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Australia - Victoria & Tasmania: Birds & Wildlife (Relaxed)

© Pink-eared Ducks by Jonathan Rossouw
Australia - Victoria & Tasmania: Birds & Wildlife (Relaxed) 2028

04 Jun 2028 - 17 Jun 2028 (14 days)

AUD13,600 SPACES AVAILABLE

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Tour Leader: Local Leader

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Tour Leader: Tyler Davis

Book Now

Tour Price (Per person): AUD13,600 (USD9,283 * GBP7,211)

Single Supplement: AUD2,100 (USD1,433 * GBP1,113)

Flight costs: AUD290 (USD198 * GBP154)

Pricing notes : *All prices are estimated, and dates may change*

Australia - Victoria & Tasmania: Birds & Wildlife (Relaxed) 2029

03 Jun 2029 - 16 Jun 2029 (14 days)

AUD14,200 SPACES AVAILABLE

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Tour Leader: Local Leader

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Tour Leader: Tyler Davis

Book Now

Tour Price (Per person): AUD14,200 (USD9,693 * GBP7,529)

Single Supplement: AUD2,300 (USD1,570 * GBP1,219)

Flight costs: AUD320 (USD218 * GBP170)

Pricing notes : *All prices are estimated, and dates may change*

Australia is a vast continent harbouring many remarkable endemic birds and bizarre wildlife found nowhere else on Earth. This relaxed-paced journey focuses on two of the most rewarding and varied corners of south-eastern Australia: the sandstone ranges, mallee woodlands, riverine plains and box-ironbark forests of Victoria, followed by the cool forests, alpine country and wild coastlines of Tasmania. It has been designed for travellers who want a rewarding Australian bird and wildlife experience without the intensity or long target-list pressure of a more conventional birding tour.

Beginning in Melbourne, we travel west to the dramatic landscapes of Grampians National Park (part of the Gariwerd Aboriginal cultural landscape), before continuing through the Wimmera wheatbelt to Ouyen and the superb mallee habitats of Hattah-Kulkyne National Park. We then cross the Murray River to Deniliquin and the Hay Plain for one of Australia's most extraordinary birds, the critically endangered Plains-wanderer. Returning through Bendigo's historic goldfields and box-ironbark country, we’ll search for a multitude of distinctive dry-country wildlife such as Emu, Gang-gang and Pink Cockatoos, Regent Parrot, Australian Ringneck, Bluebonnet, Splendid and White-winged Fairywrens, Southern Whiteface, Chestnut-rumped and Inland Thornbills, Red-capped Robin, Gilbert's Whistler, Shy Heathwren, Painted Honeyeater, Musk and Purple-crowned Lorikeets, Red and Eastern Grey Kangaroos, Koala and Short-beaked Echidna. This first section also offers a fine sense of rural Australia, from small wheatbelt towns and river red gum country to gold-rush architecture, country roads and wide inland skies.

The tour then continues to Tasmania, where Mount Field National Park, Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary and Bruny Island provide a gentle but rich introduction to the island's endemic birds and mammals. Highlights include Forty-spotted Pardalote, Scrubtit, Tasmanian Nativehen, Green Rosella, Yellow Wattlebird, Pink Robin, Platypus, Common Wombat, Eastern Quoll, Tasmanian Pademelon and Bennett's Wallaby. Bruny Island is especially important, offering excellent chances for Tasmania's special birds in a setting of coastal scenery, forest, gardens and private conservation land.


Top Birds

Plains-wanderer; Forty-spotted Pardalote; Scrubtit; Tasmanian Nativehen; Green Rosella; Yellow Wattlebird; Strong-billed Honeyeater; Black-headed Honeyeater; Yellow-throated Honeyeater; Tasmanian Scrubwren; Tasmanian Thornbill; Black Currawong; Pink Robin; Dusky Robin; Olive Whistler; Emu; Gang-gang Cockatoo; Pink Cockatoo; Regent Parrot; Australian Ringneck; Eastern Bluebonnet; Superb Parrot; Musk Lorikeet; Purple-crowned Lorikeet; Splendid Fairywren; White-winged Fairywren; Southern Whiteface; Chestnut-rumped Thornbill; Inland Thornbill; Red-capped Robin; Gilbert’s Whistler; Shy Heathwren; Southern Scrub Robin; Crested Bellbird; Chestnut-crowned Babbler; Painted Honeyeater; Black Falcon; Australian Pratincole; Hooded Plover; Pacific Gull

Top Mammals

Platypus; Short-beaked Echidna; Koala; Common Wombat; Tasmanian Devil; Eastern Quoll; Spotted-tailed Quoll; Tasmanian Pademelon; Bennett’s Wallaby; Red-necked Wallaby; Eastern Grey Kangaroo; Red Kangaroo; Western Grey Kangaroo; Black Wallaby; Common Brushtail Possum; Common Ringtail Possum; Sugar Glider; Fat-tailed Dunnart; Long-nosed Bandicoot; Australian Fur Seal

Habitats Covered

sandstone ranges, dry eucalypt woodland, mallee, River Red Gum riverine country, open grasslands, box-ironbark forest, Tasmanian temperate rainforest, alpine moorland, fern gullies, coastal heath and beaches.

Expected Climate

cool, fresh winter conditions across south-eastern Australia, with generally crisp, drier weather through inland Victoria and the Riverina, and atmospheric cooler conditions in Tasmania that suit forest, waterfall and coastal scenery particularly well.

Max Group Size

1 - 8 with Local Leader / 9 - 12 with RJ Leader & Local Leader

Tour Pace & Walking

MODERATE TO CHALLENGING: This tour requires a good level of fitness, stamina, and overall health. It’s best suited for experienced birders who are comfortable with a more active itinerary. Please note that it may not be ideal for avid photographers, new birders, or those with mobility or health concerns.

Easy to Moderate. Comfortable multi-night stays, some moderate travel days, and one late-night Plains-wanderer excursion. Our Relaxed series of tours are designed to focus on having an enjoyable holiday with a bird and wildlife focus. Where possible; we have reduced or removed long drives, single night stays and poor/rustic accommodation. We have also sought to reduce or remove difficult hikes, narrow/muddy trails and otherwise oppressive environmental conditions. Early starts and night birding are mostly optional, and we will not spend much time searching for difficult and/or skulking species. These tours are not suitable for hardcore birders and listers, or dedicated photographers.

Accommodation

Comfortable city hotels, regional motels and lodge/cottage-style accommodation. Bruny Island accommodation may have limited rooming arrangements.

Ease of Birding

Easy to Moderate. Most birding is in open woodland, mallee, wetlands, roadsides, reserves & lodge-style grounds. Some mallee and Tasmanian species require patience, and Plains-wanderer can be tricky.

Other Attractions

dramatic Grampians scenery, quiet rural towns, Bendigo’s gold-rush architecture, Hobart and kunanyi/Mount Wellington views, Mount Field waterfalls and tall forests, Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, Bruny Island’s wild coastal landscapes and Inala’s Jurassic Garden.

Photographic Opportunities

Good to very good for landscapes, kangaroos, parrots, waterbirds, Tasmanian endemics and larger mammals.

What our clients say about us

xSteve Davidson
MW, Australia 2022

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.

Erik Forsyth
KH, Australia 2018

Erik Forsyth did a great job, and both his remarkable knowledge and his unflagging good humor were indispensable; I look forward to traveling with him again in the future.

xAngus McNab
TB - Kakadu 2022

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.

xAngus McNab
EL - Kakadu 2022

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.

Erik Forsyth
SH, Australia 2018

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!

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Route Map

Tour Route Map