This nine-day tour is designed to target far North Queensland in the Wet Season where we have the best chance of a small number of very special migrants from Papua New Guinea, birds that have a short migration window and which visit our shores for a few months only.
We take in the lowland rainforests of the incomparable Kituni-Payamu (Iron Range National Park), followed by a couple of days in the Wet Tropics, just inland from Port Douglas.
The birds we will be seeking in Kituni-Payamu are the Papuan Pitta (Erythropitta macklotii), Black-winged Monarch and Buff-breasted Paradise-kingfisher. The kingfisher can also be found in the Wet Tropics further south and we’ll have a chance for them there too. Of course, there is a suite of additional amazing birds in this region that we’ll also target, like Palm Cockatoo, Eclectus Parrot, Magnificent Riflebird, Frill-necked Monarch, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Trumpet Manucode and Northern Scrub-robin, to name a few. Several of the species at the tip of Cape York occur no further south, as well as in Papua New Guinea, and represent an ancient avifauna that harks back to the last Ice Age, when there was a land bridge between Australia and PNG.
Around the Wet Tropics area our main target is Blue-faced Parrot-finch, at that time of year found in the highland rainforests. Here we will also look for other high-altitude specialties like Golden Bowerbird, Victoria’s Riflebird, Tooth-billed Bowerbird, Bridled Honeyeater and Fernwren, amongst others.
Price is based on 4 guests on tour.
The birds we will be seeking in Kituni-Payamu are the Papuan Pitta (Erythropitta macklotii), Black-winged Monarch and Buff-breasted Paradise-kingfisher.
Additional amazing birds in this region that we’ll also target, like Palm Cockatoo, Eclectus Parrot, Magnificent Riflebird, Frill-necked Monarch, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Trumpet Manucode and Northern Scrub-robin, to name a few.
We will meet in Cairns this afternoon and check in to our accommodation. If time allows, we can have a look along the Esplanade for shorebirds and other tropical species. In the evening we will enjoy dinner at a local restaurant before retiring early in readiness for start of the tour tomorrow.
Accommodation: Cairns hotel (en suite rooms)
Meals included: D
Today we’ll head up onto the Tablelands ‘behind’ Cairns. We’ll look for birds en route and head up into some high attitude rainforest to target Blue-faced Parrot-finch, as well as Victoria’s Riflebird, Golden Bowerbird, Fernwren, Tooth-billed Bowerbird, Atherton Scrubwren, Bower’s Shrike-thrush, Pied Monarch, Mountain Thornbill, Tooth-billed Bowerbird, Bridled Honeyeater, Spotted Catbird, Lovely Fairywren and Macleay’s Honeyeater. Other species in the area include Pale-vented Bush-hen, Red-necked Crake, Double-eyed Fig-parrot (race macleayana), Barred Cuckoo-shrike, Cotton & Green Pygmy-goose, White-browed Crake, Great Bowerbird, Northern Fantail, Black Bittern, Grey Whistler, Black-faced, Spectacled & White-eared Monarchs and White-cheeked, Lewin’s, Scarlet, White-throated & Brown-backed Honeyeaters.
At night we can try for Lesser Sooty Owl and possibly the rainforest-inhabiting lurida race of Australian Boobook, known as Little Red Boobook. Nocturnal mammals include a range of different possums like Green Ringtail, Striped, Lemuroid, Herbert River Ringtail Possums and Long-tailed Pygmy-possum, and gliders such as Yellow-bellied and Sugar Glider.
Accommodation: Atherton Tablelands for 2 nights (en suite cabins)
Meals included: B L D
Today we will bird our way down from the Atherton tablelands to Cairns targeting any birds we may not have managed on the previous days.
Accommodation: Cairns
Meals included: B L D
Today we will board a flight to Lockhart River on the boundary of one of Australia’s most treasured, yet remote, birding destinations: Kituni-Payamu, which is home to a host of range restricted species found nowhere else in the country. On arrival we will collect our vehicle and settle into our accommodation. If time allows, we’ll head off into the national park for a look around, hopefully picking up a few birds including Black-winged Monarch, Trumpet Manucode, Fawn-breasted Bowerbird, Yellow-billed Kingfisher and hopefully, hear a Papuan Pitta calling.
Accommodation: Portland Roads House (shared toilet/bathroom)
Meals included: B L D
We have 3 full days to search the environs of the Iron Range NP, searching for the migrant Papuan Pitta, Black-winged Monarch & Buff-breasted Paradise-kingfishers. Other specialties of the area include Magnificent Riflebird, Noisy Scrub-robin, Palm Cockatoo, Red-cheeked & Eclectus Parrots, Trumpet Manucode, Black-eared Catbird, Frill-necked Monarch, Fawn-breasted Bowerbird, Green-backed, Cryptic, Tawny-breasted & White-streaked Honeyeaters, White-faced Robin, Yellow-legged Flyrobin, Tropical Scrubwren, Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo, Double-eyed Fig-parrot (race marshalli), Noisy Pitta, Fairy Gerygone (race personata), Spectacled Monarch (race albiventer), Shining Flycatcher, Pied Heron, Black-naped, Sooty & Lesser Crested Terns, Great & Lesser Frigatebird and Spotted Whistling-duck.
At night we’ll try for a few night-birds like Marbled Frogmouth, Large-tailed Nightjar and Rufous Owl, as well as some mammals found nowhere else but here and PNG, such as Common Cuscus and Spotted Cuscus. The incredible Green Tree Python is also a possibility in the rainforest, as well as Spotted Python, Amethystine Python, Brown-headed Snake and Orange-naped Snake.
Accommodation: Portland Roads House (shared toilet/bathroom) for 3 additional nights
Meals included: B L D each day
This morning we will depart Lockhart River on a flight back to Cairns airport where the tour will end.
Accommodation: None
Meals included: B
All accommodation as per the itinerary, specialist guide and transport, return flight between Cairns to Lockhart River, all meals, entrance fees and activities as mentioned in the above itinerary. Includes GST.
Airfares other than the Cairns - Lockhart River return flights, airport transfers, alcoholic beverages, snacks, internet, tips, laundry or other items of a personal nature.
Jan 2024 Trip Report
Summer Migrants - Cape York & Wet Tropics -Trip Report
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.
Remoteness: Please note that for much of this tour we will be birding in a wonderful yet remote part of Australia. Most of the roads are unsealed and rough and travel will be in 4WD vehicles. If you have medical conditions or health concerns, it is important you make us aware of these in advance of this tour.
There are terms and conditions relating to payments, cancellations, refunds, insurance and responsibility for our tours.
Inala Nature
320 Cloudy Bay Road, Lunawanna
South Bruny Island 7150
Tasmania, Australia
Travel Vault policy certificate number:
EV2203UKFI0166
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.
