Day 1: Cairns to Lockhart River (Iron Range)

We take a late morning to early afternoon flight from Cairns up to Lockhart River. We will be transferred to an enclave near the Iron Range National Park. We will spend four nights at the magnificent Green Hoose which is surrounded by Iron Range National Park.

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Days 2-4: Lockhart River Area Hotspots

Lockhart River is one of the most revered sites in northeast Queensland, and indeed, all of Australia. It’s bird list reveals why; there are many species best found there, which are specialties of the region, and give it a flavor of the densely forested tropical island of New Guinea to the north. For Australians looking to build a country list, this is a must do site. In the rainforest canopy, fruit doves occur, with three species at this site, Superb, Wompoo and Rose-crowned. However, the stars of the forest canopy are the parrots, not least the gargantuan Palm Cockatoo, which has no likeness on Earth. Red-cheeked Parrot are another noisy Cape York specialty. However, the prince among parrots in Cape York is arguably the Eclectus Parrot, with its strikingly different plumage between the sexes, the females being the brighter gender, vivid vermilion red and blue, while the males are less colorful, but no less striking being brilliant emerald green with a red bill. Down on the forest floor, some of the avian targets require more effort to find but getting a view of the crimson-bellied Papuan Pitta makes the effort all worthwhile, ranking as one of Australia’s most stunning birds. Another terrestrial bird, the Northern Scrub-Robin is also of interest down in the leaf-litter. The forest is home to two striking kingfishers, Yellow-billed, which in Australia is confined to this extremity, and the beautiful Buff-breasted Paradise-Kingfisher is a migrant that comes to breed in Cape York, having crossed the Torres Strait from its New Guinea wintering grounds.  Within the understorey we may find the Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo, one of the most distinctive sounds of Cape York, as well as the striking White-faced Robin. The forest is also home to a dazzling variety of monarchs, with five species occurring, including two specialties on our target list, Black-winged and Frill-necked Monarchs. As if that was not enough, these verdant rainforests are home to two species of bird-of-paradise found nowhere else in Australia, the Trumpet Manucode and Magnificent Riflebird, the latter restricted to this part of Australia only. Now all of this may sound daunting, but many of these birds will be seen without the grounds of the Green Hoose, so those people needing a little down time throughout the day will still be in the thick of it with Eclectus Parrots flying over, Tawny-breasted Honeyeaters feeding in the garden, and Yellow-billed Kingfishers calling from above the cafe'. In Mangroves (pp. 89) and areas outside the forest, other notable birds occur, like Mangrove and White-browed robins, and Fawn-breasted Bowerbird. Other specialties will be Tawny-breasted and Green-backed honeyeaters, and Yellow-legged Flycatcher. This is also a good site to venture out after dark, with an abundance of nightbirds in the area. Three nightjars occur, Spotted, White-throated and Large-tailed, as well as Rufous Owl, and both Marbled and Papuan frogmouths.

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Day 5: Lockhart River to Cairns​

After some final birding around Green Hoose, we will take a midday flight from Lockhart River back to Cairns. The details of the morning really depends on which birds have been accommodating and which have given us some trouble. We fully expect to be spending time chasing better photos of birds we have already seen.

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Trip Considerations

PACE: The trip is not a particularly fast trip. The travel days north and south require early starts, but when we are based in Lockhart River there is plenty of opportunity for down time if required. 

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PHYSICAL DIFFICULTY: There are no strenuous walks on this tour, but it is very important that clients remain very well hydrated. Please understand that the front seat is only to be used by the guides when there is more than one, otherwise is rotated on a daily basis.  We cannot accept that any client reserves the front passenger seat even if they claim motion sickeness. If sitting in the second row sometimes is going to be a major issue then please organise medication more consider a tour that does not require long car travel.

 

CLIMATE: The temperature is warm through the day with very light weight clothing required. During the evening a thin jacket may also be required. Even during the dry season it is expected to rain sometimes, so a rain jacket is definitely required.

 

ACCOMMODATION: The Green Hoose in Iron Range is simple yet spectacular in the mould of an up market Amazonian lodge. You have a comfortable room with air-conditioning and wifi, but the experience is about nature so there is no television, bar fridge and the like.

 

OTHER INFO: For the five days of the trip there will be no opportunities to purchase alcohol of any type. You cannot transport alcohol by plane into Lockhart River. Please call the office to talk about alcohol if interested.​

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Other Information

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS: A valid passport is required for entry into Australia, which must be valid for at least six months beyond your departure. All visitors must obtain a visa or travel authorization in advance, however, this can usually be done online fairly painlessly; check the Australian immigration website, or ask our office staff for help if you are unsure.

 

WHAT’S INCLUDED?: Accommodation from night of day 1 through to night of day 4; meals from lunch on day 1 to breakfast on day 5; safe drinking water between meals; most hotels in Australia provide a kettle and tea and coffee; Tropical Birding tour leader with scope and audio gear from the morning of day 1 to lunchtime on day 5; transfer by taxi to the airports at the start and end of the tour; ground transport for the group to all sites in the itinerary in a suitable vehicle driven by the tour leader; entrance fees to all birding sites mentioned in the itinerary; a printed and bound checklist to keep track of your sightings (given to you at the start of the tour – only electronic copies can be provided in advance).

 

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED?: Airfares between Cairns and Lockhart River are not included but will booked by Tropical Birding Tours to ensure we all get the same flights, and then charged to participants. Optional tips to the Tropical Birding tour leader; international flights; excess baggage fees; snacks; any drinks apart from water; alcoholic beverages; travel insurance; excursions not included in the tour itinerary; extras in hotels such as laundry service, internet, minibar, room service, telephone calls, and personal items; medical fees; other items or services not specifically mentioned as being included.