18 Days / 17 Nights
East Coast Photography Tour
An extended bird photography tour from Cairns to Sydney, combining Far North Queensland rainforest, Lamington National Park and New South Wales woodland, mallee and heathland birding.
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East coast bird photography
Rainforest birds, cassowaries, bowerbirds, parrots, mallee species and heathland specialties.
This 18 day / 17 night tour begins in Cairns and finishes in Sydney, bringing together some of the best bird photography locations along Australia's east coast.
The route includes Cairns, Etty Bay, the Atherton Tablelands, O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat, Lithgow, Capertee Valley, Cowra, Lake Cargelligo, Nombinnie Nature Reserve, Griffith and Barren Grounds.
- Cairns shorebirds, mangroves and Wet Tropics rainforest birds
- Southern Cassowary and Atherton Tablelands endemics
- Lamington National Park rainforest and bowerbirds
- New South Wales woodland, mallee and heathland specialties
Tour itinerary
East Coast Photography Tour itinerary
An 18 day / 17 night bird photography tour beginning in Cairns and finishing in Sydney, travelling through Far North Queensland, Lamington National Park and inland New South Wales.
Cairns, Queensland
The tour begins in Cairns. Arrival flights into Cairns before the tour are not included.
Cairns birding
Explore Cairns sites including the Esplanade, northern mangroves and Centenary Lakes for shorebirds, fruit-doves, kingfishers, honeyeaters, fig-parrots, waterbirds and possible Papuan Frogmouth.
Etty Bay and Atherton Tablelands
Head south to Etty Bay for Southern Cassowary, then continue to the Atherton Tablelands. Afternoon birding around Lake Eacham may include Spotted Catbird, Bridled Honeyeater, Victoria's Riflebird, Chowchilla and Grey-headed Robin.
Southern Tablelands
Spend three days around Lake Barrine, Lake Eacham, Mount Hypipamee, Hasties Swamp and the Curtain Fig Tree area for Wet Tropics endemics, rainforest birds, Platypus, Lumholtz Tree-kangaroo and optional spotlighting.
Cairns to O'Reilly's
Fly from Cairns to Brisbane, then travel to O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat in Lamington National Park. Afternoon birding around the lodge may include Crimson Rosella, Australian King-Parrot and Regent Bowerbird.
Lamington National Park
Explore rainforest and open eucalyptus forest around O'Reilly's for Regent Bowerbird, Satin Bowerbird, Paradise Riflebird, Australian Logrunner, Noisy Pitta, Green Catbird and possibly Albert's Lyrebird.
Brisbane to Sydney and Lithgow
Fly from Brisbane to Sydney, then travel west toward Lithgow. Depending on timing, there may be a chance to look for Rockwarbler or visit Lake Wallace for waterbirds.
Capertee Valley to Cowra
Explore Capertee Valley and Lake Wallace for parrots, honeyeaters, robins, finches, waterbirds and Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo before heading west to Cowra.
Cowra and Lake Cargelligo
Bird around Cowra for Turquoise Parrot, Blue Bonnet, Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, Peregrine Falcon, Mallee Ringneck and Red-capped Robin, then continue to Lake Cargelligo for White-winged Fairy-wren, crakes and Pink Cockatoo.
Nombinnie Nature Reserve
Explore the mallee of Nombinnie Nature Reserve for Mulga Parrot, White-fronted Honeyeater, Yellow-plumed Honeyeater, Shy Heathwren, Crested Bellbird, Southern Scrub-robin, Chestnut Quail-thrush, Red-lored Whistler and Gilbert's Whistler.
Lake Cargelligo to Griffith
Follow up any missed birds around Nombinnie before travelling to Griffith and Darlington Point for Greater Bluebonnet, Pink Cockatoo, Long-billed Corella, Superb Parrot and the yellow subspecies of Crimson Rosella.
Griffith to Robertson
Visit woodland near Griffith for Speckled Warbler, Painted Honeyeater, Turquoise Parrot, White-winged Chough and Apostlebird before travelling east toward Robertson.
Barren Grounds and return to Sydney
Spend the final morning at Barren Grounds searching for Gang-gang Cockatoo, Southern Emu-wren, Pilotbird, Eastern Ground Parrot and Eastern Bristlebird before returning to Sydney.
Sydney, NSW
The tour finishes in Sydney, with drop off at your hotel or the airport.
Please contact me for pricing
All inclusive for two people in twin or double accommodation. Larger groups can contact me for pricing and numbers.
Target birds
Birds to look for on this tour
Southern Cassowary, Spotted Catbird, Bridled Honeyeater, Yellow-spotted Honeyeater, Victoria's Riflebird, Red-necked Crake, Chowchilla, Tooth-billed Bowerbird, Wompoo Fruit-dove, Grey-headed Robin, Regent Bowerbird, Satin Bowerbird, Paradise Riflebird, Australian Logrunner, Noisy Pitta, Green Catbird, Albert's Lyrebird, Rockwarbler, Gang-gang Cockatoo, Turquoise Parrot, Blue Bonnet, Mulga Parrot, Superb Parrot, Pink Cockatoo, White-winged Fairy-wren, Southern Emu-wren, Pilotbird, Eastern Ground Parrot, Eastern Bristlebird, Speckled Warbler, Shy Heathwren, Southern Scrub-robin, Crested Bellbird, Chestnut Quail-thrush, Red-lored Whistler, Gilbert's Whistler, Painted Honeyeater, Hooded Robin, Red-capped Robin and Diamond Firetail.
The exact bird list depends on season, tides, weather, flight timing and current bird activity.
