During this exciting Australia birding tour we will cover an incredible range of habitats travelling across the eastern portion of the country, including lush expanses of dense tropical rainforest to the dry endless stretches of the desolate outback. As a consequence of these varied biomes, our combined birding and wildlife Australian safari adventure will see us encounter a fantastic collection of endemic birds and incredible mammals, most of which occur nowhere else on our planet!
We will commence our Australia birding tour in northern Queensland in search of Victoria’s Riflebird from the bird-of-paradise family, Tooth-billed Bowerbird, rare Golden Bowerbird, Beach Stone-curlew, and the outrageous Southern Cassowary! Later on our Australia birding tour, we continue to the world-famous Lamington NP in search of Superb Lyrebird, Australian King Parrots and the strikingly plumaged Regent Bowerbird, amongst numerous other potential highlights. Flying south we then stop in at Sydney for a pelagic trip, before birding into the interior for several dry-country species, including the strange Plains-wanderer, endangered Regent Honeyeater, and a plethora of colourful parrots that include Galah, Red-tailed Black Cockatoo and Long-billed Corella - and much besides! (For those wishing to maximize their time and birding opportunities in this remarkable land, we strongly recommend also joining our Australia - Southwest Extension tour.)
Please note that a Rockjumper leader will not accompany this tour unless a minimum of 9 participants are signed up. In the case of insufficient sign-ups, a professional and very experienced local guide will lead the tour instead.
Emu, Southern Cassowary, Black-necked Stork, Great-billed Heron, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Spotted Harrier, Black Falcon, Brolga, Sarus Crane, Radja Shelduck, Pink-eared & Musk Duck, Plainswanderer, Australian Bustard, Beach Stone-curlew, Hooded Plover, Red-necked Avocet, Banded Stilt, Inland Dotterel, Australian Pratincole, Victoria's & Paradise Riflebird, Noisy Pitta, Superb & Alberts Lyrebird, Rose-crowned, Wompoo & Superb Fruit Dove, Bar-shouldered Dove, Topknot & Squatter Pigeon, Torresian Imperial Pigeon, King Parrot, Eastern Ground Parrot, Powerful & Rufous Owl, Australian Owlet-nightjar, Yellow-tailed & Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, Major Mitchell's Cockatoo, Golden, Regent, Satin & Great Bowerbird, Regents, Mangrove & Macleay’s Honeyeater, Ground Cuckooshrike, Lovely, Superb & Splendid Fairywren, Diamond Firetail
Koala, Duck-billed Platypus, Short-beaked Echidna, Spotted-tailed Quoll, Long-nosed Bandicoot, Common Wombat, Common Ringtail Possum, Greater, Yellow-bellied & Sugar Glider, Striped & Brush-tailed Possum, Rufous Bettong, Lumholtz's Tree Kangaroo, Swamp Wallaby, Eastern Grey & Red Kangaroo, Musky Rat Kangaroo, Spectacled Flying Fox, Dingo
woodland, tropical and temperate forest, swamps, riverine woodland, grasslands, coastal bush, estuaries and ocean
hot and humid in north, cooler in the interior mountains of the central areas
12 with 1 Rockjumper leader and 1 local leader
easy going, short trails with some hills
very comfortable throughout
mostly easy birding with a few tricky species
370-400
excellent
Glen was excellent at finding the birds and keeping track of who had not yet seen specific birds. By the end of the tour there were very few birds not seen by all in the group.
We traveled through strangely beautiful and interesting areas and were able to get great birds – almost all the endemics of the area. Angus was good at finding the birds which often involved traveling to very remote and isolated places for 1 or 2 species. I love Australian birds – beautiful, unique, often loud and delightful. The Lake Argyle cruise was fabulous and the Yellow River cruise was a great break from riding in the van and seeing water birds from a distance.
Steve Davidson is a superb guide. He has a vast knowledge of Australian birds, other wildlife, and plants. He has a keen ear and I appreciated that he described what he was hearing. We had challenges in terms of Covid and flooding, and he very responsibly addressed both issues. I truly don't know how he had the stamina to guide, drive the extra miles on detours, and organize the needed diversions from the itinerary.
It was a fantastic trip. Very satisfying and Angus did a great job : he really showed us the birds and took great care that we had everything we wanted and were able to enjoy our tour.
Erik Forsyth went above and beyond to give personal attention to each participant. How does he do it? Lack of sleep and a packed itinerary would challenge the best guide, but he seems to always be positive and light-hearted. Cracking dry jokes and comments – loved it!
15 Sep 2024 - 06 Oct 2024 (22 days)
AUD14,695 - Spaces Available on this guaranteed departure
Tour Leader: Local Leader
Tour Leader: Erik Forsyth
Tour price (Per person): AUD14,695 * USD9,609 * GBP7,686 * EUR8,976
Single Supplement: AUD2,250 * USD1,471 * GBP1,177 * EUR1,374
Flight costs: AUD660 * USD432 * GBP345 * EUR403
Can be linked with: Australia - Tasmania Extension I 2024
Tour Leader: Steve Davidson
Tour price (Per person): AUD14,695 * USD9,609 * GBP7,686 * EUR8,976
Single Supplement: AUD2,250 * USD1,471 * GBP1,177 * EUR1,374
Flight costs: AUD660 * USD432 * GBP345 * EUR403
Can be linked with: Australia - Tasmania Extension II 2024
Tour Leader: Gregory de Klerk
Tour Leader: Local Leader
Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change*
Tour price (Per person): AUD16,000 * USD10,463 * GBP8,369 * EUR9,773
Can be linked with: Australia - Tasmania Extension II 2025
Australia, New Zealand & New Caledonia - Bird Families of Australasia 2023 - November 2023
Australia - Tasmania Extension II 2023 - October 2023
Australia - East Coast II 2023 - September 2023
Australia - Southwest Extension II 2023 - September 2023
Australia - Cape York Extension 2023 - July 2023
Australia - The Queensland Outback 2023 - July 2023
Australia - Tasmania Extension I 2022 - October 2022
Australia - East Coast I 2022 - September 2022
Australia - Southwest Extension I 2022 - September 2022
Australia - Kakadu & the Top End 2022 - August 2022
Australia - East Coast II 2019 - September 2019
Australia - East Coast II 2018 - September 2018
Australia - East Coast I 2018 - September 2018
Australia - Southwest Extension I 2018 - September 2018
Australia - Kakadu & the Top End 2018 - July 2018
Australia - East Coast 2017 - September 2017
Australia - East Coast I 2016 - October 2016
Australia - Southwest Extension I 2016 - September 2016