Summary of Tours, Dates and Prices

No tours are planned or taking place until further notice.

Please check the ‘Directory of Australian Birdwatching’ for all guiding and bird-orientated accommodation and more, State by State and Australia-wide.

The Web Directory of Australian Birdwatching

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ALL TOURS ARE FULLY ACCOMMODATED, NO CAMPING.

1st of April every year the accommodation costs usually rise slightly, while increase in fuel and flight prices are unpredictable. I apologise in case of any increase in tours costs.

Prices are shown in Australian Dollars (except PNG tours) and are subject to change and include:

All meals / accommodation / transport / 10% GST (Goods & Services Tax) / some flights / guided tours / permit fees / boat cruises

Only tours with at least one vacancy are shown below, but please check the ‘last updated’ on the front page.

Most tours have 4 guests minimum, 6 guests maximum

Tour Dates & Prices

Cape York Bird Week (8 days)

Cairns – Bamaga – Cairns (fly/fly)

21 birdwatchers maximum

7 birdwatchers – 1 guide (Klaus) / 7 – 14 birdwatchers – 2 guides (Klaus & Lloyd Nielsen) / 14 – 21 birdwatchers (Klaus, Lloyd Nielsen & special guest guide)

This annual event takes place at Seisia Holiday Park, which is 33 km south of the Tip of Cape York, the northernmost point of the Australian Mainland. The Bird Week is timed just before the wet season and after the arrival of the last migrant from New Guinea, the beautiful Red-bellied Pitta. Only then are all migrants from New Guinea present, plus the other endemic birds of the upper Cape York region, including two species of Birds of Paradise.

South-Western Endemics Tour (12 days)

Perth – Armadale – Dryandra – Stirling Range – Two People Bay – Cheynes Beach – Armadale

8 birdwatchers maximum

This tour concentrates on the endemics and specialties of this region, which include some of the most beautiful parrots and cockatoos, and in the south-west the three difficult birds (Western Bristlebird, Noisy Scrubbird and Western Whipbird). In regards to parrots, lorikeets and cockatoos we have the chance of seeing 17 species. We also look for the introduced birds, which can’t be found easily anywhere else. Numbats and Bilbies have also been seen on this tour.

The itinerary is set out to give us a chance of multiple sightings, as some species can be difficult to find, depending on water and food supply, which are unpredictable. The tour does not concentrate on waders, shorebirds and pelagics, but of course when encountered we don’t ignore them.

Gulf and Inland Bird Tour (13 days)

Mt Isa – Lawn Hill National Park – Karumba – Cloncurry – Mt Isa
6 birdwatchers maximum

The distance from Cairns to Mt Isa is about 1400 km. Only the main highways are sealed, and once away from the city you are again in the ‘outback’. In these arid regions during an Inland Bird Tour birding takes place mainly near dams, lakes, rivers and creeks.

The Kalkadoon and Carpentarian Grasswrens are some of the highlights of this region, but there are plenty more exiting birds around like the Purple-crowned Fairy-wrens, Painted Finches, Spinifex Pigeons, Spinifexbirds, Rufous-crowned Emu-Wrens, Sandstone Shrike-thrushes, Black-tailed Treecreepers and Ground Cuckoo-shrikes.

The mangroves at the coast of the Gulf are great for Red-headed Honeyeaters, White-breasted Whistlers, Broad-billed Flycatchers and Mangrove Golden Whistlers plus an assortment of Terns, Waders and Waterbirds. This is also one of the few regions in Australia where Star Finches can occur.

Golden-shouldered Parrot Tour (5 days)

Cairns – Musgrave – Lakefield National Park – Kingfisher Park (Julatten) – Cairns
6 birdwatchers maximum

The Golden-shouldered Parrot is one of the endangered birds of Australia and endemic to the Musgrave area on Cape York Peninsula. Only some 150 pairs are estimated to live in that region.

We search for these parrots and other birds in the vast Lakefield National Park. At Kingfisher Park Birdwatcher’s Lodge and nearby forests on Mt Lewis we look for the endemic highland birds plus the boat cruise shows us birds at the Daintree River. The Golden-shouldered Parrot Tour is a short tour and a great supplement to your visit to North Queensland.

Golden Bowerbird Tour (6 days)

Cairns – Kingfisher Park (Julatten) – Yungaburra (Tablelands) – Mission Beach – Cairns
6 birdwatchers maximum

The Wet Tropics World Heritage area between Cooktown and Townsville is one of the best and most famous birding regions in Australia. 14 species of birds are endemic to the highland and lowland rainforests, which receive the highest rainfall of the Australian mainland. That accounts for its natural beauty, clear rivers and creeks with Platypus and a large number of endemic frogs and possums.

Habitats include woodland and swamps, but we mainly concentrate on lowland and highland rainforests, plus birds at the Daintree River on the famous dawn cruise. The Golden Bowerbird only occurs above 800 meters sea level.

Black Grasswren Tour (13 days)

Darwin – Kakadu National Park – Katherine – Darwin – Kununurra – Lake Argyle – Kununurra – Darwin (drive / fly)
11 birdwatchers maximum.

A well-known highlight in northern Australia for birdwatchers is Kakadu National Park near Darwin in the Northern Territory as part of the Great Northern Bird Tour and Black Grasswren Tour. In late winter to early summer the few remaining lagoons attract a vast number of waterbirds, and the escarpment and monsoon forests offer interesting and often endemic birds. Kakadu, Darwin and Katherine are well developed and have great accommodation.

The Black Grasswren Tour ends in the Kimberley, after the northern part of Northern Territory, where we fly by light plane into the Mitchell Plateau and transfer by helicopter right to the area of the Black Grasswren. This avoids travelling on one of the roughest roads for two days, and you get a scenic flight at the same time.

Iron Range Bird Tour (8 days)

Cairns – Musgrave – Lakefield National Park – Iron Range – Cairns (fly / drive)
6 birdwatchers maximum

The distance by road from Cairns to Iron Range on Cape York is about 800 km, almost all of it unsealed and rugged. During summer (wet season) the river and creek crossings make this journey, even by 4WD vehicle, virtually impossible. Consequently, during this time of the year only fly/fly tours take place.

Accommodation on Cape York is often basic in roadhouses or guesthouses. It’s definitely worthwhile to visit these area, as birds like Palm Cockatoos, Eclectus Parrots, Magnificent Riflebirds and many more are only found in New Guinea and here in the upper Cape York region.

We also watch the birds of Lakefield National Park and the Golden-shouldered Parrot on this tour. On an Iron Range Tour we average about 170 – 200 bird species.

Iron Range Bird Tour (6 days)

Cairns – Iron Range – Cairns (fly / fly)

Special Tour for the summer migrants from New Guinea with the best chance of seeing all endemic birds and more at Iron Range.

Northern Endemics Tour (13 days)

Cairns – Iron Range – Musgrave – Kingfisher Lodge (Julatten) – Yungaburra – Mission Beach – Cairns (Fly/Drive)
6 birdwatchers maximum

This tour covers the most important key areas of North Queensland with the chance of seeing all endemic birds on one tour.

Iron Range is our first destination, and this National Park is one of the important birding locations in Australia. Eclectus Parrots, Red-cheeked Parrots and Green-backed Honeyeaters are only found in this region, plus the other endemic birds of upper Cape York, which also occur in New Guinea.

We then travel south and spend some time around Musgrave and Lakefield National Park, where Black-backed Butcherbird, Golden-shouldered Parrot, Star Finches and many more are the highlights, plus a chance to see the Red Goshawk, Australia’s rarest Raptor.

The Wet Tropics World Heritage area between Cooktown and Townsville is one of the best and most famous birding regions in Australia. 14 species of birds are endemic to the highland and lowland rainforests.

Kingfisher Park Birdwatcher’s Lodge and the birdwatching cruise on the Daintree are important features of this comprehensive tour.

North Queensland Bird Tour (11 days)

*** Presently not offered ***

Cairns – Musgrave – Lakefield N.P. – Julatten – Atherton Tablelands – Georgetown – Undara – Mission Beach – Cairns (Mini-Bus)
6 birdwatchers maximum

A high number of species are seen on the North Queensland Bird Tour, which covers an area of about 350 km around Cairns, which includes the Atherton Tablelands, Musgrave, Georgetown and Mission Beach regions. These are the important key areas for Australian birds.

The diversity of habitats in this region makes birdwatching very versatile and enjoyable, and specially the Tablelands offers a high number of endemic birds. Cairns is now a major tourist attraction, situated close to World Heritage Rainforests and the Great Barrier Reef. Most roads are sealed and accommodation is of good to high standard.

Papua New Guinea Bird Tour (16 days + extension)

*** Presently not offered ***

Port Moresby – Kiunga – Tabubil (Ok Tedi Valley) – Mt Hagen (Kumul Lodge) – Tari (Ambua Lodge) – Port Moresby
Optional extension: Port Moresby – New Britain Island – Port Moresby
(fly & drive)
8 birdwatchers minimum / 12 birdwatchers maximum

Our tour will begin in Port Moresby where we will stay for two nights. We will visit hill forest habitat in Varirata National Park to look for Raggiana Bird of Paradise and Hooded Pitohui, plus other birds. We will also visit eucalypt savanna and the Pacific Adventist University grounds to look for various species including Orange-fronted Fruit-dove, Fawn breasted Bowerbird, Spotted Whistling-duck and Grey headed Mannikin.

From Port Moresby we will fly to Tari where we will transfer to the world famous Ambua Lodge, situated at the edge of montane forest at an altitude of 2130 m (7000 ft). Here we look for birds in the surrounding forest, ranging up to Tari Gap, and also in the Tari Valley. The many special birds present in this splendid area include New Guinea Eagle, Papuan Lorikeet, Whiskered Lorikeet, Brehm’s Tiger parrot, Blue capped Ifrita, Spotted Jewel babbler, Wattled Ploughbill, Belford’s Honeyeater, Red collared Myzomela, Crested Berrypecker, Archbold’s Bowerbird, Loria’s Bird of Paradise, Crested Bird of Paradise, Short tailed Paradigalla, Ribbon tailed Astrapia, Stephanie’s Astrapia, Brown and Black Sicklebill, Lawes’ Parotia, King of Saxony Bird of Paradise, Superb Bird of Paradise and Blue Bird of Paradise.

Following our stay at Ambua Lodge we will transfer to Tari and then return to Port Moresby for our flight to Mount Hagen, where we will transfer to Kumul Lodge, which is located in cool upper montane forest at an altitude of 2800 m (9200 ft) and offers excellent birding. Birds to be found in this area include Papuan Lorikeet, Whiskered Lorikeet, Orange billed Lorikeet, Painted Tiger-parrot, Mountain Nightjar, Blue-capped Ifrita, Dimorphic Fantail, White-winged Robin, Rufous-naped Whistler, Belford’s Honeyeater, Ornate Honeyeater, Crested Berrypecker, Mountain Firetail, Yellow-breasted Bowerbird, Crested Bird of Paradise, Ribbon-tailed Astrapia, Brown Sicklebill, Superb Bird of Paradise and Blue Bird of Paradise.

We fly from Mt Hagen to Tabubil in the Ok Tedi Valley where we will stay for two nights. Here we will explore the hill and lower montane forests for a range of species including Salvadori’s Teal, Blue collared Parrot, Stout-billed Cuckoo shrike, Obscure Berrypecker, Carola’s Parotia, and Magnificent and Greater Birds of Paradise.

The road trip takes us to Kiunga, a port town located on the upper Fly River not far from the Irian Jaya border and surrounded by a vast expanse of lowland rainforest and swamp forest. We will stay for four nights in the Kiunga area, including a trip by boat up the Elevala River, where we will look for birds in the surrounding forests. Southern Crowned Pigeon, Palm Cockatoo, Pesquet’s (Vulturine) Parrot, Little Paradise kingfisher, White bellied Pitohui, Flame Bowerbird, and Twelve wired, King and Greater Birds of Paradise are just some of the many splendid species resident in this wonderful area.

Following our stay at Kiunga the tour ends in Port Moresby.

The optional extension starts with the afternoon flight to New Britain Island.
Walindi Plantation Resort is located on New Britain, the largest island in the Bismarck Archipelago. Here are found a number species that are endemic: (i) to the islands of Northern Melanesia, (ii) to the Bismarck Archipelago, and (iii) to New Britain. At Walindi we will look for birds in nearby forested and marine areas.
Species to be found here include Melanesian Scrubfowl, New Britain Buzzard, Red-knobbed Fruit-dove, Red-knobbed Imperial-pigeon, Blue-eyed Cockatoo, Eastern Black-capped Lory, Violaceous Coucal, Pied Coucal, Black-headed Paradise-kingfisher, White-mantled Kingfisher, Bismarck Pied Monarch, Ashy Honeyeater, Bismarck Flowerpecker, Buff-bellied Mannikin and White-backed Wood-swallow.

We will also visit two or three small islands in Kimbe Bay to look for small-island specialists, including Nicobar Pigeon, Beach Kingfisher and Island Monarch.

Papua New Guinea Island Boat Tour (17 days)

*** Presently not offered ***

Walindi (New Britain Island) – Wasu on the Huon Peninsula, Manus,
Tong, Mussau,Tench, New Hanover, New Ireland and Djaul Island – Rabaul

8 guests minimum, 10 maximum

In addition to our usual PNG Bird Tour, Kirrama Wildlife Tours is offering a boat tour that will visit key islands of the Bismarck Archipelago and the mountains of New Guinea’s Huon Peninsula. The purpose of this tour is to observe birds that are endemic to those remote locations.

The tour starts on the island of West New Britain where our accommodation will be at Walindi Plantation Resort. After birding this area we embark the MV FeBrina (www.febrina.com), our comfortable air-conditioned accommodation for the rest of the tour, except for one night on New Ireland. We then depart for Wasu, situated on the north coast of the Huon Peninsula. After birding the Wasu hinterland the next port of call is Manus Island, followed by Tong, Mussau, Tench, New Hanover, New Ireland and Djaul Island. The tour ends at Rabaul, East New Britain.

Among the birds we will be seeking during the tour are Beck’s Petrel, Heinroth’s Shearwater, New Britain Buzzard, Melanesian Scrubfowl, Yellow-legged Pigeon, Pied Cuckoo-dove, Nicobar Pigeon, Yellow-bibbed & Red-knobbed Fruit-doves, Pacific, Red-knobbed, Finsch’s, Island & Black Imperial-pigeons, Blue-eyed Cockatoo, White-naped Lory, Red-chinned Lorikeet, Meek’s & Green Pygmy-parrots, Song Parrot, Bismarck Hanging-parrot, Violaceous & Pied Coucals, Manus, New Britain & New Ireland Boobooks, Bismarck & White-mantled Kingfishers, Black-headed Paradise-kingfisher, Superb Pitta, Manus Cuckoo-shrike, Mussau Triller, Bismarck, Admiralty & Mussau Rufous Fantails, New Ireland Drongo, Bismarck, Djaul, Admiralty & Mussau Pied Monarchs, Lesser Shining Flycatcher, New Britain, New Ireland & Manus Friarbirds, Huon Wattled & Spangled Honeyeaters, Ashy, Bismarck Black, New Britain Red-headed, New Ireland & Scarlet-bibbed Myzomela Honeyeaters, Bismarck Flowerpecker, Black-headed White-eye, Hunstein’s, New Ireland & Buff-bellied Mannikins, Atoll Starling, Melanesian Myna, White-backed Wood-swallow, Huon Astrapia, Wahnes’ Parotia and Emperor Bird of Paradise. During the tour we expect to list more than 200 species.

Great Northern Bird Tour (17 days)

*** Presently not offered ***

Cairns – Atherton Tablelands – Mission Beach – Bamaga (Cape York) – Darwin – Kakadu National Park – Katherine – Darwin. (fly / drive)
8 birdwatchers maximum

The Great Northern Bird Tour covers a huge area with the potential to see virtually every northern endemic bird and has definitely the highest bird count of about 270 – 300 species. This tour is highly recommended for overseas birdwatchers.

The first part of the Great Northern Bird Tour takes place in the Atherton Tablelands, at Bamaga on Cape York and in Mission Beach and includes an all-day excursion for seabirds and snorkelling at the Great Barrier Reef.

The second part includes Darwin, Kakadu National Park and the Katherine area. We concentrate on all endemic birds of this region. A well-known highlight in northern Australia for birdwatchers is Kakadu National Park near Darwin as part of the Great Northern Bird Tour and Black Grasswren Tour.

In late winter to early summer the few remaining lagoons attract a vast number of waterbirds, and the escarpment and monsoon forests offer interesting and often endemic birds. Kakadu, Darwin and Katherine are well developed and have great accommodation for us to choose from.