Of all the world’s birding destinations, Papua New Guinea must certainly rank amongst the most fascinating and exotic. The second largest island on Earth, New Guinea was the last inhabited island to be explored by Europeans, and even today many areas have little or no exposure to Western influence. The virtually untouched forests come alive with incredible fruit doves, fig parrots, fairywrens, jewel-babblers, pittas, honeyeaters and berrypeckers, while over twenty species of dazzling birds-of-paradise present sometimes unbelievably iridescent colours and wild tail plumes in one of the most astonishing exhibits of the natural world!

Travelling by air, road, and boat we will explore the diverse habitats of the country, from winding lowland rivers and sprawling grasslands, to the richly forested highlands. Native tribes still dress themselves to mimic the island’s fabulous birds, adorned with elaborate head plumes made from the feathers of parrots and birds-of-paradise. Our eighteen-day tour covers the highlights of this enchanted and little-travelled country. We can expect a phenomenal variety of remarkable birds in and amongst vast regions of immaculate forests that have been experienced by few people on earth!

Top Birds

King of Saxony, Superb, Magnificent, King, Twelve-wired, Greater, Raggiana, Lesser & Blue Bird-of-paradise, Magnificent & Growling Riflebird, Black, Brown & Black-billed Sicklebill, Glossy-mantled, Crinkle-collared & Trumpet Manucode, Short-tailed Paradigalla, Ribbon-tailed & Princess Stephanie's Astrapia, Queen Carola's & Lawes's Parotia, Salvadori's Teal, Forest Bittern, Papuan, Pygmy & Gurney's Eagle, Doria's & Black-mantled Goshawk, Papuan Harrier, Chestnut & Forbes's Forest Rail, New Guinea Flightless Rail, New Guinea Woodcock, New Guinea Bronzewing, Cinnamon Ground Dove, Pheasant Pigeon, Southern Crowned Pigeon, Wompoo, Pink-spotted, Ornate, Orange-fronted, Superb, Coroneted, Beautiful, White-bibbed, Orange-bellied & Dwarf Fruit Dove, Purple-tailed, Rufescent, Pinon's, Collared, Zoe's & Torresian Imperial Pigeon, Papuan Mountain Pigeon, Papuan Boobook, Marbled & Papuan Frogmouth, Archbold's Nightjar, Feline, Starry, Wallace's, Mountain & Barred Owlet-Nightjar, Hook-billed, Common Paradise, Little Paradise, Buff-breasted Paradise, Brown-headed Paradise, Forest, Torresian, Yellow-billed, Mountain, Papuan Dwarf & Azure Kingfisher, Shovel-billed, Blue-winged & Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Pesquet's, Yellow-capped & Buff-faced Pygmy, Papuan King, Eclectus & Brehm's Tiger Parrot, Striated, Red-flanked, Fairy, Papuan, Yellow-billed & Orange-billed Lorikeet, Purple-bellied, Dusky, Goldie's & Coconut Lorikeet, Orange-breasted Fig Parrot, Papuan Pitta, Archbold's, MacGregor's, Flame, Yellow-breasted & Fawn-breasted Bowerbird, Papuan Treecreeper, Wallace's, Emperor, White-shouldered & Orange-crowned Fairywren, Goldenface, Papuan Babbler, Papuan Logrunner, Loria's & Crested Satinbird, Tit & Crested Berrypecker, Papuan Whipbird, Spotted, Blue & Chestnut-backed Jewel-babbler, Painted Quail-thrush, Mottled Berryhunter, Papuan & Black Sittella, Wattled Ploughbill, Rufous-naped Whistler, Crested Pitohui, Lesser Melampitta & Greater Melampitta, Blue-capped Ifrit, Mountain Firetail, White-spotted, Great-billed, Grey-headed, Hooded & Chestnut-breasted Mannikin.

Top Mammals

Spectacled Dasyure, Black-tailed Giant Rat, Agile Wallaby, Great Flying Fox

Habitats Covered

lowland and montane rainforest, Eucalyptus savanna, mangroves, grasslands, wetlands, islets

Expected Climate

hot and humid with tropical showers, cooler in the highlands

Max Group Size

8 with 1 Rockjumper Leader / 10 with 2 Rockjumper leaders

Tour Pace & Walking

moderate pace with some longer hikes

Accommodation

comfortable to good hotels and lodges with one basic lodge

Ease of Birding

moderate, can be challenging at times

Number of Species Expected

300 - 350

Other Attractions

traditional carvings, spectacular forest vistas and mountain scenery

Photographic Opportunities

good

What our clients say about us

Paul Varney
KH, Papua New Guinea 2023

This was my first birding tour ever, so I wasnt sure what to expect. The tour leader, Paul, was so amazing, there are not enough superlatives. All of the other participants had been on birding trips before, and Paul was very gracious to make sure I had the opportunity to see as many birds as possible and know what to expect. He was very conscientious, and prepared for almost anything. The trip was physically challenging due to the steep muddy trails, high and low temperatures, and oh yeah, the earthquakes. I wasnt sure what to expect, although the descriptions were pretty accurate, but I was ready to stop hiking by the 11th day. Thank you for the recommendation of collapsible walking sticks. Those were very useful. I am very glad I had the opportunity to take this trip. I cant say enough good things about Paul as the trip leader. I hope he gets to lead all of his first choice tours in the future!

Lev Frid
IC - PNG 2022

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.

Lev Frid
KL, Papua New Guinea 2022

I thought Lev Frid did a great job in managing the tour.

Adam Walleyn
JH - Papua New Guinea 2019

Adam Walleyn knew the birds and the calls and worked hard to make sure we saw not only the specialties of the area but all the birds. His nightbirding skills were phenomenal. It is like he knew exactly where the bird was going to show.

Adam Walleyn
RP - Papua New Guinea 2019

[This was] my third trip with Adam Walleyn and I will definitely go with him again. He is constantly looking and working to find the birds---during lunch breaks, after the day ends, on the bus. He never stops and it pays off. He works hard to get everyone on the birds and remembers special needs that various members of the group have. He took a lunch break one day to spend time with me looking for one bird that I had repeatedly missed. We didn’t find it, but the effort was very much appreciated and noticed. He gave me some pointers and I did find the bird later on during another break.

Papua New Guinea - Birding in Paradise (Small Group) I 2024

02 Jun 2024 - 19 Jun 2024 (18 days)

PGK47,950 - No Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Erik Forsyth

Tour price (Per person): PGK47,950 * USD12,632 * GBP10,135 * EUR11,799 * AUD19,424

Single Supplement: PGK4,950 * USD1,304 * GBP1,046 * EUR1,218 * AUD2,005

Flight costs: PGK5,950 * USD1,567 * GBP1,258 * EUR1,464 * AUD2,410

Can be linked with: Papua New Guinea - New Britain I 2024

Papua New Guinea - Birding in Paradise (Small Group) II 2024

02 Sep 2024 - 19 Sep 2024 (18 days)

PGK47,950 - No Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Stephan Lorenz

Tour price (Per person): PGK47,950 * USD12,632 * GBP10,135 * EUR11,799 * AUD19,424

Single Supplement: PGK4,950 * USD1,304 * GBP1,046 * EUR1,218 * AUD2,005

Flight costs: PGK5,950 * USD1,567 * GBP1,258 * EUR1,464 * AUD2,410

Can be linked with: Papua New Guinea - New Britain III 2024

Papua New Guinea - Birding in Paradise I 2025

09 May 2025 - 26 May 2025 (18 days)

PGK39,450 - Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Julian Parsons

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Tour Leader: Paul Varney

Tour price (Per person): PGK39,450 * USD10,393 * GBP8,338 * EUR9,707 * AUD15,981

Single Supplement: PGK4,950 * USD1,304 * GBP1,046 * EUR1,218 * AUD2,005

Flight costs: PGK3,400 * USD896 * GBP719 * EUR837 * AUD1,377

Can be linked with: Papua New Guinea - New Britain I 2025

Papua New Guinea - Birding in Paradise II 2025

18 Jul 2025 - 04 Aug 2025 (18 days)

PGK39,450 - Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Amanda Guercio

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Tour Leader: Lev Frid

Tour price (Per person): PGK39,450 * USD10,393 * GBP8,338 * EUR9,707 * AUD15,981

Single Supplement: PGK4,950 * USD1,304 * GBP1,046 * EUR1,218 * AUD2,005

Flight costs: PGK3,400 * USD896 * GBP719 * EUR837 * AUD1,377

Can be linked with: Papua New Guinea - New Britain II 2025

Papua New Guinea - Birding in Paradise (Small Group) 2025

20 Aug 2025 - 06 Sep 2025 (18 days)

PGK47,950 - 1 Space Available

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Tour Leader: Erik Forsyth

Tour price (Per person): PGK47,950 * USD12,632 * GBP10,135 * EUR11,799 * AUD19,424

Single Supplement: PGK4,950 * USD1,304 * GBP1,046 * EUR1,218 * AUD2,005

Flight costs: PGK3,400 * USD896 * GBP719 * EUR837 * AUD1,377

Can be linked with: Papua New Guinea - New Britain III 2025

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