DAY 2 - An early morning to head North to Bardedjilidji for an early morning walk, here we will be looking Chestnut-quilled Rock-pigeon, Sandstone Shrike-thrush and maybe a Rainbow Pitta or Rose-crowned Fruit-dove. After the walk our next spot is Ubirr for the rest of the morning. This spectacular view over the floodplain can also be a great place for Chestnut-quilled Rock-pigeon and Sandstone Shrike-thrush. This is also a great place to see Short-eared Rock Wallaby. If the tide is right we will check out Cahill crossing to see its famous crocodiles feeding together then it will be time to head back for lunch.

After a break in the middle of the day we will head to Nourlangie to clean up any of the endemics we have missed, this is also a great spot to see some aboriginal artwork.

Accommodation - The Crocodile Hotel, Jabiru (https://www.kakadutourism.com/accommodation/kakadu-crocodile-hotel/)

Meals: (B, L, D).

DAY 3 - We will enjoy an early morning cruise on the famous Yellow-waters Billabong, this world class wetland is home to a huge amount of water birds including Black-necked Stork, Wandering & Plumed Whistling-Ducks, Radjah Shelduck, Nankeen Night-heron, Pied Heron, Bar-breasted Honeyeater, Green Pygmy-goose and some of the rarer birds like Great-billed Heron, Little & Azure Kingfishers and also Black Bittern. After the cruise we will head back to the lodge to check out and have lunch before heading South to Pine Creek and our accommodation for the night, along the way we have a chance for Australia's rarest bird of prey the Red Goshawk which nests in the area.

The afternoon is spent around Pine Creek tracking down the endemic Hooded Parrot, along with Red-winged Parrot, Northern Rosella, Varied and Red-collared Lorikeet. We also stand a chance of Little Corella, Sulphur-crested and Red-tailed Black Cockatoo.

Accommodation - Lazy Lizard, Pine Creek (https://lazylizardpinecreek.com.au/)

Meals: (B, L, D).

DAY 4 - An early morning start to head south for our first chance to see the spectacular Gouldian Finch, other birds in the area include Hooded Parrots, Long-Tailed Finch, Masked Finch, Double-barred Finch, Banded Honeyeater, Great Bowerbird and Brown Quail.

After a morning around Edith Falls we head South to Katherine for lunch before heading West to the Victoria River Region about 200 km west, along the way we will stop at a few secret spots to see what we can find. The afternoon at Victoria River can be spent searching for Purple-crowned Fairy-wrens along the banks of the Victoria River or go and look for White-quilled Rock-pigeons which are found up on the escarpments.

Accommodation - Victoria River Roadhouse (en-suite Room)

Meals: (B, L, D).

DAY 5 - The morning will be spent around the roadhouse at Victoria River looking for Purple-crowned Fairy-wrens, Birds of Prey and Finches. We will then start head west to Timber Creek and our accommodation for the night, this is one of my favourite birding areas in the Northern Territory. Along the way we will be stopping to look for Red-browed Pardalote, Black-breasted Buzzard and maybe a Finch or two.

The afternoon will be spent looking for Yellow-rumped Mannikin, Star Finch, Chestnut-breasted Mannikin, Red-backed Kingfisher, Purple-crowned Fairy-wren and maybe a Chestnut-backed Button-quail.

Accommodation - Timber Creek Hotel (http://timbercreekhotel.com.au/)

Meals: (B, L, D).

DAY 6 - This morning we will be setting up at one of the many great dry season watering holes in the area, possibilities here are Double-barred Finch, Crimson Finch, Long-tailed Finch, Masked Finch, Chestnut-breasted Mannikin, Star Finch, Zebra Finch, Yellow-rumped Mannikin, Pictorella Mannikin and Gouldian Finch. Hopefully have birds coming down to drink in front of us.

After a morning in the area we start our big drive back to Darwin, I expect to be back in Darwin at a reasonable hour ready for our flight to Cairns the following day.

Accommodation - Club Tropical Resort, Darwin. (http://clubtropicalresortdarwin.com.au/)

Meals: (B, L, D).

DAY 7 - Todays birding will depend on what time our flight to Cairns is.

# FLIGHT FROM DARWIN TO CAIRNS (specific flight details to be confirmed)

Accommodation - Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort, Cairns (https://www.novotelcairnsresort.com.au)

Meals: (B, L, D).

DAY 8 - Today we will be spending the day exploring Cairns city itself. Sites we will visit include the famous Cairns Esplanade which is a fantastic place for shorebirds including Terek Sandpiper, Red-capped Plover, Australian Pelican, Grey-tailed Tattler, Greater & Lesser Sandplover, Red-necked Stint, Black-tailed & Bar-tailed Godwits, Gull-billed Tern, Little Tern, Caspian Tern and if we’re lucky a Beach-stone Curlew. The mangroves at the Northern end of the Esplanade are great for Rose-crowned Fruit-dove, Varied Honeyeater, Mangrove Robin, Torresian Kingfisher and maybe a Satin Flycatcher.

Just North of town is Centenary Lakes where we find fresh and saltwater lakes, here we might see Orange-footed Scrubfowl, Australian Brush-Turkey, Cicadabird, Dusky Myzomela, Brown-backed Honeyeater, Yellow Honeyeaters, Large-billed Gerygone, Black Butcherbird, Magpie Goose, Little Kingfisher, Nankeen Night-heron, Radjah Shelduck, Metallic Starling, Double-eyed Fig-parrot, Green Oriole maybe a day roosting Papuan Frogmouth.

Accommodation - Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort, Cairns (https://www.novotelcairnsresort.com.au)

Meals: (L, D).

DAY 9 - Today we set off on a boat trip to visit the famous Great Barrier Reef, the morning will be spent exploring Michaelmas Cay which is home to thousands of seabirds these include Bridled Tern, Sooty Tern, Brown Noddy’s, Brown Boobies, Great & Lesser Frigatebird, Black-naped Tern, Lesser & Great Crested Terns and maybe a rarity like Roseate Tern or Red-footed Booby.

The afternoon will be spent at Hasting Reef where you will have the opportunity to go snorkelling at one of the best snorkelling spots out of Cairns. After a day out on the water we should arrive back in Cairns around 4.30pm, if the tides are good we will spend some more time looking for some of the rarer shorebirds which can sometimes be found on the mud flats along the esplanade.

To finish off the day we will enjoy a delicious dinner at one of the many great restaurant in the city.

TOUR - Seastar Reef Cruise out to the Great Barrier Reef and Michaelmas Cay (http://www.seastarcruises.com.au/where-we-go/michaelmas-cay)

Accommodation - Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort, Cairns (https://www.novotelcairnsresort.com.au)

Meals: (B, L, D).

DAY 10 - Today our main target will be Southern Cassowary, we will be getting up early and heading South to Etty Bay where they are sometimes found walking around in the open and maybe even on the beach making for great photo opportunities. After a morning at Etty Bay we will then make our way up the mountain onto the Atherton Tablelands and our accommodation for the next two nights, Crater Lake Rainforest Cottages.

Our afternoon will be spent around the lodge itself which is an incredible birding spot, here we have chances of seeing Spotted Catbird, Bridled Honeyeater, Yellow-spotted Honeyeater, Emerald Dove, Victoria’s Riflebird, Red-necked Crake, Chowchilla, Golden Whistler, Grey-headed Robin, Tooth-billed Bowerbird, Wompoo Fruit-dove, Barred Cuckoo-shrike, Grey Fantail and maybe a Boyd's Forest Dragon.

Mammals around the property include Red-legged pademelon and Musky Rat-kangaroo.

Accommodation - Crater Lake Rainforest Cottages (http://www.craterlakes.com.au/)

Meals: (B, L, D).

DAY 11 - Today we will spend the day exploring the Southern Tablelands, sites include the two stunning Crater Lakes of Barrine and Eacham which are great for the local rainforest birds, Mount Hypipamee National Park holding some of the local high elevation rainforest birds, Hasties Swamp famous for its ducks and water birds and the huge Curtain Fig Tree which is great for birds like Grey-headed Robin, Pied Monarch and Victoria’s Riflebird.

Mammals we will be looking for include some of Australia’s most iconic mammals like Lumholtz Tree-kangaroo and Platypus.

An optional night out spotlighting could find us a huge list of possible mammals, these include Lumholtz Tree-kangaroo, Coppery Brush-tailed Possum, Ring-tailed Possum, Herbert River Ringtail Possum, Lemuroid Ringtail Possum, Green Ringtail Possum, Giant White-tailed Rat, Musky Rat-kangaroo, Northern Brown Bandicoot, Sugar Glider, Feather-tailed Glider and the northern race of Yellow-bellied Glider.

Accommodation - Crater Lake Rainforest Cottages (http://www.craterlakes.com.au/)

Meals: (B, L, D).

DAY 12  - A final morning birding around the Crater Lakes before heading North to the beautiful Sweetwater Lodge which is perfectly located in one of Australia’s premier birding areas, Julateen. This area is fantastic for species like Noisy Pitta, Pale Yellow Robin, Lovely Fairywren, Northern Fantail, Square-tailed Kite, Pacific Baza, Yellow-breasted Boatbill, Barred Cuckoo-shrike, Graceful Honeyeater, Spectacled Monarch, Black-faced Monarch and Pied Monarch.

Accommodation - Sweetwater Lodge, Julatten (http://www.sweetwaterlodge.com.au/)

Meals: (B, L, D).

DAY 13 - This morning we will be getting up early and heading up to one of Australia’s best birding spots, Mount Lewis. Here the birding can be challenging but very rewarding with species like Bower’s Shrike-thrush, Grey-headed Robin, White-throated (Little) Treecreeper, Fernwren, Mountain Thornbill, Tooth-billed Bowerbird, Large-billed Scrubwren, Atherton Scrubwren, Chowchilla, Bridled Honeyeater and one of Australia’s best birds the male Golden Bowerbird, hopefully tending to his Bower.

The afternoon will be spent in some dryer habitats looking for White-cheeked Honeyeaters, Yellow Honeyeater, Brown-backed Honeyeater, Square-tailed Kite, Brown-backed Honeyeaters, Noisy Friarbirds and maybe a Cotton Pygmy-goose.

Accommodation - Sweetwater Lodge, Julatten (http://www.sweetwaterlodge.com.au/)

Meals: (B, L, D).

DAY 14 - This morning we will be heading to Mount Carbine to look for some of the local dry habitat birds. Here we have chances of seeing Australian Bustard, Great Bowerbird, Squatter Pigeon, Pale-headed Rosella, Red-winged Parrot, Tawny Frogmouth, Black-throated Finch, White-throated Gerygone and the Northern race of Brown Treecreeper.

After lunch at Mount Malloy we will be making our way up to the Daintree where we will take the ferry across to Cape Tribulation and explore the area. Here we have another chance for Southern Cassowary and some great Rainforest birds like Noisy Pitta and Wompoo Fruit-dove.

Accommodation - Redmill House (http://www.redmillhouse.com.au/)

Meals: (B, L, D).

DAY 15 - At dawn we will take a private boat cruise along the Daintree River with one of the best local guides around, Murray Hunt the Daintree Boatman. Here we will be scanning the trees along the river for great birds like Wompoo Fruit-Doves, Papuan Frogmouth, Double-eyed Fig-Parrots, Macley’s Honeyeater, Superb Fruit-dove, Azure Kingfisher, Little Kingfisher and if were lucky a Great-billed Heron. Depending on the time of year we also have a chance to see one of Australia’s rarest ducks the Spotted Whistling-duck.  After three hours along the river we will return to Red Mill House for a late cooked breakfast on their veranda.

After breakfast on the balcony we will slowly make our way back to Cairns where we can follow up on any species we missed.

TOUR - Morning Private Boat Trip on the Daintree River (http://www.daintreerivertours.com.au/)

Accommodation - Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort, Cairns (https://www.novotelcairnsresort.com.au)

Meals: (B, L, D).

DAY 16 - After a morning flight from Cairns (specific flight details to be confirmed later), we will arrive in Brisbane and head straight into the field. Our first stop will be some mangroves near the airport, searching for Chestnut Teal, Mangrove Gerygone, Mangrove Honeyeater and Collared Kingfisher.

After a productive morning we will then head South towards Lamington National Park and the comfortable lodgings of O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat. The drive up the steep windy road might find us a Spotted Pardalote, Variegated Fariy-wren and maybe a rare Glossy Black-cockatoo. When we arrive at the top we will be greeted by extremely tame Crimson Rosellas, Australian King-Parrots and maybe get out first glimpse of the incredible Regent Bowerbird flashing his yellow wings. After checking in we will spend the afternoon exploring the rainforest edges, trails and feeders.

# MORNING FLIGHT CAIRNS to BRISBANE (specific flight details to be confirmed)

Accommodation - O’Reilly’s Rainforest Resort, QLD (https://oreillys.com.au/)

Meals: (B, L, D).

DAY 17 - We will have two full days to explore the areas around O’Reillys which include the Rainforest around the lodge and the open eucalyptus forest just down the hill. Target birds in the area include the spectacular Regent Bowerbird, Grey Goshawk, Top-knot Pigeon, White-headed Pigeon, Satin Bowerbiird, Wonga Pigeons, Paradise Riflebird, Australian Logrunner, Rose Robin, Noisy Pitta, Red-browed Treecreeper, Rose Robin, Green Catbird and if we are really lucky the extremely secretive Albert’s Lyrebird.

A night out spotlights could produce Sooty Owl, Marbled Frogmouth, Owlet Night-jar and Southern Boobook.

Accommodation - O’Reilly’s Rainforest Resort, QLD (https://oreillys.com.au/)

Meals: (B, L, D).

DAY 18 - Day around the O’Reilly's Plateau.

Accommodation - O’Reilly’s Rainforest Resort, QLD (https://oreillys.com.au/)

Meals: (B, L, D).

DAY 19 - Departure day out of Brisbane

Cost -  $38400.00 AUD - All inclusive for two people | Twin or Double Accommodation 

Single Supplement $1980.00

Exclusions : Airfare arriving into Darwin before the tour & Airfare departing Brisbane on the last day of tour.

For larger groups please contact me for pricing and numbers etc.

Contact me about this tour | Terms and Conditions