Our tour to the Adelbert Range and Huon Peninsula takes in some of the remotest birding available, in an already distant part of the world. First, we’ll head to the Adelbert Range to search out one of Papua New Guinea’s most exquisite species, the Fire-maned Bowerbird; hopefully followed shortly afterwards by one of its most obscure, the Obscure Berrypecker! We’ll then drive down the coast to Madang to find the range restricted Edward’s Fig Parrot before winging our way from Lae to the resplendent, cool montane forests of the Huon Peninsula.
Host to a several rarely seen, endemic Bird-of-paradise species that include Huon Astrapia, Wahnes's Parotia and the regal Emperor Bird-of-paradise. Throw in the attractive and localised Spangled Honeyeater, Huon Bowerbird (formerly part of the Macgregors Bowerbird complex), Cinnamon-browed Melidectes, Mottled Berryhunter (now in its own monotypic family, endemic to New Guinea), Pesquet's (Vulturine) Parrot, Tit and Fan-tailed Berrypecker (two different families endemic to New Guinea!), gaudy Papuan Lorikeet, Papuan Sitella, Blue-capped Ifrit (endemic to New Guinea) and Superb Bird-of-paradise, and this tour is sure to satisfy listers of both rare and remote species and families alike.
Fire-manded & Huon Bowerbirds; Huon Astrapia; Wahne's Parotia; Emperor, Lesser & Magnificent Bird-of-paradise; Superb Lophorina; Crinkled Manucode; Growling Riflebird; Spangled & Rufous-backed Honeyeaters; Obscure, Tit, Streaked, Mid-mountain & Fan-tailed Berrypeckers; Pesquet's Parrot; Papuan & Orange-billed Lorikeets; Dusky & Black-capped Lorys; Red-breasted & Buff-faced Pygmy Parrots; Edward's & Double-eyed Fig Parrots; Banded Yellow Robin; Brown-headed & Spotted Jewel-babblers; Tan-capped Catbird; Sclater’s, Brown-backed & Regent Whistlers; Canary & Lemon-bellied Flyrobins; Mountain & Hook-billed Kingfishers; Blue-capped Ifrit; Great Cuckoo-Dove; Ornate, Superb & Beautiful Fruit Doves; Rufescent, Pinon's, Torresian, Zoe's & Purple-tailed Imperial Pigeons; Papuan Sitella; Red-collared & Mountain Red-headed Myzomelas; Red-capped Flowerpecker; Black Monarch; Black-breasted Boatbill; Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo; Buff-faced Scrubwren; Brown-breasted & Green-backed Gerygones; Mottled Berryhunter (Whistler) [now in its own monotypic family]; Great Woodswallow; Varied & Black-mantled Goshawks; Papuan Eagle; Blue-grey Robin; White-shouldered & Orange-crowned Fairywrens; Cinnamon-browed Melidectes;
lowland rain forest for half the tour, and mid to high montane forest for the latter half
hot and humid in the lowlands, with expectant rain showers. Cool to cold in the mornings and evenings at higher altitude
7 with 1 Rockjumper Leader & 1 local leader
Our Mega tours are very fast-paced birding adventures designed for the dedicated lister and serious birder. The focus of the tour is to see as many of the endemics and area specials as possible in our given time. In order to cover the necessary route to maximise the species list we tend to spend a single night at most sites and travel large distances. There is very little down time aside from that spent driving from one site to the next. These tours are not suitable for dedicated or avid photographers; inexperienced or new birders; as well as anyone with serious mobility or health challenges.
variable from tents and basic lodge to good in Madang and Lae
moderate, can be challenging at times
average to good
Stephan is a top notch guide. Great eyes, ears & local knowledge found us all the specials. A healthy dose of patience also ensured we all got onto the birds (those that hung around!)
Special thanks to Dušan Brinkhuizen for his care in helping me to locate birds on my camcorder.
Both Lev Frid and Andre Bernon were excellent guides. Lev was particularly emphatic about the vagaries of travel in PNG and the propensity for things to go wrong. Despite his warnings, the trip went extremely smoothly; the accommodation was all great be it the highly rustic (Kwatu) or high end (Walindi); the Papuan guides and ground team were very good; it was nice to see that Rockjumper was clearly supporting the local organisations; and overall both the Rockjumper guides and the Papuan bird guides were very knowledgeable. Overall, a really excellent experience on the ground.
We thought the birding went very well. Both Dusan and Stephan were great guides - very knowledgeable, very dedicated, quite determined to get everyone onto pretty much everything, and they combined very well. And, they both tried very hard to help all the participants who needed it, whether it was locating a bird, getting up a steep section or getting in or out of the boats. They did an admirable job.
Adam Walleyn acted as a very experienced and skilful leader. He had an intimate knowledge of the birds and great skills in finding and showing them. His communication was extremely clear, to the point and flavoured with a good sense of humour. In the few difficult situations that arose due to flights, civil unrest, etc, he showed extremely good skills in handling these with a perfect balance between group decisions and executive decisions. A role model for a tour leader.
20 Aug 2025 - 31 Aug 2025 (12 days)
USD8,000 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Robert Williams
Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change*
Tour price (Per person): USD8,000 * GBP6,386 * EUR7,467 * AUD12,265
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Papua New Guinea - Highlights II 2023 - August 2023
Papua New Guinea - New Britain III 2023 - August 2023
Papua New Guinea - Birding in Paradise IV 2023 - August 2023
Papua New Guinea - Adelbert Range & Huon Peninsula 2023 - July 2023
Papua New Guinea - Birding in Paradise III 2022 - July 2022
Papua New Guinea - New Britain II 2022 - July 2022
Papua New Guinea - Birding in Paradise II 2022 - June 2022
Papua New Guinea - Huon Peninsula Extension I 2022 - June 2022
Papua New Guinea - Highlights I 2019 - September 2019
Papua New Guinea - New Britain III 2019 - August 2019
Papua New Guinea - Birding in Paradise V 2019 - August 2019
Papua New Guinea - Huon Peninsula Extension II 2019 - August 2019
Papua New Guinea - Birding in Paradise IV 2019 - July 2019
Papua New Guinea - Birding in Paradise III 2019 - June 2019
Papua New Guinea - Huon Peninsula Extension I 2019 - June 2019
Papua New Guinea - Highlights 2018 - September 2018
Papua New Guinea - New Britain III 2018 - August 2018