Ultimate Birdwatching Australia - Forests and Coasts

Sydney & Southern Highlands - Private Tour

Day 1: Sydney. On arrival in Sydney, you will be transferred by private vehicle to your downtown accommodation. 

Accommodation: Flexible Options Available*

Day 2: Southern Highlands. After departing Sydney late morning or early afternoon, you'll journey to the tranquil Southern Highlands to encounter Australia's iconic wildlife, including Eastern Grey Kangaroos, Red-necked and Swamp Wallabies, Common Wombats, Emus, and Platypuses, along with vibrant bird species like Eastern Rosellas, Crimson Rosellas, King Parrots and Sulphur-crested Cockatoos. You'll explore private farmland and pristine bushland, learning about the Great Western Wildlife Corridor's importance in connecting native species between the southern Blue Mountains and Morton National Park.

A visit to Fitzroy Falls will provide you with spectacular views and birdwatching, with a chance to spot the Superb Lyrebird, renowned for its incredible mimicry and fascinating mating display. At dusk, you will have the chance to search for the elusive Platypus, contributing to local conservation efforts. After dinner at Australia's oldest licensed inn, you will embark on a nocturnal spotlighting adventure to see Brush-tailed Possums, Wombats, and with some luck Tawny Frogmouths, before returning to Sydney in the late evening.

Accommodation: Flexible Options Available*

East Gippsland - Private Tour

Day 3: Melbourne. After taking a flight from Sydney, explore the history and attractions of the city. The many attractions of the city vary from the spectacular parklands and gardens that surround the city to the museums and festivals that are a continuing part of city life. Excellent restaurants are on every corner and cater to every taste.

Day 4: Gippsland Lakes. After departing Melbourne, you will head east to Gippsland's Lakes District, a RAMSAR-protected region vital for waterbirds like Black Swans, Chestnut Teals, and Fairy Terns. Upon arrival, take a ferry to Raymond Island, which is a natural sanctuary for native animals, and where you will help set up a wild koala research project. This involves tracking tree preferences, and behaviours, and identifying individual koalas, with the data aiding local conservation efforts. In the afternoon, you will explore the island's forests, spotting koalas, echidnas, kangaroos, and various birds including parrots, honeyeaters and seabirds. The journey continues through eucalypt forests, estuaries, and beaches, with opportunities to assist in species recording and monitoring endangered Little Tern nesting sites.

Overnight Accommodation: Snowy River Homestead

Day 5: Mountain Forests. After a relaxing breakfast, you will travel into the rugged mountain forests of East Gippsland. This is one of the few regions in the world that has a large unbroken chain of forest stretching from the Alps to the sea. The abundance of wildlife is due to the diversity of these forests; from giant Alpine Ash forests, native cypress pines, Mountain Plum Pines to Shining Gum and Cut-tail Gums, many of the trees are hundreds of years old. You will visit both dry and wet mountain forests, visit the famous Snowy River, and walk beside a wilderness creek where the landscape changes dramatically from dry slopes to fern-filled rainforest. Your Wildlife Guide will help you search for animals such as wallabies, Satin Bowerbirds, Superb Lyrebirds, cockatoos, parrots, goannas and abundant honeyeaters. Finish the day with a classic Aussie dinner at the Homestead.

Overnight Accommodation: Snowy River Homestead

East Gippsland Wilderness Coast & Snowy River - Private Tour

Day 6: Wilderness Coast. Today you will start with a walk into a large lowland (warm temperate) rainforest in search of birds, Platypus and Swamp Wallabies. Then walk through a heathland and along a forest-lined river – this area abuts a burnt area, so wildlife surveys here are particularly important. Search for White-bellied Sea Eagles, Hooded Plovers, Gang-gang cockatoos, Turquoise Parrots, Azure Kingfishers and Jacky Lizards.

Visit a quiet beach with a complex dune system and frequently see beach and ocean-going birds, and Australian Fur Seals. After lunch, take a walk on the nearby rocky headland, peering into rock pools, walking past wind-sculpted coastal shrubs looking at the expanse of the 90-mile beach. Spend a little time on a beautiful beach removing old fishing nets or rubbish – they wash up from the sea, and sometimes wash back out, where they trap and kill sea creatures. Dinner tonight is a picnic in the bush overlooking the beach (weather permitting). On the way back to the Homestead, search the plains for Red-necked Wallabies, Eastern Grey Kangaroos and Bare-nosed (Common) Wombats.

Overnight Accommodation: Snowy River Homestead

Day 7: Snowy River. You will depart East Gippsland after one last visit to the beach at the Mouth of the Snowy River. On the way back to Melbourne, a visit to Krowathunkoolong Keeping Place, an informative Aboriginal Cultural Centre in Bairnsdale, provides an opportunity to learn about how the Aboriginal people have lived amongst these captivating landscapes for thousands of years. Following this, guests will venture to a river in Bairnsdale to spot Grey-headed Flying-foxes in their daytime roosts, before arriving in Melbourne. 

Overnight Accommodation: Flexible Options Available*

Kangaroo Island - Private Tour

Day 8: Duck Lagoon & Lathami Conservation Park. Upon arrival from Melbourne on Kangaroo Island, you will 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, they 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.

Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge (dinner/bed/breakfast)

Day 9: Seal Bay & Flinders Chase National Park. You will start the day with an optional early morning birding excursion in the coastal heath or along the American River shoreline, where you might spot Glossy Black Cockatoos, Grey Currawongs, Pied Oystercatchers, and Australian Pelicans. After breakfast, you will head to famous Seal Bay, where you will enjoy a privately guided Australian sea-lion experience and spot birds like White-bellied Sea Eagles, Caspian Terns and Ospreys. The tour continues to Point Ellen, where seasonal wildlife sightings may include Rock Parrots and Little Penguins. Throughout the day, you might encounter a variety of wildlife, including Cape Barren Geese, koalas, and kangaroos. The day ends with dinner at American River, followed by a presentation from echidna expert Dr. Peggy Rismiller on her extensive field research.

Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge (dinner/bed/breakfast)

Day 10: Bay of Shoals, Kingscote & D'Estrees Bay. Take an optional early morning birding walk before the departure at 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, you will likely spot Australian Pelicans, Royal Spoonbills, cormorants, Australian White Ibis, and possibly migratory species if visiting between November and March. White-bellied Sea Eagles are often seen harassing the nesting birds, offering a chance 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.

Overnight Accommodation: Flexible Options Available* 

Eyre Peninsula - Private Tour

Day 11: Port Lincoln. Your ornithological adventure begins at Tulka, a coastal hamlet where you 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, you'll explore rugged cliffs, ideal for spotting Ospreys, White-bellied Sea Eagles, Whistling Kites, and Swamp Harriers. At Taylor's Landing, rare birds like Mallee Fowl, Purple-Gaped Honeyeaters, and Blue-breasted Wrens may be encountered, along with a variety of other species. After a lunch stop to enjoy more birdwatching, the tour continues to Mikkira Station for a late afternoon Koala and bird walk. Here, you'll see Koalas waking up to feed, Western Grey Kangaroos grazing, and a diverse array of bush birds before returning to Port Lincoln for the evening.

Overnight Accommodation: South Point Beach House

Day 12: Port Neill & Tumby Bay. After a morning pickup, you will head up the east coast of the Eyre Peninsula towards Port Neill to spot diverse sea birds on the eastern coast of the Eyre Peninsula. Along the way, you will stop at known bird locations like Point Boston, on the lookout for Diamond Firetails and Rock Parrots. At Louth Bay, look for the majestic Osprey and Kingfishers and in Tumby Bay, take a short walk along the Mangrove Boardwalk for a selection of shorebirds. Heading off the main road and onto an access track, stop at Rogers Beach before visiting a Crested Tern colony at Lipson Cove. From here, you will divert inland to Mallee Scrub terrain where you will find an assortment of bush birds, and on the way home, visit another unique location for ducks and waterbirds. A picnic lunch on the beach will provide an opportunity to stop and watch the birdlife.

Overnight Accommodation:  South Point Beach House

Day 13: On the third day, your tour begins at Billy Lights Point, where coastal mallee and sheltered bays host a variety of waterbirds and bush birds, including Ospreys, White-Bellied Sea Eagles, Superb Blue Wrens, and Rock Parrots. Next, at Big Swamp, a bird hide offers views of species like Black Swans, Musk Ducks, and migratory Common Greenshanks. The tour then heads to Coffin Bay, known for its stunning scenery and world-famous oysters. A 1.5-hour tour with an oyster farmer includes sampling fresh oysters directly from the farms. After lunch at 1802 Coffin Bay Oyster Bar & Grill, the tour explores Coffin Bay National Park, home to 150 bird species and spectacular coastal landscapes. The tour concludes with a visit to a known location for Southern Emu-Wrens before returning to Port Lincoln.

Optional Extension: Tasmania Birdwatching - Private Day Tour

Day 14 & 15: Hobart & Mt Field National Park. Fly from Adelaide to the beautiful island state of Tasmania. From Hobart you will visit 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. You are likely to encounter Tasmanian Pademelons, Bennett's Wallabies, and Platypus, with occasional sightings of the Pink Robin. The park's diverse habitats range from lush Eucalyptus temperate rainforest to alpine moorland. You will search with your guide for species like the Tasmanian Native Hen, Scrubtit, Yellow Wattlebird, Black Currawong, and Tasmanian Thornbill. After lunch, there's an opportunity to observe Platypus in the wild, making it a perfect destination for nature enthusiasts.

Please note this section of this itinerary is an additional cost. If you would like a longer wildlife and birding adventure in Tasmania, there are a variety of options ranging from two days to two weeks.