birdy tour australia

By submitting my information, I agree to receive personalized updates and marketing messages about Birdy based on my information, interests, activities, website visits and device data and in accordance with the Privacy Policy . I understand that I can opt-out at any time by emailing [email protected] .

Welcome to Birdy's mailing list!!

Customize your notifications for tour dates near your hometown, birthday wishes, or special discounts in our online store!

By submitting my information, I agree to receive personalized updates and marketing messages about Birdy based on my information, interests, activities, website visits and device data and in accordance with the Privacy Policy . In addition, if I have checked the box above, I agree to receive such updates and messages about similar artists, products and offers. I understand that I can opt-out from messages at any time by emailing [email protected] .

• Moscow concerts Moscow concerts Moscow concerts See all Moscow concerts ( Change location ) Today · Next 7 days · Next 30 days
• Most popular artists worldwide
• Trending artists worldwide

• Tourbox for artists

Search for events or artists

• Sign up Log in

• Get the app
• Moscow concerts
• Change location
• Popular Artists
• Live streams
• Deutsch Português
• Popular artists

Birdy  

• On tour: yes
• Birdy is not playing near you. View all concerts
• Moscow, Russian Federation Change location

992,645 fans get concert alerts for this artist.

Join Songkick to track Birdy and get concert alerts when they play near you.

Nearest concert to you

Pstereo Festival

Touring outside your city

Be the first to know when they tour near Moscow, Russian Federation

Join 992,645 fans getting concert alerts for this artist

Upcoming concerts (13) See all

Spark Arena

Brisbane Entertainment Centre

Qudos Bank Arena

Rod Laver Arena

Noches del Botánico

Caribana Festival

Gent Jazz Festival

Zuiderparktheater

Openluchttheater Caprera

View all upcoming concerts 13

Similar artists with upcoming concerts

Tours most with.

Jasmine van den Bogaerde, known by her stage name Birdy (born 15 May 1996) is a singer-songwriter hailing from Lymington, Hampshire, UK.

Birdy has achieved remarkable success in her youth, winning the national competition Open Mic UK in 2008 (aged 12), an offshoot of the Live and Unsigned competition, beating over 10,000 other competitors to achieve the main prize. In 2011, her cover version of Bon Iver's song "Skinny Love" peaked at number 17 in the UK Singles Chart, with BBC Radio 1 DJ Fearne Cotton selecting the song as her "Record of the Week." Her eponymous debut album released on Atlantic Records, which featured cover versions alongside one original track, achieved great commercial success, reaching No. 13 in the UK, No. 40 in Ireland and number one in Belgium, Australia and the Netherlands.

Her musical style of tender, emotive vocals accompanied by her delicate playing on the piano make for an endearing listen. Her heartfelt covers mostly focus on music by indie artists such as The Postal Service and The XX, offering gentle interpretations that sound full of innocence, with the sparse production allowing her haunting voice to shine. Similarities with her music can be found with the likes of Joanna Newsom, Adele and Lana Del Ray.

Her release "Fire Within" (2013) achieved mostly positive responses, with the album written in collaboration with songwriters Ryan Tedder, Dan Wilson and Mumford and Sons pianist Ben Lovett. At the 2014 BRIT Awards, she was nominated for Best British Female Solo Artist and also won the title of Best Female Solo Artist International in the 2014 Echo awards. As well as her album releases, Birdy has also contributed many songs to film soundtracks, including "The Hunger Games" with her single "Just a Game" and three songs she contributed to the soundtrack of "The Fault in Our Stars." She also received her first Grammy Award nomination with her contribution to the song "Learn Me Right" with Mumford and Sons, which featured in the soundtrack for the film "Brave."

Live reviews

Bon Iver has established himself as a great singer-songwriter but to listen to him I have to really be in a Bon Iver mood. But I am almost always down to listen to, Jasmine van den Bogaerde or rather by her better known name, Birdy. You would think that a slower, piano version of ANY Bon Iver song could be good, but she truly has a voice of an angel. The first time I heard her live version of Bon Iver’s “Come On Skinny Love,” I had never felt so at peace. Her whole performance was from her self-titled album, which consists of her interpretation of other songs. Technically they are covers, but the way she has redone them, they seem like completely new songs. The ambiance of her shows are consistent with the music that she sings. There is a spotlight on her and her piano, the house lights remain dimmed, and decorating the stage are a number of white candles. And just as her music is, she is very mild mannered and soft-spoken. When she spoke to the audience to thank them for their support, it was very hard to hear, but that could also have been due to the cheers.

Having heard her live, and really enjoying all the covers that she has done, I really look forward to more of her original songs, and then seeing those live.

Report as inappropriate

Set in a modest stage setting, quite simple, allowed you to focus on Birdy. Her voice was crystal clear and the clarity was if you were listening to her CD'S.

The backing band deserve a mention, providing just the right amount to keep the whole show balanced.

Birdy really is worth seeing and a great example that you don't need to hide behind flamboyant backdrops and lighting.

Overall, I'd say First Class and treat yourself to this new and talented singer songwriter.

Astounding. Truly exceptional vocal performance from both Birdy, and the opening act Dan Owen. Birdy did a great blend of her older material with songs from the new album, all were paired with a great band and dazzling lights in front of a plain backdrop. Dan Owen had great energy and stage presence, he is one to look out for. Birdy is definitely someone you should see live.

Incredible.

Superb concert from start to finish! The support act (Dan Owen) was outstanding. Birdy captivated the audience from the moment she stepped on stage until her final bow. Her new material & some of her earlier songs were pitch perfect and performed at nothing less than the highest possible standard. A singer/songwriter/musician of the highest calibre. A must watch live act!!!!

The show last night was amazing, with Birdy putting together a very stripped down, straight-to-the heart performance. I'm really glad I got to see her live, and especially see her perform a lot of her songs from her eponymous album, including Skinny Love, People Help the People and White Winter Hymnal. Her voice is great live and definitely sounds ethereal and timeless...

Saw Birdy in Southampton- it was AMAZING!! she played lots from her new album which was good and then a couple of old classics. The lighting was really cool and she even did a cover of Kate Bush's 'Running up that hill' which was insane! The band with her were really impressive and the support act was really friendly and surprisingly talented!! Was such a good concert!

I have no words to let you know how i feel when i listen your music, its just my entire life on it...thanks for let me feel Alive when my soul is dieing...

The Day i can see you performance in person finally i ll say i have come thrue all my drems... never stop writting that Amazing words, never go away, you have the power to make people dont let them down...

Birdy's concert was great! She was on time and made a 1 and a half hour concert which was wonderful. Beautiful voice, beautiful songs and great sound.

Dan was also fantastic and a revelation. He should keep on writing songs and come back to Bcn.

I would recommend Birdy to anyone and would go again. I will go again if she comed back.

Thank you Birdy.

Love her, wish we could have hugged and gotten a photo like last year at the crystal. Small venues that allow artists to meet fans is where it's at.

Venue didn't have many exit points. It would be nice if you could access the stairs without having to fight through the crowd and go all the way around. Maybe two check points would be ideal.

It was an enthralling performance by Birdy and it was made even better with Charlotte Hatherley in her band.

The only thing that would have made the show better is if Birdy let Charlotte Hatherley sing at least a couple of her songs to open the show.

Photos (12)

Posters (28)

Past concerts

Zermatt Unplugged Festival

The Belasco

August Hall

View all past concerts

Birdy tour dates and tickets 2024-2025 near you

Want to see Birdy in concert? Find information on all of Birdy’s upcoming concerts, tour dates and ticket information for 2024-2025.

Birdy is not due to play near your location currently - but they are scheduled to play 13 concerts across 8 countries in 2024-2025. View all concerts.

Next 3 concerts:

• Auckland, New Zealand
• Brisbane, QLD, Australia
• Sydney Olympic Park, NSW, Australia

Next concert:

Popularity ranking:

• Incubus (301)
• Birdy (302)
• Empire of the Sun (303)

Concerts played in 2024:

Touring history

Most played:

• SF Bay Area (52)
• London (14)
• Chicago (12)
• Hamburg (9)

Appears most with:

• Friends (49)
• Christopher McVick (49)
• DJ UFO (49)
• DJs Jefrodesiac (49)
• ($$Next Level$$) (49)

Distance travelled:

Similar artists

• Most popular charts
• API information
• Brand guidelines
• Community guidelines
• Terms of use
• Privacy policy
• Cookies settings
• Cookies policy

Get your tour dates seen everywhere.

• But we really hope you love us.

Birdy To Open For Niall Horan On Australian Tour

Final tickets for Niall Horan’s shows have been released today to accompany the support act announcement.

Birdy (Credit: Thibault Theodore)

English singer Birdy is set to open for Niall Horan on his upcoming tour of Australia and New Zealand.

Playing in arena venues in Auckland, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, final tickets for Horan’s shows have been released today to accompany the support act announcement.

“Thrilled to have Birdy joining me for the Australia and New Zealand dates,” Horan wrote on social media this morning (17 April). “Final tickets have just been released at NiallHoran.com so grab them while ya can. Can’t wait to see you soon”.

Niall Horan’s Australia and New Zealand tour begins on Friday, 26 April, at Auckland’s Spark Arena before heading to Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Sunday, 28 April, Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena on Wednesday, 1 May, and two back-to-back shows at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena (Friday, 3 and Saturday, 4 May).

Thrilled to have @birdy joining me for the Australia and New Zealand dates ! Final tickets have just been released at https://t.co/BnjqkzT7vW so grab them while ya can. Can’t wait to see you soon x pic.twitter.com/VnT8AdHeoh — Niall Horan (@NiallOfficial) April 16, 2024

Don't miss a beat with our FREE daily newsletter

Last August, Birdy—who you know best for her stunning cover of Bon Iver ’s Skinny Love , which she released at just 14 years old—released her fifth album, Portraits .

In 2012, Birdy’s eponymous debut album, packed with cover songs, hit #1 on the ARIA Albums Chart, with her takes on Skinny Love and Cherry Ghost ’s People Help The People constantly on the airwaves.

While Birdy is best known for her indie folk-driven sound, on last year’s Portraits , she embraced elements of synth and electronic-inspired pop music, releasing more straightforward pop songs rather than piano-based ballads. On her latest LP, Birdy cited influences such as David Bowie, Kate Bush, Madonna , and Prince while outlining the inspiration of a “ more Gothic feeling ” found in the music of PJ Harvey and Portishead .

On his return to Australia, Niall Horan commented in a press release, “I have said it many times, but I do mean it when I say that the times I have spent down under are some of the best periods of my life. I have had amazing shows in Australia and New Zealand, and I cannot wait to be back in 2024.

“My favourite thing in the world is being on tour. Performing my songs for my fans and sharing those incredible moments together are the reason why I write music in the first place. This is going to be my best tour yet, and I cannot wait to see all you ‘lovers’ in 2024.”

NIALL HORAN

The show – live on tour, australia & new zealand with special guest birdy.

FRIDAY 26 APRIL – SPARK ARENA, AUCKLAND

SUNDAY 28 APRIL – BRISBANE ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE, BRISBANE

WEDNESDAY 1 MAY – QUDOS BANK ARENA, SYDNEY

FRIDAY 3 MAY – ROD LAVER ARENA, MELBOURNE

SATURDAY 4 MAY – ROD LAVER ARENA, MELBOURNE

Tickets here

Trending Today

Link to our Facebook Link to our Instagram

© 2024 The Music Press Pty Ltd

More From Our Network

5 Niall Horan And Birdy Duets We’d Love To See During Australia’s The Show: Live on Tour

• Advertise With Us!
• Facebook Data not found. Please check your user ID. Twitter You currently have access to a subset of Twitter API v2 endpoints and limited v1.1 endpoints (e.g. media post, oauth) only. If you need access to this endpoint, you may need a different access level. You can learn more here: https://developer.twitter.com/en/portal/product Instagram Please check your username.

Here’s Every Song LE SSERAFIM Performed At Coachella Weekend 1

95 Taylor Swift Lyrics To Use For Your Graduation Cap

The Important Message In Shinedown’s ‘A Symptom Of Being Human’

Chappell Roan Wants Her ‘Red Wine Supernova’

10 Eras-Themed Snacks For Your Eras Tour Watch Parties

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie. Oi, Oi… Lovers! We bet you didn’t see that twist in the iconic call and response. Or maybe you did, call, eh, us synching up to our pesky, jewelry-bearing Irish leader’s mannerisms. But come next weekend, when deep maroon washes over the crowd just before The Show: Live On Tour’s curtains swipe up to reveal him, the Niall Horan will salute his two-finger-mirror-pose after it. We’ll probably slightly roll our eyes all in good banter (the Irish and Australians have camaraderie, of course) before slinking into our seats. We imagine it will have engraved numbers slanted onto its rim for all purposes of staying on theme. 

However, just before we all change the further light show he has planned into a curated image of that Irish flag popping up across the New Zealand and Australian arenas through cardboard orange and green stock cards held up to our phones—we know we have it in you!—there’s a guest. Yep, Birdy! We have no idea how a night that was already special upped its amp. However, we’re looking at the sound gauge of Niall’s electric guitar. 

If you’re still in the cocoon era, Birdy’s most known for her hits like ‘Wings’ and her cover of Bon Iver’s ‘Skinny Love.’ But she has many more tunes that could be covered in her opening set. Obviously, we’re also crossing every finger that Niall and her team up at some point—cough, across his two-night Melbourne spectacular. So, we’ve thought up five possible duets, including one off The Show!

‘Let It All Go’

Straightaway, ‘Let It All Go’ lends itself to a duet, primarily because of how it’s stylized as one, the accompanying lilt coming from Rhodes. So slip one European singer for another, and it’ll be a seamless Horan takeover. However, this song is on the list mainly due to its narrative arc and lyrics, or if we were to get down to the bare bones of it, couplet: “ There’s a light on the road, and I think you know / Morning has come and I have to go.”  

Are you already seeing touches of ‘If You Leave Me’ and even Niall’s Zach Bryan’s ‘Something In The Orange’ cover? So are we. During both songs, Niall plays with the themes of the interstellar and how his muse is only able to enchant him at night. For in the morning, when those hints of a sunrise seep in, she’s nowhere to be found. Adding Birdy into the Niall Horan mix, this song would lend itself to the angsty, ethereal atmosphere that hearing the female’s perspective of the story would provide. Interestingly, nightfall is the backdrop for the ‘Let It All Go’ music video featuring the Northern Lights (something we’ll touch on later!) 

‘Battlefield’

This slinky piano ballad taken off of Birdy’s latest album, Portraits (and most likely what we’ll be hearing at the concert), has similar galaxy themes in its lyrics. Yet there’s a slight spin on it, too, which lends itself to the fairytale-like jargon used in ‘You Could Start A Cult.’ 

What we will be drawing our eyes to, particularly where Niall could lend his vocals, is the second verse. “ Tried to keep you in my dreams / Tried to barter with the kings.” If you’re clicking play on that video below, listening to the song like we are, you’ll notice the haunting desperation swarming in Birdy’s vocals. There’s also a drumline anchoring into the production. “Tradin’ secrets with the stars / But they won’t listen, no one does.” At one point, there is even an EDM throughline. Though slightly contrasting with the summertime 80s vibes Niall had on The Show, it could almost be like a seamless collision, mainly when solely focusing on the bass on ‘If You Leave Me.’ 

‘Not About Angels’

All Birdy locals, please raise your hands! That may be harsh. We’ll drop a teeth-baring emoji in right now just to cut the tension a little bit 😬. See, just for you! We do have some kindness to those in the audience who only know the Birdy classics, especially when we’ve primarily bought the tickets for Niall Horan, seeing how late of an addition to the show she is. Moreover, the ‘Heaven’ connection is there from the moment we look at the song title. Then, an Augustus Waters and Hazel Grace Lancaster montage can spiral in our heads. The song was, of course, a part of The Fault in Our Stars soundtrack!

So, back peddling on the ‘Heaven’ connection, as we know, angels reside up in the celestial realm. In the context of ‘Not About Angels,’ quite clearly, the angelic nature is supposed to represent Hazel as she experiences stage IV thyroid cancer, wondering if there’s a point in letting love in, even if it’s short-lived. Her boyfriend, Augustus, who has osteosarcoma, a bone cancer, dies later on in the movie (Generation Alpha, y’all should’ve found a wormhole to the early 2000s!) So, it then also becomes a metaphor for love itself. Is love still love even when it isn’t tangible? When strange light surrounds them, and they’re cast into reveries? Plus, we all know that Niall loves a ballad, and with its orchestra-like melody, this one will undeniably pull at all of our heartstrings. 

‘Surrender’

We told you we’d be back here, Birdy’s usage of the Northern Lights. This time, it doesn’t tie in visually through a music video’s scenery but instead pops up in the lyrics of ‘Surrender.’  “And if I could reach the northern lights / Maybe then I’d understand it all;” yeah, we know you’ve probably got your mental highlighter out. We’re choosing the color pink, circling the word. It lays there in the chorus, by the way. “Sometimes I try so hard to fight / When all I want to do is fall.”  

Exclusive Interview: Caleb Hearn On New Single ‘Little Bit Better’

Birdy is denoting that what may appear as hot and cold behavior to her muse is just her mind pulling its own tug of war-between fight and flight. It’s undeniable to her that she loves the person in question but cannot express it entirely due to her own self-esteem. It sounds like a song that we Niallers know fully well, right? We’re looking at you, ‘Must Be Love’ and maybe even its sister song in ‘Science.’ What’s a synchronicity here is that Birdy just happens to slip the word “night” into the lyrics during the chorus and outro. She just wants to envelop her lover in the darkness, but as the visualizer suggests, there’s still a little light, her inner demons on. 

‘If You Leave Me’

Pit girlies, we’re especially about to hear your grumbles. But sometimes, we just have to be selfish, and this is one of those times. As much as we probably all want Niall Horan to chalk up his health bills even more by plummeting to his knees, almost in devotion to his muse, there’s something about an acoustic performance we can’t pass up on, especially when paired with Birdy! With ‘If You Leave Me’ in her hands, we don’t doubt that we’d be able to see the rawness of its lyrics on full display, perhaps even the titular of The Show’s thesis itself. 

To whoever gets the setlist (may the odds forever be in your favor), and one of these songs ends up on there, not to say that we’ve got witchy, voodoo powers. But maybe? And if you want to get your vote pooled into the bet, tweet us @thehoneypop which song out of these you’d most like Birdy and Niall Horan to duet together while on the New Zealand and Australian leg of The Show: Live On Tour. Extra tickets became available today (rolling through Auckland, Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne). You can snap them up here!

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BIRDY: FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER  | YOUTUBE | WEBSITE

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NIALL HORAN: DISCORD | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER  | YOUTUBE | WEBSITE

Share this:

What's your reaction, leave a reply cancel reply.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Loossemble Prove They’re One Of A Kind

Here’s What We Found In girli’s Matriarchy Mansion

Inside Wave To Earth’s Largest European Show On The Flaws And All Tour

BETWEEN FRIENDS Adds Heat To Our Playlists With garage sale !

• About Your Privacy

© 2022 The Honey POP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Discover more from the honey pop.

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Continue reading

Melbourne Birding Tours

Chris has been a keen bird watcher since his boyhood in England. He founded his bird watching tour company in 1984, offering worldwide bird watching tours, and 36 years later, its still going strong.

Chris has observed in excess of 840 species of birds in Australia and its territories. Chris is acknowledged as one of the world's most experienced bird tour leaders, and has field experience with over 8,000 different species of birds in the world, including representatives of all 236 families of birds in the world.

A natural extension of his existing business, is to offer half day and full day birding tours around Melbourne. He has chosen three different areas around Melbourne, including three different habitats, with distinctly different birds at each area.

Melbourne Birding Tours offers fully guided bird watching tours at the Western Treatment Plant (Werribee), Phillip Island, Dandenong ranges and Braeside Park. Each tour includes: Use of Swarovski Spotting Scope; use of binoculars if required; use of field guide; bird checklist supplied; a professional and friendly guide; drinks and snacks; and transportation in comfortable SUV vehicle,

#visitwerribee

Follow @visitwerribeeandsurrounds.

• Discount Codes

Australia concerts in 2024: here’s a list of shows and tours coming up

Big names confirmed for tours Down Under in 2024 include Coldplay, Pink, SZA, Hozier, Iron Maiden and more

Fresh out of a pandemic, Australia’s 2023 touring calendar was one of the busiest in recent memory, as artists of all stripes took centrestage everywhere from stadium shows to intimate local gigs. With a starry schedule that included the likes of Post Malone , Red Hot Chili Peppers , and Mötley Crüe , it’ll be tricky for 2024’s schedule to outdo its predecessor – and yet, thanks to the likes of Taylor Swift , Blink-182 and Pink , plus Coldplay, Pearl Jam and SZA later in the year, it’s poised to do just that.

From debut headline shows for breakout artists to bustling festival sideshow programs, there’s something for everyone to enjoy as a stellar batch of musicians make their way Down Under in 2024. Read on for NME’s roundup of all the biggest concerts and tours coming to Australia this year.

Here are the concerts and tours coming to Australia in 2024:

Pink When: February 9 – March 23 Find tickets and more info

Australia bloody loves Pink , and she’s apparently pretty fond of her “home away from home” too. In 2009, she played 58 shows here as part of her Funhouse tour, performing for some 660,000 fans. In 2013, when she announced an Australian tour in support of sixth studio album ‘The Truth About Love’, 320,000 tickets were snapped up within a few hours of them going on sale.

It makes sense, then, that the American singer-songwriter has a slew of dates booked for her return in February and March 2024 as part of her Summer Carnival world tour . She’ll be bringing songs from her ninth studio album ‘Trustfall’ to stadiums around the country, including stops in Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.

She’ll be playing a total of four shows at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium and conclude the tour at Townsville’s Queensland Country Bank stadium.

Recommended

Lydia Lunch When: March 8 – March 23 Find tickets and more info

Lydia Lunch’s unique artistry will take centre stage during her six-date Australian tour early 2024. The musician and poet will first perform at the Brisbane Powerhouse on March 8, before taking to Melbourne Recital Theatre (March 15), Theatre Royal Castlemaine (March 17), Sydney’s The Great Club (March 22) and MONA in Hobart (March 23).

Lunch will also find time for a one-off with Melbourne band Black Cab, performing the songs of her fellow NYC pioneers Suicide , in the intimate confines of The Tote on March 20. Find tickets for the special tribute here.

New Bloom sideshows When: March 9 – March 24 Find more info and tickets here

Emo, punk and post-hardcore fans will find a lot to like in the inaugural touring festival New Bloom in March. In addition to festival dates on the east coast, most of the bands are doing sideshows across the country. Catch Citizen , Movements , Touche Amore , Fleshwater and No Pressure in various venues in Perth, Adelaide, Wollongong, Belgrave and the Gold Coast. Movements, Touche Amore, Fleshwater and No Pressure will stick around for bonus headline shows in Melbourne while the latter two will also play again in Sydney.

Dylan: The Rebel Child Tour When: March 18 – March 27 Find tickets and more info

Rising UK pop sensation Dylan makes her Australian debut in March, kicking off her three-date tour at The Brightside in Brisbane on March 18. The Rebel Child Tour, named after Dylan’s 2023 single, will then head to The Lansdowne in Sydney on March 22, before wrapping up in Melbourne at Northcote Social Club on March 25. Find tickets here.

• READ MORE: Dylan – ‘The Greatest Thing I’ll Never Learn’ EP review: a superstar is born

Maisie Peters: The Good Witch Comes to Australia When: March 19 – 23 Find more info

Maisie Peters might have taken the Wizard of Oz references on her new album ‘The Good Witch’ a little too seriously. The UK artist is coming back to Australia for three dates in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne – all of which are sold out.

• READ MORE: Drink up: Australia’s 10 most memorable musician ‘shoey’ moments

Expectations will be high for Peters’ tour and not necessarily because of the music. As she tweeted : “Last time I toured here I did a shoey on stage and became an honorary Australian so who knows what will happen next!!”

Gladys Knight: The Farewell Tour When: March 19 – March 30 Find tickets and more info here

Soul legend Gladys Knight will return Down Under after touring the US, bringing her numerous hits with her. She’ll kick off the seven-stop tour in Perth, head to Adelaide, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne and Canberra, and wrap things up in Sydney before crossing the Tasman to New Zealand.

The Damned: Final Australian Tour When: March 20 – March 26 Find tickets and more info here

The Damned ’s ‘70s output is somehow a rosetta stone for punk rock and goth. The London band is reuniting the “classic” lineup that influenced a generation for the first and final time since 1989 for shows in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth in March 2024.

Aqua: Mixtape Festival Volume 1 When: March 21 – March 28 Find tickets and more info here

Come on Barbie, let’s go party! Aqua are coming to Australia to headline the touring Mixtape Festival Volume 1, accompanied by 2 Unlimited, East 17, Phats & Small, Big Brovaz, Booty Luv, and Urban Cookie Collective. The ’90s will be alive on this five-date tour of Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth.

Joker Xue: Extraterrestrial World Tour When: March 23 – March 26 Find tickets and more info here

If you’re not familiar with Mandopop, Joker Xue is one hell of an introduction. The songwriter is bringing his ‘Extraterrestrial’ world tour to arenas in Melbourne and Sydney in March 2024. In the show’s pantomime, Xue transforms into an “interstellar executive who descends from an alien planet and is ordered to destroy the earth”, before deciding humans aren’t so bad after all.

Itzy When: March 24 – March 26 Find tickets and more info

K-pop girl group Itzy have a short and sweet trip of Australia planned – they’ve plotted two arena dates down under as part of their Born To Be world tour . The JYP Entertainment act will take over the ICC Sydney Arena and then Melbourne’s Margaret Court Arena this March.

• READ MORE: The 10 best ITZY songs, according to the girl group themselves

$uicideboy$: Grey Day Tour When: March 25 – March 30 Find tickets and more info here

Melding Southern rap with 21st century nihilism and heavy metal, New Orleans’ $uicideboy$ are an unlikely success story. The prolific duo will perform a series of arena shows along the east coast in 2024, checking in at Brisbane’s Entertainment Centre (March 25, 26) and Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena (March 28, 29) before finishing up the Grey Day tour at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena on March 30. Ghostemane, Pouya, Germ, and Shakewell are guests that have been confirmed.

Newton Faulkner When: March 25 – April 1 Find tickets and more information

The English folk singer is headed to Australia as part of the Byron Bay Bluesfest line-up, and has lined up headline shows in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Newcastle along the way.

Bluesfest sideshows: Snarky Puppy, Meshell Ndegeocello and Blind Boys of Alabama When: March 25 – April 6

Snarky Puppy will supplement their set at Bluesfest’s 2024 edition with a pair of headline shows in Melbourne and Sydney on March 25 and March 27, respectively. Meshell Ndegeocello will bring her career-spanning setlist – as well as tracks from her latest album ‘The Omnichord Real Book’ – to Sydney’s Factory Theatre (March 25) and Melbourne’s Recital Centre (March 26), before Blind Boys of Alabama take to those same cities on April 4 (Sydney City Recital Hall) and April 6 (Melbourne Recital Hall).

Each of these acts will also grace the stage across Bluesfest’s three-day run from March 28 to April 1, with ticketing information for their sideshows linked above.

UMI When: March 26 – March 27 Find tickets and more info here

While Down Under for Souled Out festival, US singer-songwriter UMI will play two headline shows at Sydney’s Oxford Art Factory and Melbourne’s Night Cat. Expect to hear her name-making track, ‘Remember Me’ – though she’s more recently met a new audience with ‘Wherever U R’, featuring V of K-pop titans BTS .

PJ Morton When: March 27 – March 28 Find tickets and more info here

You’d probably recognise PJ Morton’s voice even if you’ve never heard his name: the Maroon 5 keyboardist’s distinctive backing vocals can be heard in the mega band’s latter-day output. Morton will be performing his latest solo album ‘Watch the Sun’ at Bluesfest in 2024, before sideshows in Melbourne (170 Russell) and Sydney (Metro Theatre) on back-to-back nights in March.

Drive-By Truckers When: March 28 – April 1 Find tickets and more information

American alt-country legends Drive-By Truckers haven’t visited Australia in a decade and a half. Their long-overdue 2024 tour will see them perform as part of Byron Bay Bluesfest, along with headline shows in Melbourne and Sydney.

The band have released a whopping seven albums since they last played in the country, so there’ll be plenty of new cuts for them to show off at these shows.

Elvis Costello & The Imposters When: March 28 – April 4 Find tickets and more info

Costello and co’s plans for their first Australian tour in almost a decade were dashed at the 11th hour in April 2023. Less than 24 hours before their shows – in support of 2022 album ‘A Boy Named If’ – a case of COVID-19 within the band forced them to withdraw from Byron Bay Bluesfest 2023 and postpone their headline tour dates .

The good news is, new dates were swiftly locked in. Costello and the Imposters will be one of the headliners for 2024’s edition of Bluesfest , and play headline gigs at the Sydney Opera House and Melbourne’s Palais Theatre. Previously purchased tickets for Costello’s headline shows will remain valid, and they’re still on sale for the majority of dates.

Eric Nam: House on a Hill Tour When: March 30 – April 2 Find tickets and more info

After his debut Australian tour in 2022, the American-Korean singer Eric Nam will return in late March and early April as part of his massive, 66-date ‘House on a Hill’ world tour. Nam will play three shows – in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane – joined at all three by special guest Keenan Te.

Chris Isaak When: April 4 – April 20 Find tickets and more info here

Australia, says Chris Isaak, is his “favorite place to tour… or just hang out”. Get ready to play a ‘Wicked Game’ when the US singer-songwriter tours down under in April, kicking things off in Perth before going onto a run of A Day on the Green tour dates with supporting acts Boy & Bear , Mark Seymour & The Undertow, Vika & Linda and Mason Watts.

Isaak has added extra dates in Melbourne and Sydney in the same venues on April 17 and 11 respectively to cope with demand. He can’t wait : “Bring on the sun! Bring on the beach! I think I’m gonna wax my guitar…. I told you I was excited!”

Simple Plan, Boys Like Girls and We The Kings When: April 6 – April 18 Find tickets and more info here

Simple Plan are bringing a pop punk extravaganza to Australia in April 2024, headlining a tour with fellow genre stalwarts Boys Like Girls and We The Kings . The trio will play multiple shows in Perth, Sydney and Brisbane, as well as John Cain Arena in Melbourne and AEC Theatre in Adelaide.

+LIVE+ and Incubus When: April 6 – April 20 Find tickets and more info

+LIVE+ and Incubus will embark on a mammoth run of dates across Australia in April, both as headliners of the inaugural Lookout festival and as co-headliners of their own standalone tour. +LIVE+ and Incubus’ Lookout festival dates – where they’ll be joined by the likes of Birds of Tokyo and Eskimo Joe – span April 6-20, with appearances slated for Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia.

Elsewhere, the bands’ own co-headlining shows will take place in Wollongong (April 9), Sydney (April 11), Melbourne (April 15) and Adelaide (April 17).

Bring Me The Horizon: NeX GEn tour When: April 10 – April 21 Find tickets and more info

In what promises to be one of 2024’s rowdiest tours, Bring Me The Horizon will bring their ‘NeX GEn’ shows to Australian shores next April, with stadiums booked for Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane . The Sheffield band’s string of performances from April 10 to April 21 comes ahead of their much-anticipated album, ‘POST HUMAN: NeX GEn’, and will enlist special guests Sleep Token , Make Them Suffer and daine . Find remaining tickets here.

• READ MORE: Oli Sykes talks “unhinged” new Bring Me The Horizon album ‘Post Human: NeX GEn’

The Front Bottoms When: April 12 – April 20 Find tickets and more info here

The Front Bottoms return for the first time since 2017, playing their biggest Aussie shows to date in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. Expect to hear fresh tracks from their 2023 album ‘You Are Who You Hang Out With’.

James Taylor: An Evening with James Taylor & His All-Star Band When: April 12 – April 28 Find tickets and more info here

If there was ever a festival made for James Taylor & His All-Star Band at this juncture of his 50-year career, it’s Day on the Green . The singer will perform at wineries in Queensland (Sirromet Wines in Mount Cotton), and New South Wales (Bimbadgen in the Hunter Valley, and Centennial Vineyards in Bowral) across April 2024. Taylor will be accompanied by Aussie pair Josh Pyke and Ella Hooper .

Taylor is also playing his own headline shows. After selling out dates in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney, new shows have been added in those cities. A Live Nation pre-sale begins February 9 while general on-sale starts February 12.

Chase & Status When: April 19 – April 28 Find more info and ticket waitlists here

After a new mixtape, charting singles and landmark Boiler Room set, drum’n’bass lifers Chase & Status celebrated a huge 2023. This year, the British duo will bring the party to Australia and New Zealand on a sold-out co-headlining tour with Australia’s very own Luude. They’re notably playing RAC Arena in Perth, on top of Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane.

SZA When: April 19 – May 2 Find tickets and more info here

Fresh off winning three Grammys, SZA has announced a tour of Australia and New Zealand this April. The ‘Kill Bill’ singer will be performing two shows in New Zealand and eight across Australia, with shows confirmed for Auckland, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

Pandemonium Festival sideshows When: April 22 – April 23 Find more info and tickets here

Pandemonium Festival is bringing a glut of rock legends from yesteryear to Australian shores in 2024 , and has just announced two all-ages sideshows at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre to boot on April 22-23. The first night is headlined by NYC new wave icons Blondie , supported by Aussies Wolfmother and Cosmic Psychos . The next day, Alice Cooper will share a classic rock split bill with Deep Purple , while Gyroscope opens proceedings.

Beth Orton When: April 24 – April 30 Find tickets and more info

Initially slated to appear in Australia in November 2023, Beth Orton  rescheduled her Australian tour to April 2024 and added an extra show in Tasmania. The folk musician will now embark on a four-date run with performances in Melbourne, Hobart, Sydney and Brisbane from April 24 to April 30, with tickets for the original cities still valid for the rescheduled dates. Tickets for the additional date at Hobart’s Odeon Theatre are accessible here.

Nick Cave (solo) When: April 25 – May 7 Find tickets and more info

The legendary Nick Cave embarks on a solo tour of Australia (read: without the Bad Seeds) this April, playing two shows in Melbourne and five in Sydney. Radiohead’s Colin Greenwood will be on bass duties for these shows at Plenary Melbourne and State Theatre Sydney, which are all sold out.

The Dandy Warhols When: April 25 – May 1 Find tickets and more info

The Dandy Warhols will make their return to Australia in April 2024 armed with their new album ‘Rockmaker’. So far, they’ve scheduled dates in Brisbane , Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. If you missed them when they toured down under with Hoodoo Gurus in 2022, this is your chance. Find tickets here.

Elephant Gym When: April 26 – April 28 Find more info and tickets here

Elephant Gym isn’t the result of a random band name generator; “elephant” refers to the Taiwanese math rock band’s bass-led grooves, while “Gym” denotes the “agility” of their rhythm. The trio will perform their technical and idiosyncratic instrumentals at three shows on the Australian east coast for the first time this April, supporting sleepmakeswaves.

6LACK: Since I Have A Lover Tour When: April 26 – May 1 Find tickets and more info

R&B favourite 6LACK (pronounced ‘black’) will return to Australia in April to tour his new album, ‘Since I Have A Lover’. The four-date jaunt will take him to Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth.

Niall Horan: ‘The Show’ Live On Tour When: April 26 – May 4 Find tickets and more info

Niall Horan will take ‘The Show’ on the road down under in 2024. The ex- One Direction member’s world tour comes in support of his third solo album ‘The Show’ , out June 9. For the Australian leg, he’ll perform arena shows in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

Groovin The Moo sideshows When: April 29 – May 11 Find tickets and more info

Sadly, Groovin The Moo is no longer going ahead this year – but many of the artists who would have played the touring festival will still be forging ahead with their own Australian headline shows. Singer-songwriter Claire Rosinkranz, Wu-Tang Clan legend GZA (performing a set dubbed ‘Liquid Swords Live’) and Stephen Sanchez will all perform headline shows in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.

Toronto indie rockers The Beaches will also perform their own dates, playing shows in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne in May. Find more information and tickets for all sideshows here .

Jessie Reyez When: April 30 – May 7 Find tickets and more info

Jessie Reyez will tour Australia for the first time in autumn, playing three shows along the east coast. The Canadian R&B singer will bring cuts from 2020 debut ‘Before Love Came to Kill Us’ and 2022 follow-up ‘Yessie’ to Sydney’s Enmore Theatre on April 30, before shows at the Forum in Melbourne and the Tivoli in Brisbane. Find tickets here .

Nothing But Thieves: Welcome To The DCC World Tour When: April 30 – May 7 Find tickets and more info

Nothing But Thieves cleaned up on a sold-out tour of Australia last year – and they’re back for more. The UK alt-rockers have announced the second Aussie leg of their Dead Club City World tour, which will kick off at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion on April 30, continue on to Brisbane and Melbourne, and wrap up at Hindley Street Music Hall in Adelaide on May 7.

Mahalia: In Real Life When: April 30 – May 8 Find tickets and more info

UK R&B artist Mahalia has booked a five-date tour of Australia, her biggest yet and her first time back down under since 2020. Audiences in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane should get ready for smooth tunes off her 2023 album ‘IRL’ .

• READ MORE: Mahalia on her emotional, empowering new record: “I didn’t think I would finish this album”

Jonas Brothers: Five Albums. One Night. Tour When: May 1 – 9 Find tickets and more info

Joe , Nick and Kevin Jonas – the Jonas Brothers – play Australia for the first time between May 1 and May 9 as part of their massive Five Albums. One Night. Tour. The tour will see the brothers perform hits from all five of their albums across one night, including fan favourites.

Tesseract When: May 2 – May 9 Find tickets and more info

UK prog metal outfit Tesseract are set to make the highly anticipated return to Australia in May 2024, marking their first shows Down Under since 2018. Between May 2 and May 9, the band will perform in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.

With 2023 album ‘War of Being’ and songs from 2021’s ‘Portals’ not played in Australia yet, Tesseract are set to bring with them a fresh bounty of new music to Australia.

The Vaccines and Everything Everything Dates: May 4-11 Find tickets and more info here

UK indie rockers The Vaccines and Everything Everything are banding together for a co-headline tour of Australia, their first time back in the country since 2019 and 2018 respectively. Embrace the indie disco in May when they head to Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane and finally Sydney.

Sammy Virji When: May 10 – May 18 Find more info and tickets here

UK garage has been making a steady comeback, and DJ/producer Sammy Virji is one of its frontrunners. He’s set to come back to Australia for his biggest headline tour of the country yet. Virji will kick off his tour at Metro City in Perth on May 10, before heading through Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and finishing at The Roundhouse in Sydney May 18.

Melissa Etheridge: I’m Not Broken Tour When: May 10 – May 17 Find tickets and more info here

Melissa Etheridge is bringing her trailblazing heartland rock to Australian shores for the first time in five years in May 2024. The ‘I’m Not Broken’ tour kicks off in Perth on May 10, before heading through Adelaide, Melbourne and finishing up in Sydney on May 17. Expect to hear a blend of the songwriter’s greatest hits as heard on her latest live album ‘Beautiful Day’.

Macklemore When: May 11 – May 20 Find tickets and more info

Fresh off the release of latest album ‘Ben’, Macklemore will embark on an Australian tour next May. The hip-hop artist will perform at Hordern Pavillion in Sydney on May 11-12, before taking to Melbourne’s John Cain Arena and Brisbane’s Riverstage on May 15 and May 17, respectively. Macklemore will perform at BASSINTHEGRASS in Darwin, and then conclude his Australian run at HBF Stadium in Perth on May 20. Find tickets here.

• READ MORE: Does Rock ‘N’ Roll Kill Braincells?! – Macklemore

Sleater-Kinney When: May 17 – May 23 Find tickets and more info

In their first shows here since 2016, Sleater-Kinney are embarking on a theatre tour of Australia. Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein will play four headline shows down under in support of their latest album, ‘Little Rope’ , in what the latter has called a “homecoming” of sorts.

• READ MORE: Sleater-Kinney talk new single ‘Untidy Creature’ and grief-driven new album: “This is not a somber record”

“For all intents and purposes, Sleater-Kinney got its start in Australia,” Brownstein said in a statement. “We recorded our first album and played our first ever shows there. Because of that, Australia feels like one of the band’s spiritual homes, and returning there always feels like a homecoming, a reunion.”

Jungle When: May 17 – May 22 Find more info

Jungle have unleashed more dancey goodness with their latest album, ‘Volcano’. Get ready to boogie in May when they tour Australia. The entire run, comprising the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney, Festival Hall in Melbourne, and Fortitude Music Hall in Brissy, is sold out.

Botch When: May 17 – 25 Find tickets and more info

Cult-favourite mathcore/hardcore/metal band Botch from Tacoma, Washington reunited last year more than two decades after their split – and now they’re embarking on their first-ever Aussie tour. The jaunt will include two dates in Melbourne and Sydney apiece as well as shows in Adelaide, Perth and Brisbane.

Guitarist David Knudson has promised Botch will go all out: “We don’t want to half-ass it…we want to be fucking tight as we ever were, if not tighter. We don’t want to disappoint a fan that’s never seen us live. So you know, it’s all in or nothing.”

Peter Hook & The Light When: May 21 – 28 Find tickets and more info

Peter Hook , the legendary bassist and co-founder of Joy Division and New Order is set to return to Australia in May 2024, just two years after his last tour of the country in 2022. For the upcoming tour, Hook will perform the New Order and Joy Division substance compilations live, giving fans a chance to once again revel in both bands’ music.

The Snuts When: May 23 – May 26 Find tickets and more info

Scottish indie rockers The Snuts will return for their second Australian tour in as many years, following their debut run of headline shows in 2023. With third studio album ‘Millennials’ in tow, the band will kick off their 2024 tour with a show at Melbourne’s Northcote Theatre. They’ll play Sydney’s Metro Theatre on May 25, before a show at the Triffid in Brisbane the following evening. Find tickets here .

Tom Grennan When: May 29 – May 30 Find tickets and more info

Tom Grennan will duck over to Australia for a pair of headline shows this year, following a debut visit in 2022. The English singer-songwriter will play Sydney’s Metro Theatre and 170 Russell in Melbourne on May 29 and 30 respectively.

Since his last trip, Grennan has released his third studio album, ‘What Ifs & Maybes’. Find tickets here .

Sky Ferreira When: June 2 – June 4 Find more info and tickets here

It’s been 12 years since Sky Ferreira released her debut ‘Night Time, My Time’, and her mystique has only grown in the interim: Ferriera has explored the silver screen, modelling, and long teased the release of a second album ‘Masochism’ . She’ll play two rare headline shows at bespoke Melbourne and Sydney festivals RISING and Vivid LIVE this June – a decade after her last Australian performance.

Boney M featuring Maizie Williams: The Farewell Tour When: June 3 – July 6 Find tickets and more info

Legendary disco group Boney M and vocalist Maizie Williams will bid goodbye to Australia with an extensive national tour in June and July 2024. Don’t wait to get your tickets – 15 of the 20 shows are sold out. More info here.

Bar Italia When: June 4 – June 8 Find more info and tickets here

Buzzy London trio Bar Italia are proteges of Dean Blunt, and have emerged from relative anonymity in the last few years with two albums of sinister post-punk. They’ll tour Australia for the first time in June, playing at Oxford Art Factory in Sydney and Brisbane’s Black Bear Lodge before a matinee show in Melbourne as part of RISING festival.

LANY When: June 19 – June 28 Find tickets and more info

LANY – the pop duo of Paul Klein and Jake Goss – will return to Australia in mid-2024. After playing small, intimate shows down under in August 2023, they’ll go bigger in this national tour at venues including the Hordern Pavilion and Margaret Court Arena. See info on dates and tickets here.

Conan Gray When: July 11 – July 19 Find more info and tickets here

Conan Gray is the archetypal Gen Z popstar, honing his craft as a teenage YouTube vlogger before unleashing his multimodal talent as a singer. Gray will play songs from his upcoming third album ‘Found Heaven’ in some of the biggest rooms in the country this July, as well as a headline spot at Adelaide’s Spin Off Festival on July 19.

Tenacious D When: July 13 – July 22 Find tickets and more info

It’s been more than a decade since Tenacious D toured Australia, but that all changes in July. Jack Black and Kyle Gass will play their first shows in the country since 2013, performing six arena dates.

The tour will kick off with two shows at the ICC Sydney Theatre on July 13, continuing on to Newcastle, Brisbane and Melbourne before wrapping up at Adelaide Entertament centre on July 22. Find tickets here .

FLETCHER When: July 16 – July 28 Find tickets and more info

After postponing her original tour, the rescheduled dates for FLETCHER ’s long-awaited Australian visit have been locked in for mid-2024. Audiences across the country will revel in FLETCHER’s latest album ‘Girl Of My Dreams’ towards the end of July, with venues including Perth’s Metro City (July 16), Fortitude Music Hall in Brisbane (July 18), Festival Hall in Melbourne (July 23) and Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion (July 28). Find tickets here.

IVE: 1ST WORLD TOUR ‘SHOW WHAT I HAVE’ When: July 25 – July 28 Find tickets and more info

As part of their broader debut world tour, IVE will bring their ‘Show What I Have’ set to Australian shores in July, kicking off the two-date run at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena on July 25. The K-pop group will conclude the Australian leg of their tour in support of 2023 album ‘I’ve IVE’ with a show at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena on July 28. Find tickets here.

• READ MORE: IVE – ‘I’VE MINE’ review: K-pop’s queen bees grow beyond the archetype

HEALTH: Rat Based Warfare Tour Down Under When: July 31 – August 4 Find more info and tickets here

The electronic body music of HEALTH flirts with metal, noise, and synth wave, but remains uniquely their own. The band are back in Australia after their 2023 Dark Mofo appearance for a full tour in support of their seventh album ‘Rat Wars’. They’ll play cosy rooms in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane from late July this year.

aespa When: August 31 – September 2 Find more info

K-pop girl group aespa will bring all the dra-ma-ma-ma down under for two stops of their SYNK: Parallel Line tour. The four-piece of Karina , Giselle , Winter and NingNing will perform in Sydney on August 31 and head to Melbourne two days later. Venues and ticket prices have not been announced just yet – stay tuned for more.

• READ MORE: The 25 best K-pop songs of 2023

Iron Maiden: The Future Past Tour When: September 1 – September 13 Find tickets and more info

In what will be their first trip Down Under since 2017, Iron Maiden are poised to bring The Future Past tour to stadiums in Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne next September.

The first three cities will host the metal legends between September 1 to September 10, while Melbourne and Sydney will each enjoy a two-night outing at Rod Laver Arena (September 6 and 7) and Qudos Bank Arena (September 12 and 13), respectively. Find tickets here.

J Balvin: Que Bueno Volver a Verte Tour When: September 4 – September 10 Find more info and tickets here

J Balvin’s career as the Prince of Reggaeton has dovetailed with an explosion in the popularity of Latin music worldwide. The juggernaut will bring his Que Bueno Volver a Verte Tour (It’s Good To See You Tour) to Australian arenas in September this year. Sofi Tukker will support him as he plays the biggest rooms in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.

SiM: Playdead World Tour When: September 12 – September 15 Find tickets and more info here

Like a kind of Japanese Gorillaz , SiM are a content universe unto their own – spanning anime , video games and records. Australian audiences can experience their inimitable reggae-metal-punk at The Zoo in Brisbane September 12, Sydney’s Crowbar on September 14 or Max Watts in Melbourne on September 15.

Thirty Seconds To Mars: Seasons World Tour When: September 12 – September 17 Find tickets and more info

To announce Thirty Seconds To Mars ’ Seasons World Tour, Jared Leto pulled a massive stunt: scaling the Empire State Building . The tour comes in support of their album ‘It’s The End Of The World But It’s A Beautiful Day’ and will hit Australian shores in mid-September. It marks the band’s first headline tour in over five years, and will see them grace the stage at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena (September 12), Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney (September 14) and Brisbane’s Riverstage (September 17). Find tickets here.

The Reytons When: September 29 – October 5 Find more info and tickets here

Yorkshire four-piece The Reytons are revivalists of another revival – 2000s British indie. But this band is independent in the truer sense of the word, self-releasing their latest album ‘Ballad of a Bystander’. They will tour their raucous, ungenteel rock from late September to early October this year, packing rooms in Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne.

The Kid LAROI When: October 2024 Find tickets and more info

US-based homegrown rap phenom The Kid LAROI ‘s return to Australia was supposed to take place in February, but it was postponed in December , with the Gamilaroi star calling February “logistically impossible”. Instead, he’ll fill stadiums around the country in October with tracks from his freshly released debut album ‘The First Time’. With shows locked in for Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Sydney and the Gold Coast, these all-ages shows will be his biggest to date. Stay tuned for more info on specific dates for the rescheduled tour.

• READ MORE: The Kid LAROI live in Sydney: A hometown hero returns a certified legend

Kim Wilde: The Greatest Hits Tour When: October 17 – October 26 Find more info and tickets here

If you look at the pop charts for any given week in the 1980s, chances are Kim Wilde was on it. The ‘Kids in America’ singer is still performing, on a break from her new life as a gardener, and will play a whirlwind Australian tour this October. Wilde will begin in Brisbane on October 17, before heading through Tweed Heads, Sydney, Wollongong, Perth, Adelaide and finishing in Melbourne October 26.

• READ MORE: Soundtrack of My Life: Kim Wilde

Buzzcocks When: October 24 – November 2 Find more info and tickets here

The Buzzcocks , progenitors of “love punk” and pop punk before it even existed, are still going strong almost 50 years after their formation. With Steve Diggle on vocals, replacing the late Pete Shelley, the band will return to Australia for seven shows in late October to early November. The Buzzcocks will begin on the Gold Coast on October 24, before travelling through Brisbane, Adelaide, Fremantle, Newcastle, Sydney and finishing in Melbourne on November 2.

PinkPantheress: Capable of Love Tour When: October 29 – November 5 Find tickets and more info here

PinkPantheress was once an anonymous beatmaker going viral on TikTok – she’s anything but anonymous now, as she comes to Australia for the first time promoting her debut album ‘Heaven’. Between opening for Coldplay , the 22-year-old Brit will headline shows at Melbourne’s Festival Hall (October 29) and Horden Pavilion in Sydney on November 5.

Coldplay: Music of the Spheres Tour When: October 30 – November 9 Find tickets and more info here

Coldplay will bring their ‘Music of the Spheres’ tour to Australia’s east coast at the end of a more than two-year stretch. The pop juggernauts have already sold 9 million tickets – the most for any tour in history – and are set to play eight stadium shows in Melbourne and Sydney after playing in Perth in 2023.

Expect to experience the galactic sprawl of the band’s recent rock operas, while still belting out the anthems that took them to the top.

Take That and Sophie Ellis-Bextor When: October 30 – November 10 Find tickets and more info

It’ll be murder on the dancefloor when this tour comes to town. Sophie Ellis-Bextor , enjoying a Saltburn -fueled resurgence, will accompany Take That on a six-show tour of Australia . Three dates of the tour, which marks Take That’s first live shows in the region since 2017, will take place at wineries as part of A Day on the Green, where Ricki-Lee Coulter will also appear.

• READ MORE: Sophie Ellis-Bextor on the return of ‘Murder On The Dancefloor’ – and watching Saltburn with her mum

Hozier: Unreal Unearth Tour When: November 6 – November 18 Find more info and tickets here

Irish singer-songwriter Hozier will tour Down Under for the first time since 2019 this November, supporting his 2023 album ‘Unreal Unearth’ with a nation-wide arena sojourn. Hozier will kick off in Perth on November 6, before heading through Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. He will also play regional areas Torquay and the Hunter Valley as part of Summersalt festival.

• READ MORE: Hozier: “There has always been a space in my work for my own conscience”

Tate McRae: Think Later World Tour When: November 8 – November 17 Find tickets and more info

In what marks her biggest headline Australian shows to date, Tate McRae’s Think Later World Tour will head Down Under in November, encompassing five shows in Perth (November 8), Brisbane (November 10), Sydney (November 12), Adelaide (November 15) and Melbourne (November 17). The tour comes in support of McRae’s sophomore album ‘Think Later’, which features her massive single ‘Greedy’. Tickets are available here.

Pearl Jam: Dark Matter World Tour 2024 When: November 13 – November 23 Find tickets and more info

Pearl Jam have announced their new album ‘Dark Matter’, which they’ll support with a massive tour around the world . They’ll make a stop Down Under with Pixies in support, playing stadium shows in the Gold Coast, Melbourne and Sydney. The grunge giants have added bonus gigs in Melbourne on November 18 and Sydney on November 23 in response to overwhelming demand. Find tickets here.

James Blunt: The Who We Used To Be Tour When: November 21 – November 28 Find tickets and more info here

Self-deprecating superstar James Blunt is returning to Australian stages for the first time in over six years in November 2024. The ‘You’re Beautiful’ singer will begin a five-date arena tour at Brisbane’s Riverstage on November 21, before heading through Sydney’s ICC Super Theatre (November 23), Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena (November 24), Adelaide’s Entertainment Centre Theatre (November 25) and Perth’s Red Hill Auditorium (November 28).

Wallows: Model Tour 2024 When: December 5 – December 14 Find more info and tickets here

US alt-rockers Wallows played some of their favourite shows ever on their previous tour of Australia – so they’ll undoubtedly be looking to top the experience when they return in December. They’ll kick things off in Perth, before heading to Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and finally Brisbane.

• Depeche Mode

Aussie Depeche Mode fans are an incredibly patient bunch. The last time the British synth-pop titans toured the country was in 1994, meaning nearly three decades have passed since they last paid us a visit. But good things come to those who wait, and it seems there is a glimmer of hope for those hoping to catch the band Down Under.

• READ MORE: Depeche Mode: every single album ranked and rated

In March 2023, Depeche Mode’s Dave Gahan told an Italian blog that the band were eyeing “as-yet-unannounced dates in Asia and Australia” as part of a touring run that would lead into 2024. The band have toured the world in support of their latest album, ‘Memento Mori’ , and a trip to Australia to cap off the jaunt seems more likely than ever.

Keep checking NME for more Australia live music news – from festival updates to concert and tour announcements

Additional reporting by Ellie Robinson, Tom Disalvo and Josh Martin

• Related Topics
• Alice Cooper
• Annie Hamilton
• Asking Alexandria
• Birds Of Tokyo
• Boys Like Girls
• Bring Me The Horizon
• Bruno Major
• Busta Rhymes
• Chase & Status
• Chase and Status
• Chris Isaak
• Cosmic Psychos
• Deep Purple
• Drive-By Truckers
• Elephant Gym
• Elvis Costello
• Everything Everything
• Gladys Knight
• Gracie Abrams
• Greg Puciato
• Iron Maiden
• James Blunt
• James Taylor
• Jessie Reyez
• Jonas Brothers
• Lamb Of God
• Leah Senior
• Maisie Peters
• Make Them Suffer
• Melissa Etheridge
• Newton Faulkner
• Niall Horan
• Nothing But Thieves
• PinkPantheress
• Rose Tattoo
• Sabrina Carpenter
• Simple Plan
• Sky Ferreira
• Sleater-Kinney
• Sleep Token
• Sofi Tukker
• Sophie Ellis-Bextor
• Stephen Sanchez
• Tenacious D
• The Animals
• The Belair Lip Bombs
• The Dandy Warhols
• The Front Bottoms
• The Kid Laroi
• The Presets
• The Reytons
• The Vaccines
• Thirty Seconds To Mars
• Tom Grennan
• Touche Amore
• We The Kings

You May Also Like

Jack antonoff: “i’ve always felt really misunderstood – it’s like a driving, pounding feeling in me”, ben schwartz is on a mission to save improv: “so much comedy has been dying”, touring luxembourg with francis of delirium, the indie star making big waves in a tiny country, ‘fallout’ review: learn to love the bomb in this fun yet flawed adaptation, ‘life eater’ review: twisted kidnapping simulator strikes at the heart, more stories, wire club in leeds announces closure, hundreds of taylor swift fans swarm london pub after album shout-out, as the black dog check cctv for clues of ex, drake taunts kendrick lamar again with a.i. 2pac and snoop dogg on ‘taylor made freestyle’, emma stone credited on taylor swift’s ‘florida’ from ‘the tortured poets department’, george the poet: “kendrick lamar is a non-revolutionary cosplaying as a revolutionary”, pink sues pharrell over attempt to trademark ‘p.inc’ brand name.

Christmas Island & Cocos-keeling Islands

Torres strait – boigu, saibai, dauan and ugar, upcoming pelagic expeditions, local tours, birding tours australia, australia’s local and offshore wildlife and birdwatching specialists.

Australia has about 900 endemic/migratory species and our tour area is home to over 300 of these at different times of the year. Our 1 or 2 day tours are an excellent way of seeing many of Australia’s unique bird species.

Birding Tours Australia operates several specific trips around Newcastle, The Hunter Valley and Sydney. Newcastle sits just north of Sydney and is surrounded by easily accessible and superb birding habitat once you’ve escaped the Sydney city area.  We can also organise custom tours around New South Wales, anywhere in Australia or in fact anywhere in our local part of the world (PNG, Solomons, Lesser Sundas, New Britain & New Ireland).  Our customised tours in recent years have ranged from 1 day to 6 weeks.  No Australian bird is too hard for us to look for.  Whether you need to see specific Australian endemics or families we can organise your logistics and itinerary without fuss.  We can even organise a private Night Parrot search if you’re dedicated enough!

We also specialise in Australia’s offshore territories and conduct tours to Christmas Island, Cocos-keeling Islands, North Keeling, Lord Howe and Norfolk as well as the Torres Strait Islands of Boigu, Dauan and Saibai, as well as several pelagic trips.

Explore our Tours

All our tours can be conducted at a pace to suit your needs from relaxed to extreme, but all will concentrate on locating as many species as possible across various habitats.

Christmas & Cocos Islands

Australia’s remote indian ocean territories.

Torres Strait

Visit australia’s two most northerly inhabited islands.

Pelagic Expeditions

Remote sea birding expeditions.

Incredible birdlife on our doorstep

Meet your guides.

Your tour guides are well known Australian birders Richard Baxter & Phil Hansbro. They are both young (relatively!!!), fit & very knowledgeable about the local birds. They are extremely friendly, helpful & approachable.

Richard Baxter

As well as an avid birder Richard is an exceptional organizer and will make sure that everything goes to plan on what ever trip you participate.

Phil Hansbro

Phil’s high level identification expertise stems from working with these birds in Australia and in over 60 countries spanning every continent.

• Ecuador and the Galapgaos Islands Birdwatching Tour
• Christmas and Cocos (Keeling) Islands Tour
• Tanzania Birdwatching Tour
• Sri Lanka Bird Watching Tour
• Mexico Bird Watching Tour
• Poland Bird Watching Tour
• Snow Leopard Expedition
• West Papua Bird Watching Tour
• Cape May Autumn Migration
• Southern California Tour Report
• Hawaii Tour Report
• Oaxaca Mexico
• Utah and Arizonia Tour Report
• Northern Argentina
• Jaguars and Birds of Brazil
• North East Brazil
• Colombia Tour Report
• Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands Tour Report
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Peru Tour Report
• Peru Tour Report 2019
• Giant Panda Expedtion
• Southeast China
• India Tour Report
• India and Nepal
• North Eastern India
• Southern India and Andamans
• Southern Korea and Southern Japan Tour Report
• Sulawesi and Halmahera Tour Report
• Malaysia and Borneo Tour Report
• Myanmar Tour Report
• Thailand Tour Report
• Turkey Tour Report
• Vietnam Tour Report
• Java and Sumatra
• Cyprus and Limnos Tour Report
• Finland and Arctic Norway
• Greece and Scotland Tour Report
• Jordon Tour Report
• Scotland Trip Report
• The Scottish Highlands and Islands
• Spitsbergen Greenland and Iceland Report
• Iberian Lynx and Spring Migration Spain
• Kamchatka and the Commander and Kuril Islands
• Hungary Tour Report
• Ethiopia Tour Report
• Gabon Sao Tome and Principe
• Madagascar Tour Report
• Malawi Tour Report
• Morocco Bird Tour Report
• Nambia Tour Report
• Rwanda Tour Report
• South Africa
• Uganda Tour Report
• Zimbabwe and Mozambique
• Gamiba and Senegal Tour Report
• Australian Bight Tour Report
• Boigu Island
• Cape York Tour Report
• Cape York Iron Range Tour Report
• Christmas Island Tour Report
• Christmas and Cocos Keeling Island Tour Report
• Darwin and Ashmore Reef
• New Zealand
• New Zealand Sub Antarctic
• Papua New Guinea Tour Report
• West Papua Tour Report
• Southeastern Australia and Tasmania Photogrpahs
• Western Australia Tour Report
• Christmas and Cocos (Keeling( Islands
• Binocular Sales
• Bosma Binoculars

Peregrine Bird Tours Exciting birdwatching tours; to destinations within Australia and overseas.

Peregrine bird tours login.

  Click to login

  Reset password

Renowned For Sound

For the latest music reviews and interviews

News: Birdy Announces 2022 UK and Europe Tour Dates

Following the release of her critically acclaimed fourth studio album ‘Young Heart’ earlier this year and ahead of an intimate special performance at Kentish Town Forum on 21st November, Birdy announces a huge 2022 European tour.

Kicking off on May 4th in London, where she will play two back-to-back dates at the Hammersmith Apollo, Birdy will bring her first headline tour since 2016 across Europe with stops in Paris, Berlin and Madrid.

Tickets are on sale now, and can be purchased here: https://www.officialbirdy.com/

::: RenownedForSound.com’s Editor and Founder – Interviewing and reviewing the best in new music and globally recognized artists is his passion. Over the years he has been lucky enough to review thousands of music releases and concerts and interview artists ranging from top selling superstars like 27-time Grammy Award winner Alison Krauss, Boyz II Men, Roxette, Cyndi Lauper, Lisa Loeb and iconic Eagles front man/songwriter, Glenn Frey through to more recent successes including Newton Faulkner, Janelle Monae and Caro Emerald. Brendon manages and coordinates the amazing team of writers on RenownedForSound.com who are based in the UK, the U.S and Australia.

More Stories

News: Will Young Returns With New Music And 2024 Tour

News: Rockstar Energy Presents Wireless 2024 Confirms Line-up

News: Big Time Rush To Tour The UK This Summer

Privacy overview.

This website uses modern construction techniques, which may not render correctly in your old browser. We recommend updating your browser for the best online experience.

Visit browsehappy.com to help you select an upgrade.

Featured Wildlife Journeys

Red-tailed Black Cockatoo

Australasian Gannet

Eastern Yellow Robin

Campbell Albatross

Wedge-tailed Eagle

Black-necked Stork (Jabiru)

• Waterbirds & Waders
• Wildlife Interests

Australia has the most endemic bird species of any country on earth.

Birdwatching tours in australia.

Of all the world's  birding tour destinations, Australia consistently ranks as one of the most exotic and fascinating. 

The geological evolution of the Australian continent has shaped the extraordinary variety of birds, estimated at 828 species (45% of which are endemic) at present. In fact, it has recently been determined that no other continent has contributed so greatly to the evolution of birds, with the majority of the world’s species having Australian ancestry. Birdwatchers across the world are continually captivated by the sights, stories and sounds of Australian species along with the opportunity to photograph them in their natural habitats. There is no doubt that Australia is one of the iconic destinations when it comes to  bird watching experiences.

Australia is the birthplace of glorious songbirds and alluring parrots, with the evolutionary process contributing to the development of birds that are generally more intelligent, aggressive, loud, melodious and socially cooperative. It is also home to a range of bird families unique to the Australasian region including megapodes (mound builders), butcher birds, bowerbirds, lorikeets, lyrebirds, Australian creepers, wrens, honeyeaters and iconic cockatoos. Australia is also one of the best places to watch raptor birds as they hunt down prey and soar across breathtaking horizons.

With so many species spread across stunning and diverse habitats including tropical rainforests, coral reefs, coastal heaths, wetlands and swamps, grasslands, sandy and stony deserts and Eucalypt woodlands, it is little wonder why Australia is recognised across the globe as a birdwatchers paradise.

Wondering where the best places across Australia are to watch birds? Below you will see a list of  bird watching tours in Australia listed by season ,  that are part of the Australian Wildlife Journeys group. Our range of experienced guides accommodate many of the most popular Australian   birdwatching  regions and wildlife sites throughout the country. 

We invite you to bring your camera and binoculars, so we can share our knowledge and passion with you on these  birding tours of Australia, which also feature beautifully appointed accommodation options, outstanding culinary offerings and fabulous hospitality. 

Search for birding tours using the seasonal viewing opportunities calendar further down the page or by using the search toolbar directly below:

Find a tour

• Murray River Safari

From $3,300 AUD

4 days/3 nights

Experience the diverse wildlife offerings where Australia's river oasis meets the outback. This multi-activity wildlife safari along Australia's greatest river includes guided walks, canoeing, an outback drive and open back cruising, combined with luxurious houseboat accommodation and superb dining including local wines. Spot Koalas, Kangaroos, Australian Pelicans, Royal Spoonbills, Black...

Daintree Afternoon & Nocturnal

From $400 AUD

A visit to the ‘oldest continually growing rainforest in the world’ at night is the feature of this full day tour, encompassing the World Heritage Listed Daintree National Park and Cape Tribulation area. Leaving early afternoon, guests will experience the region's incredible array of landscapes including waterfalls, mountain ranges, idyllic...

• Kakadu Birding Tour

From $3,280 AUD

3 days/2 nights

The World Heritage Listed Kakadu National Park is one of the most pristine environments left on the planet and the combination of soil floodplains, paper bark swamps, savannah woodlands, monsoonal rainforests and river mangroves make this one of the world’s great birdwatching sites. There is an immense concentration of birds,...

• Tropical Wetlands Birdwatching

From $1,150 AUD

FNQ Nature Tours has exclusive access to the Shared Earth Reserve, encompassing 5000 acres of lagoons, trails, bird hides and dirt roads containing an abundance of bird watching opportunities. With more than 450 Avian Species recorded across this area and surrounds (more than half of Australia's total bird count), including...

Viewing opportunities that include birds

Tasmanian Native Hen

June,July,August, Tasmania

Tasmania - Winter Sightings by Bird Group

How to find these species.

“The winter provides fanstastic access to many of our endemic birds in the woodlands and Eucalypt forests, including Forty-spotted Pardalotes, Green Rosellas, Tasmanian Thornbills, Dusky Robins, Yellow Wattlebirds along with Strong-billed, Yellow-throated and Black-headed Honeyeaters. Native Tasmanian Hens also begin breeding in July with hens laying around five eggs and there racous displays are always a treat for guests.

Other bushbirds that are popular with visitors at this time include Spotted Pardalotes, Crescent and New Holland Honeyeaters, Brush Bronzewings, Golden Whistlers and Eastern Spinebills and Flame Robins that generally move into lower and more open areas at this time."

Elise Tardieu , Specialist Guide

Suggested Tour: 9 Day Western Wilderness & Wildlife Encounter

Duration:  9 Days/8 Nights Type: Private, Shared Departures

On the east coast, experience a mix of beautiful eucalypt forests, spectacular coastlines, and tranquil bays, including Maria Island, Freycinet Peninsula, Bay of Fires and Cataract Gorge. On the west coast, visit incredible alpine regions, the contrasting east and west coastlines, Cradle Mountain National Park, quaint fishermen villages and old mining towns.

Full Itinerary

Tours in Tasmania related to Birds

• 9 Day Western Wilderness & Wildlife Encounter
• 1 Day Birdwatching Mt Field National Park
• 4 Day Private Tour Tasmania Wildlife Encounter

Pacific Gull

September,October,November, Tasmania

Tasmania - Spring Sightings by Bird Group

“Spring sees a number of migrant birds arrive after their flight from the mainland across Bass Strait. The calls of cuckoos are prevalent, with Fan-tailed, Pallid and Shining Bronze Cuckoos migrating to our isle, and laying their eggs in the nests of Superb Fairy-wrens, Satin Flycatchers and Yellow-rumped Thornbills.

Welcome Swallows, Tree Martins, Dusky Woodswallows, Striated Pardalotes, Grey Fantails and Silvereyes are other welcome visitors, along with the vividly coloured Swift Parrot that breed at the same time as the flowering of the Tasmanian Blue Gums. Another one of the world's great wildlife migrations occurs between September and April, along Bass Strait and the southeast coast of Tasmania, as the region comes alive with 18 million Short-tailed Shearwaters."

Little Penguin

January,February,December, Tasmania

Tasmania - Summer Sightings by Bird Group

“Little Penguins breed along the coastline during the summer months and we get special access to these incredible seabirds at Bicheno. Along our east coast it's also a terrific time to spot nesting shorebirds, with Kelp Gulls, Pacific Gulls, Silver Gulls, Pied Oystercatchers, Hooded Dotterels, Crested Terns and Fairy Terns the most commonly sighted.

A number of migratory waders arrive in Tasmania over the summer months after long journeys from the Arctic Circle including Short-tailed Shearwaters, Eastern Curlews, Curlew Sandpipers, Ruddy Turnstones, Red-necked Stints and Common Greenshanks. On our inland tours covering the rainforests and sub-alpine regions, Black Currawongs, Green Rosellas, Olive Whistlers and Pink Robins are target species we often spot with our guests."

Beautiful Firetail

March,April,May, Tasmania

Tasmania - Autumn Sightings by Bird Group

“By April, we see millions of Short-tailed Shearwaters leave the Tasmanian coast on their migration flight to the sub-Arctic region around Alaska, along with other migratory waders such as, Ruddy Turnstones, Red-necked Stints, Common Greenshanks and Eastern Curlews also departing at this time.

Beautiful Firetails can be seen feeding on the ground on various seeds, being most prevalent in coastal areas. Although this species is also located on the mainland, it is most prolific in Tasmania and the Bass Strait islands. Another well known endemic is the Green Rosella, Australia's largest rosella. This beautifully coloured bird occurs throughout a wide range of forest types, from the mountains to the coast."

Christmas Island Goshawk

January,February,December, Christmas Island

Christmas Island -  Summer Sightings by Bird Group

Suggested tour: christmas island birdwatching.

Duration:  8 Days/7 Nights Type:  Groups, Private Charter Departs:  On request

Christmas Island is one of Australia's best birdwatching destinations. An internationally renowned seabird rookery, the island attracts about 80,000 nesting seabirds every year. You will have the opportunity to see the world's rarest booby and frigatebird.

full itinerary

Tours in Christmas Island related to Birds

• Christmas Island Birdwatching
• Bird & Nature Week Christmas Island
• Christmas Island Ultimate Wildlife

Red-footed Booby

September,October,November, Christmas Island

Christmas Island -  Spring Sightings by Bird Group

Abbott's Booby

March,April,May, Christmas Island

Christmas Island -  Autumn Sightings by Bird Group

Java Sparrow

June,July,August, Christmas Island

Christmas Island -  Winter Sightings by Bird Group

Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher

January,February,December, Cairns

Cairns & Far North Queensland - Common Summer Sightings by Bird Group

“Far North Queensland experiences abundant rainfall, especially in summer, making it a haven for birdlife. At the onset of summer, the Mareeba wetlands witness the arrival of brolgas, numbering anywhere from 150 to 200. Agriculture on the tablelands provides ample viewing opportunities. The awe-inspiring Buff-breasted Paradise-Kingfishers arrive from New Guinea during their nesting season, seeking arboreal termite mounds for egg-laying. The landscape comes alive with flowering, attracting insect-eating birds like the Eastern Yellow Robin, Pale-yellow Robin, Lemon-bellied Flycatcher, and the stunning Spectacled Monarch."

James Boettcher , Tour Guide

Suggested tour: Tropical Wetlands Birdwatching

Duration:  Full day Type:  Groups, private charter, shared Departs: On request

FNQ Nature Tours has exclusive access to the Shared Earth Reserve, encompassing 5000 acres of lagoons, trails, bird hides and dirt roads containing an abundance of bird watching opportunities. With more than 450 Avian Species recorded across this area and surrounds (more than half of Australia's total bird count), including 12 Endemics, it's Australia's twitching mecca! Full Itinerary

As many as 200  Brolgas  are often observed feeding in the wetlands and agricultural regions. The colourful  Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher  returns from New Guinea to begin nesting, where they lay eggs in arboreal termite mounds. As many plants and trees begin to flower, insect activity increases which attracts the insect-eating birds such as  Shrike-thrushes ,  Shining Flycatchers ,  Grey-headed Robins and  Spectacled Monarchs .  Chestnut-breasted Mannikins ,  Crimson Finches  and  Red-backed Fairywrens  can also be observed feeding on grass seeds.

Tours in Cairns related to Birds

• 5 Day Birdwatching North Queensland

Victoria's Riflebird

September,October,November, Cairns

Cairns & Far North Queensland - Common Spring Sightings by Bird Group

“Spring heralds a time of exuberance in nature. It's a cacophony of calls, courtship, and vibrant activity in the rainforest. The dawn chorus reaches its peak in spring, creating a symphony of sounds that is a joy to experience. Venturing on our private Tablelands tour onto the Atherton Tablelands, we are treated to the captivating Noisy Pitta, producing delightful sounds amidst the colorful understory of the rainforest. It's an opportune moment for cassowaries, with the Southern Cassowary, unique to the Wet Tropics, possibly showcasing its young. In the savannah's understory, the Crimson Finch and Red-backed Fairywren add splashes of color to the landscape."

This is the loudest time of year, with breeding season in full swing for most species. The dawn chorus is deafening, with the wonderful sounds of the  Noisy Pitta  and the  Yellow Oriole,  while courtship displays from the  Victoria’s Riflebird  can be observed. The colourful  Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher  returns from New Guinea to breed, while the  Channel-billed Cuckoo ,  Brush Cuckoo  and the  Common Koel  announce the arrival of spring with their own choruses. The understory of the rainforest is popping with colour, as the endangered  Southern Cassowaries  are out with their young chicks. The growth of grass seed provides food for the smaller species such as the  Crimson Finch ,  Red-browed Finch  and  Red-backed Fairywren .

Sacred Kingfisher

March,April,May, Cairns

Cairns & Far North Queensland - Autumn Sightings by Bird Group

“It's an exceptionally delightful time to be here. The wet season has just concluded, resulting in an abundance of greenery and stunning, explosive scenery that is ideal for bird life. Embarking on our Daintree tour, cruising along the river on our private solar electric boat, we may encounter the enchanting Wompoo Fruit Dove or the elegant Rose-crowned Fruit Dove. Along the Daintree River, we witness the Azure Kingfisher and Sacred Kingfisher, recently arrived from the southern regions, engaging in crab fishing. The Eastern Yellow Robin, Pale-yellow Robin, Olive-backed Sunbird, and the vibrant Leaden and Lemon-bellied Flycatchers are all remarkably active during this season."

The  Sacred Kingfisher  migrates from the southern states of Australia, which can be seen along the Daintree River feeding on fish and crabs. The beautiful, vibrant colours of the rainforest are evident at this time of year following the wet season, with  Eastern Yellow Robins ,  Wompoo Fruit Doves  and  Rose-crowned Fruit Doves  are common encounters. Other birds found at this time include insect-eaters such as the  Leaden Flycatcher ,  Shining Flycatcher and Lemon-bellied Flyrobins . The Daintree also provides critical habitat for the endangered  Southern Cassowary , which can be found throughout the year.

Satin Bowerbird

June,July,August, Cairns

Cairns & Far North Queensland - Common Winter Sightings by Bird Group

“Winter emerges as the 'golden time of the year' for birdwatching. The cool morning and afternoon weather prompts birds to ascend higher into the trees, creating a perfect viewing opportunity. As the melaleucas and gums bloom, the early morning hours reveal a flurry of activity, with numerous honeyeaters, including the Eastern Yellow Robin, Pale-yellow Robin, Leaden Flycatcher, Lemon-bellied Flycatcher, and the Shining Flycatcher. Pardalotes are a common sight, with three species - the Striated, Spotted, and Red-browed Pardalote. Transitioning from savannah to rainforest, bowerbirds like the Tooth-billed and Golden Bowerbird showcase elaborate courtship displays."

Due to the cooler winter temperatures, birds like the Grey Goshawk   and Rufous Owl  spend more time higher in the rainforest canopy in direct sunlight, which provides great photography opportunities. The flowering of Melaleucas and Eucalyptus brings a lot of activity, with numerous honeyeaters including  Blue-faced Honeyeaters ,  Yellow-tinted Honeyeaters  and  Lewin's Honeyeaters . This flowering also brings out insects and hence insect-eaters like  Eastern Yellow Robins ,  Satin Flycatchers  and  Lemon-bellied Flyrobins . Other species on display are  Spotted Pardalotes ,  Striated Pardalotes  and  Red-browed Pardalotes . Courtship displays from  Tooth-billed Bowerbirds  are iconic encounters within the rainforest habitat.

Mallee Ringneck

March,April,May, Mungo, NSW

Mungo - Autumn Sightings by Bird Group

Roger Smith , Tour Guide

Suggested Tour: Private Mungo Outback Journey

Duration: 4 Days/3 Nights Type: Private 

This private outback adventure explores the magnificent Lake Mungo in the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area. The region has been continuously occupied by Aboriginal People since that time, the longest known occupation of any land by any people on earth.

Tours in Mungo, NSW related to Birds

• Private Mungo Outback Journey

Red-capped Robin

September,October,November, Mungo, NSW

Mungo - Spring Sightings by Bird Group

Mulga Parrot

June,July,August, Mungo, NSW

Mungo - Winter Sightings by Bird Group

Royal Spoonbill

June,July,August, Riverland, South Australia

Riverland - Winter Sightings by Bird Group

Tony Sharley , Lead Guide

Suggested Tour: Murray River Walk

Duration: 4 Days/3 Nights Type: Shared 

Immerse yourself in four easy days of hiking along Australia's greatest river. Exploring this river oasis that brings life to the outback, friendly guides will share the region's incredible birdlife, marsupials and reptiles.

Tours in Riverland, South Australia related to Birds

• Murray River Walk

Regent Parrot

September,October,November, Riverland, South Australia

Riverland - Spring Sightings by Bird Group

The Rainbow Bee-eaters are fascinating as you can set your clock by them. They arrive from northern Australia in the first week of October and stay until the first week in April. They come here to breed and dig out tiny tunnels in the sandy cliffs found on either side of the river valley. They build their nests inside those tunnels."

Suggested Tour: Murray River Safari

Experience the diverse wildlife offerings where Australia's river oasis meets the outback. This multi-activity wildlife safari along Australia's greatest river includes guided walks, canoeing, an outback drive and open back cruising, combined with luxurious houseboat accommodation and superb dining including local wines.

Australasian Darter

March,April,May, Riverland, South Australia

Riverland - Autumn Sightings by Bird Group

March,April,May, Kakadu & Arnhem Land

Kakadu & Arnhem Land - Autumn Sightings by Bird Group

"By the end of the northern tropical summer (locally known as the wet season), native speargrasses have grown up to three metres high, providing plenty of seeds for Red-winged Parrots, Double-barred, Star, Crimson and Long-tailed Finches to feed upon. After their migration from southern areas, large flocks of Red-tailed Cockatoos can be heard screeching and flashing their vibrant banded tails, as they migrate from southern areas in flocks of up to one hundred birds. The Dollarbird is also commonly seen feeding insects before making the flight to the islands of New Guinea to spend the winter."

Sab Lord , Tour Guide

Suggested tour: Kakadu Birding Tour

Duration: 3 Days/2 Nights Type:  Groups, Private Charter Departs: On request

The World Heritage Listed Kakadu National Park is one of the most pristine environments left on the planet and the combination of soil floodplains, paper bark swamps, savannah woodlands, monsoonal rainforests and river mangroves make this one of the world's great birdwatching sites, with over 280 species found across the region.

Tours in Kakadu & Arnhem Land related to Birds

• Three Day Kakadu & Arnhem Land
• Ultimate Luxury Safari Adventure

Magpie Geese

June,July,August, Kakadu & Arnhem Land

Kakadu & Arnhem Land - Winter Sightings by Bird Group

"Magpie Geese are spread far and wide over the pristine floodplains at this time including Bamurru, having laid their eggs with a typical clutch of 5-14 eggs. Some males mate with two females, all of which raise the young, unlike other polygamous birds. We often see White-bellied Sea Eagles, Brahminy and Whistling Kites target newly hatched chicks from the skies above, with one of the best opportunities to see their aerial skills at Yellow Waters. The alluring Azure Kingfisher also waits patiently along the waterways across both Kakadu & Arnhem Land on its fishing missions. We also stop across different areas to witness huge flocks of Plumed Whistling, Wandering Whistling and Spotted Whistling Ducks, all plucking on tropical grasses in between uttering their high pitched whistles."

Comb-crested Jacana

September,October,November, Kakadu & Arnhem Land

Kakadu & Arnhem Land - Spring Sightings by Bird Group

"As the end of the dry season approaches, the shrinking floodplains bring together a higher concentration of waterbirds, providing excellent opportunities to spot several duck species, egrets, Royal Spoonbills, Black-winged Stilts and the Black-necked Storks (locally known as the Jabirus).

One of the most famous meeting rituals in the bird kingdom is common at this time as Brolgas gather in the wetlands across the region. The Blue-winged Kookaburra changes its diet with the drier conditions and we are fortunate to have a family group adjacent to our Kakadu Tented Camp."

Shining Bronze Cuckoo

September,October,November, East Gippsland

East Gippsland -  Spring Sightings by Bird Group

Suggested tour: East Gippsland Wildlife Journey

Duration:  4 Days/3 Nights Type:  Shared, Private

Venturing across East Gippsland's magnificent lush rainforests, coastal heathlands, giant eucalypt groves, white sandy beaches and pristine rivers and estuaries, this four day immersive adventure offers you encounters with an incredible array of species.

Tours in East Gippsland related to Birds

• East Gippsland Wildlife Journey

King Parrot

January,February,December, East Gippsland

East Gippsland -  Summer Sightings by Bird Group

Powerful Owl

March,April,May, East Gippsland

East Gippsland -  Autumn Sightings by Bird Group

White-eared Honeyeater

September,October,November, Kangaroo Island

Kangaroo Island -  Spring Sightings by Bird Group

Blair Wickham , Tour Guide 

Suggested tour: Kangaroo Island Birding Tour (Wild About Birds)

Duration: 3 Days/2 Nights Type: Private only Departs: On request This three day Kangaroo Island birdwatching and wildlife tour is presented with an indicative itinerary. Opportunities vary throughout the year and each season is slightly different in terms of natural cycles. The experience delivered is customised according to the season and fine-tuned to meet the interests of guests once they arrive on the Island. Full Itinerary

Tours in Kangaroo Island related to Birds

• Kangaroo Island Birding Tour

June,July,August, Kangaroo Island

Kangaroo Island -  Winter Sightings by Bird Group

"Welcome rains after a dry summer and autumn spurs birds into nesting. Black Swans pull together large nests and start incubating, with both parents sharing the load of raising the cygnets. In Flinders Chase National Park, Cape Barren Geese nest in native iris tussocks with parents keeping an eye out for predatory Australian Ravens and Wedge-tailed Eagles. It's always a delight seeing  Scarlet R obins when we visit sheoak woodlands, waiting for insect activity and drop to the ground in a flash."

Duration: 3 Days/2 Nights Type: Private only Departs: On request

This three day Kangaroo Island birdwatching and wildlife tour is presented with an indicative itinerary. Opportunities vary throughout the year and each season is slightly different in terms of natural cycles. The experience delivered is customised according to the season and fine-tuned to meet the interests of guests once they arrive on the Island.

Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo

March,April,May, Kangaroo Island

Kangaroo Island -  Autumn Sightings by Bird Group

"As the days begin to cool in Autumn/Fall, the endemic and endangered Kangaroo Island Glossy Black-Cockatoos begin selecting their nesting hollows in large Sugar Gums in preparation for their annual breeding season from April to June. Larger Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos aggregate post breeding, with flocks of over 100 birds sometimes seen. Black Swamp in Flinders Chase National Park comes alive with activity as Cape Barron Geese also choose their nesting territories."

• Flinders Chase Focus
• Island Life

January,February,December, Kangaroo Island

Kangaroo Island -  Summer Sightings by Bird Group

“As natural water catchments dry up in the summer months, the Kangaroo Island's birds tend to congregate around fresh inland lagoons, and coastal marine esturaries, where food and water is more accessible. As Kangaroo Island locals, we have some secret locations where we can rely on encounters with Black Swans, Yellow-billed Spoonbills, Common Greenshanks and Freckled Ducks, to name a few. Broad beaches like Seal Bay are populated by large flocks of Crested Terns with smart black caps, often accompanied by a couple of massive Caspian Terns, identified by their bright red bills, contrasting the yellow bills of the Crested Terns."

Blair Wickham , Tour Guide

White-bellied Sea Eagle

September,October,November, Maria Island

Maria Island - Spring Sightings by Bird Group

Spring is also the time we see the incredible migration of Short-tailed Shearwaters,  with Bass Strait and the south east coast of Tasmania coming alive with 18 million individuals, commonly seen from the cliffs and beaches on the island."

Ben Brown , General Manager Operations

Suggested Tour: The Maria Island Walk

Duration:  4 Days/3 Nights Type:  Shared

Available:  October - late April 

This four day guided walk across magnificent Maria Island, combines intimate wildlife encounters, fascinating history, pristine white sand beaches, and locally sourced gourmet food.

Tours in Maria Island related to Birds

• The Maria Island Walk

June,July,August, Maria Island

Maria Island - Winter Sightings by Bird Group

Suggested tour: maria island winter escape.

Duration:  3 Nights/2 nights Type:  Shared

Available:  June - late August

The 'Maria Island Winter Escape' is a three day lodge based experience which explores the beautiful and historic northern end of the island featuring abundant marsupials.

• Maria Island Winter Escape Walk

Green Rosella

March,April,May, Maria Island

Maria Island - Autumn Sightings by Bird Group

“Residents of the island that can be sighted in the lead up to winter include Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos, Cape Barren Geese, Tasmanian Native Hens, Green Rosellas, Grey Fantails, Flame Robins, Golden Whistlers, Eastern Spinebills and the Beautiful Firetail. Pacific, Kelp and Silver Gulls, Crested Terns, Little Pied and Great Cormorants and Australian Pelicans are common sights across our white sandy beaches, feeding on small surface fish, squid, crabs, insects and other aquatic prey. One of the largest eagles in the world with wingspan of 2.3m, the Tasmanian subspecies of the Wedge-tailed Eagle are often seen soaring in pairs around the island's peaks."

Scarlet Robin (Female)

January,February,December, Maria Island

Maria Island - Summer Sightings by Bird Group

“The endemic Forty-spotted Pardalote can be seen living in community groups around our wilderness camps, enjoying the flowering White Gums forests. We also keep an eye out for the Black-headed and Strong-billed Honeyeaters around the browntop stringybarks.

A number of migrants from the mainland can be seen on the island including Swift Parrots, Fan-tailed Cuckoos, Satin Flycatchers, Yellow-rumped Thornbills, Tree Martins and Dusky Woodswallows."

Duration:  4 Days/3 Nights Type:  Shared  Available:  October - late April 

June,July,August, Eyre Peninsula

Eyre Peninsula - Winter Sightings by Bird Group

"We take guests out to Big Swamp over this season, to see a wide variety of waterbirds, with many commencing their nesting season. Black Swans, Grey Teal Ducks, Chestnut Teal Ducks, Pink Eared Ducks, Musk Ducks, Black Winged Stilts, Banded Plovers and Cape Barren Geese are all possible encounters.

Across Coffin Bay National Park, there are active Osprey and White-bellied Sea Eagle nests, with pairs often seen fishing along the cliffs and sandy white beaches.  The area is also home to Caspian Terns, Hooded Plovers, Red Capped Plovers, Red Necked Stints, Golden Whistlers, Masked Lapwings, Emus and Wedge-tailed Eagles.  There is also a chance to see the elusive Southern Emu-Wren and a remnant flock of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos."

Fran Solly , Birding Specialist Guide

Suggested Tour: Southern Eyre Peninsula Birdwatching

Duration: 3 Days/2 Nights Type: Private, Shared Departures available seasonally

Home to 270 species of birds and 1900 native plant species, this tour across the Southern Eyre Peninsula traverses coastal dune shrublands, mallee woodlands, sandflats, saltmarsh, subcoastal and clifftops.

Tours in Eyre Peninsula related to Birds

• Southern Eyre Peninsula Birdwatching

Black-shouldered Kite

January,February,December, Eyre Peninsula

Eyre Peninsula - Summer Sightings by Bird Group

“Summer is the nesting season for Pied Oystercatchers, Hooded Dotterels, Red-capped Plovers so we explore several local beaches on the peninsula at this time, whilst keeping a lookout for the migratory Common Greenshank after their enormous flights from the Northern Hemisphere.

A visit to Big Swamp provides sanctuary for Black Swans, Grey Teal Ducks, Chestnut Teal Ducks, Pink Eared Ducks, Musk Ducks and Black Winged Stilts and at Mikkira and Lincoln National Park, Port Lincoln (Australian Ringneck) Parrots, Common Bronzewings, Striated Pardalotes, Spiney-Cheeked Honeyeaters and White-Browed Scrubwrens abundant. Pallid Cuckoos also migrate to the peninsula over the Summer."

Port Lincoln Parrot

March,April,May, Eyre Peninsula

Eyre Peninsula - Autumn Sightings by Bird Group

“A small flock of remnant Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos aggregate post breeding during the Autumn and Port Lincoln (Australian Ringneck) Parrots, Australian Magpies, Galahs, Red Wattlebirds, Black-Faced Cuckoo-shrikes, Masked Lapwings, Western Whistlers and an occasional Scarlet Robin can be seen across Port Lincoln National Park and Mikkira.

It's always a joy to showcase the rugged cliffs along the Great Australian Bight to view Osprey and White Bellied Sea-Eagles along with other raptors including kites and Swamp Harriers.  In beautiful Memory Cove, birds that may be encountered include Purple-Gaped Honeyeaters, Striated Pardalotes, Spiney-Cheeked Honeyeaters, Dusky Woodswallows, Western Yellow Robins, Blue-breasted Fairy-wrens and White-Browed Scrubwrens.

September,October,November, Eyre Peninsula

Eyre Peninsula - Spring Sightings by Bird Group

"White-bellied Sea Eagles and Osprey nest along our spectacular coastal cliff habitats and rocky offshore islands, with young typically fledging late in Spring.

It's an amazing time to spot many of our bushbirds in the national parks, including Striated Pardalotes, Western Yellow Robins, Western Whistlers, White-Browed Babblers, Red Wattlebirds, Black-faced Cuckoo Shrikes, New Holland Honeyeaters, Brown-Headed Honey Eaters along with Port Lincoln and Rock Parrots. We also spend some time looking for some of the rarer species including Scarlet Robins, Diamond Firetails, Southern Emu-wrens and Western Whipbirds and the migratory Wood Sandpiper and Latham's Snipe."

Duration: 3 Days/2 Nights Type: Private, Shared Departures available seasonally

Join the conversation

• Facebook page
• Twitter profile
• Youtube Channel
• Instagram profile

Subscribe for our special offers

Custom and Set-Departure Bird & Wildlife Tours Around the World

Australia: the introtour - birding tour, tour overview:.

This is the most easygoing tour that we offer in Australia. What does this mean for tour participants? Firstly, the premier Eastern Australia birding hotspots covered on this tour have all been carefully selected as there are no long drives required. Secondly, the scheduled domestic flights connecting the 3 legs (i.e. Cairns, Brisbane, Tasmania), have been selected to ensure no super early departures or late arrivals occur (unlike those on our Eastern Australia tour , which takes flights designed to maximize more time in the field). Thirdly, this tour is run at a relaxed pace. It is not designed to get the biggest bird species list or largest bird family list (for that see our intense Eastern Australia), but rather to provide a comprehensive introduction to Australian birds and get a decent overview of some of the most impressive species and bird groups in the region. Expect to see representatives from interesting Australasian bird families like, bowerbirds, frogmouths, parrots, cockatoos, megapodes, cranes, kingfishers, bee-eaters, fairywrens, honeyeaters, logrunners, Australasian Robins, and even birds-of-paradise! Fourthly: You may notice that the hand-picked birding sites on this tour are also covered on other Tropical Birding tours in the region (i.e.  Eastern Australia tour and Australia Birding with a Camera® tour ) . However, on this tour an extra night in spent on each of the three legs, (i.e. one more night on the Atherton Tablelands, one extra night at O’Reilly’s, and an additional night on Tasmania). This allows more time to cover each of the major sites than on those tours, leading to a more chilled pace each day in the field. There are also fewer one-night stays than our other Australian offerings. The itinerary is only 16 days, so it shorter than our other Australian birding tours. We are well aware that those that make the long journey to Australia often like to add on personal side trips (e.g. To Kakadu National Park or Ayer’s Rock in the Northern Territory, or to  experience the opera house in Sydney). A shorter trip of this nature allows you greater scope for this and our office staff are here to advise of the myriad options Australia has to offer.

Lastly, I should mention that although this is a birding tour, cameras are welcome on this tour, and there will be time for casual photography along the way, due to the relaxed pace. However, if you wish for a more extensive coverage of birds species and mammals to photograph you should consider either our Australia Photo Tour or Australia Birding with a Camera® tour ). that both cover more sites and spend more time in the field overall.

As well as birds we will seek mammals too, and it is possible to see Platypus, Koala, kangaroos and wallabies on this tour, although none of these are guaranteed, of course! We will see some Aussie mammals; we are just not sure which ones!

In summary, if you wish to have a relaxed pace tour, offering a very good introduction to Australian birds and mammals then this is the perfect tour for you. You will have ample time to soak in the variety of birds, bird habitats, and mammals offered on this exciting Introtour run by one of our many very experienced guides in the region.

Upcoming Departures:

1 - 16 November  ($10490*; single supplement $990)

*Internal flights are not included in this price; please contact us for the current cost

1 - 16 November  (TBA)

Ready to Book?

Other tour details:.

Length : 16 Days

Starting City : Cairns (Queensland)

Ending City : Hobart (Tasmania)

Pace :  Relaxed-Moderate

Physical Difficulty:  Easy

Focus : Birding, Photography, Wildlife

Group size :  7 + 1  leader 

Detailed Itinerary

*Sometimes the order in which sites are visited may be switched around due to availability issues.

Day 1: Arrival and afternoon birding in Cairns (Northeast Queensland).

The tour starts at 2pm in Cairns, set within the heart of the Wet Tropics of Northeast Queensland. Unlike our Eastern Australia tour, which often heads far south on our first afternoon, we will stay right around Cairns (within 30 minute’s drive of the city at most). This will allow for a gentle, chilled afternoon, following our long inward bound journeys in recent days. Cairns is an extremely birdy city, and we are likely to see species like Magpie-lark, Rainbow Lorikeet, Torresian Imperial Pigeon, Willie-wagtail and Australasian Figbird with minimum effort! The parks in Cairns hold an abundance of weird and wonderful birds, such as Bush Thick-knee, Orange-footed Megapode, Australian Brush-Turkey and Black Butcherbird to name just a few. In the evening, we will take dinner at a local gastropub, where for the adventurous, crocodile and kangaroo are on the menu, along with more typical Australian pub fare! Two nights will be spent in Cairns.   Day 2: The Birds and Marine Life of the Great Barrier Reef (Northeast Queensland).

If you are worried the long flight in may still be bugging you, worry not, for we have a very tranquil activity for this day to help you cope with that! We will take a boat out to a small sandy island on the Great Barrier Reef. The island is home to thousands of nesting seabirds in this season, and we are sure to get close ups of birds like Brown Booby, Sooty Tern, and Brown Noddy, and have chances at others like Great Frigatebirds and Lesser Crested Tern too during our landfall on this tiny island. After we have finished on the island, we will take a light lunch on board the boat, then visit Hastings Reef for the snorkelers of the group to enjoy. Snorkeling gear is provided on board the boat, and anyone who want to experience the tropical marine life of the Great Barrier Reef can do so at no extra cost; (if you do not wish to snorkel you can relax on the air-conditioned boat). The boat trip typically wraps up around 3:30-4pm, after which we will return to the hotel and wind down before an evening dinner at one of the many diverse restaurants in Cairns.   Day 3: Cattana Wetlands & Lake Morris Rainforest (Northeast Queensland).

Just a short drive north of Cairns we will visit the wonderful Cattana Wetlands. The ponds in the reserve hold species like Australian Darter, Green Pygmy-Goose, Magpie-Goose and sometimes Royal Spoonbill, while the paperbark trees are home to Helmeted Friarbirds, Little Bronze-Cuckoos, Olive-backed Sunbirds, and Brown-backed and Yellow Honeyeaters. One of the joys of birding the Cairns region is the myriad sites on offer, and mélange of bird habitats available that are close to one other. After we have finished birding this Tropical Wetland, we will turn our attention to Tropical Lowland Rainforest. While the birding is more challenging than open habitats covered on this tour, Australia offers some of the easiest rainforest birding on the planet, and we will seek star species like Macleay’s Honeyeater, Pied Monarch, and Wompoo Fruit-Dove while we bird a quiet road passing through a pristine example of this habitat on the outskirts of Cairns. In the afternoon, we will make our way along the coast north to Daintree, where we will overnight there or in the nearby town of Mossman. On the drive up we will drop in on a pristine beach to see if it is occupied by a Beach Thick-knee.    Day 4: Daintree River Cruise to the Edge of the Outback (Northeast Queensland).

Once again, this day will illustrate the mosaic of habitats within easy reach of each other in this mega birding area. Our day will start with an early morning river cruise from Daintree village. This passes through lowland rainforest and even mangrove, while by the end of the day we will have arrived on the edge of the Outback, where Open Eucalypt Savanna will be the dominant habitat. This will all have happened while having driven less than 2 hours! Our cruise will search for handsome Shining Flycatchers or cryptic Papuan Frogmouths nesting low over the calm, clear waters, and we will hope for one of the rarer treats on this cruise too, like Black Bittern, Little Kingfisher, or the huge, though unobtrusive, Great-billed Heron. After a few hours on the river we will return to Daintree village and take a substantial sit-down breakfast at a local café.    We will have the entire rest of the day to make it from there the two hours to our hotel for the next two nights in Mareeba. However, there are multiple birding sites on the way to enjoy. In the afternoon, we will have swapped Lowland Tropical Rainforest environs for Open Eucalypt Savanna, a dominant habitat within the Outback of Australia. An afternoon visit to Granite Gorge Nature Park will be made to see the incredibly tame, wild Mareeba Rock-Wallabies, as well as their equally obliging Squatter Pigeons. The property also hosts Great Bowerbirds, and we will check in to see any active bowers at the time of our visit. That evening we will dine at a local gastropub, which has been a big hit with Tropical Birding groups over the years!   Day 5: Julatten and Mount Carbine (Northeast Queensland).

This will be another day of extremes in habitats. In the morning, we will venture west to the Julatten area to explore remnants of Monsoon Vine Forest and Subtropical and Montane Rainforest on nearby Mount Lewis, but in the afternoon, we will have switched back to Open Eucalypt Savanna on the edge of the Outback. The morning targets will include species like Bower’s Shrike-Thrush, Chowchilla, Tooth-billed Catbird, and the gorgeous Golden Whistler. However, the afternoon could not be more different, as we seek Australian Bustard in grassy areas of savanna, and visit a wonderful, bird-friendly caravan park, where Blue-winged Kookaburras, Galahs, Pale-headed Rosellas, and Red-winged Parrots can all count themselves as regulars, as well as Tawny Frogmouths, a bold, cryptic nocturnal bird that can often be seen there in broad daylight. A bower or two of the Great Bowerbird, decorated with silver, gray or red items may also be seen there. We will return to Mareeba for a second night, checking for Eastern Gray Kangaroos boxing on the local golf course or Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos coming into roost within the nearby savanna late in the day.   Day 6: Mount Hypipamee, Hasties Swamp & Yungaburra (Northeast Queensland).

Today, we will head up to the Atherton Tablelands, where multiple habitats await, again! We will start out in something similar to the morning before, Subtropical and Montane Rainforest, although this time we will be hoping for one of the rarer forest birds of the tour, the gorgeous Golden Bowerbird. We will visit a traditional bower site for this species by walking inside the forest. This species constructs a maypole bower and decorates it with fresh pieces of white lichen. While there, we will also have the chance to see White-throated Treecreeper, Gray-headed Robin, and also visit the impressive crater, a short walk from the parking lot. This is a volcanic pipe, which extends to the water’s surface 58 meters (190ft) below the viewing platform, and a further 85 meters (280ft) below that!   Once again, we will be in easy reach of other habitats, as next we will visit Hasties Swamp, a Tropical Wetland closer to the town of Atherton (where we will take lunch in one of the excellent cafes in town). Hasties typically hosts species like Plumed and Wandering Whistling-Ducks, Hardheads, Australasian Swamphens, and Australasian Grebes on the swamp itself, while the surrounding vegetation often holds Sacred Kingfisher, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Red-backed Fairywren, and Chestnut-breasted Munia. Our final stop of the day will be at Peterson’s Creek in Yungaburra, where we will search for Platypus in the late afternoon, which is the optimum time of day for them to become active. That night we will move into some very impressive surroundings indeed and spend the first of two nights in Chambers Wildlife Rainforest Lodges set within verdant montane rainforest close to Lake Eacham.   Day 7: Lake Eacham and the Curtain Fig Tree (Northeast Queensland).

Today, we will begin by exploring right outside of our rooms, on the property of the lodge, where Spotted Catbirds and Victoria’s Riflebirds are often doorstep stars! The rest of the day will be flexible, so that we can explore any of the sites we have not been too yet. However, we are sure to include a stop in at Curtain Fig Tree, a very impressive, massive fig tree, which also provides good birding with species like Pied Monarch and Wompoo Fruit-Dove possible there. On this night, or the one before, we will visit the lodge’s viewing platform, where honey sometimes attracts nocturnal visitors like Striped Possum, and Krefft’s Glider. A second night will be spent at Chambers Wildlife Rainforest Lodges.   Day 8: Return to Cairns via Etty Bay (Northeast Queensland).

For our final birding day in the Wet Tropics, we will head back to Cairns via Etty Bay, a beach which flanks Lowland Tropical Rainforest that is home to several habituated Southern Cassowaries. Let’s hope they are around for the time of our late afternoon visit. As this is the best time to see the cassowaries, we may not reach Cairns until 6:30-7pm on this night. A single night will be spent at our previous hotel in Cairns.   Day 9: Cairns to O’Reilly’s (Southern Queensland).

In the morning we will travel to Brisbane in Southern Queensland via a 2-hour flight from Cairns. If there is time, we will check a local park in Brisbane for Koala, before heading to O’Reilly’s, which we will get to by late afternoon, in readiness to explore the over the next two, full, days. Three nights will be spent at the glorious O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, with good wines on the menu from their own, local vineyard.   Day 10-11: O’Reilly’s & Lamington National Park (Southern Queensland).

Unlike all of our other Australian tours, we will have TWO full days to explore the wonderful surrounds of O’Reilly’s and neighboring Lamington National Park. O’Reilly’s is something of an Australian icon when it comes to birds and birding and is well recognized as one of the most productive birding sites in the country. The set of birds it has there are fascinating, and many of them are easy to find without significant effort. The lodge has feeding areas for Regent Bowerbirds, Satin Bowerbirds, Australian King-Parrots, and Crimson Rosellas for starters, and it is not uncommon for other birds to get in on this act, like the barrel-chested Wonga Pigeon, and handsome Red-browed Firetail. Other species, like White-browed and Yellow-throated Scrubwrens, and Eastern Whipbirds can be remarkably tame there too. Aside from these, there is plenty of other avian highlights to look forward to, like Rose Robin, Green Catbird, Albert’s Lyrebird, a masterful mimic, as well as the colorful Noisy Pitta. Early in the morning, or late in the day, cute Red-necked Pademelons, a wallaby that appears like a shrunken kangaroo, can be found right around the cabins. It should also be where we get our first looks at the delightfully abundant Superb Fairywren, which is sure to feature multiple times later on the tour.   As we have three nights at O’Reilly’s, there will be time to have an optional night session on one of the final two nights there after dinner together. This may see us run into one of the local mammals, like Mountain Brushtail Possum, or one of the night birds, such as Marbled Frogmouth or Southern Boobook.   Day 12: O’Reilly’s to Tasmania.

After a final few hours around O’Reilly’s we will return to Brisbane airport and fly south to Tasmania. We will aim to take a scheduled flight that gets us to Hobart by late afternoon, so we are in bed nice and early for our exciting first day on Tasmania the following day.   Day 13: Hobart & Mount Wellington to Bruny Island (Tasmania).

This day will start right around Hobart visiting two fantastic sites close to Tasmania’s laid-back capital. First there will be the Hobart Waterworks Reserve, where mammals like Tasmanian (Rufous-bellied) Pademelon might feature alongside endemic birds like Tasmanian Native-Hen and Black Currawong. Mount Wellington offers spectacular vistas over the city of Hobart, but also some stellar birds like Flame Robin and Crescent Honeyeater within the alpine heathland near the summit. In the afternoon we will travel over to beautiful Bruny Island for a two-night stay, arriving at our hotel in the late afternoon. On one of our nights in Bruny Island, we will head out in search of nocturnal critters. At The Neck, we can wait for Short-tailed Shearwaters and Little Penguins to come ashore at dusk, while after dark the island offers exciting “mammaling” opportunities with Eastern Quoll and the local, all-white, form of Bennett’s Wallaby both regular.   Day 14: Bruny island (Tasmania).

Bruny Island is a magical place, that offers the full crop of the dozen endemic birds of Tasmania, and some very attractive other specialties all within a variety of beautiful landscapes. Clean white beaches, rocky headlands, wet temperate rainforests, wet sclerophyll forests, and lowland heathlands can all be found on the island, and all will hold alluring birds for us. The beaches are home to Pied and Sooty Oystercatchers, hulking Pacific Gulls, and nesting Hooded Plovers. In. the quiet, calm bays that link these togethers, Black Swans are a common sight. The heathland is home to Beautiful Firetails, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos, sharp-dressed black-and-white New Holland Honeyeaters, Flame Robins, and White-fronted Chats, while the rainforest boasts the pretty Pink Robin and unobtrusive Scrubtit. In groves of distinctive stringybark trees within the wet sclerophyll forest the endemic Strong-billed Honeyeater can be found. We will also visit areas where large White Gums can be found, the lair of the endangered Forty-spotted Pardalote, and we will be on the lookout for white blossoms within the eucalyptus trees lining the beach at Adventure Bay, a favored hangout for migrant Swift Parrots that migrate from mainland Australia to Bruny Island to breed.    Day 15: Bruny Island to Hobart (Tasmania).

After some further time on Bruny Island, we will take the car ferry back to the Tasmanian mainland, where there may be time to sneak in another local site around Hobart before the day’s end to seek birds like Musk Lorikeet or endemics such as Yellow-throated Honeyeater, and Yellow Wattlebird, one of the largest of all the honeyeaters. A final night will be spent back in the same Hobart hotel we used on day 12.   Day 16: Departure from Hobart (Tasmania).

There is no birding planned on this day and you are free to depart Hobart’s small international airport at any time that suits you.

Trip Considerations

PACE:  Easy to Moderate. Unlike our Eastern Australia tour, this one is taken at a relaxed pace, with less one-night stays than that tour, and all the domestic flights have been planned to avoid very early departures or late arrivals (unlike that tour too). This tour aims to get a good sample of the habitats, birds, and other wildlife of the region, and does not try and get every bird, unlike the Eastern Australia tour! Starts will still be early, mostly around 6:00am, although there may be just a few optional 5:30am starts. Throughout the tour we expect to arrive at all of the lodges/hotels before dark. We will generally aim to get back/reach the hotels by 6:00-6:30pm, with the one exception to this being on Day 8, when we MAY not reach the hotel until 7pm (this depends on a bird, so can still be earlier than this).There are some optional late-night searches for mammals and birds that are available on a few nights only (Most likely on Day 6 at Chambers Lodge, on Day 11 at O’Reilly’s, and Day 14 on Bruny Island). Two boat trips are taken on this tour, one for most of the day to the Great Barrier Reef on Day 2, and another for 2-3 hours on the morning of Day 4.

There are no especially long drives on this tour (unlike all of the other Australia birding tours). Most of the drives on this tour are under 2 hours, although there may be one or two that reach three hours (NOTE: these are direct drive times and do not include stops for birding within the travel times). All of the drives on the Cairns leg (i.e. Days 1-8) are 2 hours or less. On the Brisbane leg, on Days 9 and 12, the drives may reach 3 hours in length). On the Tasmania leg (i.e. Days 13-15), the drives will all be 90 minutes or less. Almost all of these drives will end up taking longer than stated here as they will be broken up with birding stops along the way.

PHYSICAL DIFFICULTY:  Easy. Most of the birding will be done from roads and mostly flat, well-maintained trails. There are no very long walks/hikes, and the few times we are on trails they are well maintained ones, which are not difficult, and are only undertaken for short distances (3km/2 miles or less).

There are no especially high-altitude sites; the highest points of the tour will be on one day on the Cairns leg (Day 5), and during one of the days in Tasmania, both of which may reach around 1270m/4165ft only.

CLIMATE:  Highly variable. In the Cairns area, it is tropical and humid, with highs of around 86°F/30°C, and humidity generally reaching around 75%. There is typically little or no rain at this time of year on the Cairns leg, as it is the dry season. However, even in this season, there is a chance for rain in the highlands part of this leg (i.e. around 3 days). Temperatures in Brisbane are typically between 57°F/14°C and 75°F/34°C at this time of year. The Brisbane leg principally covers a mountain site (O’Reilly’s) where the climate can be significantly cooler (40-46°F/5-8°C) than in Brisbane in this season. On average there are about 4 rain days per month in this season for the Brisbane leg. Tasmania will be the coldest part, with temperatures typically 48°F-64°F/9°C-18°C, but may be significantly cooler in the early mornings, when temperatures can drop to near freezing. There are around 8 days per month of rainfall in Tasmania in this season. Thus, in general, you will be visiting during the Australian springtime, which is largely a dry time of year, but some rain can be expected, being most likely in Tasmania, or for several days in Queensland.

ACCOMMODATION:  Good throughout. All accommodations have private bathrooms, full-time hot water, and 24-hour electricity. All of the hotels on this tour have Wi-fi.

Other Information

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:  A valid passport is required for entry into Australia. It should be valid for at least six months past the time of your scheduled return.  An electronic visa is required for citizens of the USA, Canada, the UK, South Africa, and most Western European countries. This can be done through an app or online application.  

WHAT’S INCLUDED?:  Accommodation from the night of day 1 through to the night of day 15; meals from dinner on day 1 to dinner on day 15; safe drinking water throughout; most hotels in Australia provide a kettle and tea and coffee; Tropical Birding tour leader with scope and audio gear from the afternoon of day 1 to the night of day 15; transfer by taxi to the airports at the start and end of the tour (if these are on the official arrival and departure days); ground transport for the group to all sites in the itinerary in a suitable modern vehicle driven by the tour leader; one boat trip to the Great Barrier Reef on Day 2 (this will be shared with other people); one private two-three hour boat cruise on the Daintree River on Day 4; entrance fees to all birding sites mentioned in the itinerary; a printed and bound checklist to keep track of your sightings (given to you at the start of the tour – only electronic copies can be provided in advance).

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED?:  Optional tips to the tour leader; international flights; domestic flights (THESE WILL BE BOOKED BY THE TROPICAL BIRDING OFFICE TO ENSURE THE GROUP ALL HAVE THE CORRECT FLIGHTS); excess baggage fees; snacks; additional drinks apart from those included; alcoholic beverages; travel insurance; excursions not included in the tour itinerary; extras in hotels such as laundry service, internet, minibar, room service, telephone calls, and personal items; medical fees; other items or services not specifically mentioned as being included.

Tour Reviews

*Participated on this Tour? Leave a Review! We would also love to see your favorite photo, upload it!

To Tropical Birding Australia

Are you a visitor to Australia who wants to experience the finest wildlife, birding and nature photography that the continent has to offer? Maybe you are an Australian targeting rarities in the remote central Outback, or perhaps you prefer to simply dabble around Cairns with a non-birding partner? With over 20 years experience in over 70 countries, we can make it all happen. Our combination of local knowledge and understanding of international expectations, make us your go to company in Cairns and Australia.

We are part of the TROPICAL BIRDING TOURS worldwide family

We do Bird tours Australia, Birding Tours Australia, Birding tours Tasmania, Birding Tours Mt Isa, Bird Watching Tours Australia, Australia Bird Tours, Custom Bird Tours Australia, Bird Watching Tours,  Brisbane Birding, Wildlife Tours Australia, Australian Bird Guide, Bird Photography Tours Australia, Bird Photography Tours Queensland, Birding Brisbane, Cape York Bird Tours, Bird Tours Cape York, Birding Tours Cape York, cape York Birding Tours, Photography Tours Cape York, Iron Range Birding, Lockhart River Birding.

Western Australia: Southwest Australian Endemic Birds

Go to: Australia Birding Tours | Birding Tours in Australasia | All our birding tours

Dates and Costs:

02 – 10 October 2024

Spaces Available: 7

Price: AU$6,037  / $4,067 / £3,288 / €3,815 per person sharing (6-8 participants)

Single Supplement: AU$1,128  / $760 / £614 / €713

* Please note that currency conversion is calculated in real-time, therefore is subject to slight change. Please refer back to the base price when making final payments.

27 September – 05 October 2025

Price: AU$6,640  / $4,473 / £3,616 / €4,196 per person sharing (6-8 participants)

Single Supplement: AU$1,240  / $836 / £675 / €783

27 September – 05 October 2026

Price: AU$7,305  / $4,921 / £3,978 / €4,616 per person sharing (6-8 participants)

Single Supplement: AU$1,364  / $919 / £743 / €862

Recommended Field Guide

(Please also read our blogs about recommended field   guides for the seven continents here )

Tour Details

Duration : 9 days Group Size : 6 – 8 Tour Start : Perth, Western Australia Tour End : Perth, Western Australia

Price includes:

All accommodation (as described above from Day 1 through Day 8, note accommodation at Amelup might include shared bathrooms, we usually stay in small cottages that have a couple of private bedrooms and a communal dining room and bathroom) Meals (from dinner on Day 1 until breakfast on Day 9) Expert tour leader National park/birdwatching reserve/protected areas entrance fees Private transportation during the tour

Price excludes:

International or domestic flights to get to/from Perth Airport transfers Any pre- or post-tour accommodation, meals, or birding/sightseeing/etc. excursions Visa if required Items of a personal nature, e.g. gifts, laundry, internet access, phone calls, etc. Any pre- or post-tour accommodation, meals, or birding/sightseeing/monument excursions Soft/alcoholic drinks (drinking water is safe from the taps, please bring a refillable water bottle) Personal travel insurance Gratuities (please see our tipping guidelines blog )

Featured Guide:

Western Australia: Southwest Specialties October 2024/September 2025/2026

Due to geographic isolation and diverse habitats, the southwest of the state of Western Australia boasts several endemic species and subspecies. This nine-day small-group well-paced Australian birding tour will focus on finding as many of these Western Australian endemic birds as possible, while also enjoying a wide range of other interesting flora and fauna along the way.

Local endemic bird species that we will be focusing our attention on during the tour include Carnaby’s (Short-billed) and Baudin’s (Long-billed) Black Cockatoos , Western Corella , Red-capped Parrot , Western Rosella , Noisy Scrubbird , Western Bristlebird , Red-winged Fairywren , Western Fieldwren , Western Thornbill , Western Wattlebird , Western Spinebill , Gilbert’s Honeyeater (formerly known as Western White-naped or Swan River Honeyeater), White-breasted Robin , Red-eared Firetail , Black-throated Whipbird , and Western Shriketit . Other species that are near-endemics to the state (and still Australian endemics) also form targets, as they are unlikely to be found on other eastern tours, these include Western Yellow Robin , Rufous Treecreeper , Blue-breasted Fairywren , and Spotted Scrubwren .

Additional species we will also be looking for include the Australian endemics Malleefowl , Square-tailed Kite , Banded Stilt , Hooded Plover , Rock Parrot , Elegant Parrot , Purple-crowned Lorikeet , Western Whistler , Splendid Fairywren , and the near-endemic Fairy Tern . The isolation of southwestern Australia has led to a high degree of endemism, also at the subspecies level, and we will try to see as many of these as possible in case of potential future splits, such as (Western) Scarlet Robin and others. This tour will prove interesting for those participants who have been birding on the Australian East Coast and/or in Tasmania and are interested in the possibility of some potential future armchair ticks!

For those wishing to explore Australia further, this tour can be combined with our Birding Tour Australia: Northern Territory – Alice Springs and Uluru Birding Tour and our   Birding Tour Australia: Northern Territory – Top End Birding Tour , both of these tours precede this Western Australia birdwatching tour.

Itinerary (9 days/8 nights)

Day 1. arrival in perth.

Morning arrival into Perth, if not arrived ahead of the tour starting. We will meet in the afternoon and spend the late afternoon birding around Perth, including near to our hotel, adjacent to the famous grounds of the Kings Park and Botanical Gardens, within the city. If we have time, we will take a walk into the park, where we will hope to connect with the first of the southwestern endemics, Western Spinebill and Western Wattlebird , as well as more widespread White-cheeked , New Holland , and Singing Honeyeaters and the huge and ever-vocal Red Wattlebird . Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo could be present, feeding in the pine trees, and we will likely find Little Corella , Australian Ringneck , Laughing Dove (introduced from Africa/India), and Rainbow Lorikeet and Laughing Kookaburra (both introduced from eastern Australia). Passerines here may include Australia’s smallest bird, the tiny Weebill , Australian Reed Warbler , and Little Grassbird , while waterbirds may include the beautiful Nankeen Night Heron and the stately Black Swan . We may also visit other sites within the city depending on local flowering conditions and time available.

Overnight: Perth

Day 2.  Perth to Dryandra Woodland

We will likely spend the early morning birding around Perth, seeing some of the above species and others. If tidal conditions allow, we may find Red-necked Stint , Sharp-tailed and Curlew Sandpipers , Great and Red Knots , and Pacific Golden and Grey Plovers , among others. We will also check out some of the lakes in and around the city before we head south. The waterbodies here may harbor a late Freckled Duck if we are very lucky but other species likely include Hardhead , Blue-billed Duck , and Hoary-headed Grebe . Lakeside vegetation may hold Little Grassbird , Australian Reed Warbler , Grey Fantail and Spotless Crake . We will also keep our eyes peeled skywards for any raptors that may be overhead.

After a late breakfast we will leave Perth and head south towards the Dryandra Woodland area, keeping a look out for Baudin’s Black and Red-tailed Black Cockatoos along the way. After lunch we will check in to our accommodation for the next couple of nights and then head out for an afternoon birding in the local vicinity. This is one of the prime birding sites in the region, so we want to do it justice over the next couple of days.

Overnight: Narrogin

Day 3. Full day at Dryandra Woodland

The woodland consists of an interesting mix of Eucalyptus (jarrah, wandoo, and marri), with a good native shrub layer. We will spend the full day in and around the woodland and will look for some of the area’s specialties, such as Western Yellow Robin , Rufous Treecreeper , Western Whistler , Blue-breasted Fairywren , Western Thornbill , Spotted Scrubwren , and Western Shriketit . We will also look for ‘the’ special mammal found at Dryandra – the rare Numbat .

There are plenty of birds to look for around the huge woodland, and we will focus on finding the above birds and other exciting species such as Painted Buttonquail , Wedge-tailed Eagle , Brown Goshawk , Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo , Red-capped Parrot , Western Rosella , Regent Parrot , Elegant Parrot , Brush Bronzewing , Black-faced Cuckooshrike , Western Spinebill , and Tawny-crowned , Yellow-plumed , Brown , Brown-headed , White-cheeked , New Holland , White-eared , and Gilbert’s Honeyeaters , Restless Flycatcher , and Splendid Fairywren .

Day 4. Dryandra Woodland to Stirling Range National Park

We will spend the morning back in Dryandra Woodland or another nearby interesting site, focusing on finding the aforementioned species and others that we may still be looking for, or want to see again after our last couple of days.

As the day progresses, we will continue south to the Stirling Range National Park, an area renowned for its impressive flora and pretty landscape, as well as plenty of avian targets. While here we will search for Black-throated Whipbird , Southern Scrub Robin , Western Spinebill , Gilbert’s and Purple-gaped Honeyeaters , Western Yellow Robin , Blue-breasted Fairywren , and Western Fieldwren .

Overnight: Amelup

Day 5. Stirling Range National Park to Cheynes Beach

We will spend the morning birding at Sterling Range, seeking out those species referred to above but also many others, such as Square-tailed Kite , Spotted Harrier , Little Eagle , Wedge-tailed Eagle , Peregrine Falcon , Elegant Parrot , Regent Parrot , Rufous Treecreeper , Southern Emu-wren , Red-winged Fairywren , White-breasted Robin , (Western) Scarlet Robin , Western Thornbill , Western Shriketit , and Red-eared Firetail .

After our birding session here, we will travel down to the south coast township of Cheynes Beach, along the way looking out for interesting species such as White-necked Heron , Banded Stilt , and other interesting shorebirds/waders. Cheynes Beach is home to some great (and very difficult) birds, and we will start looking for these as soon as possible after our arrival and check in for our two night stay here.

Overnight: Cheynes Beach

Day 6. Full day at Cheynes Beach

A full day birding the Cheynes Beach area for three of Australia’s toughest, most skulking birds: Noisy Scrubbird , Western Bristlebird , and Black-throated Whipbird (a different subspecies from that at Stirling Ranges and a much talked-about potential further future split). These birds are difficult to see, but we will put all of our effort into securing views of them all during the course of the day.

There are also plenty of other species to look for in the area, such as Wedge-tailed Eagle , Black-shouldered Kite , Spotted Harrier , Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo , Purple-crowned Lorikeet , Fan-tailed Cuckoo , Brush Bronzewing , Southern Emu-wren , Red-winged Fairywren , Spotted Scrubwren , Inland Thornbill , White-cheeked Honeyeater , New Holland Honeyeater , White-breasted Robin , Dusky Woodswallow , and Red-eared Firetail .

Weather permitting, at night we will look and listen for Tawny Frogmouth , Australian Boobook , and Spotted Nightjar , as well as the area’s nocturnal creatures such as Quokka , Western Ringtail Possum , the tiny Honey Possum (sometimes possible during the day too – they are tiny!), Western Brush Wallaby , and Southern Brown Bandicoot .

Day 7. Cheynes Beach to Augusta

We will spend the early morning birding around Cheynes Beach again, enjoying views of some of the above species and mopping up any others we may still want to try and see. We will then make our way west along the spectacularly forested coast with giant red tingle and karri trees towards Augusta. With a stop at Lake Muir Nature Reserve along the way we may find a selection of interesting wildfowl and waders (very much depending on water levels), such as Banded Stilt , Eurasian Coot , Yellow-billed Spoonbill , White-faced Heron , Blue-billed Duck , Freckled Duck , and Chestnut Teal . More secretive species around the lake shore include Spotless Crake , Black-backed Bittern , and Australasian Bittern .

Regardless of water levels, the woodland surrounding the lake is home to a population of Western Corella , known as ‘Muir’s Corella’, which is an endemic and isolated subspecies and worth looking for. Other birds possible here include Emu , Carnaby’s , Baudin’s , and Red-tailed Black Cockatoos , Western Rosella , Australian Ringneck , Brown Quail , Square-tailed Kite , Western Spinebill , Gilbert’s Honeyeater , Southern Emu-wren , White-winged Triller , Restless Flycatcher , Western Yellow Robin , (Western) Scarlet Robin , and Spotted Pardalote . We will arrive in Augusta in time to freshen up before dinner.

Overnight: Augusta

Day 8. Augusta to Busselton

The morning will be spent birding around the rugged coastline of the Cape Leeuwin area, pretty much the most southwesterly point of this huge continent-country where the Indian Ocean meets the Southern Ocean. We will look for seabirds here, such as Bridled Tern , Fairy Tern , Flesh-footed , Hutton’s , and Little Shearwaters , Southern Giant and Northern Giant Petrels , and Indian Yellow-nosed , Black-browed , and Shy Albatrosses . Much depends on what the weather is doing as to what is possible here over the water on any given day.

Along the coast we will look for Sooty and Pied Oystercatchers , Hooded Plover , Grey-tailed Tattler , Far Eastern Curlew , Pacific Reef Heron , Rock Parrot , Southern Emu-wren , and Splendid Fairywren .

After birding here, we will slowly wind our way up the coast, checking our areas of Banksia , jarrah, and marri woodland, with the hopes of seeing more black cockatoos, and Western Shriketit . We will stop in the picturesque Margaret River for lunch and will arrive in the Busselton area in the afternoon for the final night of the tour.

Overnight: Busselton

Day 9. Busselton to Perth, departure

Our final morning will be spent checking out some areas around Busselton where we often find interesting shorebirds and waterfowl. We will then commence the return journey back to Perth keeping our eyes peeled for anything interesting we may still want to see.

We will arrive in Perth mid-afternoon where the tour will conclude in time for an evening flight to your next destination.

Overnight: Not included

Please note that the itinerary cannot be guaranteed as it is only a rough guide and can be changed (usually slightly) due to factors such as availability of accommodation, updated information on the state of accommodation, roads, or birding sites, the discretion of the guides and other factors. In addition, we sometimes have to use a different international guide from the one advertised due to tour scheduling.

Black-throated Whipbird

Western Bristlebird

Noisy Scrubbird

Blue-breasted Fairywren

Red-winged Fairywren

Splendid Fairywren

Rufous Treecreeper

Western Shriketit

Red-eared Firetail

Western Rosella

Western Corella

Carnaby's Black Cockatoo

Hooded Plover

Varied Sitella

Western Australia: Southwest Specialties Trip Report, October 2023

12 – 20 october 2023,   by andy walker.

DOWNLOAD TRIP REPORT

All fairywrens are stunning little birds, the  Red-winged Fairywren  is no different and is only found in the extreme southwest of Australia. This makes it a big target on our Western Australia bird tour and is always a popular bird, given how beautiful it is.­

This birding tour of Western Australia started in Perth on the 12 th  of October 2023 and ended back there on the 20 th  of October 2023. The tour focused on the endemic birds of Southwest Australia, as well as a great number of more widespread Australian endemic birds. During this Western Australia bird tour we birded at Lake Monger Reserve, Herdsman Lake, Foxes Lair Nature Reserve, Dryandra Woodland, Stirling Range National Park, Cheynes Beach, Lake Muir, Cape Leeuwin, Margaret River, Busselton, and Nairns.

We recorded 154 bird species on this Western Australia birdwatching tour, (two of these were heard only). Some of the highlights seen included  Noisy Scrubbird ,  Western Bristlebird ,  Black-throated Whipbird ,  Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo ,  Baudin’s Black Cockatoo ,  Western Corella ,  Western Rosella ,  Red-capped Parrot ,  Regent Parrot ,  Rock Parrot ,  Elegant Parrot ,  Purple-crowned Lorikeet ,  Wedge-tailed Eagle ,  Square-tailed Kite ,  Australian Hobby ,  Red-winged Fairywren ,  Blue-breasted Fairywren ,  Splendid Fairywren ,  Southern Emu-wren ,  Spotted Scrubwren ,  Western Thornbill ,  Western Gerygone ,  Western Fieldwren ,  Western Spinebill ,  Gilbert’s Honeyeater ,  Western Shriketit ,  White-breasted Robin ,  Western Yellow Robin ,  Scarlet Robin ,  Rufous Treecreeper ,  Western Whistler ,  Hooded Dotterel , and  Banded Lapwing . In addition to the incredible birds seen, we also found a great selection of other animals, such as  Numbat ,  Short-beaked Echidna ,  Western Grey Kangaroo ,  Southern Right Whale ,  Dugite , (Southwestern)  Carpet Python , and several other reptiles. Bird and animal lists for this Western Australia birding tour follow the report.

During our Western Australia birding tour, we focused on the endemic species and subspecies found in the region, such as the regionally endemic and geographically isolated campbelli subspecies of  Scarlet Robin , a potential future split.

Detailed Report

Day 1, 12 th  october 2023. arrival in perth.

We arrived in Perth in the late afternoon and had a group welcome meal in the evening, discussing the plans for the coming week of birding in the bird-filled southwest of Australia.

Day 2, 13 th  October 2023. Birding Perth and travel to Narrogin

We spent the morning birding at a couple of sites in Perth city. Our first stop, at  Lake Monger Reserve , gave us lots of waterfowl, including  Musk Duck ,  Blue-billed Duck ,  Hardhead ,  Pink-eared Duck ,  Hoary-headed Grebe ,  Eurasian Coot ,  Dusky Moorhen ,  Australian Pelican ,  Black Swan , and  Little Black Cormorant . In the vegetation surrounding the lake we noted  Straw-necked Ibis ,  Australian Raven ,  Willie Wagtail ,  Little Corella ,  Rainbow Lorikeet ,  Red Wattlebird ,  Brown Honeyeater , and  Australian Reed Warbler .

After our birding at Lake Monger Reserve, we moved the short distance to nearby  Herdsman Lake , where we had excellent looks at stunning breeding plumage  Great Crested Grebes  and  Australasian Grebes . Additionally, we had very close looks at  Pink-eared Duck , and good views of  Australian Shoveler ,  Grey Teal ,  Pacific Black Duck ,  Australian Pelican ,  Australasian Swamphen ,  Little Egret ,  Great Egret ,  Australian White Ibis ,  Glossy Ibis ,  Swamp Harrier ,  Whistling Kite , and  Osprey . Meanwhile,  Sacred Kingfisher ,  Australian Reed Warbler ,  Silvereye ,  Singing Honeyeater ,  Australian Magpie , and  Little Grassbird  were all seen fleetingly. One of the highlights of our birding at Herdsman Lake was finding a family group of roosting  Tawny Frogmouths , which showed wonderfully – an early tour highlight, for sure!

Tawny Frogmouth ,showing how well camouflaged they can be, was a great start to the tour!

We left Perth in the late morning and made our way to Narrogin for our two-night stay. Along the way we made a lunch stop at the village of Wandering, where we found Nankeen Kestrel ,  Australian Ringneck , a stunning male  Western Rosella ,  Western Gerygone ,  Grey Fantail , and  Tree Martin .

After a brief break to check in at our B&B we visited  Foxes Lair Nature Reserve , right on the edge of Narrogin, here we found a pair of  Square-tailed Kites  that showed incredibly well in the beautiful late afternoon sunlight. We then also had good looks at the tiny  Weebill ,  Elegant Parrot ,  Australian Ringneck ,  Red-capped Parrot , and  Gilbert’s Honeyeater , as well as a stunning male  Scarlet Robin , which was glowing in the last rays of the sun.

We enjoyed some excellent views of the gorgeous  Square-tailed Kite  in the late afternoon glow.

Day 3, 14 th  October 2023. Birding Dryandra Woodland

We spent our morning birding session exploring  Dryandra Woodland . As soon as we arrived in the woodland we heard the distinctive high-pitched call of  Purple-crowned Lorikeet . We set off to get into a better position to look for them and soon thereafter we were enjoying good views of these attractive small lorikeets. While watching the lorikeets we also got lots of other target species come into our view, such as  Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo ,  Western Yellow Robin ,  Rufous Treecreeper ,  Western Whistler ,  Yellow-plumed Honeyeater ,  Brown-headed Honeyeater ,  Gilbert’s Honeyeater ,  Varied  (Black-capped)  Sittella ,  Striated Pardalote ,  Spotted Scrubwren ,  Inland Thornbill , and  Shining Bronze Cuckoo . Both  Collared Sparrowhawk  and  Peregrine Falcon  were noted overhead, causing a bit of alarm amongst the other birds!

An attractive male  Blue-breasted Fairywren  gave some close views.

We moved deeper into the woodland, finding our first Shingleback Lizard  and  Western Grey Kangaroos  of the tour. Then a few more interesting bird species came our way, including  Bush Stone-curlew  (a pair with a young baby),  Blue-breasted Fairywren ,  Western Thornbill ,  Western Gerygone ,  Tree Martin ,  Grey Shrikethrush ,  Rufous Whistler ,  Jacky-winter ,  Grey Currawong ,  Australian Magpie ,  Australian Raven , and  Rainbow Bee-eater . Here,  Wedge-tailed Eagle  and  Brown Goshawk  were overhead too.

While birding at Dryandra Woodland, we had incredible close looks at several  Carnaby’s Black Cockatoos  as they came to a waterhole to drink.

After lunch and a siesta, we went back into Dryandra Woodland for an afternoon birding session. We saw many of the birds listed above, with the addition of a couple of species and improved looks at others, including Western Spinebill  and  Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo . In addition to the great birds, we also saw the Endangered (IUCN)  Numbat  (for some people in the group),  Short-beaked Echidna , lots of  Western Grey Kangaroos , (Gould’s)  Sand Goanna , and two snakes, a  Dugite  and a (Southwestern)  Carpet Python .

It’s always exciting to see one of Australia’s “strange” animals, and  Short-beaked Echidna  certainly ticked that box!

Day 4, 15 th  October 2023. Birding Dryandra Woodland and travel to Stirling Range National Park

We headed back to Dryandra Woodland in the morning (finding a pair of  Banded Lapwings  along the way), and what a great morning we had. We drove some roads around the woodland and found another  Numbat , this one showed much better than the one we’d briefly seen the previous day, and everyone managed to see this one well. We also enjoyed watching a mother  Western Grey Kangaroo  with a joey in her pouch, and we had further looks at (Gould’s)  Sand Goanna  – a sunbathing individual soaking in the first rays of the day. All very exciting!

After enjoying seeing the  Numbat  and other critters, we focused on the birds of Dryandra Woodland once again, and had a really enjoyable walk through a patch of the woodland that has served us well on past tours. Today was no exception, and we found one of the big trip targets, the recently split  Western Shriketit . We also found  Restless Flycatcher ,  Horsfield’s Bronze Cuckoo ,  Rufous Treecreeper ,  Scarlet Robin ,  Rainbow Bee-eater ,  Red-capped Parrot , and several pairs of nesting  Purple-crowned Lorikeets .

We saw a  Numbat  foraging for termites while in Dryandra Woodland.

After finishing our birding at Dryandra Woodland, we commenced our journey to Stirling Range National Park. Along the way we found several notable birds, and these included Peregrine Falcon  (a perched pair),  Nankeen Kestrel ,  Black-shouldered Kite ,  Wedge-tailed Eagle ,  Chestnut Teal  (a pair with very young ducklings),  Black-fronted Dotterel ,  White-faced Heron ,  White-winged Triller ,  Rufous Songlark ,  Australian Pipit , and  Pallid Cuckoo .

We enjoyed great views of a pair of  Western Shriketits  in Dryandra Woodland.

Once we arrived at our accommodation at Stirling Range National Park, we took a brief late afternoon walk around the grounds. It was quite late, but we had excellent looks at several Regent Parrots  coming into a water bath to drink, along with  Gilbert’s Honeyeater ,  Yellow-plumed Honeyeater ,  New Holland Honeyeater , and a brief  Blue-breasted Fairywren . A fitting end to a great day’s birding in Western Australia.

Day 5, 16 th  October 2023. Birding Stirling Range National Park and travel to Cheynes Beach

We spent the morning birding around  Stirling Range National Park . As we made our way to our first site within the park, we got distracted by several  Emus . The first few were quite nervous, but the others, seen a bit later, showed nicely. We also had a flock of  Regent Parrots ,  Rufous Songlark ,  Brown Falcon , and  Grey Butcherbird . On arrival at our main morning birding site, we got several new birds, including  Tawny-crowned Honeyeater ,  White-cheeked Honeyeater ,  Splendid Fairywren , and  Southern Emu-wren . After enjoying these species, we saw the main target,  Western Fieldwren , and it showed very well for us.  Nankeen Kestrel  and  Wedge-tailed Eagle  were overhead too. As we drove back to get a late breakfast, we found another gorgeous (Southwestern)  Carpet Python  and our first  Western Bluetongue , a lizard full of character!

This  Western Fieldwren  performed brilliantly for us while we birded Stirling Range.

After our late breakfast we visited another section of Stirling Range National Park, where we found Southern Emu-wren ,  Western Spinebill ,  Brown Falcon , and more  Tawny-crowned Honeyeaters . After this short birding session, we made our journey down to Cheynes Beach. Several stops along the way yielded  Red-necked Avocet ,  Pied Stilt ,  Silver Gull ,  Australian Shelduck ,  Grey Teal ,  Hoary-headed Grebe ,  Grey Butcherbird ,  Yellow-throated Miner ,  Grey Fantail , and displaying  Brown Songlarks .

We took a short walk near our accommodation at Cheynes Beach, where we found several new birds, including  White-breasted Robin ,  Red-winged Fairywren ,  Brown Quail ,  Brush Bronzewing ,  Red-eared Firetail , and our best looks so far of  Common Bronzewing  and  Splendid Fairywren . A  King’s Skink  looked rather impressive hiding in the undergrowth, our first of many over the coming days, and we had plenty of  Western Grey Kangaroos  keeping on top of the lawn cutting! Looking out along the beach we found  Silver Gull ,  Greater Crested Tern ,  Australasian Gannet ,  Common Sandpiper , and  Sooty Oystercatcher .

Day 6, 17 th  October 2023. Birding Cheynes Beach

We spent the morning walking around the coastal heathland at Cheynes Beach.  White-cheeked Honeyeaters  were abundant, and many  Carnaby’s Black Cockatoos  were flying around. We tried to concentrate on finding the three tough species of the region.  Noisy Scrubbird  was, unsurprisingly, heard but not seen, with a bird calling from deep within some impenetrable heath.  Western Bristlebird  was the first of the three skulkers to show, a singing bird which then started foraging along a shady section of sand dune. After enjoying the sighting of this one we found  Black-throated Whipbird . This bird moved around us giving fleeting and frustrating glimpses, before it then clambered up to a song perch and belted out a burst of its pretty song for us.

Western Bristlebird  was foraging along a shady section of the sand dunes and showed well.

While birding here, we also noted  Spotted Scrubwren ,  Southern Emu-wren ,  Red-winged Fairywren ,  New Holland Honeyeater ,  Red Wattlebird , and  Silvereye . Several raptors were moving around the local area, including  White-bellied Sea Eagle ,  Black-shouldered Kite ,  Collared Sparrowhawk ,  Brown Falcon ,  Nankeen Kestrel , and  Australian Hobby . The heat started to build considerably and so we took a break during the middle of the day.

Black-throated Whipbird  initially gave us the run-around, but eventually showed nicely as it sang from an exposed perch.

When we met for our afternoon birding session, we were greeted by very strong winds which made birding almost impossible, the sand from the beach and dunes was getting whipped up and blown all around too. It was all rather inhospitable! We took a drive around the village trying to find some shelter from the wind, and some birds to look at, but not a lot was braving the wind. We did however see a rather cute pair of Brown Quails  with a very recent golf-ball-sized hatchling in tow. There were not a lot of options with the wind howling, so we parked the van up and waited near a dirt track to see if we could get lucky. After about 90 minutes of waiting, with a very close  Brush Bronzewing , a duo of  Black-shouldered Kites , several  White-breasted Robins , and a pod of  Indo-Pacific Bottle-nosed Dolphins  doing their best to distract us, we heard a  Noisy Scrubbird  calling not too far away. After about another 30 minutes of waiting and hoping, all of us had seen this super-skulker and major tour target! We enjoyed another fantastic dinner and a celebratory one at that. The tough trio of  Western Bristlebird ,  Black-throated Whipbird , and  Noisy Scrubbird  all seen

Day 7, 18 th  October 2023. Birding Cheynes Beach and travel to Augusta

Today was essentially a travel day interspersed with some birding stops, as we made our way from Cheynes Beach to Augusta, via Albany, Mount Barker, and Lake Muir. A final brief walk near our accommodation at Cheynes Beach gave us a big tour highlight in the form of a mother and calf  Southern Right Whale  – such a huge animal and they were relatively close inshore too. Here we also had nest-building  Red-eared Firetails  and  Ospreys , as well as a hunting  Australian Hobby , and a  Fan-tailed Cuckoo .

Moving on to Albany, we were treated to some simply incredible views of a stunning adult male  Red-winged Fairywren  (see trip report cover image), as well as good views of two  Spotless Crakes ,  Swamp Harrier ,  Musk Duck ,  Blue-billed Duck  (amazing close views), and  Australian Reed Warbler . Here we also saw loads of nesting  Straw-necked Ibis  and  Australian Ibis , as well as our first  Little Pied Cormorants  of the tour.

As we left the coast behind, we cut inland to Lake Muir, where a few strategic stops resulted in sightings of the Critically Endangered ( BirdLife International )  Baudin’s Black Cockatoo ,  Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo , and  Western Correla . Here we also saw  Emu , plenty of  Western Rosellas ,  Splendid Fairywren ,  Red-winged Fairywren ,  Inland Thornbill ,  Western Whistler , and  Spotted Scrubwren . There was water in Lake Muir for a change, and many  Black Swans  and  Australian Shelducks  were present. In the late afternoon we continued our journey to Augusta, our base for the night.

The  Western Corellas  had been feeding along the shore of Lake Muir and so were rather filthy as they flew right by us!

Day 8, 19 th  October 2023. Birding Augusta (including Cape Leeuwin) to Busselton

We had an interesting morning at Cape Leeuwin with several hundred BMX bike riders who were starting their cape-to-cape bike race. However, the distractions didn’t prevent us from finding our main target bird of the morning, the habitat-restricted and range-restricted  Rock Parrot . A pair of birds gave good close views. We then moved up the coast to the Margaret River area, where a walk on a beach resulted in excellent sightings of three  Hooded Dotterels  at close range. Other birds noted during the morning at the coast included  Australian Pied Cormorant ,  White-faced Heron ,  Australasian Gannet ,  Pacific Gull ,  Greater Crested Tern ,  Sooty Oystercatcher , and  Osprey .

Rock Parrot  showed very well at Cape Leeuwin.

After lunch, we continued our journey to Busselton. A short stop in some beautiful Karri and Wandoo woodland near Margaret River gave us a sighting of  Common Water Rat  (Raikai),  Western Whistler ,  Gilbert’s Honeyeater , and several other forest species. Finally, a stop at an ephemeral wetland near Busselton resulted in good looks at  Yellow-billed Spoonbill ,  Pink-eared Duck ,  Australasian Swamphen , and several other waterbirds

Hooded Dotterel  was foraging along a big sandy beach.

Day 9, 20 th  October 2023. Birding Busselton and travel to Perth for the end of the tour

We spent our final day of the tour traveling from Busselton to Perth, where the tour ended. On the way we spent some time birding at a wetland in Busselton, where we had excellent views of a pair of  Musk Ducks  in a courtship display, and we saw plenty of other waterfowl, including  Australasian Shoveler ,  Hardhead ,  Hoary-headed Grebe ,  Nankeen Night Heron ,  Dusky Moorhen ,  Australasian Swamphen , and  Yellow-billed Spoonbill . We also had  Whistling Kite  and a flock of  Little Corellas  going over. A surprise sighting of a  Masked Lapwing  was followed by an excellent look at a couple of juvenile  Banded Lapwings .

Two juvenile  Banded Lapwings  showed well for us in Busselton.

Near Perth, we called into a coastal wetland, where we were greeted by a pair of  Ospreys  at a nest. While scanning the sandflats and estuary we found  Fairy Tern ,  Caspian Tern ,  Greater Crested Tern ,  Australian Pied Cormorant ,  Eastern Cattle Egret ,  Red-capped Plover , and  Pied Oystercatcher . As we checked a pond near the coast, we found plenty of  Common Greenshanks ,  Pied Stilts , and a  Buff-banded Rail . After a final lunch, we continued our journey back to Perth, where the tour ended. Lots of great birds were enjoyed on the tour. “Bird of the Trip” was a tough one to pick, with  Noisy Scrubbird ,  Tawny Frogmouth ,  Red-winged Fairywren ,  Spotless Crake ,  Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo , and  Red-eared Firetail  all being popular.

It is hard to look beyond  Splendid Fairywren  as being one of Australia’s best-looking birds. They are dazzlingly beautiful, and we enjoyed repeated sightings of this popular stunner on our Western Australia birding tour.

Restless Flycatcher  gave us some great views while we were birding at Dryandra Woodland.

Bird List  –  Following IOC (13.2)

Birds ‘heard only’ are marked with (H) after the common name, all other species were seen. The following notation after species names is used to show conservation status following  BirdLife International : CR = Critically Endangered, EN = Endangered, VU = Vulnerable.

Mammal List

Reptile list.

(Southwest)  Carpet Python  is an attractive snake, we saw two individuals out sunning themselves during the tour.

This is a sample trip report. Please email us  ( [email protected] ) for more trip reports from this destination.

Birding Tour Australia:  Western Australia – Southwest Specialties

  tour-specific information.

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT AUSTRALIA CAN BE READ HERE

TOUR OUTLINE

This is a comprehensive Western Australia birding tour , yet it is also well-paced, allowing the opportunity to really enjoy the birds of the region. We have a couple of two-night stays along our Western Australian birding route, where we have more time to unpack and focus on the special birds of each area. Western Australia has been cut off from eastern Australia for many years, and as a result, many regionally endemic birds (and rare mammals) exist. Seemingly each year, scientific studies elevate distinct subspecies to full species status – e.g., Western Shriketit is the latest endemic species for the region with the split of the former Crested Shriketit complex into three geographically isolated “new” species. We pay careful attention to all different subspecies on this tour, even if the species may be common on our eastern Australia tour (if you’ve already done that one) because there is a reasonable chance of a future armchair tick!

Our Western Australia bird tour starts and ends in beautiful Perth. We really recommend getting in early for this tour to get used to the time zone and to enjoy what the city has to offer – good food and wine and some excellent parklands for birding. Perth is a long way from anywhere (even other major cities in Australia!) but is serviced by international flights from all around the world, as well as numerous domestic flights from all around Australia.

We will be concentrating on the endemic birds of Western Australia on this Western Australia birdwatching tour; some of these include some excellent parrots, such as Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo , Baudin’s Black Cockatoo , Western Corella , Red-capped Parrot , and Western Rosella . More secretive regionally endemic birds include Noisy Scrubbird , Western Bristlebird , and Black-throated Whipbird . Other top endemic targets on our Western Australia bird tour include Western Spinebill , Gilbert’s Honeyeater , White-breasted Robin , and Red-eared Firetail . Species not likely on many other Australian bird tours (as they mainly occur in a bit of a birdwatcher’s no-mans-land away from Western Australia), include Rufous Treecreeper , Blue-breasted Fairywren , Western Yellow Robin , and Western Whistler – all are stunners too! The tour also offers up chances of some exciting mammals, with one of the main targets being the very rare Numbat . Other interesting mammals can include Western Grey Kangaroo and the tiny Honey Possum . A decent list of reptiles can be expected if spring has sprung and temperatures are increasing. There could also be some interesting flowers on show, particularly orchids, which the Stirling Range is well known for (weather and season depending).

DAILY ACTIVITIES, PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS, AND TOUR PACE

This Western Australia bird tour goes at a moderate pace, but there are a couple of two-night stays in the itinerary. We will cover quite a bit of ground on our birding circuit of the southwest of Western Australia. This circuit starts and ends in Perth and visits Dryandra Woodland, Stirling Range National Park, Cheynes Beach, Augusta (Cape Leeuwin), and Busselton.

There is quite a bit of driving involved to get between birding areas; these will be broken up by bathroom breaks and lunch/snack stops where possible. Most of the drives are around 2 – 3 hours in duration, but these will become longer with birding/lunch stops added. The longest drive is as we move between Cheynes Beach and Augusta; this is a drive of 4 – 5 hours, depending on traffic and birding stops. We usually buy a picnic lunch and eat this along the way on this day as the route passes through some areas with little provisions but some good birding stops.

The tour is generally considered easy in terms of physical exertion. We tend to make short walks from our vehicle or accommodation in a loop of up to 0.6 – 1.2 miles (1 – 2 kilometers/km), and we may make several of these a day. On a couple of occasions, such as at Cheynes Beach we are likely to make slightly longer walks of 2.5 miles (4 km). Most of the walking we will do will be on mainly flat (sometimes sandy ground), but there are a couple of hills we will walk up/down, particularly while in the Stirling Range area and the Cheynes Beach area. These walks are not considered difficult. We will, of course, take all walks slowly and at birding pace.

We will likely stake out one or two birds, which may require sitting in one place for a few hours (so having some layers will be important in case the temperature is low – see the “Weather” section below). We may look for some nocturnal wildlife at a couple of sites if the weather is suitable.

On some occasions, when we have multiple nights at one location, we will likely take a break for some rest and relaxation during the middle of the day.

TRANSPORTATION

We will use a 12-seater minibus on this Western Australia birdwatching tour. There will be limited baggage space in the vehicle, so please pack as lightly as possible for the tour (including within the seating area).

DOMESTIC FLIGHTS

There are no domestic flights on this Western Australia bird tour.

Please pack as lightly as possible for this Western Australia birding tour. A medium, soft-sided, and robust duffle bag is likely to work best for packing in the tour vehicles. You will be expected to load and unload your own bags into and out of vehicles and to/from your rooms.

We recommend a daypack is used to keep items that you wish to use daily when in the vehicle or when birding in the field (such as binoculars, camera, notebook, field guide, personal supply of water, snacks, umbrella, rain jacket, extra layers of clothing, etc.).

ACCOMMODATION

We stay in a very wide range of accommodation on this Western Australia birding tour, including nice city hotels, quaint countryside/rural bed and breakfasts, static caravans, holiday cottages, basic hotels/motels, and more luxurious lodges. The accommodation we use on this bird tour has been selected due to their good locations in terms of birding sites and places to eat (also important when in rural locations!). Most accommodation has ensuite bathrooms. At Stirling Range, we stay in small cottages; each cottage has two private bedrooms with a communal bathroom, kitchen, and dining/lounge area. We will spend one night here. The exact number of cottages we have depends on the final number of tour participants and rooming arrangements. Wi-Fi is available at most places we stay on this tour. Some of the accommodation provides breakfast/meals, and we will eat those there, where suitable. See the “Meals” section below for more.

Despite Perth being one of the biggest and most cosmopolitan cities in Australia, once you leave the city behind, it becomes rural very quickly. Breakfasts will be taken at our overnight venues in most instances, though at some locations, such as at Stirling Range, Augusta, and Bussleton, we will use local cafés. Most lunches will be sourced from local bakeries or cafés and either eaten onsite or as we drive between different birding locations. Most dinners will be eaten at pubs or restaurants near our accommodation. On one night, when we stay at Stirling Range Retreat, we will have a picnic dinner sourced along the way. Our accommodation at Cheynes Beach will provide breakfast and dinner for us. Please make sure you have notified us of any dietary restrictions for this tour.

This tour will be occurring during the Western Australian spring; therefore, we can expect a range of temperatures and weather. The average daytime temperature is likely to be 61 degrees Fahrenheit ( o F) (16 degrees Centigrade/ o C), with highs of 70  o F (21  o C). At night, the temperatures could be in the region of 52  o F (11  o C). It is likely to be warmer inland and cooler by the sea, where southerly airflows can bring colder conditions. There are no notable elevation gains on this tour to impact the temperature. Rainfall could occur at any time on this tour but is more likely in coastal areas.

WHAT TO BRING: CLOTHING AND OTHER ITEMS

The following is a list of useful items to bring on this Western Australia birding tour and should be read in conjunction with the Australia general information document.

• A field guide to the birds of Western Australia. See the general information for our recommendations for this tour.
• Hiking pole or walking stick to help on the tracks and trails. While probably not necessary for everyone, a walking stick is compulsory for anyone who is unsteady walking , as we feel this is a safety issue; we don’t want anyone slipping on the trails or anywhere else. Please discuss with us if you are unsure whether you will need one or not.
• Torch (flashlight) and/or headlamp (headtorch), and spare batteries.
• High-concentration DEET insect repellant, or similar.
• A small personal first aid kit. See the suggested items from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), here .
• Lightweight hiking boots are likely the best footwear for this tour. A set of sandals (flip-flops) and/or trainers would be useful for walking around some of the accommodations but are not suitable for birding time (e.g., consider snake bites, mud, slips, trips, and falls, etc.).
• Quick-drying birding clothes (in suitable colors) are the best for this tour, and a good selection of clothing layers (including sweater/jumper/fleece/coat) are also recommended due to the potential for cool or even cold mornings or days, particularly on the south coast.
• Light rain jacket/poncho (and small umbrella) as rain could fall at any time at any location. Spring in Western Australia could see rain showers or prolonged periods of rain if a weather system moves through.
• A dry bag to keep valuable documents in, such as passports, cell phones, wallets, etc., as well as cameras, if it rains.

Download Australia: Southwest Specialties tour Information

AUSTRALIA GENERAL INFORMATION

Andy is a superb guide with a wonderful knowledge of birds and where to find them. He is enthusiastic and keen, great company and a real pleasure to bird with. Our Australian trip was very successful in terms of sightings and also really enjoyable. Andy played a big part in that with his superb organisation, excellent birding skills, easy-going nature and positive attitude. I would happily join Andy on a birding trip again and hope to be able to do so later this year!

Andy Walker was absolutely excellent. Knowledgeable, affable, organized, sense of humor, and attentive to everyone. I would go anywhere with Andy.

Particularly enjoyed the south and southwest coastal regions. Andy is an exceptional guide.

All Rights Reserved, Birding Ecotours

Join our newsletter for exclusive discounts and great birding information!

• Address: P.O Box 597, Malanda, Queensland, Australia, 4885
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone Number: +61 7 4096 8063

Australia has done well with COVID-19 management. It has handled flare ups quickly and most states have no community transmission and when there is an outbreak it is dealt with fast. Nearly all active cases now are due to returning travelers.

Are you keen to visit beautiful places and to see as much of Australia’s unique and fascinating natural history as possible? Why not come with us on a trip to some of the best bird and wildlife sites in Australia? Australia is our home and between us we have travelled all over it exploring both well-known destinations, and little visited out of the way places that are surprisingly beautiful or productive.

Australia is regarded as being either the world’s largest island or its smallest continent. It is around the same size as the US excluding Alaska and Hawaii, only a little smaller than Europe and 32 times larger than the UK. It has a huge range of habitats ranging from the tropical rainforests of Far North Queensland to the sub-tropical rainforests around Brisbane and the temperate rainforests of Tasmania, there are savannah grasslands, dry eucalypts forests, deserts, swamps, mangroves, coasts, estuaries, lakes, mountains, gardens and bush. All of these habitats have their own suite of birds and other animals and a wish to see all that is available could keep you busy for years!

Australia first separated from Pangaea around 60 million years ago. It’s birds and animals have followed their own paths. It is the only place in the world you will find egg laying mammals- the Echidna and Platypus and is the stronghold of the marsupials such as Kangaroos , Possums , Bandicoots and Quolls .

It is now thought that songbirds (passerines) originated in Australia and island hopped their way around the world. In fact, since songbirds are the most successful group of birds on the planet, the majority of the world’s birds seem to have Australian ancestors and there is no continent so important for bird evolution.

Australia has a unique avifauna with some 360 endemic birds , 6 endemic families and a total of over 850 species . With very little north south migration apart from shorebirds and a handful of New Guinea migrants, most Australian land birds can be seen nowhere else. Because few visiting birders have unlimited time for exploration, we have developed a number of tours designed to maximise the variety of habitats and therefore the number of birds to be seen in geographically manageable areas. We also offer specialist tours for photographers and family hunters and our Companion Bird Tours offer you a chance to see the relatives of your pet birds in the wild. Please enquire if you are after a particular bird in an out of the way place and we can arrange an itinerary for you.

Everywhere you go in Australia there will be interesting birds, animals and plants to see from the Southern Cassowaries , Palm Cockatoos and Victoria’s Riflebird (one of Australia’s four Birds of Paradise) found in the rainforests of Far North Queensland to the beautiful island of Tasmania with its very own wildlife including Tasmanian Devils , Forty-spotted Pardalote , Yellow Wattlebird and Tasmanian Scrubwren and where pelagics regularly bring you into contact with Antarctic Seabirds. From the Superb Lyrebirds around Sydney through the interior arid lands home to Budgerigars , Grey Falcons and Letter-winged Kites to the spring display of wild flowers around Perth.

Australia is a safe, friendly place to visit. The infrastructure is good though not necessarily fancy, with long straight roads and roadhouses along the way. There is a good selection of field guides to help with identification but you will always do better with local knowledge and we have a network of guides throughout Australia to help you make the most of your visits to all the different areas.

Reasons to travel with us:

• Small groups (usually 6 or less) or private tours • Some great itineraries which can be customised if required • A network of experienced local guides – there is nothing like local, up to date knowledge • One of the oldest and most experienced bird tour companies in Australia • Family owned and operated • We support ethical birding, wildlife and photography

Cape York – Iron Range – Fly in/Fly Out (FIFO) | Dry Season Special

Got a few days to spare and looking for something different? Why not try a Cape York Fly In/Fly Out birdwatching tour. W...

Across the North

Have you ever thought you would like to explore North Queensland? Away from the coastal fringe with its lush green hills...

Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park

Rinyirru is the Aboriginal name for Lakefield National Park. This is located about half way up Cape York. This t...

Cape York – Iron Range (Fly in Fly Out) Wet Season Specials

Why not join us on one of our "Cape York - Iron Range, Fly In/Fly Out Wet Season specials" birdwatching tours? They of...

Birding Georgetown tour

Birding Georgetown gives you an introduction to Outback birding. Are you worried about having to travel long distances a...

Cape York Iron Range Drive in Fly Out (DIFO)

A short 7 day trip visiting two of the major bird and wildlife areas of Cape York. Travelling from Cairns to Iron Ran...

North Queensland Parrot Tour

While Far North Queensland shares some of its parrots with other parts of Australia it also has a number of wonderful pa...

Queensland: The Finches Tour

No content..

Atherton Tablelands and Cairns Area

The  Atherton Tablelands and Cairns area of Far North Queensland  are part of the bio-geographical area of the Wet Tro...

Outback Queensland

This 8 day birding tour takes you to the dry interior of western Queensland offers a good range of dry country species�...

Queensland Top to Bottom

Starting in the Tropical North this 21-day tour begins in Iron Range we drive down Cape York to the Wet Tropics area ...

The Budgies of Boulia

When you look at your pet budgie do you ever long to see flocks of their wild cousins swirling over the parched landscap...

Tasmania – 5 day birding photographic adventure

A short 5 day tour for Tasmania’s endemic birds and some of its iconic mammals. We visit Bruny Island where all of the...

Birding the Brisbane Area – 4 Day Tour

This is a short tour which visits some of the best habitat in the Brisbane area. Starting in the Freshwater Wetlands cl...

Birding the Brisbane Area – 7 Day Tour

Birding the brisbane area – 11 day tour.

This tour offers access to all the major habitats to be found in southern Queensland short tour. Starting in the Fres...

Australia bring in former Lion to strengthen line-out before 2025 tour

Geoff Parling, the former England second-row and set-piece expert, has been confirmed as Australia’s new line-out coach.

Parling, 40, has been based in Australia since joining the Melbourne Rebels as a player in 2018, and previously worked as a Wallabies assistant coach under Dave Rennie in 2020.

He will now go up against England head coach Steve Borthwick later this year, another line-out guru, when the Wallabies face England at Twickenham on November 9. The pair did not overlap as England team-mates, with Borthwick’s last cap coming in the 2010 Six Nations and Parling making his debut in 2012.

Part of the British and Irish Lions series win over Australia in 2013, Parling is currently the Melbourne Rebels forwards coach and has been an assistant for six seasons. He won 29 caps for England, while his final game in English rugby came in the 2017 Premiership final with Exeter Chiefs, defeating Wasps in extra time.

Parling will link up with Joe Schmidt, the former Ireland head coach who took over from Eddie Jones following last year’s Rugby World Cup.

“I spoke to Joe a couple times when he came to the Rebels. I heard a lot of good things about Joe in the past so I’m really excited to work with him on the coaching team,” Parling said. “He’s very level-headed, consistently sees the game and preps well. I think he’s good on basics and getting the fundamentals right. Once you get those, a little bit of brilliance will come.

“I’m pretty familiar with the majority of players that will come in from either coaching or coaching against them regularly. I feel like the little bits of differences we have in Super Rugby teams can be well put together and aligned, we can have a great force as a forward pack at the Wallabies.”

Schmidt said of Parling: “Geoff has spent more than 20 years, playing and coaching in the professional game. His understanding of the line-out, along with his Super Rugby knowledge, and previous experience with the Wallabies will add value to our coaching group.”

Parling’s Australia stint could be England’s future gain

When Exeter brought Geoff Parling to Devon nearly a decade ago, Rob Baxter said that the club were signing more than just a player. They wanted his influence on the club’s young guns, identifying Parling as the kind of character who could improve the team on the field and help bring along many players off it. During those two years with Exeter he also spent time working with Taunton Titans, a future of coaching very much on his mind.

Which is all a long way of saying Thursday’s announcement confirming that Parling has been appointed to a Test coaching staff comes as no surprise. From the moment he left Exeter in the best possible circumstances after winning the club’s first Premiership title, Parling has been on a journey to learn and develop into a top coach, playing briefly in Japan before settling for the past six years in Melbourne with the Rebels as both a set-piece and forwards coach.

Steve Borthwick would no doubt approve. A stint abroad coaching Test rugby with Japan under Eddie Jones marked the start of Borthwick’s next career, before returning to coach England with Jones after the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Borthwick never coached against England during his stint with the Brave Blossoms but Parling certainly will, returning to Twickenham in the autumn, the same venue where he was part of England’s 2015 Rugby World Cup defeat to Australia. A reunion with the Lions next year is also fascinating, given Parling started the final two Tests on the 2013 tour alongside Alun Wyn Jones against the Wallabies.

The hope of course is that England will eventually benefit from a young coach learning his trade overseas at a high level and eventually returning to offer that expertise to either a Gallagher Premiership club or the national team, just as New Zealand, South Africa and Australia have done over the past two decades by sending coaches to the north.

Parling in his introductory video noted the influence on his career of Mike Cron, the scrum guru who worked for a long time with the All Blacks, with Parling contacting Cron while he was still a player and asking if Cron would mentor him as he moved into coaching. Now the two are part of the same backroom staff, joined by another wise head in Laurie Fisher. Alongside analyst Eoin Toolan, the group under a smart hand in Joe Schmidt have been tasked with reviving the Wallabies following their disastrous Rugby World Cup campaign.

Further down the road the table is set for a fascinating line-out duel between Parling and Borthwick in the autumn, two line-out gurus pitting their wits against each other looking for the upper hand.

Sign up to the Front Page newsletter for free: Your essential guide to the day's agenda from The Telegraph - direct to your inbox seven days a week.

By clicking Sign In, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy .

Sign In Up with your social account

We won't post to any of your accounts

Your password must include:

• Min 8 characters
• Min 1 lowercase character
• Min 1 uppercase character
• Min 1 number

Will Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras Tour’ Setlist Change After ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ Release?

Taylor Swift ’s The Tortured Poets Department has already captivated the world , leaving her fans to wonder whether any of the new songs will pop up on her Eras Tour setlist.

Swift, 34, kicked off her three-hour concert series in March 2023 in Arizona, soon traversing the United States, Central and South America, Asia and Australia. The shows highlight most of her past albums: Taylor Swift, Fearless, Speak Now, Red, 1989, Reputation, Folklore, Evermore and Midnights . There also is a section dedicated to “surprise songs,” where Swift adds two new acoustic renditions (most recently, mash-ups) to the show.

Swift has been on hiatus since early March, weeks before The Tortured Poets Department dropped on Friday, April 19. The record, her 11th studio album, features 31 songs including “Fortnight,” “So Long, London,” “Fresh Out the Slammer,” “So High School” and “thanK you aIMee.”

Swift’s fans planning to see Eras later this year — the tour leg kicks off in Paris on Thursday, May 9 — have since taken to social media, curious if they will be able to hear any TTPD live.

Related: Taylor Swift Is Absolutely 'Bejeweled' in Her 'Eras Tour’ Concert Outfits

“OK listen I NEED Taylor to add ‘I Can Do It With a Broken Heart’ to the Eras Tour setlist. … Just that ONE. … PLEASE. … It was MADE for the Eras Tour !!!!!!!!!!” a social media user wrote via X.

Another added, “I am so obsessed with Taylor’s new album idk how to survive the Eras Tour (if I actually go twice I might just drop dead afterwards).”

Since Eras has sections dedicated to Swift’s previous albums , it is possible that TTPD could get its own mini-set in the lineup. Not all of her preexisting cohorts feature the same amount of songs, so Swift could cut some songs in order to add a time for Tortured Poets additions .

Spotify added further fuel to the fire on Friday as Swifties noticed the streaming platform’s official video for “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart,” a TTPD track, features footage solely from the Eras Tour.

Related: Breaking Down All of Taylor Swift's 'Eras Tour' Surprise Song Mash-Ups

Swift’s musical director David Cook , who has also been featured on several of her past LPs, also hinted that TTPD songs could make an appearance on the tour lineup.

“Not sure how much I can add to the discourse other than this album is really REALLY good. You FEEL it,” Cook wrote via Instagram on Friday, quoting “Loml” with a mind-blown emoji.

According to eagle-eyed Swifties that captured screenshots, Cook also wrote, “Wait until you hear the live versions.” The addition, however, has since been deleted.

Of course, it is also possible that Swift will drop a TTPD single in her surprise song section.

“How will The Tortured Poets Department affect the Eras Tour ? Hopefully only on surprise songs (in a good way),” an X user theorized.

While Swift has yet to address if TTPD will affect her Eras Tour setlist, she’s given fans insight into how she picks song s for the acoustic section.

You have successfully subscribed.

Subscribe to newsletters

By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from Us Weekly

Deal of the Day

Check our latest news in Google News

Check our latest news in Apple News

“This has become my favorite part of the show because it’s become very chaotic and it’s become a challenge for me to think of new things to do for every single city,” Swift told the crowd in Singapore in March. “And hope that I’m doing something that you guys might like. It’s been a blast!”

Per the Grammy winner, she “invented [her] crazy acoustic section,” to be able to play “as many songs” as she could way over the 44 staples at each show. Adding TTPD tracks there seems like an easy way to do just that, if you ask Us.

The Tortured Poets Department is out now and Swift’s Eras Tour resumes on Thursday, May 9.

In this article

Taylor Swift

More stories.

• Australasia
• North America
• South and Central America
• Bucket List Birding Pod Show-notes & links to all podcast episodes.

East Australian bird families. Cassowary and Lyrebirds. Intense birding.

March 16-21, 2024 (Barrier reef pre trip Mar 15-16)

Tour Price (Per Person):

2024 USD:  $2900  Pre-trip: US$700. Includes flights Cairns-Brisbane and Brisbane-Sydney with checked-in bag or cabin bag, plus personal item (Both checked-in bag and cabin bag results in an additional cost) and meals mentioned in the description.

Hardcore birding maximising the time to get most Australian bird families and special birds. 

Description

Eastern Australia with the Great Dividing Range gives the best birding with the highest diversity of the continent, as one can access both the coastal lowlands and the highlands, as well as a short side trip to the plains of the west. 

We are setting off for five very intense days in three areas. Two days from Cairns, two days from Brisbane and one day from Sydney.

During these five days, there shall be two owling sessions on two of days with 12 hours birding.

On the other hand, if you consider to join us for 12 or 14 days in Australia, you should know that the 2 day pre-trip is very relaxed, the main Tasmania/Melbourne trip also quite slow-paced and ending with the last two days with intense birding to try to find Plainswanderer

Here are the goals set up for this tour.

• See as many endemic and close to endemic bird families as possible.
• See and photograph iconic birds such as Southern Cassowary, Riflebird (Bird of Paradise), Bowerbirds, Apostlebird, Crested Honeyeaters, Fairy-wrens, various colorful Cacatuas, Parrots and Rosellas, Lyrebird, Gray-crowned Babbler, Australian Owlet-Nightjar, Logrunner, White-throated Treecreeper, Rufous Scrubbird, Yellow-breasted Boatbill, White-winged Chough and many more.
• Two nights of night birding

Selfie at Sydney Opera House.

All this in only 5 days. Lot’s of bang for the buck. 

Although the birding is easy, it is quite an intense tour with long days. It could lay your base for a fast introduction to Australian Birds and later you can explore on your own, or you may want to add the Tasmania program to maximize your time in Australia. The tour also connects well with 5-10 days in New Zealand that is scheduled prior to this itinerary. 

The 2-day pre-tour focuses on the Great Barrier Reef for snorkeling and some introductory typical Australian Bird-families representatives with Magpie Goose, Megapodes, many Honeyeaters, and Cockatoos, as well as many shorebirds. 

ITINERARY OUTLINE: Pre-tour. 

Day 1. Arrive Cairns at 8.15 AM the latest. Check in at hotel of your own choice.  At 10 AM-6 PM Birding coastal cairns surroundings.

Day 2.  Full day on the Great Barrier Reef. Birding, Snorkeling and Diving. Back in Cairns at 4.15 pm.

Day 1. Pickup at your hotel or airport between 3-4 pm and meet up with Great Barrier Reef pre-tour people at the Harbour at 4:15 pm for some afternoon birding in Cairns.  Day 2. Kuranda (Cassowary House) – Mt Hypipamee and Lake Barrine

Day 3.  Chambers-Mareeba-Mt Carbine-Flight to Brisbane

Day 4. Inglewood / Coolmunda / Durikai

Day 5. Gold Coast Hinterland Border Ranges (Lamington NP) and Brisbane Wetlands & Mangroves.

Day 6 . Royal National Park and Sydney Opera House.

DETAILED ITINERARY:

Cairns pre-tour - great barrier reef and australia introduction., day 1. arrival in cairns. coastal and park birding..

We shall spend this first day getting familiar with the birds in the parks and the coast. Targets include Magpie Goose, the Megapodes Australian Brush-Turkey and Orange-footed Scrub-Fowl, Pheasant Coucal, Scrub and Beach Thickknee, other shorebirds like Lesser and Greater Sand-Plover,  Red-capped Plover, Black-fronted Dotterel, Comb-crested Jacana, Far Eastern Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit, Great Knot, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Red-necked Stint and Terek Sandpiper, Silver Gull, Great Crested Tern, Laughing Kookaburra, Rainbow Bee-eater, Red-tailed Black Cuckatoo, Double-eyed Fig-Parrot, Rainbow Lorikeet, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Yellow-spotted, Yellow, Varied, Brown-backed, Brown and White-throated Honeyeaters, Dusky Myzomela, Helmeted Friarbird, White-bellied Cuckoo-Shrike, Varied Triller, Common Cicadabird, Green Oriole, Australian Figbird, Black Butcherbird, Willie-Wagtail, Spangled Drongo, Magpie Lark, Golden-headed Cisticola, Mistletoebird, Olive-backed Sunbird, Crimson Finch and Scaly-breasted and Chestnut-breasted Munia. 

Day 2. Full day on the Great Barrier Reef. 

We board the Catamaran for a full day on the Great Barrier Reef with two guided snorkeling outings and a delicious lunch onboard. Scuba Diving for beginners and more experienced divers is also available. On the way to the reef, we pass Michaelmas Cay – a large and stable coral sand island with a grassy area where there are breeding seabirds. We shall see species such as Greater and Lesser Frigatebirds, Brown Booby, Common and Black Noddy-Tern, Sooty, Black-naped, Little, Great Crested, Lesser Crested, Bridled, Gull-billed and Caspian Terns during the day. 

We shall also do our first snorkeling exercise in the shallow waters in front of Michaelmas and after lunch a second snorkel activity further out of the Great Barrier Reef.

One of the highlights will be finding Nemo for real – the clownfish that live among the sea anemones. 

We are back at shore at around 4:15 pm to head out for some additional birding near Cairns. 

Main tour - East Australia Bird families

Day 1. arrival cairns..

After picking up people at the Cairns airport, Cairns hotels or at the Cairns port in the late afternoon we shall do some birding in Cairns. Hotel in Cairns. Dinner not included. 

Day 2. Cassowary House-Mt Hypipamee and Lake Barrine

An early start to reach the Cassowary House /Black Mountain Road areas.  The main target here is Southern Cassowary and at this time of the year the chance of an early arrival and good views is high as the young cassowaries are very mobile and will no longer be shy. Brush-turkey is common here, and Victoria’s Riflebirds are also fairly common. Yellow-breasted Boatbill can usually be found along the driveway and down around Catbird Cottage . Other interesting birds may include Spotted Catbird, Macleays, Cryptic and Yellow-spotted Honeyeaters, Spectacled, White-eared and Pied Monarchs, Double-eyed Fig Parrots , Fairy Gerygone, Pale-Yellow Robin and if you are very lucky Red-necked Crake.

Later head up to Mt Hypipamee in the high-altitude rainforest at the southern end of the Tablelands above Cairns. Here live a number of important local endemic species including Golden Bowerbird, Grey-headed Robin, Fernwren, Atherton Scrubwren and Mountain Thornbill.

Later in the afternoon you will travel down to the mid altitude levels around Lake Barrine and the Curtain Fig. Here, with luck, some late displaying Tooth-billed Catbirds can be observed singing above their display stages. Bower’s Shrikethrush and White-throated Tree creepers can also be seen.

Today might also be a good day to see Platypus and Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo if there is time and people are interested.

O/N Chambers Rainforest Lodges. Dinner not included. 

Day 3. Chambers-Mareeba-Mt Carbine-Flight to Brisbane

We start at 3 AM to be able to reach the plains to the west for some high-quality birding. 

There are a bunch of great birds lined for the day. For example: Spotted Bowerbird, Eastern Bluebonnet, Red-winged Parrot, Cockatiel, Red-rumped Parrot, Plum-headed Finch, Emu (unlikely but have seen in past in this region), Speckled Warbler, Woodswallow sp., Hooded Robin, Galah, White-winged Chough, Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Fuscous Honeyeater, Weebill, Yellow Thornbill, Cicadabird, Inland Thornbill, Apostlebird, White-winged Fairywren, Galah, Grey-crowned Babbler, Buff-rumped Thornbill, Restless Flycatcher, Jacky Winter, Pale-headed Rosella, Yellow-throated Miner, Purple-backed Fairywren, White-throated Gerygone, Crested Shrike-tit etc.

At night we shall be checking a number of stake-outs for owls and other nightly creatures. 

Non-bird possibilities include Greater Gliders, Yellow-bellied Gliders, Possums.

Night at Gold Coast hotel. Dinner not included. 

Day 5. Gold Coast Hinterland Border Ranges (Lamington NP) and Brisbane Wetlands & Mangroves

We have about 40 minute drive to the Border ranges  with the famous O’Reilley are in Lamington National Park where we shall start the birding. There are a lot of great species here: Glossy Black-cockatoo, Bell Miner, King Parrot, Crimson Rosella, Wonga Pigeon, Brown Cuckoo-dove, Noisy Pitta, Green Catbird, Paradise Riflebird, Rose Robin, Australian Logrunner, Alberts Lyrebird, Rufous Scrubbird, White-throated Treecreeper, Red-browed Finch, Superb Fairywren, White-headed Pigeon, Eastern Yellow Robin, White-browed Scrubwren, Yellow-throated Scrubwren, Bassian & Russet-tailed Thrush, Brown Gerygone, Large-billed Scrubwren, Satin Bowerbird, Regent Bowerbird, Pied Currawong, Lewins Honeyeater etc.

In the afternoon we head towards the coast again for wetland and mangrove birding closer to Brisbane. Here we find Mangrove Gerygone, Mangrove Honeyeater, Comb-crested Jacana, White-throated Honeyeater, Scarlet Honeyeater, Wandering Whistling-duck, Sacred Kingfisher, Eastern Osprey, Red-backed Fairywren, 

NON BIRD Possibilities include Koala, Eastern Grey Kangaroo.

In the evening we fly to Sydney arriving at 8 PM to check-in at a hotel near the airport. Dinner not included.

Day 6. Royal National Park and Sydney Opera House

Subscribe to our newsletter.

We respect your email privacy

Dolphins accompany Bryan to win at Margaret River Pro, Robinson repeats

• Medium Text

Get weekly news and analysis on the U.S. elections and how it matters to the world with the newsletter On the Campaign Trail. Sign up here.

Reporting by Lincoln Feast in Sydney; Editing by Peter Rutherford

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. New Tab , opens new tab

Thomson Reuters

A 23-year veteran at Reuters, Lincoln has worked in a wide range of reporting and editing roles on three continents. A former Australia & NZ bureau chief, he is now an editor on the Global News Desk, working with reporters on stories from China and the Korean peninsula to the South Pacific. Lincoln is a volunteer firefighter and a keen surfer, which he also reports on for Reuters.

Sports Chevron

Everton grab 2-0 victory over Forest to boost survival hopes

Everton secured three crucial points when they beat relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest 2-0 at Goodison Park on Sunday to ease their own Premier League survival hopes and move five points clear of the drop zone.

The Texas Rangers will need to slow down red-hot Braves catcher Travis d'Arnaud on Sunday if they hope to salvage a game from their weekend series in Atlanta.

The New York Mets are so hot that it seems like they could juggle chainsaws with flaming bowling pins and come out unscathed.

It's starting to look like the excitement that comes from the start of a new season is wearing off for the Detroit Tigers.

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

Ethical considerations drowned out as Adelaide’s LIV affair continues

More in South Australia are seemingly able to turn the other way and view the Saudi-backed rebel golf tour’s presence as a boon for the sport

A s LIV golf returns to Adelaide next week, Australia’s appetite for the breakaway tour appears stronger than anywhere in the world. The South Australian capital has been the most successful venue in the short history of the tour, and there are few signs that any ethical misgivings about the tour’s Saudi backers have diminished that popularity.

The manner of the challenger brand’s ingratiation of Australian officials, players and spectators serves as a model for LIV, particularly as the mooted merger with the PGA Tour shows little sign of delivering a united sport. The 2024 event, which gets under way on Friday 26 April, is therefore significant.

The existing deal with SA covers this year’s event, plus two more, and the state’s premier, Peter Malinauskas, has trumpeted its success. He has acknowledged the ethical misgivings about LIV, but has ploughed on anyway. The state “went out on a limb”, he told ABC last year, “and provided LIV Golf their breakthrough moment globally”.

Public discussion of the human rights record of Saudi Arabia, which has bankrolled LIV’s rapid establishment through the country’s Public Investment Fund, has largely fallen away, but amid the South Australian backslapping there are still some who are pushing back. The Liberal opposition leader, David Speirs, has been opposed to the event since its announcement, and continues to criticise Malinauskas on the decision to host the event due to the links to Saudi Arabia.

But more in Australia are seemingly able to turn the other way, and view LIV’s presence as a boon for the sport. Golf Australia’s chief executive, James Sutherland, said last month this part of the world looked at LIV differently. “There’s clearly an ‘anti’ or a conservative sentiment about the Saudis in the US, and the further east you go on a world map from America, the more moderate the views are,” he told the SportNXT conference in a room featuring many of Australian sport’s senior executives.

Golf Australia’s close collaborator is the PGA of Australia, the body representing tournament and club professionals and organiser of the Australasian Tour, which is still aligned with LIV rival the DP World Tour. Despite the political complexity, Sutherland was matter-of-fact. “The Australian public just wants to embrace great talent in that golf sphere that ordinarily wouldn’t come to Australia.”

Indeed, the most vocal local criticism of LIV’s Adelaide event last year was not about the crackdown on dissent in Saudi Arabia or the country’s repression of women , but rather the impact the event had on the condition of the host course.

Sutherland’s comments highlight the region’s appetite for the sport which – due to the PGA Tour’s historical dominance – has largely focused on audiences in the US and, to a lesser extent, Europe. They suggest LIV’s formula is, at least in Australia, working, despite close connections between Australia’s golf establishment and the DP World Tour, which alongside the PGA Tour in the US has been at loggerheads with LIV.

The appeal of LIV in Adelaide is simple. Never before has such an expensive collection of golfing talent been taken to Australia’s fifth-largest city. Last year 77,000 tickets were sold, roughly double the estimated attendance of LIV’s next most popular event (figures are not formally reported).

Although LIV has demonstrated its almost unlimited financial resources in the pursuit of players, the taxpayers of SA have paid – in money and time – for the privilege of hosting. The exact amount has been kept under wraps, with the government refusing to detail the deal in parliament.

The deep pockets of the breakaway tour have been regarded as its greatest power. December’s deal for John Rahm – reported to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars – underscores LIV’s long-term financial commitment, close to two years after it initially picked off its opening lineup.

But last year’s Adelaide event – although managed by LIV’s operating partner Performance 54 (another PIF-backed entity) – was only pulled off thanks to the help of more than 700 unpaid helpers. A similar callout is under way this year.

LIV has reportedly offered millions in site fees to clubs in the US to host the tournament . But no such windfall has come the way of Australian host, the Grange Golf Club.

T he Grange sits close to the beach not far from Adelaide’s CBD, and is approaching its 100th year. Its financial results for last year show no specific revenue spikes attributed to LIV, and the largest unexplained growth in a single line item was a $350,000 increase in “sundry income”. However, the documents describe a healthy club, boosted by more than $300,000 in additional bar and catering profit, a reduction in the club’s debt and a membership fee increase that was below inflation.

The club is not looking to be handsomely compensated, according to the general manger of the course, Barry Linke. He said hosting the event delivered multiple benefits, although the precise terms of the agreement with LIV were commercial in confidence. “[There were] improved playing conditions for members due to the additional maintenance and work done on the golf course – in 2023 we spent twice as much on course maintenance as a normal year,” he said.

“There is a financial benefit, improved infrastructure, worldwide recognition to the Grange, increase in membership inquiry and demand, increase in visiting player revenue, and improved club reciprocal opportunities for our members.”

The announcement of the Grange as LIV’s Australian host came in late 2022, but not out of the blue. One of its two courses is designed by LIV commissioner Greg Norman, and the club was the site of his first professional victory in 1976. He even has a testimonial on the club’s website.

Grange reported 86% of members were satisfied with the LIV event, even though it interfered with access to the course. One member of 45 years went to the local newspaper complaining about the damage hosting LIV had caused. Not long after, his scorecard was leaked by another Grange member seemingly unhappy with the dissent. The X account that posted the hacker’s card said the complainant “should probably worry more about the state of his golf game than the state of the course”.

LIV’s divisive attack on world golf and sensitivities around the source of its wealth may linger in these debates. But they suggest SA’s long-ignored golfing community may be less concerned with the death of Jamal Khashoggi, and more with the condition of a course.

Speirs said the opposition party maintained its anti-LIV stance while the rebel event “remains under the control of the Saudi regime, which is notorious for sports-washing in order to cover up the deplorable mistreatment and basic rights violations of women”. That position means, come 26 April, the spectre of Saudi Arabia’s influence will not have been extinguished entirely amid the beats and beers along Grange’s exclusive fairways. But, like Chase Koepka on last year’s party hole, that sentiment is likely to be drowned out.

• LIV Golf Series
• Saudi Arabia and sport
• Australia sport
• South Australia

Most viewed

This Is Going to Hurt writer Adam Kay tours Australia for first time with his diaries of a junior doctor

During the pandemic, former doctor Adam Kay tried to return to medicine.

Now a writer and comedian — best known for his bestselling memoir This Is Going to Hurt — Kay quit his job as a junior doctor in the UK in 2010 and his name was taken off the medical register five years later.

In 2020, when the National Health Service (NHS) called out for retired and former doctors to join the fight against COVID-19, he tried to re-join the profession.

"They had this hotline, and I phoned them up, and I told them everything I'd done and when I last worked, and they said, 'Thanks very much. We'll be in touch.' And then they emailed me a couple of weeks later saying, 'No, we're fine, thanks,'" Kay recalls.

"It was very insulting. Why didn't they want a labour-ward doctor who's not worked for a decade?" he adds, with a laugh.

While Kay may have been rejected by the NHS, he's been embraced by readers and audiences around the world: He embarks on his first Australian tour this month, playing sold-out theatres across the country.

This Is Going to Hurt is the basis of his live show, and comes off the back of February's free-to-air premiere of the TV adaptation, written by Kay and starring Ben Whishaw (Skyfall; Paddington).

Published in 2017, This Is Going to Hurt is a collection of diary entries written between 2004 and 2010. They detail his experiences as a young doctor specialising in obstetrics and gynaecology (or "brats and twats"): from the first caesarean section he performed; to the strange things people insert in their vaginas; to the toll being an overworked, underpaid doctor had on his personal relationships; through to the birth complication that led him to leave medicine for good.

The memoir is a passionate defence of the NHS, which at the same time highlights the systematic issues it faces — especially in terms of the wellbeing of healthcare staff.

A memoir about a junior doctor

When Kay set out to publish his diaries, he was working as a writer on TV comedies, and had performed sections of them at the Edinburgh Fringe. He never expected the book would resonate the way it did.

"I've been blown away with its success," says Kay.

"I think people are fascinated at peeking behind the blue curtain, knowing what a doctor's life involves, and also there's clearly an innate love of disgusting stories," he says.

"That all colluded to mean that lots of people bought it."

The book has sold more than 2.5 million copies and been translated into 37 languages.

"I thought I was writing a very parochial, particular story; it was just my story," Kay says.

But he soon started to get messages from doctors, not only from similar countries like Australia, New Zealand and Canada, but from Venezuela, Chad and Belarus.

"All these people said, 'This could be set on my ward.' And I think that's when I thought, 'I think I'm onto something here,'" he says.

"Because I'd been so open, which is something that doctors traditionally don't do, I became a bit of an agony uncle for medics … I was glad that they felt they could speak to me."

Turning a memoir into a TV series

The TV adaptation of This Is Going to Hurt premiered on the BBC in the UK and on Binge in Australia in 2022. The series not only follows a junior doctor called Adam Kay — a fictionalised version of the author, played by Whishaw — but trainee doctor Shruti Acharya (Ambika Mod from One Day ).

The series follows Adam as he battles professional complaints made against him — first by a patient and later by a colleague. Meanwhile Shruti struggles with her mental health and a lack of support from her colleagues and hospital administration.

"I wanted the TV show to have a point," he says.

"I wanted to focus it really firmly on the mental wellbeing of doctors. And I wanted it to be less gaggy and funny than the book, because I wanted people to lean in and take note.

"It's essentially a show about Shruti more than it is about Adam. And, sadly, Shruti is based on people who I knew."

In the UK, one doctor dies by suicide every three weeks, and a nurse takes their own life every three days.

"There can't now be many people who work in a clinical setting over here who don't know someone who's taken their own life," says Kay.

He wanted to make sure the message was not just "brushed under the carpet", as it usually is.

"I knew I'd reach a lot more people through a TV show — it got 10 million people watching that — and that's more than I'll reach in a lifetime of standing up on stage and writing books."

That means 10 million people also saw a version of Kay he cheerfully describes as an "arsehole": rude to patients and nurses, sarcastic, arrogant.

"I could have written the version where that character is a superhero, but that's very boring telly," says Kay.

"I wanted to show the pressures of the job and what that does not just to a relationship and family and friends, I wanted to see the destruction on the individual as well. It's impossible, really, to work a hundred hours a week and at the end of it be unscathed."

At the 2023 BAFTAs, the series earned Kay the award for writing for TV drama and Whishaw best leading actor. Kay dedicated his speech to junior doctors.

"I was paid 25 per cent more in real terms than junior doctors are paid today. And if the government don't sort that out, they've got the most enormous problem on their hands," he said.

Comedy during COVID

Instead of returning to the NHS during the pandemic, Kay continued to perform live comedy — or at least he tried to.

He tried Zoom gigs and even had a crack at performing at a COVID-safe event where the audience watched comedians from their cars, with their radios tuned to the right frequency.

"Instead of clapping or laughing, they would do the windscreen wipers or flash their lights. And that was so weird. It was like being a stand-up comedian car in the film Cars," he says.

"At that point, I sat it out until we were allowed into actual theatres again."

With live performances cancelled around the world, Kay says people started to realise how much they valued the arts in their lives — at the same time as casual workers in creative industries were shut off from receiving government suppor t.

"I'm not pretending it's the same as saving a life on a labour ward. But what is life for when it's stripped of [the arts]?"

At the same time as people were watching live comedy in their lounge rooms, they were also gaining a greater appreciation for healthcare staff. In the UK, many people participated in Clap for Our Carers, where people would applaud essential workers from their doorsteps.

"COVID crystallised in everyone's mind quite how important those jobs are, and how reliant we are on these people. [Though] not enough for the government to pay them anymore," he says.

But while people may appreciate the essential work of medical professionals more, Kay points out that budgets are more stretched now than they were in 2010, and that many doctors — like him — have left the field.

"Things are a lot tougher on the wards [now]," he says.

But Kay does think the industry has improved in terms of staff wellbeing. In 2019, the government launched a dedicated 24-hour helpdesk for doctors working across the country.

"Medicine can no longer get away with totally ignoring the concept of the wellbeing of its staff. They're not doing it well enough. But at least there's like some effort being made," he says.

"It's probably a kinder place than when I was working there."

'Culturally a doctor'

It took Kay a long time before he was comfortable calling himself a "writer". Yet even though he has started to put "writer" as his occupation on forms, part of him still sees himself as who he was.

"I consider myself culturally a doctor," he says.

"A lot of my friends are doctors. I still miss working as a doctor. I've got a lot of guilt about leaving medicine. People still text me their rashes. But I'm not a doctor. The reason that I applied to medicine in the first place to help people hasn't gone away: I've still got that in me somewhere."

He loves to perform on stage, and describes his live shows as a mix of stand-up and storytelling. What he loves even more is sitting at a table after a show signing books and talking to people — something he'll be doing on his Australian tour.

Usually, audiences approach him and say things like "This book helped me through this patch", or "This book put my child off studying medicine."

But recently his audiences in the UK have started to tell him a new story.

"I've had people come up to me, saying, 'You're not going to remember this person, but you delivered them 17 years ago.' Which is quite wild," he says.

"But it's also quite a good business model, isn't it: delivering your own audience."

Adam Kay: This Is Going to Hurt is at Melbourne International Comedy Festival from April 16-21, before touring to Sydney Comedy Festival, Brisbane Comedy Festival and Perth Comedy Festival.

• X (formerly Twitter)

Related Stories

Feeling overwhelmed by comedy festival season we asked our fave comedians who we should see.

Curb Your Enthusiasm is really over after 12 seasons, but we'll never forget these six eps

How Ramy Youssef got to the Oscars by being unapologetically himself

• Arts, Culture and Entertainment
• Autobiography
• Books (Literature)
• Comedy (Humour)
• Doctors and Medical Professionals
• Mount Lawley
• Non Fiction
• Stand-Up Comedy
• United Kingdom