Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Cairns (Queensland)

Today is an arrival day in Cairns, gateway to the Wet Tropics of Queensland’s far north. A quick walk along the famous Esplanade should get us a few birds, and as dusk falls the stunning Spectacled Flying-Foxes emerge, welcoming us to a smorgasbord of wild wonders we will see over the next few weeks. Night in Cairns.

​

Day 2: Cairns to Atherton via Mareeba

After breakfast, we head towards Mareeba, where we hope to see some of the resident Eastern Gray Kangaroos before heading off to the small park at Granite Gorge, where we seek out our first real localized specialty in the Mareeba Rock-Wallaby, which is incredibly localized. Next, we head to our base in the Atherton Highlands for a three-night stay.  We will probably spend the afternoon seeking out one of Oz’s most iconic mammals, the improbable “Duck-billed” Platypus. We have a few reliable stakeouts for these. After dark, that’s when the action really begins and we hope to find the stunning Striped Possum, Kreftt’s “Sugar’ Glider”, or pinnochio-esque Long-nosed Bandicoot. If we are lucky, a Yellow-footed Antechinus or Fawn-footed Melomys may make an appearance. After a long, but satisfying day, I am sure the sounds of “Lesser” Sooty Owls in the adjacent forest will lull us to sleep.

Days 3-4: The Atherton Tablelands

This is an awesome area, but we need to divide our time between diurnal birding with mammal benefits, and the more determined mammal-and-herp productive nocturnal activities. But spoilt for choice, we will make a plan. Whether it’s looking for birds like Victoria’s Riflebird (a Bird-of-Paradise), Spotted Catbird or Macleay’s Honeyeaters at Hastie’s Swamp or Lake Eacham, or scouring the canopy for Lumholtz’s Tree-Kangaroo at Yungaburra or Malanda Falls, we are sure to have a good time. After dark, we will hit various hotspots seeking Red-legged Pademelons, Rufous Bettong, Northern Brown Bandicoots, Giant White-tailed Rat, the porcupine-like Short-beaked Echidna, and a quartet of arboreal marsupials: Coppery Brushtail, Lemuroid, Green  and Herbert River Ringtail  Possums. Daytime may reveal Ulysses and Cairn’s Birdwing butterflies while streams and forests host Eastern Water Dragons and Boyd’s Forest Dragons. Although not easy to find, night walks can also reveal pythons, leaf-tailed geckos and tree-frogs.

Days 5-6: Atherton to Daintree

As we drive north, we will scour the savannas for Agile Wallaby and perhaps Antilopine Wallaby. Arriving at Daintree in the afternoon we will do another night excursion to see what’s available. Our main target here will be the Daintree River Ringtail Possum, and if we are exceptionally lucky, maybe a chance at the near-mythical Bennett’s Tree-Kangaroo. Musky Rat-kangaroo and a few of the goodies we sought around Atherton are also here. Doing a rainforest cruise on a boat sounds like fun and we will see loads of ‘cool’ easy birds and hopefully Saltwater Crocs at a safe distance. It’s a fun and relaxing activity. After two nights in the Daintree we head south.

Day 7: Daintree to Melbourne to Mornington

Today is a pretty long travel day, we have a couple hour drive to Cairns airport and a flight to Melbourne where we pick up our new transport and drive down to the Mornington Peninsula. From Melbourne Airport we hit a zone that’s well-known for its large Gray-headed Flying Fox camps. They move around and we will need a little luck, but they are often seen with persistence. Snaking further south, we may hit some coastal bush looking for dolphins or seals or visit a local reserve for “Black” Swamp Wallaby. We will also be seeing a ton of temperate southern birds, different from those up north.

Day 8: French Island Day trip

We have a full-day planned for the reserve of French Island. We need a ferry to reach it and will be on-foot all day. French Island, located in Victoria's Western Port Bay, is a haven for wildlife, offering diverse habitats like forests, wetlands, and coastal areas. Home to several special mammals, most notably a significant population of wild Koalas that feed on abundant eucalyptus. It also provides a sanctuary for the endangered Eastern Barred Bandicoot, which has been successfully reintroduced as part of a conservation effort. Additionally, the island is home to other mammals like Short-beaked Echidna and Swamp Wallabies, which roam its forests and grasslands. We will have the whole day here before taking the ferry back to the mainland and a drive north to Healsville within the Yarra Ranges for a two-night stay.

Day 9: Yarra Ranges National Park

We have the day in the Yarra ranges in the mature Mountain Ash forests – some of the tallest and certainly most magnificent on earth, where we ought to be able to catch up with some great mammals and birds. The mature forest is littered with tree holes that are used by birds and mammals for roosting. We could encounter Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, Australian King Parrot, and Superb Fairywren. From the forest floor we might encounter the eclectic mimic Superb Lyrebird, Rose Robin and more. Its night-time however that reveals the most sought-after mammals, and we can hope to find Yellow-bellied and Greater Gliders, occasionally Mountain Brushtail Possum, Common Wombat, and if we are exceptionally lucky Leadbeater’s Possum. Possible birds include Sooty and Powerful Owls!

Day 10: Yarra to 1000 Lakes

After driving back into Melbourne we fly to Hobart, pick up our ride and head north to Thousand Lakes lodge, a luxurious retreat in the heart of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair NP. We will do a night drive in this area as it has Tasmanian Devils. Although these incredible creatures are now rare after a facial tumor disease significantly impacted their numbers, we will still work hard to see them, we might also encounter Common Brushtail Possum and Tasmanian Pademelons.

Day 11: 1000 Lakes to Cradle Mountain

We pack up and head further into the Cradle Mountain wilderness for another shot at the amazing devils and their equally impressive cousins, the large Spot-tailed Quoll! Who knows what else we will see, but chances of Echidna, “Duck-billed” Platypus and more occur if we still need these cool animals. Our accommodation is decidedly more rustic than last nights, but it’s well set up for our target animals.

Day 12: Cradle Mountain to Bruny Island

We have a long drive today to make it to Bruny, where we have two nights on the magical island which is home to a wonderful variety of mammals and all Tassie’s endemic birds. If we have the energy, we will do a short night drive seeking Eastern Quoll, Long-nosed Potaroo, and other Tassie specialties.

Day 13: Bruny Island

During the day Bennett’s Wallaby and the many endemic birds should keep us occupied. And tonight, we save energy for another night drive seeking the special mammals that do well here due to the predator control programs on the island. Another night will be spent on Bruny Island.

Day 14: Bruny island to Hobart

Depending on what we are still looking for, we will spend more time on Bruny, or else head back to Tassie’s main island to see what we can find. Tonight, if we have the energy, we may attempt a search for localized but super-cute Eastern Barred Bandicoot which is getting scarcer throughout their range. The final night of our tour is in Hobart.

Day 15: Departure /Start the GOING OUT WEST EXTENSION

We head to the airport this morning for our departing flights or connections to the extension.

​​​​

​

Going Out West Extension​

​Western Australia is home to a diverse and unique range of wildlife, thanks to its varied landscapes, from deserts to rainforests and coastal regions. The state boasts endemic species such as the Quokka, Numbat, and Western Gray Kangaroo, along with remarkable birdlife like the Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo and migratory shorebirds. WA’s reptiles include the Perentie and Western Blue-tongue Skink, and we are going to do our best to see as much of it as possible.

​

Day 1: Arrival in Perth , drive to Bussleton

After arrival WA’s stunning capital Perth, we drive south along the coast to Bussleton, where we spend the night. A night-walk will look to find the critically-endangered Western Ringtail Possum, a very localized species that’s restricted to the zone between WA’s famous capes. A single night will be spent in Bussleton.

Day 2: Cape Naturaliste, Cape Leeuwin to Perup

We will visit the fabulous capes and wine-growing areas of this zone. The coastal scenery is spectacular, but we also hope to encounter Rock Parrot – one of Oz’s more range-restricted and habitat-specific parrots before we head inland to Manjimup. After dinner we’ll take a night-drive hoping for our first WA nocturnal critters, which may include Western Brush and Tammar Wallabies, Western Gray Kangaroo, Southern Brown Bandicoot – called Quenda in WA – and maybe Woylies, the best bettong!

Day 3: Perup to Cheyne’s Beach via the “Valley of the Giants”

We start the day at Perup, and who knows maybe we get lucky with a Numbat, as this place does support them in low densities. We might also encounter Western Shrike-Tit and a few other WA endemic birds. Next, we make for Valley of the Giants and it’s spectacular canopy walkway. Seeing the giant Karri forests is impressive enough, but then the great facility that has you in the canopy is not to be missed. Endemic White-breasted Robin occur here in good numbers too, and although there are even Quokkas, here they are likely sleeping. By dusk we will have made it to the beaches and coastal heath of Cheyne’s Beach for a two-night stay.

Day 4: Cheyne’s Beach

We have the whole day to explore the magical Kwongan heathlands at Cheyne’s Beach. Kwongan is an Aboriginal word meaning "sandplain" or "sandhill," referring to a distinctive shrubby heathland that thrives in nutrient-poor, sandy soils. Renowned for its extraordinary plant diversity, it hosts more than 2,000 plant species (most endemic), many of which are adapted to the harsh, Mediterranean climate conditions. This includes iconic plants like banksias, kangaroo paws, and sundews. Kwongan also features impressive wildflower displays, with vibrant blooms during the spring and early summer, which our visit is perfectly timed for. We will seek many endemic birds here, including the Big-3, Noisy Scrubbird, Western Bristlebird and Western Whipbird – but no promises on the skulking birds as our main quarry will be things like the church-mouse-like Honey Possum, and maybe Western Pygmy Possum if we are lucky.

Day 5: Cheyne’s Beach to Dryandra via Stirling Ranges

After another morning enjoying the delights of the Kwongan we pack our bags and head to Dryandra, which is one of WA’s best sites for birds and mammals. But en-route we will stop at Stirling Ranges for some birding and enjoy the amazing landscapes on show here. In the late afternoon we make a drive to seek out some of Dryandra’s best mammals, and although it’s not easy to find, Numbat will be very high on the priority list. Three nights will be spent in Dryandra or nearby Narrogin (there are only limited places to stay in this area).

Days 6-7: Dryandra Woodland

We have two full days to explore the wonderful Wandoo woodlands of this magical place. We need to drive slowly watching for Numbats, but as we do that, we may encounter myriad bird parties with their incredible denizens and Short-beaked Echidnas are not rare here so we may have a good chance to see those. At night we work hard to encounter the Chuditch, or Western Quoll which are misunderstood and although skittish, but not that rare. We also seek out Western Pygmy Possum, Woylie and more. If we are exceptionally lucky, we might encounter a Red-tailed Phascogale in the She-Oak woodlands. There is also an opportunity to visit Barna Mia one of the evenings – a facility that has a predator-proof fence for captive breeding of semi-wild animals – although this is more of a Zoo than a wilderness experience, it’s still fun to see amazing creatures like Bilby, Mala and Boodie, that are difficult to see in the ‘wild’ without a dedicated mission.

Day 8: Dryandra to Perth (Freemantle)

After another great morning, we head for Perth and may hit a couple of spots en-route depending on the latest info, and we head out to the southern neighborhood of Freemantle, where we nestle in for a two-night stay.

Day 9: Rottnest Island

Freemantle is a great base for our Rottnest Island daytrip. We use the ferry and are likely to be at the island within an hour. Wedge-tailed Shearwaters are sometimes encountered before we get to the island, but once there, it’s all about the Quokka – dubbed, the happiest animal in the world. Their facial structure gives them a smiling appearance, and this little macropod is fortunately moderately easily found on Rottnest due to them frequenting the “Pie Shop” and other foodie places. Once we have maxxed-out on the Quokka cuteness overload, we return to Freemantle sometime in the afternoon, for our farewell dinner.

Day 10: Departure

After breakfast we make our way to Perth International Airport for on flights home.​​​

​

Trip Considerations​

PACE: Moderate-Intense. We move around vast swathes of this island-continent, and although we try to keep travel to a minimum it is inevitable that long days ensue to see as much as possible. We also spend many nights out looking for critters – although some of these outings are optional – but that adds to the long days and makes the trip full-on, even though not much physical exertion is required.

​

PHYSICAL DIFFICULTY: Easy to moderate. Most of the time we indulge in short easy walks on pretty good trails or do short night walks or night-drives. There will be a few short, moderate 1 mile or so walks in the forest during the day. Most of the trails are not difficult, but the trails can often be slippery and muddy (a walking stick helps a lot). 

​

CLIMATE: Warm and humid in Queensland, with temperatures typically ranging from about 75F (24C) at night to about 90F (32C) in the middle of the day. Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia will all be a lot cooler, with lows of around 45F (7C) at night to about 50F (15C). It’s not the rainy season anywhere, but we can expect showers and some rain from time to time.

​

ACCOMMODATION: Moderate to excellent throughout. The main tour we will be staying at good to great lodges throughout. On the extension we may opt for slightly more basic accommodation at Dryandra, where we self-cater, this is to maximize our chances at nocturnal animals out here as the nearest hotel is quite a long drive away. Somewhat basic, but clean and comfortable; despite the rustic nature, all rooms do have private, en-suite bathrooms, full-time hot water, and 24-hour electricity. The remainder of the accommodation is good.

​

PHOTOGRAPHY: We have excellent photo opportunities during the day with many subjects moderately tame and well-behaved. Night photography is much more difficult. In addition, we discourage the use of flash with certain sensitive species on this trip, and therefore chances of getting lots of good photos are slim. If you are happy with record shots of incredibly rare things, then bring a camera. There may also be chances to indulge in macro photography of reptiles and amphibians that we find at night.​ 

​​​

WHEN TO GO: The flowering season in WA of August-September is important, but the main tour can be run anytime from August to December, although with all the night work we do, it helps if it gets dark earlier, and so early spring is the optimal time.

​

Other Information

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS: A valid passport is required for entry into Australia. It should be valid for at least six months past the time of your scheduled return.  An electronic visa is required for citizens of the USA, Canada, the UK, and most Western European countries. This can be done through an app or online application. As of July 2022, some older tour participants (over 75 years old) may need to undergo a health examination in order to enter Australia. Whether you need an examination of this kind is only revealed during the application process. Therefore, it is extremely important that all participants apply for entry long before the start of the tour, to ensure there is time to schedule a health examination if one is needed.​

​

WHAT’S INCLUDED?: Tips to local guides; accommodation from night of day 1 though to night of day 15 (or day 9 of the extension); meals from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 16 (if you have an early flight on this day, you may miss the included breakfast), or day 10 of the extension if participating on that; reasonable non-alcoholic drinks during restaurant meals; safe drinking water between meals; most hotels in Australia provide a kettle and tea and coffee; Tropical Birding EWT tour leader from the afternoon of day 1 to the night of day 16 (or 9 of the extension); 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; one two-hour boat cruise on the Daintree River; entrance fees to all 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?: Optional tips to the tour leader; international flights; domestic flights (THESE WILL BE BOOKED BY THE TROPICAL BIRDING OFFICE TO ENSURE THE GROUP ALL HAVE THE CORRECT FLIGHTS); excess baggage fees; snacks; additional drinks apart from those included; 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.