13 Days / 12 Nights
Cairns, Tablelands & Cape York
A northern Queensland birding and photography tour through Cairns, the Atherton Tablelands, Lakefield National Park, Musgrave Roadhouse and Iron Range.
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13 Days / 12 Nights
Cairns, Tablelands & Cape York
Explore Cairns, the Atherton Tablelands and Cape York, combining coastal birding, Wet Tropics rainforest, Southern Cassowary opportunities, savannah birding and Iron Range specialties.
- Cairns Esplanade, mangroves and Centenary Lakes
- Southern Cassowary and Atherton Tablelands rainforest birds
- Mount Carbine, Artemis Station and Lakefield National Park
- Iron Range specialties including Palm Cockatoo, Eclectus Parrot and riflebirds
Tour itinerary
Cairns, Tablelands & Cape York itinerary
A 13 day / 12 night tour beginning in Cairns and travelling through the Atherton Tablelands, Mount Carbine, Musgrave Roadhouse, Lakefield National Park and Iron Range.
Cairns, Queensland
The tour begins in Cairns. Arrival flights into Cairns before the tour are not included.
Cairns birding
Spend two days around Cairns, including the Cairns Esplanade, northern mangroves and Centenary Lakes for shorebirds, fruit-doves, kingfishers, honeyeaters, fig-parrots, waterbirds and possible Papuan Frogmouth.
Etty Bay and Atherton Tablelands
Travel 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
Explore 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.
Mount Carbine to Musgrave Roadhouse
Head north to Mount Carbine for dry-country species including Australian Bustard, Great Bowerbird, Squatter Pigeon, Pale-headed Rosella, Red-winged Parrot, Tawny Frogmouth, Black-throated Finch and Brown Treecreeper. Continue to Musgrave Roadhouse.
Artemis Station and Musgrave
Visit Artemis Station for Golden-shouldered Parrot, with possible Pale-headed Rosella, Black-backed Butcherbird and Masked Finch. Spend the afternoon exploring savannah and billabongs east of Musgrave Roadhouse.
Lakefield National Park to Iron Range
Visit the northern part of Lakefield National Park for Black-throated Finch, Star Finch and White-bellied Crimson Finch before travelling north to Iron Range.
Iron Range, Lockhart River and Portland
Spend several days exploring rainforest, dry woodland, mangroves and coastal habitats around Iron Range, Lockhart River and Portland. Targets include Palm Cockatoo, Eclectus Parrot, Magnificent Riflebird, monarchs, honeyeaters, bowerbirds, robins and Papuan Pitta.
Departure from Iron Range
The final day depends on flight times, with time used to follow up any remaining bird or photography targets before departure.
Cairns, Queensland
The tour departs from Iron Range and finishes back in Cairns.
Cairns, Yungaburra, Musgrave and Iron Range
Accommodation includes Pullman Cairns, Eden House Retreat in Yungaburra, Musgrave Roadhouse and Iron Range Airport Cabins.
$39,990 AUD
All inclusive for one or 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
Terek Sandpiper, Red-capped Plover, Grey-tailed Tattler, Greater Sandplover, Lesser Sandplover, Beach Stone-curlew, Rose-crowned Fruit-dove, Varied Honeyeater, Mangrove Robin, Torresian Kingfisher, Satin Flycatcher, Orange-footed Scrubfowl, Little Kingfisher, Southern Cassowary, Spotted Catbird, Bridled Honeyeater, Yellow-spotted Honeyeater, Victoria’s Riflebird, Red-necked Crake, Chowchilla, Grey-headed Robin, Tooth-billed Bowerbird, Wompoo Fruit-dove, Pied Monarch, Australian Bustard, Squatter Pigeon, Black-throated Finch, Golden-shouldered Parrot, Star Finch, White-bellied Crimson Finch, Palm Cockatoo, Eclectus Parrot, Red-cheeked Parrot, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Magnificent Riflebird, Black-eared Catbird, Fawn-breasted Bowerbird, Tropical Scrubwren, Green-backed Honeyeater, Tawny-breasted Honeyeater, Frill-necked Monarch, Trumpet Manucode, White-faced Robin and Northern Scrub-robin.
The exact bird list depends on season, tides, weather, road access and current bird activity.
