Australia........ 25th Sept to 9th Oct 2010 plus post-tour extension

Eastern Highlights

The wondrous and fascinating continent of Australia provides the perfect venue for a birdwatching and wildlife spectacular. The evolution of this continent – for so long isolated from the nearest landmass, has created something unique, in fact one could be forgiven that thinking this is not Planet Earth.
Few countries can match the endemism of Australia for almost 50% of its 800 bird species are endemic, together with some of its exquisite mammals within the marsupial family.
We commence the tour at the world renowned Cairns – famous for its waterfront and tidal flats, which hold a wonderful selection of Siberian shorebirds that spend the Northern Hemisphere’s winter here.
The Atherton Tablelands are a volcanic plateau to the west of Cairns where rainforest and savannah habitats contain Australian Bustard, Wompoo Fruit-Dove, Lesser Sooty Owl, Papuan Frogmouth, Victoria’s Riflebird, Chowchilla, Eastern Whipbird and Macleay’s Honeyeater. There is also a cruise to Michaelmas Cay on the Great Barrier Reef, which abounds with breeding seabirds.
What better way to end the tour (unless taking the optional extension to Sydney) than spending three nights at the superb O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat which has great forest birding and where King Parrots, Crimson Rosellas, Regent Bowerbirds and possums come to feeders.

The optional extension to Sydney includes the highlight of a top class Pelagic trip, as well as a little sightseeing to some of Sydney’s famed locations and also birdwatching locally.


Days 1 & 2: Evening departure from UK; the next day will be spent in-flight to Cairns.

Days 3 - 5: After arrival on Day 3 we will transfer to our comfortable hotel in Cairns; later we’ll visit some of the excellent birdwatching sites that Cairns is renowned for: Centenary Lakes and the Botanical Gardens, which have habitats of freshwater lakes, tidal channels and tropical gardens. Amongst an abundance of birds are Orange-footed Scrubfowl, Bush Stone-curlew, Tawny Frogmouth, Collared Kingfisher, Double-eyed Fig Parrot and White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike. Cairns Esplanade is legendary, where masses of shorebirds and other species gather along the waterfront. Australian White Pelicans, Royal Spoonbills, Grey-tailed Tattlers, Red-necked Stints, Great Knots, Terek Sandpipers and Beach Stone-curlews are all present. At Cassowary House, located in the world heritage tropical rainforest, we may see a number of speciality birds, such as Southern Cassowary, Wompoo Fruit Dove and Victoria’s Riflebird.
Overnights - Cairns.

Day 6: An “Ocean Spirit” cruise to Michaelmas Cay, an island on the Great Barrier Reef, which abounds with Sooty Tern, Common Noddy and Brown Booby. Bridled & Black-naped Terns and Frigatebirds are regularly seen.
Overnight - Cairns.

Days 7 - 10: Transfer to the Atherton Tablelands for four nights – with two nights at the superb Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge, which abounds with wildlife, and two nights at Yungaburra. There are many excellent sites with great diversity of habitat. Mount Lewis, Lakes Mitchell, Barrine & Eacham, Curtain Fig Tree, the dry country of Mount Carbine and Hasties Swamp will all yield an array of birdlife, including a number of local specialities and endemics. Red-necked Crake, Plumed Whistling Duck, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Superb Fruit-Dove, Papuan Frogmouth, Lesser Sooty Owl, Noisy Pitta, Red-backed Fairy-wren, Barred Cuckoo Shrike, Atherton Scrubwren, Mountain Thornbill, Chowchilla, Fernwren, Eastern Whipbird, Bower’s Shrike-thrush and Golden Bowerbird are just some of the species present. Mammals include the unique Duck-billed Platypus, Red-legged Pademelon, Eastern Grey Kangaroo and Long-nosed Bandicoot.
Overnights – Kingfisher Lodge & Jungaburra.

Days 11 - 13: After breakfast on Day 11 we drive to Cairns Airport and catch a flight to Brisbane. We’ll then drive to the superb O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat for a three-night stay, where King Parrots and Crimson Rosellas feed from the hand and Regent Bowerbirds and possums come to the feeders. However, O’Reilly’s also offers wonderful rainforest birding, with a chance to see eastern specialities, including Owlet Nightjar, Logrunner, Green Catbird, Satin Bowerbird, Red-browed Treecreeper and Superb Fairy-wren.
Overnights – O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat.

Days 14 & 15: Catch our return flight to the UK via Singapore, arriving on Day 15

OR join the Optional Three-Night Extension to Sydney:

Day 14: Fly from Brisbane to Sydney with some
birding and sightseeing.

Days 15 & 16: On one day we will have a boat trip. Pelagic trips from Sydney are well known as being top class and yield a wealth of Albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters. On the other day we will bird local areas around Sydney.

Day 17: After a morning in Sydney, we'll catch the return flight back to UK, arriving on Day 18.

Tour ref: AA1023

Cost: £ 3,890
Extension: £ 770
Deposit: £ 400
Single Room Supplement: £ 350

Leaders: Peter Taylor, Gerry Griffiths & Peter Scholes

Max. Group: 12 plus Leaders

Includes:
Economy class scheduled return flights, (UKAustralia-UK) domestic flights, accommodation based on twin occupancy, all meals, ground transportation in Australia, Gt. Barrier Reef trip, Sydney Pelagic trip national park entrance fees and services of leaders.

Excludes:
Travel insurance, visa fee for Australia, drinks and items of a personal nature.