6 Days / 5 Nights
Cairns & Southern Tablelands
Private and small-group birding and photography tour through Cairns, the Esplanade, rainforest habitats and the Southern Tablelands.
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Tour overview
Birding and photography across Cairns and the Tablelands.
This tour explores Cairns city birding sites, the famous Cairns Esplanade, mangroves, rainforest habitats and the Southern Tablelands, with opportunities for shorebirds, Wet Tropics endemics, Southern Cassowary and rainforest wildlife.
- Cairns Esplanade and mangrove birding
- Southern Cassowary around Etty Bay
- Lake Eacham, Yungaburra and Atherton Tablelands
- Wet Tropics endemic birds and rainforest mammals
Tour itinerary
Day-by-day itinerary
A 6 day / 5 night birding and photography tour through Cairns, Etty Bay, Lake Eacham, Yungaburra and the Southern Tablelands.
Cairns arrival and local birding
Arrival day in Cairns, with time exploring Cairns city birding sites including the famous Cairns Esplanade, nearby mangroves and Centenary Lakes for shorebirds, honeyeaters, kingfishers, fig-parrots and other local species.
Cairns birding sites
A second day around Cairns, visiting selected birding locations in and around the city depending on tides, conditions and target species.
Etty Bay and Lake Eacham
Early start south to Etty Bay to look for Southern Cassowary, then up to the Atherton Tablelands. The afternoon is spent around Lake Eacham, with chances for rainforest birds, Victoria’s Riflebird and local mammals.
Southern Tablelands
Explore the Crater Lakes of Barrine and Eacham, Mount Hypipamee National Park, Hasties Swamp and the Curtain Fig Tree area, focusing on Wet Tropics endemic birds and iconic mammals such as Lumholtz Tree-kangaroo and Platypus.
Rainforest and endemic birds
A second full day around the Southern Tablelands, following up key rainforest species, local endemics and photography opportunities across the best sites for the conditions.
Final birding and return to Cairns
Final morning following up any missed species, which may include dry habitat around Mareeba or more rainforest birding. After lunch on the Tablelands, return to Cairns for accommodation or airport drop-off.
