outstanding birding area with a great list of species in a diversity of habitats. This area has spectacular scenery and lush sub-tropical rainforest, we will stay two nights at the famous O’Reilly’s Rainforest Guesthouse.
In the morning we bird from the guesthouse with a local guide, and later we explore other sites in this fantastic area. Some of the species we expect to see are Regent Bowerbird, Albert's Lyrebird and the Logrunner. We return to the guesthouse for dinner and spotlighting for owls and the Marbled Frogmouth.
The early part of the day will be spent searching for any of the local species that may have eluded us previously. After lunch we travel back towards Brisbane birding different habitats along the way. By late afternoon we arrive at the airport and take our flight to Cairns where we stay two nights at Club Crocodile.
Cairns and the Atherton Tablelands is an exceptional region for birds and we should find many new species. Today we take a reef trip to Michaelmas Cay for seabirds. It is possible to see several species of terns and other seabirds such as boobies and frigatebirds. The snorkelling and diving is also excellent.
We will bird the lowlands for waders and specials such as the Little Kingfisher, and Crimson Finch. We then travel to the picturesque Atherton Tablelands where we visit some top birding spots. We stay two nights at Chambers Wildlife Lodge deep in the rainforest.
Around the lodge we can see many spectacular species such as Victoria's Riflebird and the Pied Monarch. We visit montane rainforest for the Golden Bowerbird, wetlands and some open woodland sites around the tablelands. At dusk we can search for the Platypus and spotlight for nocturnal birds on our way back to the lodge.
After some morning rainforest birding we travel across the tablelands to some of the drier habitats where we look for Great Bowerbird, Black-throated Finch and other dry-land species. Late afternoon we reach Kingfisher Park which has fantastic birding in the grounds. We stay at the park and do some night spotting for owls.
We bird the grounds for Red-necked Crake and Noisy Pitta before traveling to high altitude rainforest in search of rare endemics such as Fernwren and Chowchilla. Later we make our way back to the coast, birding some mangrove areas and other coastal habitats along the way. On our return to Cairns you can be dropped at the airport or your accommodation.
Conditions in the mallee can be extremely hot and dry, while Tasmania can be very cold. It is recommended that you bring a water bottle, hat, sturdy covered footwear, some warm clothes, camera, medication, insect repellent and sun block. Long-sleeved shirts and trousers give good protection from the sun and also from spinifex spikes.
Due to the number of flights, tours and accommodation that need to be pre-booked, this tour needs to be booked at least three weeks prior to departure date. A non-refundable deposit of 20% is required to confirm a booking.
Little Kingfisher
Dusky Woodswallow
Flame Robin
Black-chinned Honeyeater
Freckled Duck
Malleefowl
Pink Robin
Little Penguin
Crimson Finch
Tasmanian Native Hen
Black-headed Honeyeater
Dusky Robin
