Southeast Birding Treasures
Duration: 17 days/16 nights with Australia-Naturally Travel
Regions: Tasmania, Eyre Peninsula, Melbourne, Phillip Island
Price: From £400 per day*
To book today, please contact:
email: info@australianaturallytravel.com.au
From stunning limestone cliffs, eucalypt woodlands, pristine wetlands to World Heritage Listed rainforests, this journey is for lovers of parrots, bush-birds, waders, seabirds and Australia’s iconic marsupials. Highlights include an eight day voyage across Tasmania’s most beloved wilderness areas, including a visit to the Southwest to see the endangered Orange-bellied Parrot, three days exploring the Southern Eyre Peninsula, including the spectacular Lincoln and Coffin Bay National Parks, visit to the RAMSAR listed Western Treatment Plant outside Melbourne and tour to Phillip Island to see the iconic Little Penguin Parade.
Day 1: Adelaide
On arrival into Adelaide airport, enjoy a private transfer to your hotel (pre-register room for immediate occupancy). The remainder of the day is at leisure with the opportunity to walk around this charming city.
Accommodation: Majestic Roof Garden Hotel - Suite
Day 2: Eyre Peninsula
Guests will take a morning flight to Port Lincoln airport where a three day birding adventure on the Eyre Peninsula will begin. Home to 270 species of birds and 1900 native plant species, this tour across the Southern Eyre Peninsula traverses coastal dune shrublands, mallee woodlands, sandflats, saltmarsh, subcoastal and clifftops.
Guests will be collected from their accommodation to travel to Mikkara Station for a late afternoon Koala and Bird Walk. Mikkira is a privately owned working farm, Koala and Wildlife Sanctuary. In the cool of the evening Koala's start to wake from their afternoon sleep and move around to feed. Western Grey Kangaroos come out onto the flat to graze and an abundance of birdlife can be seen.
The area is home to a range of bush birds including Port Lincoln Parrots, Golden Whistlers and an occasional Scarlet Robin, Blue-Breasted Wrens, Western Yellow Robins, White-Browed Babblers, honeyeaters, Black-faced Cuckoo Shrikes and Emus. Guests will then return to Port Lincoln.
Accommodation – Port Lincoln Hotel - Suite
Day 3: Eyre Peninsula
After a hearty breakfast, the first stop is Billy Lights Point, where a small fringe of coastal mallee and sheltered bays provide habitat for both waterbirds and bush birds. Pied, Little Pied and Black Cormorants, Grey Teal and Chestnut Teal Ducks, Osprey, White-Bellied Sea-Eagle, Sooty Oyster Catchers, Pied Oyster Catchers, Striated Pardalotes, Western Yellow Robins, Superb Blue Wrens, Blue-Breasted Wrens, White-Browed Babblers, New Holland Honeyeaters, Brown-Headed Honey Eaters and Rock Parrots can all be found on this walk.
The next stop is at Big Swamp where a bird hide is available for viewing Black Swans, Grey Teal Ducks, Chestnut Teal Ducks, Pink Eared Ducks, Musk Ducks, Black Winged Stilts, Banded Plovers, Cape Barren Geese and migratory Common Greenshanks in summer. The tour then moves to the Coffin Bay National Park where there are active Osprey Nests and where White-Bellied Sea-eagles can be seen fishing along the cliffs and sandy white beaches.
The area is also home to Caspian Terns, Hooded Plovers, Red Capped Plovers, Red Necked Stints, Golden Whistlers, Masked Lapwings, Emu, Wedge Tailed Eagle. The guide will stop along the way at a known location for Southern Emu-Wrens and look for a small remnant flock of Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoo.
Accommodation – Port Lincoln Hotel - Suite
Day 4: Eyre Peninsula
Morning viewing is at the small coastal hamlet of Tulka where waders, Black Swans and numerous Seabirds can be seen from the bird hide. This is another known location for Southern Emu-Wrens near a well first dug by Captain Matthew Flinders when he explored the area in 1802.
Traversing through to the Lincoln National Park, the tour follows Matthew Flinders journey through the Wilderness area of Memory Cove. Rugged cliffs provide an opportunity to view Osprey and White Bellied Sea-Eagles and to keep a look out for Whistling Kites and Swamp Harriers. In beautiful Memory Cove birds encountered include Purple-Gaped Honeyeaters, Striated Pardalotes, Spiney-Cheeked Honeyeaters, Dusky Woodswallows, Australian Pipits, Western Yellow Robins, Blue Breasted Wrens, and White-Browed Scrub Wren.
After a magical three days of birdwatching across the Southern Eyre Peninsula, the tour returns to Port Lincoln in time for a late airport departure.
Accommodation – Majestic Roof Garden Hotel - Suite
Day 5: Adelaide to Melbourne
Guests will take a private transfer to Adelaide Airport to board a flight Melbourne. The remainder of the day is at leisure.
Accomm: Clarion Gateway Suites - River View Suite
Day 6: You Yangs & Senendip Private Birding
Guests will travel with their birding guide to the bushland of You Yangs Regional Park, 45 minutes to the west of Melbourne. The park is home to a healthy population of wild Koalas which are researched and monitored to ensure the best possible sightings. The wildlife guide will introduce you to each Koala as an individual, with a history, social life and family. The guide will also show you how to approach Koalas quietly, and how to watch them from a respectful distance without disturbing them, still providing fantastic photographic opportunities. At one of five Boneseed-removal sites, the group will stop to remove some of these noxious weeds to improve Koala habitat.
The group will look out for the dry woodland birds that are special to the You Yangs, including Tawny Frogmouth (with several pairs nesting in the park), White-winged Chough, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Common Bronzewing, Spotted & Striated Pardalote, Eastern & Crimson Rosella, Red-rumped Parrot, Long-billed & Little Corella, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Yellow-faced & New Holland Honeyeaters, Weebill, Brown & Striated Thornbill and Laughing Kookaburra.
In summer it is possible to occasionally spot Sacred Kingfisher, Rainbow Bee-eater and Eastern Spinebill. The area covered is of great significance to the local Aboriginal People of the Wathaurong Tribe. The granite rock formations of the You Yangs staged huge meetings of Aboriginal People from all over Southeastern Australia. Many signs of their occupation still remain. Your Guide will share their knowledge with you and though we may not be meeting any Aboriginal People on this tour, we act with the knowledge, consent and support of the Wathaurong Community.
Leaving the You Yangs, the group will venture to the Serendip Wetlands, where guests will enjoy a gentle walk through the gum trees and across grasslands in search of wild mobs of Eastern Grey Kangaroos. They are wild and secretive and will often follow kangaroo tracks, using trees and bushes as shelter. This area is also a terrific spot to observe e look out for emus and Cape Barren Geese and take a short walk to the billabong, home to Magpie Geese (re-introduced but now breeding, wild residents), ducks, stilts and spoonbills. A captive breeding population of Australian Bustards and Brolgas are managed for conservation purposes on the site. 
Accomm: Clarion Gateway Suites - River View Suite
Day 7: You Yangs & Senendip Private Birding
The Western Treatment Plant (WTP) is a RAMSAR listed Wetland of International Importance and regarded as one of Australia's top birding locations. It is a mosaic of lagoons, saltmarshes, waterways, swamps and both rocky and sandy shoreline. With this habitat diversity the WTP has an incredible bird list of over 280 species. High numbers of waders, waterfowl and raptors visit or live at the site.
Species seen on most trips include Red-necked Avocet, Black-winged and Banded Stilt, Chestnut and Grey Teal, Pink-eared, Musk and Blue-billed Duck, Red-necked Stint, Sharp-tailed and Curlew Sandpiper, Hoary-headed & Australasian Grebe, Red-capped Plover, Australasian Gannet, White-faced Heron, Royal & Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Whiskered & Crested Tern, Spotted & Baillon’s Crake, Black-tailed Native Hen, Pied Cormorant, Zebra Finch, Striated Fieldwren, Singing Honeyeater, Swamp Harrier, Black-shouldered, Whistling & Black Kite, Brown Falcon. We may also see Brolga, Cape Barren Goose, Banded Lapwing, Red-kneed Dotterel, Red & Great Knot, Bar-tailed Godwit, Marsh Sandpiper, Common Greenshank and Freckled Duck.
WTP is also home to large numbers of reptiles and frogs – on suitable days it is possible to see Tiger Snakes and to hear Growling Grass Frogs. The group will return to Melbourne around 2pm after a delicious lunch.
Accomm: Clarion Gateway Suites - River View Suite
Day 8: Phillip Island
After taking a mid-morning transfer from your Melbourne hotel, guests will arrive on Phillip Island via a comfortable coach. Spectacular close up encounters with Australia’s largest population of Australian Fur Seals is promised on this scenic coastal boat tour. Venturing to the aptly named Seal Rocks, visitors will drift amongst 7000+ seals. Seals are present all year round, from young pups to adult bulls, with the crew providing insights into the fascinating social displays of these agile and playful creatures. The spectacular coastline along the northern and western shores of Phillip Island, provide abundant viewing opportunities for dolphins and a vast array of seabirds including Shy Albatross, Australasian Gannets, cormorants and terns. At sunset, watch the Little Penguins waddle home from the sea at Summerland Beach on Phillip Island, Australia's most popular wildlfie attraction.
Accomm: Clarion Gateway Suites - River View Suite
Day 9: Launceston to Cradle Mountain
After taking a morning flight from Melbourne to Launceston, be met today by our local guide at midday at the Launceston Transit Centre and start your journey to UNESCO World Heritage Listed Cradle Mountain National Park. Visit the fascinating Marakoopa Caves before continuing to Cradle Mountain. Enjoy an introduction to this captivating alpine environment before settling in at your accommodation for the night.
Accommodation: Cradle Mountain Hotel (Standard room or similar), Lunch Included
Day 10: Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake
Today you will be mesmerised by the beautiful alpine landscapes of Cradle Mountain, where in many places, dolerite cracked into vertical columns has resulted in spectacular sculpted mountains and cliffs. Your guide will introduce you to the many endemic fauna and flora species of the region whilst enjoying picturesque views on your walk beneath the spectacular craggy peaks of Cradle Mountain. Magical forests of Pandani (the tallest heath plant in the world), Sassafras, King Billy Pines and the deciduous Beech can be seen adjacent to spectacular glacial lakes.
Birds such as Forest Ravens, Black Currawongs, Green Rosellas and Wedge-tailed Eagles are seen in this area, whilst Common Wombats, Tasmanian Pademelons, Short-beaked Echidnas, Platypus, Spotted-tailed Quoll and the Eastern Quoll may also be seen. In the evening, you have the option to join your guide on a night spotlighting tour or simply relax at your accommodation.
Accommodation: Cradle Mountain Hotel (Standard room or similar), Breakfast & Lunch Included.
Day 11: Cradle Mountain
Depart the Cradle Valley and travel to Tasmania’s Central Highlands also known as “The Heart of Tasmania”. Here in this alpine environment, the air is noticeably clear and the silence inspiring. In the afternoon, there is an opportunity to explore Lake Ada, discover its history and immerse yourself in this barren but beautiful and unique landscape. On dusk you will have the chance to observe Common Wombats, Bennett's Wallabies and possums as they turn the area into a hub of activity. With a bit of luck you may also see quolls and the iconic Tasmanian Devils in their natural habitat.
Accommodation: Thousand Lakes Lodge, Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.
Day 12: East Coast & Bicheno
This morning takes you from the Tasmanian highlands and into the quaint midlands town of Campbell Town for lunch. The group will depart for the East Coast, with its exceptional beauty, pristine white sandy beaches and granite coastline. Birders will enjoy regular sightings of Australian Pelicans, Crested Terns, Little Pied Cormorants, Black-headed honeyeaters, Silvereyes and Superb Fairy-wrens and sometimes Beautiful Firetails and Hooded Dotterels. The day’s journey concludes at the gorgeous seaside village of Bicheno where guests will enjoy a Tasmanian Devils after dark experience to observe and learn about the island’s most iconic resident. Continue to Tasmania’s East Coast.
Accommodation: Beachfront at Bicheno, Standard (or similar), Breakfast & Lunch Included.
Day 13: Freycinet National Park and Wineglass Bay
Today, guests will take a journey into the exquisite beauty of the Freycinet Peninsula on The Wineglass Bay Cruise. This region is largely made up of a orthoclase-rich granite which gives the mountains and coastline a characteristic gorgeous pink tint, flanked by and native forest edged by crystal blue bays.
Wildlife is abundant in this area with opportunities to see Bennett's Wallabies, Tasmanian Bettongs, echidnas, Common Wombats, White-bellied Sea Eagles, dolphins, Australian Fur Seals, Crested Terns, Australasian Gannets, Flame Robins and Superb Fairy-wrens are often observed in the area.
You will have the rare opportunity to experience Wineglass Bay from the water with its shimmering crescent of white sand fringing the edge of a perfect turquoise sea. In the afternoon, there will be time do a short cliff-top walk around the lighthouse at Cape Tourville. In the evening, a night tour offers you the rare chance to observe Little Penguins, tumble form the ocean and waddle up the sand to their nesting burrows.
Accommodation: Beachfront at Bicheno (Standard or similar), Breakfast & Lunch Included.
Day 14: Maria Island
This morning, travel to the seaside village of Triabunna and board a ferry to cross the Mercury Passage to Maria Island. This unique island national park sits just off Tasmania’s east coast. Enjoy a day of peaceful walking along historic ruins, sweeping bays, rugged fossil cliffs and imposing mountains.
This island sanctuary provides an opportunity to view its resident wildlife, including Common Wombats, Cape Barren Geese, Tasmanian Pademelons, Forester Kangaroos, Bennett;s Wallabies. In the afternoon, guests will travel down the east coast into Tasmanian’s capital city, Hobart.
Accommodation: Hotel Grand Chancellor (Mountain View or similar), Breakfast & Lunch Included.
Day 15: Mt Field National Park
You will be met by your guide this morning before venturing into Mount Field National Park, the oldest National Park in the state. Be mesmerised by the lush forest landscapes from eucalyptus temperate rainforest to alpine moorland. Your guide will provide interpretation along the rainforest walks with the opportunity to see some of the tallest trees in the world.
This cool temperate rainforest allows you the opportunity to search for some of Tasmanians 12 endemic bird species including Scrbutit, Black currawong and Tasmanian thornbill. After lunch, you will have an opportunity to observe the unique duck bill and webbed feet Platypus in the wild. This semiaquatic, egg-laying, mammal is endemic to eastern Australia including Tasmania and is a recognizable and iconic symbol of Australia.
Complete the day with a visit to Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary to experience Tasmanian Devils, Wombats, Wallabies, Quolls and other furry Australian animals first hand and learn about their rehabilitation and rescue efforts.
Accommodation: Hotel Grand Chancellor (Mountain View or similar), Breakfast & Lunch Included.
Day 16: Southwest World Heritage Area
This morning’s journey will give you a feel of the extensive wilderness Tasmania has to offer. Board a scenic flight to Tasmania’s spectacular and pristine Southwest Wilderness. Experience the peace and tranquillity of this majestic setting where mountain peaks give way to buttongrass plains that meet the wild Southern Ocean (weather dependent). For those visiting between October and March there is an opportunity to spot the endangered Orange-bellied Parrot, ranked one of the world’s rarest and most endangered species. This tour concludes in Hobart between 1:30pm and 3pm weather depending*.
* If weather conditions do not allow the Southwest flight to go ahead, a poor weather option is available. This includes the Pennicott Wilderness Journeys Tasman Island Cruise. Enjoy the stunning 3 hour Tasman Island Cruise. This adventure cruise manoeuvres around small islands, into sea caves, and undersea cliffs soaring 300m above the Tasman Sea. You may have the opportunity to see albatross, dolphins and whales which frequent this pristine coastline. In the afternoon, return to Hobart.
Accommodation: Hotel Grand Chancellor (Mountain View or similar), Breakfast & Lunch Included.
Day 17:
After breakfast, depart hotel to transfer to Hobart airport for international flight.
To book today, please contact:
email: info@australianaturallytravel.com.au
Costs valid to 31 March 2019 – and subject to availability at time of booking. Tour can operate between late September to early May – subject to availability. All transfers are private. Private Tours are Goin’Off Safaris & Echidna Walkabout. Gray Line (Wildlife Coast Cruises) probably 21 to 46 seats. Premier Tasmania Tour – must reach 4 pax minimum to operate at the above rates. No airfares included.