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Echidna Walkabout Nature Tours

Cape York Birdwatching Safari

From: $4,415 USD

Duration: 7 days/6 nights

Type: Groups.

Departs: Set Departure Dates Below

Interests: Birds.

Journey to Australia's northernmost frontier to seek out endemic birds, explore the remote tropical wilderness of Cape York, and spot unique wildlife from rainforests to the Coral Sea.

  • The Cape York Peninsula is one of Australia's last great wilderness areas. This tour explores its rich mosaic of habitats, from the lush lowland rainforests and towering gallery forests - home to spectacular Palm Cockatoos and Eclectus Parrots - to vast tropical woodlands and stunning palm-fringed beaches that meet the Coral Sea.

  • A true birding paradise, this region is the only place on earth to find the endangered Golden-shouldered Parrot and the elusive White-streaked Honeyeater. Guided by experts, you'll also search for other unique wildlife, with night-spotting excursions offering chances to see Marbled Frogmouths, possums, and gliders.

  • Travelling in a small group by 4x4, this immersive safari takes you deep into landscapes few get to experience. You'll become acquainted with the rugged beauty and wildness of the Cape, gaining an intimate understanding of this vital and biodiverse corner of the continent.

Upcoming Group Departure Dates (maximum 7 guests):

  • 10 June 2026
  • 18 June 2026
  • 27 June 2026
  • 3 July 2026

Price per person based on two people travelling. Single supplements apply. Pricing is subject to availability and all prices, itineraries and routings are subject to change without notice. Currency fluctuations may affect prices as quotes based on AUD. Prices are current at time of posting (28/7/2025) and may differ when you book your travel. Please contact us for our current pricing and itinerary details*

About the operator

Echidna Walkabout Logo

Echidna Walkabout Nature Tours was founded by Roger Smith and Janine Duffy in 1993, with the vision to bring people and wildlife together for mutual benefit. The award-winning team believes that observing and connecting with wildlife is a key element in enriching the lives for people of all backgrounds; whether this interaction is for pleasure, new experiences and learning, for connection to the land or the basic needs for humans to breathe clean air and drink clean water via healthy ecosystems.

Itinerary

Tour day-by-day

  • Cairns to Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park

    Day 1: Early morning we depart for the Cape York Peninsula, travelling across a vast expanse of tropical woodland. A fairly long drive today but we stop regularly to stretch our legs, at viewpoints or for incidental sightings of priority bird species. We'll have lunch en route at a roadhouse in Lakeland before continuing to the Artemis Station. Artemis has been key to the conservation efforts to protect and enhance habitat of the endangered Golden-shouldered Parrot which we hope to see here.

    Accommodation: Musgrave Roadhouse | Meals included: Lunch and dinner

  • Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park

    Day 2: We have a full day to explore the vast and diverse Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park. At 537,000 ha this is Queensland's second largest national park, protecting diversity of habitats like tropical woodlands, riparian forest, wetlands and grassy plains dotted with termite mounds. In these mounds is where the endangered Golden-shouldered Parrot nests.

    Some other key species we search for today are Pale-headed Rosella, Red-winged Parrot, Red Goshawk, Black-backed butcherbird, Yellow-tinted Honeyeater, Red-browed Pardalote, Northern Fantail, Great Bowerbird, Lemon-bellied Flycatcher, various waterbirds and Star, Crimson, Masked and Black-throated Finch.

    Mammals we may see include Agile Wallaby, Northern Nail-tailed Wallaby, Antilopine Wallaroo and Little Red Flying-fox. At dusk we will try our hand at finding Large-tailed and Spotted Nightjar and Australasian Grass-Owl (rare).

    Accommodation: Musgrave Roadhouse | Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • Rinyirru to Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) NP

    Day 3: After some morning birding in the Lakefield / Musgrave area we continue up the Peninsula Development road, stopping for lunch and a rest at the Archer River Roadhouse. From there we continue to the Iron Range, crossing through the northern part of the Great Dividing Range at Tozer's Gap. Here we enjoy the stunning views of the ranges, heathland and forest and look out for the carnivorous tropical pitcher plants and other interesting flora growing here. This is a great habitat for the endemic White-streaked Honeyeater.

    After this it's only a short drive before we cross the West Claudie River and check in at our lodge. Greenhoose is located adjacent to the Kutini-Payamu NP and is surrounded by its own private-access rainforest with several walking trails. We have a short leg stretch to orient ourselves and enjoy the bird specials often viewable in the lush tropical gardens and adjacent forest.

    Accommodation: The Greenhoose | Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) NP

    Day 4-6: We have three full days to uncover the diversity of this wonderful national park and biodiversity hotspot. Taking our time we visit a mosaic of habitats - lowland rainforest, towering riparian / gallery forest, tropical woodland, drier heathland on rocky ridges, mangroves and stunning palm-fringed beaches overlooking islands in the Coral Sea.

    High up on the list of species we'll be looking for are the iconic Palm Cockatoo, Eclectus Parrot and birds-of-paradise family Magnificent Riflebird and Trumpet Manucode. Two restricted range bowerbirds occur here too, the Fawn-breasted Bowerbird and Black-eared Catbird.

    Other key northern Cape York specials we'll target include Spotted Whistling-duck, Red-cheeked Parrot, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo, Frill-necked Monarch, White-faced Robin, Northern Scrub-robin, Yellow-legged Flyrobin, Tropical Scrubwren, Green-backed, Tawny-breasted and White-streaked Honeyeater.

    Many other birds with a wider Australian distribution are also often seen here like Wompoo, Superb and Rose-crowned Fruit-dove, Noisy Pitta, White-eared Monarch, Grey Whistler and Yellow-breasted Boatbill. Yet other birds are noteworthy in being 'Cape York' sub-species, like Double-eyed Fig-parrot (ssp. marshalli), Australian Brush-turkey (ssp. purpureicollis), Little Bronze-cuckoo (ssp. russatus) and Red-browed Finch (ssp. minor).

    These three full days are flexible and we will visit several key sites in Iron Range National Park - like Gordon Creek, West Claudie Creek, Old Coen track and Cook's Hut campground. Night spotting excursions on a couple of the nights might reveal Marbled and Papuan Frogmouth, Large-tailed and White-throated Nightjar and sometimes Rufous and Masked Owl. Some mammals we may see include Agile Wallaby, Dingo, Common Spotted Cuscus, Common Southern cuscus, Striped Possum, Krefft's (Sugar) Glider, Cape York Melomys, Cape York Rat, Northern Brown Bandicoot, Bare-backed Fruit Bat and Spectacled Flying-fox. Some reptiles we look out for include the stunning Green Tree Python, Scrub Python and several dragon and monitor species. 

    In addition to extensive birding in Iron Range NP during our stay, we will also visit the mangroves and beaches in the Portland roads area and around Chili Beach. The beaches and rocks are great foraging and roosting areas for numerous waders and terns. We also scan any fruiting palms and beach almond trees for Palm Cockatoos quietly feeding. 

    Accommodation: The Greenhoose | Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • Lockhart River to Cairns (flight)

    Day 7: After some morning birding and breakfast we check out and visit the Lockhart River Art Gallery, showcasing artworks from the region's Indigenous artists.

    After this it's time to bid farewell to your guide/s and Cape York as you board the flight back to Cairns (flight not included).

    Tour details

    Group Size: Maximum of 7 guests.
    Pick-up and Drop Off Point: Cairns
    Pick-up and Drop-off Time: Cairns

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