Ultimate Birdwatching Australia - Forests to Coast

Southern Eyre Peninsula Birdwatching - Shared Tour

Day 1: Lincoln National Park & Mikkira. The birdwatching adventure begins at Billy Lights Point, a haven for bird enthusiasts. This short walk showcases a diverse array of water and bush birds in a stunning setting of coastal mallee and sheltered bays. The next stop is Tulka, a coastal hamlet where visitors can observe waders, Black Swans, and seabirds from a bird hide. This area is also known for Southern Emu-Wrens, near a well dug by Captain Matthew Flinders in 1802. In Lincoln National Park, the journey continues along rugged cliffs, ideal for spotting Ospreys, White-bellied Sea Eagles, Whistling Kites, and Swamp Harriers.

At Taylor's Landing, rare birds such as Mallee Fowl, Purple-Gaped Honeyeaters, and Blue-breasted Wrens may be encountered. After a lunch stop that allows time for additional birdwatching, the tour proceeds to Mikkira Station for a late-afternoon koala and bird walk. Koalas waking to feed, Western Grey Kangaroos grazing, and a diverse array of bush birds can be observed before the tour returns to Port Lincoln for the evening.

Accommodation: Port Lincoln Hotel | Meals: LD

Day 2: Tumby Bay, Todd River & Greenpatch. After an early morning pickup, continue along the east coast of the Eyre Peninsula, visiting top birdwatching spots selected by the guide. Tumby Bay and Second Creek may be explored, with opportunities to search for sea birds, Ruddy Turnstones, and the endangered Hooded Plovers nesting on local beaches.

Continue to the Greenpatch and Koppio area, where farmland and Conservation Parks host rare species such as Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoos, Wedge-Tailed Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, and Hobby Falcons. Additional sightings may include Herons, Egrets, Sacred Kingfishers, Tawny Frogmouths, Kestrels, White-Winged Choughs, and Superb Blue or Blue-Breasted Fairy Wrens.

Towards the end of day, visit the Todd River area, known for its bush birds. Ducks, Australian Boobooks, Red Wattlebirds, Rainbow Lorikeets, Honeyeaters, Grey Fantails, and Yellow Robins may be encountered. A picnic lunch provides a relaxing break to observe birdlife. 

Accommodation: Port Lincoln Hotel | Meals: BLD

Day 3: Coffin Bay & Big Swamp. In the morning, pickup takes place for a journey to Coffin Bay, famed for its oysters and stunning natural beauty. This wilderness area features unique bays, inlets, dramatic cliffs, and pristine beaches framed by white sand dunes. Wildlife abounds, with chances to see Western Grey Kangaroos, Emus, Goannas, Dolphins, and snakes. The 31,000-hectare park offers plenty of photo stops, golden beaches, and fresh sea air. Birdwatching highlights include White-Bellied Sea-Eagles, Ospreys, Caspian Terns, Hooded Plovers, and Wedge-Tailed Eagles.

Lunch is served at 1802 Coffin Bay Oyster Bar, featuring gourmet seafood before a 1.5-hour tour with an oyster farmer. Visit an oyster lease to learn about cultivating Pacific and Native Angasi oysters and sample freshly harvested oysters straight from the rack. The final stop is Big Swamp, where a bird hide provides views of Black Swans, Musk Ducks, Pink-Eared Ducks, Black-Winged Stilts, and Cape Barren Geese, bringing the day to a close.

Accommodation: Port Lincoln Hotel | Meals: BL

Kangaroo Island - Private Tour

Day 4: Duck Lagoon & Lathami Conservation Park. Upon arrival from Port Lincoln be greeted by your local birding to begin a tour of Duck Lagoon, a freshwater billabong known for sightings of various honeyeaters, swans, teals, and ducks. After morning tea, head to Roper's Gums, a tall Eucalyptus forest, to learn about the Glossy Black Cockatoo recovery plan. Following a visit to the Cygnet River headwaters, enjoy a gourmet seafood barbecue lunch surrounded by koalas and a variety of birds. The journey continues to Lathami Conservation Park, home to Kangaroo Island Kangaroos, wallabies, and echidnas. The day concludes at Stokes Bay, where guests can spot pelicans, herons, and sea eagles before arriving at American River.

Accommodation: Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge | Meals: BLD

Day 5: Seal Bay & Flinders Chase National Park. Start the day with an optional early morning birding excursion in the coastal heath or along the American River shoreline, with opportunities to spot Glossy Black Cockatoos, Grey Currawongs, Pied Oystercatchers, and Australian Pelicans. After breakfast, head to the famous Seal Bay for a privately guided Australian sea-lion experience, with chances to observe birds such as White-bellied Sea Eagles, Caspian Terns, and Ospreys.

Continue to Point Ellen, where seasonal wildlife sightings may include Rock Parrots and Little Penguins. Throughout the day, a variety of wildlife may be encountered, including Cape Barren Geese, koalas, and kangaroos. The day concludes with dinner at American River, followed by a presentation from echidna expert Dr. Peggy Rismiller on her extensive field research.

Accommodation: Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge | Meals: BLD

Day 6: Bay of Shoals, Kingscote & D'Estrees Bay. Take an optional early morning birding walk before departing American River at 8:15 am. The highlight of the morning is a boat trip to observe the birdlife around Busby Islet, a protected breeding area. From the sea, Australian Pelicans, Royal Spoonbills, cormorants, Australian White Ibis, and possibly migratory species (between November and March) are likely to be seen.

White-bellied Sea Eagles are often observed harassing nesting birds, creating opportunities to witness dramatic interactions. The trip may also include sightings of Black Swans and chance encounters with Bottle-nosed Dolphins. Return to Adelaide in the evening and then fly onto Melbourne.

Accommodation: Savoy Hotel on Little Collins (King Deluxe Room) | Meals: BL

East Gippsland - Shared Tour

Day 7: Melbourne to East Gippsland (Mondays). After departing Melbourne in the morning, travel east to the beautiful Lakes District in Gippsland. This region is protected by the International Ramsar Convention and is a key habitat for waterbirds such as Black Swans, Chestnut Teals, Australian Shelducks, Musk Ducks, and Fairy Terns.

Shortly after, board a ferry to Raymond Island, a sanctuary for a wide range of native animals. Assist with a wild koala research project on the island, collecting data on tree-species preference, behaviour, individual identification, and evidence of koalas drinking stemflow. Take walks through local forest, with opportunities to see koalas, echidnas, Swamp Wallabies, Eastern Grey Kangaroos, parrots, honeyeaters, and seabirds. While travelling through lush eucalypt forests, pristine estuaries, and white sandy beaches, help the wildlife guide record species for conservation purposes.Dinner is provided at a local restaurant, with lunch also included.

Accommodation: Snowy River Homestead | Meals: BLD

East Gippsland - Shared Tour

Day 8 & 9: Platypus, Rainforest Birds & Wilderness Coast. The diverse forests and wilderness coast of East Gippsland create ideal conditions for abundant wildlife. Over two days, visit both dry and wet forests, explore the famous Snowy River, and walk beside a wilderness creek where the landscape shifts dramatically from sunny, dry slopes to near-rainforest gullies. The Wildlife Guide provides detailed information on the formation of these mighty forests and assists in searching for Lyrebirds, parrots, goannas, wallabies, and honeyeaters. Birds and reptiles are plentiful, while other human visitors are few.

Walk into a large lowland (warm temperate) rainforest in search of birds such as Topknot Pigeons, Superb Lyrebirds, Brown Gerygones, Black-faced Monarchs, and Platypus and Swamp Wallabies. Continue through heathland and along a forest-lined river that borders a previously burnt area, making wildlife surveys particularly valuable. Search for White-bellied Sea Eagles, Hooded Plovers, Gang-gang Cockatoos, Turquoise Parrots, Azure Kingfishers, and Jacky Lizards before visiting a quiet beach with a complex dune system, where beach and ocean-going birds are frequently seen alongside Australian Fur-seals.

Nearby rocky headlands provide opportunities to peer into rock pools, pass wind-sculpted coastal shrubs, and view the expanse of the Ninety Mile Beach. Spend time on a beautiful beach removing Sea Spurge, an invasive plant, as well as discarded fishing "ghost" nets that wash ashore and pose risks to marine wildlife. On one night, go spotlighting in search of nocturnal creatures including Greater and Yellow-bellied Gliders, possums, bandicoots, and other night-active species. Dine both days at a classic Aussie pub overlooking the mouth of the Snowy River.

Accommodation: Snowy River Homestead | Meals: BLD

Day 10: East Gippsland to Melbourne. Depart East Gippsland after one last visit to the beach at the Mouth of the Snowy River. On the return journey to Melbourne, stop at Krowathunkoolong Keeping Place, an informative Aboriginal Cultural Centre in Bairnsdale, to learn how Aboriginal people have lived within these captivating landscapes for thousands of years. Afterwards, visit a river in Bairnsdale to observe Grey-headed Flying-foxes in their daytime roosts before continuing on to Melbourne and a flight to Hobart.

Accommodation: Movenpick Hobart (Superior Room) | Meals: BL

Mt Field Birdwatching - Private Tour

Day 11: Hobart & Mt Field National Park. From Hobart, travel to Mount Field National Park, Tasmania's oldest and most diverse, offering the chance to spot 11 of the 12 endemic Tasmanian bird species. This ancient forest dates back over 60 million years to the Gondwana supercontinent. Highlights include the Pandani Grove walk around Lake Dobson, the three-tiered Russell Falls, and the vibrant autumn colours of the Fagus tree, Australia's only cold-climate deciduous tree. Encounters with Tasmanian Pademelons, Bennett's Wallabies, and Platypus are common, with occasional sightings of the Pink Robin. The park's habitats range from lush Eucalyptus temperate rainforest to alpine moorland.

Search with the guide for species such as the Tasmanian Native Hen, Scrubtit, Yellow Wattlebird, Black Currawong, and Tasmanian Thornbill. After lunch, enjoy an opportunity to observe Platypus in the wild, making Mount Field an ideal destination for nature enthusiasts.

Optional Extension: Private Bruny Island Endemics & Raptors

Price for this extension starts $1,270 per person based on 4 adults.

Day 12: Bruny Island. Explore Bruny Island's diverse habitats on a private walking tour, home to all 12 of Tasmania's endemic birds. From a specially designed canopy platform, observe one of the largest colonies of the endangered Forty-spotted Pardalote. Keep your eyes skyward—you may spot raptors such as the Wedge-tailed Eagle (Tasmanian subspecies) or the elusive white morph Grey Goshawk.

At Tasmania's premier raptor rehabilitation centre, learn the story of each bird on a personal "Walk & Talk" tour, and meet some of the island's most powerful birds—eagles, hawks, falcons, and owls—up close. This is a one-of-a-kind nature encounter—intimate, educational, and deeply moving.