Journey through Western Australia's northern wheatbelt and Coral Coast to discover WA mulga honeyeaters and rare inland specialists not found on Inala's southern endemics tour. This 8-day extension explores the arid interior's mulga woodlands, samphire flats, and coastal heathlands from Perth to Mount Magnet and Kalbarri National Park. Target species include the elusive Grey Honeyeater, endemic Western Quail-thrush, Western Bowerbird, and distinctive subspecies of Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (subsp naso & samueli), Western Corella (subsp derbyi), Southern Whiteface (subsp castaneiventris) and Rufous Fieldwren (subsp wayensis). The tour traverses diverse habitats from Perth's urban wetlands through flowering sand plain heath to mulga-dominated interior landscapes, then west to the Coral Coast's spectacular wildflower displays. Led by Inala Nature Tours' specialist guides with knowledge of Western Australia's arid-zone birds, this pre-tour extension perfectly complements the SW Australia Endemics Tour by accessing completely different habitats and species.
The northern wheatbelt's mulga woodlands support a unique assemblage of arid-adapted specialists. The tour's primary WA mulga honeyeater target, Grey Honeyeater, ranks among Australia's rarest and most sought-after species, inhabiting dense mulga dominated by Acacia species with flowering Eremophila and Grevillea shrubs. The endemic Western Quail-thrush, a WA specialty, skulks in stony mulga habitat requiring patient searching. Western Bowerbird builds elaborate bower structures in thick mulga, while Slaty-backed Thornbill and Banded Whiteface frequent samphire and salt lake margins.
Bourke's Parrot emerges at dusk to drink at isolated water sources, joined by Mulga Parrot and colorful flocks of Budgerigar and Cockatiel. Different mulga-dwelling subspecies include Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Western Corella, Southern Whiteface), and Rufous Fieldwren. Nomadic honeyeaters including Pied, Black, and White-fronted respond to flowering cycles in Eremophila shrubs. Kalbarri National Park's coastal heathlands showcase endemic Western Spinebill and Western Wattlebird among profuse wildflower displays, alongside Blue-breasted Fairywren and Western Yellow Robin. Perth's wetlands provide exceptional waterbird watching including Blue-billed Duck, Musk Duck, and various crakes. The Lancelin coast offers seabird specialties including Common Noddy, Bridled Tern, Roseate Tern, and Rock Parrot.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
This extension tour includes small group sizes (maximum 6-8 participants with one guide, or 9-12 with two guides), ensuring personalised attention in remote mulga habitats where patience and local knowledge are essential. All accommodation is carefully selected in regional centres. Inala Nature Tours provides expert specialist guides with extensive experience in Western Australia's arid-zone birds and rare mulga specialists, supported by comprehensive transport suitable for accessing remote water sources and flowering areas.
All meals are included (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), with packed lunches for field days maximizing time searching for Grey Honeyeater and other targets. National park entry fees and special activities are included. This tour is specifically designed to complement the South Western Australia Endemic Birds & Wildlife Tour, accessing completely different habitats and species to provide a comprehensive Western Australian birding experience.
Who is this tour for?
This tour is perfect for serious birders seeking rare mulga specialists, subspecies enthusiasts interested in potential future splits, wildflower photographers during peak spring blooming, and anyone wanting to extend their Western Australian experience beyond the southern endemic birds.
Temperature: 18-28°C (September-October), warm days in mulga country with cooler coastal conditions, mild spring weather ideal for walking
Rainfall: Very low, typically dry conditions with minimal precipitation, though spring rains may trigger flowering
Sunshine: 9-10 hours daily with clear skies, excellent visibility for raptor watching and scanning for honeyeaters
Contact us if combining this tour with the South Western Australia Endemic Birds & Wildlife Tour
This itinerary has been designed to adjoin our:
This itinerary has been designed to adjoin our:
Birds: Western Quail-thrush, Western Bowerbird, Slaty-backed Thornbill, Bourke’s and Rock Parrots, Grey Honeyeater, Black-breasted Buzzard, Orange and Crimson Chats, White-browed Treecreeper, Gilbert’s Whistler, Southern Scrub-robin, Redthroat, and different races of Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (race samueli), Western Corella (race derbyi), Southern Whiteface (race castaneiventris) and Rufous Fieldwren (ssp wayensis).
Today has been set aside as an arrival day so you are free to arrive at any time that suits your travel plans. You are to make your own way to the hotel (the hotel does provide a transfer service from Perth airport) and we will meet at the hotel at 7.00pm for a brief orientation and welcome dinner. Please note that no activities have been planned for today.
Accommodation: Perth (en suite rooms)
Meals included: D
We start today by visiting one or two of the many wetlands around Perth, then drive to Dalwallinu. Herdsman Lake has the best variety of waterbirds including Blue-billed Duck and Musk Duck, as well as Swamp Harrier and Australian Hobby. If the water levels are suitable, we will visit another nearby lake to look for more waterbirds including crakes. We will also visit the nest site of some White-backed Swallows which hopefully will be present. The drive to Dalwallinu is nearly 3 hours.
Accommodation: Hotel in Dalwallinu (en suite rooms)
Meals included: B L D
Today we continue our travels inland and North to Mount Magnet. Past Wubin we pass through an area of sand plain heath which should have extensive flowering. We will look out for Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (subsp samueli), Western Corella (subsp derbyi), and Black-breasted Buzzard. En route to Mount Magnet we have chances Bourke’s Parrot, Mulga Parrot, Banded Lapwing and Black-tailed Native-hen. If we have time, we may make a diversion to look for Grey Honeyeater, Mulga Parrot, Little Woodswallow, Orange Chat and Crimson Chat. We could get lucky and find Pink Cockatoo out here too.
If the weather allows, we will try to access a river with a series of pools lined with thick, flowering vegetation located to the south-east of Mt Magnet. We will target White-browed Treecreeper, Gilbert’s Whistler, Southern Scrub-robin, Mistletoebird and any honeyeaters in the flowering vegetation. We may even have the opportunity to look for Western Quail-thrush.
Tonight is the first of a two-night stay in Mount Magnet.
Accommodation: Mount Magnet (en suite cabin)
Meals included: B L D
Today we bird several different habitats north of Mt Magnet, including samphire, salt lakes, a freshwater lake, more mulga and stony plains. We will target Banded Whiteface, Bourke’s Parrot, Slaty-backed Thornbill, Orange Chat, Redthroat, Slender-billed Thornbill (subsp iredalei), White-winged Fairywren, Chiming Wedgebill, Western Bowerbird, Little Button-quail, Black- tailed Native-hen, Red-kneed Dotterel, White-necked Heron, Little Woodswallow, White- backed Swallow, Red-backed Kingfisher and Rufous Fieldwren (subsp wayensis). We should add to our list of raptors including Spotted Harrier.
Accommodation: Mount Magnet (en suite cabin)
Meals included: B L D
Today is our last exploration of the mulga. The mulga habitat is dominated by several species of Acacia plus flowering plants such as Eremophila and Grevillea. This is where we will find many species that do not occur in the southwest, and we will specifically look for the rather rare Grey Honeyeater in mulga-dominate habitats, as well Western Quail-thrush, which is a WA endemic.
Other special birds out here include Emu, Budgerigar, Cockatiel, Mulga Parrot, Diamond Dove, Crimson Chat, Black-eared Cuckoo, Pied Butcherbird, Zebra Finch, Common Bronzewing, Pallid Cuckoo, Crested Bellbird, Brown Songlark, Masked Woodswallow, Purple-backed Fairywren, Chestnut-rumped Thornbill, Southern Whiteface, White-winged Triller, Red-capped Robin, Hooded Robin, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, White-browed Babbler and Grey-crowned Babbler. If the eremophilas or grevilleas are flowering we will look for White-fronted Honeyeater, Black Honeyeater and Pied Honeyeater.
Today we travel towards the coast leaving the mulga habitat and passing through eucalypt woodland before reaching coastal vegetation and Geraldton.
Accommodation: Geraldton (en suite room)
Meals included: B L D
We drive 1.5 hours north to Kalbarri at the mouth of the Murchison River. We will spend much of the time in the heathland of Kalbarri National Park where there should be a profusion of flowers attracting honeyeaters including the WA endemic Western Spinebill and Western Wattlebird, as well as Tawny-crowned Honeyeater, White-cheeked Honeyeater and chances of the nomadic Pied Honeyeater, Black Honeyeater and White-fronted Honeyeater.
There are good chances of Blue-breasted Fairywren and Western Yellow Robin. Other birds in the area include Rufous (Western) Fieldwren (subsp montanellus) – a possible future split, Rainbow Bee-eater, White-plumed Honeyeater, Peaceful Dove, Hooded Robin, Southern Scrub-robin, cuckoos and a variety of raptors, hopefully including Square-tailed Kite. En route back to Geraldton, we may visit a saltworks where we may find Banded Stilt and Red-necked Avocet.
Accommodation: Geraldton (en suite room)
Meals included: B L D
Today we begin our return to Perth, birding en route with a stop in Lancelin on the way. There is a 3 hour drive to Lancelin where we will look for Common Noddy, Bridled Tern, Roseate Tern, Fairy Tern and Rock Parrot. Between Lancelin and Perth, we will look out for Carnaby’s (Short- billed) Black-Cockatoo and Western Corella.
This will also be the arrival day of the main tour, so we will meet up with the participants that are joining us for the south-western Australian tour at the hotel at 7pm for a welcome dinner.
Accommodation: Perth (en suite rooms)
Meals included: B L D
Those continuing on the South-Western Australian Tour will be heading to Cheynes Beach after an early breakfast. (see SW tour itinerary for details)
Those who are not continuing on tour will make their own arrangements for departing Perth.
Accommodation: none
Meals included: B
Accommodation as per the itinerary, specialist guide and transport, meals, entrance fees and activities as mentioned in the itinerary.
International and domestic airfares, alcoholic beverages, snacks, internet, laundry or other items of a personal nature.
Group size: 6 to 9 participants with one guide or 9 to 12 participants with 2 guides.
Meals and drinks: Breakfast generally consists of a continental style breakfast with cereal, fruit and yoghurt and tea/coffee. Full cooked breakfast is not generally offered at most locations. Lunch will generally consist of a packed lunch style meal eaten in the field, with sandwich/filled roll, fruit, and a drink. Dinner usually consists of several options for main with the choice of either an appetiser or dessert. Drinks (soft and alcoholic) are generally not included but at lunches and breakfasts juice may be made available.
The itinerary: Whilst we aim to follow the itinerary as planned, please note that the itinerary provided should only be used as a guideline. Depending on individual trip circumstances, weather, and local information, the exact itinerary may not be strictly adhered to. The guides reserve the right to make changes to the itinerary as they see fit
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Inala Nature
320 Cloudy Bay Road, Lunawanna
South Bruny Island 7150
Tasmania, Australia
Phone: +61 3 6293 1217
Inala Nature acknowledge and pay respects to the palawa people as the traditional and original owners, and continuing custodians of this land, lutruwita, and acknowledges Elders - past and present. Inala Nature Tours and the Inala Foundation Inc are located on lunawanna- alonnah, also known as Bruny Island, the traditional land of the Nuenonne people.
