West Coast & Islands Birdwatching

Perth & Penguin Island - Shared Tour

Day 1: Perth. On arrival in Perth, transfer by private vehicle to your downtown accommodation. 

Accommodation: Intercontinental Perth (Standard King Room)

Day 2: Shoalwater Islands Marine Park. Visit the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park on this captivating wildlife cruise. Departing from Penguin Island, encounter dolphins, sea lions, cormorants, Australian Pelicans, terns and Osprey. Enjoy a 60-minute glass-bottom boat cruise, offering a glimpse into the vibrant underwater world of limestone reefs, seagrass meadows, and diverse marine life. Conclude the adventure with a 30-minute guided walk on Penguin Island, to gain exclusive insights into the local Little Penguins, the island's breathtaking landscapes, and its rich natural history.

Accommodation: Intercontinental Perth (Standard King Room) | Meals: BL

Christmas Island - Private Tour

Day 3-9: Christmas Island. After the flight from Perth to Christmas Island, a private guide provides pickup to commence the 7-night adventure with an orientation tour. Explore the island's rich history, multicultural community, and diverse range of activities during a two-hour guided experience. In addition to visiting key places of interest and identifying suitable shopping and dining options, the guide explains the island's layout, the history of settlement, subsequent developments, and outlines activity options based on individual interests.

Christmas Island Birdwatching is a 7-night inclusive package that features a range of tours designed to immerse you in the island's incredible landscapes, history, culture and of course wildlife! The order of the tours below can be adjusted according to your needs.

Accommodation: Villa Papaya

Nature Tour

Venturing through Jurassic rainforests, spotting a myriad of bird species and learning about the island's most famous clawed residents are the focus of this tour. Your first stop is The Dales, a highlight on the western side of the island which has been designated as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention.

This network of seven watercourses is characterised by incredible forests, gorges and streams that are sourced from underwater caves that flow into the ocean. Natural springs weave through to a mystical rainforest, canopied by gigantic Tahitian Chestnut trees. This is a terrific opportunity to spot Christmas Island's endemic blue crabs, the Brown Gudgeon (the island's only native freshwater fish), herons, egrets, and tropicbirds.

The next stop is The Blowholes. Nowhere else on the island are the forces of nature so evident. Feel the rhythmic waves, forcing water through the myriad of eroded cliffs that provide a theatrical experience. Head to the peace and tranquillity of Margaret Knoll to view the rugged coastline from above, giving stunning views across the Eastern Coast of the island. This is a hotspot for seabirds including frigatebirds, Golden Bosuns and Brown & Red-footed Boobies.

Departures 9:00 am or 2:00 pm

Christmas Island - Private Tour

Full-day Twitch Tour

On this epic day of birdwatching, visit all the mainstay hangouts to identify as many of the endemic and regular visitors as possible with an expert local guide. The itinerary can be adapted depending on which species are on target lists and based upon the window of time guests are prepared to dedicate to finding unusual birds, especially if looking to build an Australian list.

Typical targets for the day include:

• Frigatebirds (Greater, Lesser, Christmas Island)
• Boobies (Brown, Abbott's and Red-footed)
• Tropicbirds (Red Tailed, White-tailed/Golden Bosun) 
• Emerald Dove and Imperial Pigeon
• Christmas Island Thrush & Christmas Island White-eye
• Common Noddy

Look for the more elusive birds such as the Christmas Island Goshawk and any rare or visiting vagrants. To view the full Christmas Island bird list, please click here.

Full Day (7 hours)

Christmas Island - Private Tour

Hawk Owl Tour

The subject for this experience is one of Australia's rarest raptors, the endemic Christmas Island Hawk Owl. Measuring less than 30cm in height, this bird boasts extremely beautiful plumage and piercing large yellow eyes. These territorial birds only breed once per year, with a current population of approximately 1,200 individuals, placing them on the vulnerable bird list.

The best way to view the Christmas Island Hawk Owl is to go with a local expert guide who knows where this elusive species likes to hang out amongst the dense forests and coastal terraces.

Please note: rain during the day and into the evening can reduce chances of sightings and the tour may have to be cancelled/rescheduled at short notice.

Time: Dependent on the season and location of the owls
Schedule: Evening

Snorkelling tour (shared)

Snorkelling opportunities are plentiful and spectacular around Christmas Island, with this tour providing the chance to see the incredible drop-offs, a war wreck and countless marine species. Be mesmerised by the fringing reefs, with 90 coral species and 650 species, including parrotfish, surgeonfish, wrasse, butterflyfish, groupers, angelfish and reef sharks. Dolphins, turtles, Manta Rays and Whale Sharks can also be seen on an opportunistic basis.

Departures Thursday at 2 pm

Day 10: Perth. After the flight from Christmas Island, transfer to Perth accommodation.

Accommodation: Intercontinental Perth (Standard King Room) 

Bremer Bay - Shared Tour (December - late April)

Day 11: Perth & Albany. Take a flight to the beautiful coastal city of Albany. Stroll through the historic maritime town of Albany, discovering convict jails, old taverns, whaling ships, settlers' cottages, and grand National Trust homes. Later, unwind at one of the area's beautiful beaches like Middleton Beach or Salmon Beach.

Accommodation: Hilton Inn Albany (King Room Harbour View) | Meals: B

Day 12: Bremer Canyon. Today, the Bremer Canyon is explored, one of the most sought-after whale-watching destinations globally, with over 100 Killer Whales (Orcas) returning to the submarine canyon each year from December to April. This is the only location in Australia where Killer Whales are regularly encountered in the wild.

After an early morning transfer from Albany, board the Naturaliste Charter's long-range expedition vessel, purpose-built for the Southern Ocean, for an 8:30 am departure. From Bremer Bay, scenic bays and cliffs with sparkling turquoise waters soon give way to the deep blue expanses of the Southern Ocean. Dolphins, Australian Sea-lions, and numerous seabirds may be observed along the way.

The expert crew provides an engaging multimedia presentation covering the biology and ecology of Killer Whales, as well as information about other marine life likely to be encountered during the expedition. After approximately 1.5 hours, the vessel arrives in the Bremer Canyon area, one of the most remarkable marine environments on earth, where the search for the apex predator, the Killer Whale, begins.

Bremer Canyon is a pelagic birdwatcher's dream, with an astonishing array of seabirds. Large swirls of Flesh-footed Shearwaters often indicate the presence of Orcas. Other common seabirds include Wilson's and White-faced Storm-Petrels, Great-winged Petrels, Indian Yellow-nosed, Black-browed, Shy, and Wandering Albatrosses. When Orcas have made a kill, the resulting oily slicks can attract hundreds, sometimes thousands, of seabirds to feed on the scraps.

Bremer Bay is the only Australian pelagic location that semi-regularly reports Barau's Petrels. Other summer rarities have included Cory's and Great Shearwaters, Cook's and Pycroft's Petrels, and Chatham and Amsterdam Albatrosses. While such rare sightings are exceptional, the area remains of significant scientific interest and provides abundant learning opportunities due to its relative novelty in research and tourism.

Accommodation: Hilton Inn Albany (King Room Harbour View) | Meals: BL

Day 13: Perth. Take a morning flight back to Perth for your onward journey.

Meals: B

Optional Extension: Orcas, Numbats and Birds of the South West

Price for this extension starts at $5,590.00 AUD per person based on twin/share. Please note this tour can be booked as a shared itinerary over the following dates:

• 4 March 2026
• 13 March 2026

Southwest Western Australia is a biodiversity hotspot, home to over 4,000 vascular plants and many endemic species. Observe Carnaby's and Baudin's Black Cockatoos, Quokkas, Dugites, Carpet Pythons and Numbats, combined with the Bremer Canyon Killer Whale Expedition.

Day 11: Perth to Pemberton. Travel from Perth along the WA coastline to Lake Clifton to view thrombolites and birdlife. Cross the Darling Scarp to explore Karri forests, searching for native birds and the Western Brush-wallaby. Continue to Pemberton amid towering trees and diverse wildlife.

Day 12. Pemberton & Albany. Explore Pemberton's scenic forests, waterfalls, and historic sites based on recent wildlife reports. Spot quokkas, bandicoots, and Scarlet Robins. Visit Walpole-Nornalup National Park's tingle forest, home to giant trees, Red-eared Firetails, and "Twenty-eight" Parrots, before continuing to Walpole. Search Coalmine Knolls for quokkas, kangaroos, and antechinus. Walk the Valley of the Giants Treetop Walk or forest floor loop. Stop at Morley Beach for shorebird watching before arriving in Albany.

Day 13. Albany. Explore Lake Seppings for birdlife and possible Honey Possum sightings. Visit the Porongurups to see endemic species, trapdoor spiders, and unique birds. Enjoy a picnic before travelling to Bremer Bay.

Day 14. Bremer Bay. Venture on a full-day expedition to Bremer Canyon in search of orcas, with chances to spot Blue and Sperm Whales, albatross, shearwaters, and petrels. Experience the rich marine life beyond the Continental Shelf.

Day 15. Stirling Ranges. Spot birds near the airport and inlet before travelling to the Stirling Ranges for endemic flora and fauna. Visit Kojonup's Kodja Place, then enjoy a nocturnal tour at Barna Mia to see rare marsupials like Bilbies, Bettongs, and hare-wallabies. Day

Day 16. Dryandra. Search Dryandra Forest for the elusive Numbat. Visit a local waterhole for waterfowl including Blue-billed and Pink-eared Ducks. Return to Perth after lunch, concluding the journey.