BIRDING LINKS

We recommend the following birdwatching guides in Australia

In Queensland - (Bird Trails Tropical Queensland members marked with *)

  • Close-up Birding Adventures. David "Chook" Crawford carries with him broad experience of 16 years spent working in FNQ. A superb bushman and friend we work closely whenever practicable
     
  • AbbertonBirders Lodge  Set in mature gardens and natural bushland on over 11 riverside acres in the heart of Queensland's bird-rich Lockyer Valley, Abberton offers high quality accommodation along with exceptional birding.
  • *Alan's Wildlife Tours    Owner/operator  Alan Gillanders based in Yungabuurra locates local wildlife on day and night tours.
     
  • *Daintree Boatman - Electric motors allow for quiet observation on the Daintree River with a road tour covering the land birds.
     
  • *Birdwatching Tropical Australia Daly Birding tours with Doug Herrington - higher altitude birding.
     
  • Great Northern Tours   Guide David Meade. Cooktown Based.
     
  • Kirrama Wildlife Tours  Klaus and Brenda Uhlenhut have a fine reputation in leading bird tours throughout regional Australia. Highly Recommended.
    .
  • Wait-A-While Environmental Wildlife Tours - specialises in small scheduled (typically 6 or 10 guests max.) & private charter nature focused day & extended tours. Led by professional Naturalist guides tours give unsurpassed spotting, identification & interpretation of wildlife (flora & fauna) in its’ natural environment. Tours visit remote & restricted access places on the Atherton Tablelands, Daintree & Cape Tribulation rainforest areas & nearby reaches of outback Cape York of Tropical North Queensland. 

  • *Cassowary House - Located in Kuranda (North Queensland), Phil and Sue Gregory cater for visiting birders interested in Cassowaries and Victoria's Rifle Birds. They are also Papua New Guinean specialists.
     
  • Cassowary Tours with Ben Bluitt (Based in Malanda) guiding to all areas Down Under and South East Asia

In NSW

  • Follow That Bird: Based in Sydney, various tours led by competent guides throughout South Eastern Australia.
     
  • Birding tours - Australia is based in Newcastle, New South Wales, an easy 1.5hrs north of Sydney International Airport. An excellent introduction to new species

In Tasmania
  • Inala - Bruny Island. Dr Tonia Cochran has all Tasmania's 12 endemic species on her property ! Check it out

In South Australia
  • Exceptional Kangaroo Island Join one of Australia's leading tour operators for the best of Kangaroo Island. Our guides take pride in sharing their knowledge and seek to educate and entertain. We have a conversation, not a commentary. Enjoy the best of local produce with elegant picnics at superb locations and observe wildlife in it's natural habitat.
     
  • SAbirding.com - Peter and Natasha Waanders established Southern Birding Services in 2005. We offer bird guiding as well as all-inclusive bird tours. We operate within most areas of South Australia, including Gluepot Reserve, good birding sites around Adelaide, the Flinders Ranges and Outback. Guiding services can be tailored to client's needs - there are many flexible options to suit a range of budgets!

In Western Australia
  • Kimberley Birdwatching - George Swann, based in Broome WA, is well known for his local expertise in the remote Kimberley region of NW Australia, an area seldom visited by birders.

In Northern Territory

  • Denise Goodfellow - Specialising in the birds in and around Darwin, Denise has access to many difficult to locate Northern Territory species.

Overseas Links
  • Donana Bird Tours - Guided birdwatching tours around the Donana region of Southern Spain, Europe's best and most important wetland site. All tours are personally led by John Butler, a professional local guide of 35 years of birding experience.
    •
     
  • Natures Wonderland Safaris - Kenya - Experience some of Kenya's 1090 species of birds!
    •
     
  • The Dovetail Directory - The world's most comprehensive catalogue of national and international birding and nature tours. Dozens of operators, hundreds of itineraries; truly a one-stop, must see resource for every birder
     
  • Nature 2 Pixel  If you are into plants, birds, butterflies, dragonflies, damselflies, primates or just about anything that is natural, you will be amazed with the wonderful and exciting experience in Malaysia's forests and gardens.
     
  • Fat Birder. Well known as the largest birding website on the Net. Bo Crombet-Beolens appreciated our birdlife as well as our Lamington cakes in 2003. He was much impressed with the cakes!
     
  • Birdwatching Guyrapyta. Birdwatching in Uraguay encountering a huge range of species

SPECIALISED CRUISES

  • Daintree River Wild Watch. Ian "Sauce" Worcester runs morning and afternoon cruises. Widely experienced, his expertise is especially with photography opportunities.
     

  • Seastar II Cruises, Cairns. Daily cruises to Michaelmas Cay, well known tropical seabird nesting colony on the Great Barrier Reef. Arrives first and leaves later to dive the Reef.

ACCOMMODATION

If you are looking for somewhere to stay, we would suggest that you consider the following:

  • www.feathersnfriends.com.au Unique self-contained cottage set in creek side nursery eco-system with fruiting and flowering schrubs and trees. At Julatten, central to all Wet Tropics birding locations.
     
  • Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge, Julatten : Internationally known destination for birders in FNQ. Our guided Tours # 4 westwards to the Mitchell River area (drier Savannah woodland and wetlands) and # 5 to Mt.Lewis (elevated rain forest) are available from the Lodge.
     
  • Villa Marine Holiday Apartments. Peter Sprigg welcomes guests to Yorkey's Knob, in the Northern Beaches area of Cairns. Well situated for the new Kattana Wetlands and as a base for birding in the Daintree and Atherton Tablelands.
     
  • *Mareeba Wetlands and Jabiru Safari Lodge.
    Unique locally for savannah woodland and wetland species. Guiding available. Specialised accommodation available.

    •  
  • *Thala Beach Lodge, strategically located nearby to Port Douglas, the resort has beaches lapped by the Coral Sea.Privately owned, each has fine facilities and contrasting tropical environments which will ensure birders a relaxed introduction to Northern Queensland.
     
  • Mossman Gorge Bed & Breakfast - hospitality, friendly hosts and very central.
     
  • *Red Mill House - Trish and Andrew Forsayth - The one and a half acre tropical rainforest garden in Daintree Village
     
  • *Rose Gums Wilderness Retreat  Well appointed rainforest chalet accommodation in near Malanda FNQ.
     
  • *Sweet Water Lodge. Modern luxury self-contained accommodation in the shadow of the Great Dividing Range. Locally unique environmental mix of woodland with rainforest nearby.
     
  • Licuala Lodge Bed and Breakfast, Mission Beach. Fine accommodation on the Cassowary Coast. Rewarding lowland rain forest birding area with easy access to Dunk Island.
     
  • Reef Cottage at Wonga Beach Beach side units with all amenities close to Daintree Region
     
  • Jullatten Mountain Spa Retreat: Under new management and refurbished. Recommended.
     
  • Lotusbird Lodge - run by Gary and Sue in the dry season. Lotus Lodge is a well known destination in Cape York adjacent to Lakefield National Park.
     
  • Chambers Wildlife Rainforest Lodge - Surrounded by Lake Eacham National Park on the Atherton Tableland, many endemic bird and wildlife species are easily locatable.
     
  • Julatten Birdlover's Cottage, boutique Bed and Breakfast centrally located to Highlander Tavern and all birding areas.
     
  • Palm Villas. Well appointed Queenslander style units close to central Port Douglas. You can walk to cruises, dining and beach without effort. You can even book Fine Feather Tours from here
     
  • Grandview Country Accommodation. On the cooler southern Atherton Tablelands near Tarzali. Stay in style, central to Crater Lakes and National Parks, great bird country.

  • Regal on Macrossan - luxury apartments in Port Douglas centrally located for access to every amenity on offer.
     
  • Daintree Views: Luxury residence adjacent to the Daintree located in twenty acres of World Heritage Tropical Rainforest
     
  • Bustard Downs Accommodation & Camping. In the western shadow of the Wet Tropic on the Mulligan Highway near Mt. Carbine. Photographic opportunities with the Australian Bustard. Rustic hand-built brick units to campsites. Wander beside Mary Creek and adjoining wetland areas

  • Daintree Eco Lodge - Luxury in the rainforest, and close to the Daintree River.
     
  • Marae Bed And Breakfast - Marae offers a unique situation to stay in comfort, and well positioned to see birds and butterflies in the foothills south of Mossman.
     
  • Lychee Tree Resort, affordable lodgings situated in a quieter area of Port Douglas, close to beach and dining.

SPECIAL PLACES

We recommend the following as a good general introduction to the Daintree and Cape Tribulation Rainforest.

  • Daintree Discovery Centre - well known and long established destination north of the Daintree River. Southern Cassowaries inhabit this pristine rainforest area.
     
  • Daintree Mangrove Wildlife Sanctuary rare and endangered species such as the north-east Queensland's Golden-shouldered Parrot and Gouldian Finches are bred alongside our more common species. The Sanctuary is a brilliant day out from Port Douglas or Cairns.

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Daintree Discovery Tours well known small group tours to Daintree/Cape Tribulation. Not only is it stunningly beautiful, it is immensely important as a living link back to the Gondwanan times. It is considered as the oldest continual living rainforest on Earth.

  • AXiO Media Productions

REFERENCE

We recommend the following as good reference information points for birdwatchers: