Summary
of Tours, Dates and Prices
ALL
TOURS ARE FULLY ACCOMMODATED, NO CAMPING.
1st
of April every year the accommodation costs usually
rise slightly, while increase in fuel and flight
prices are unpredictable. I apologise in case
of any increase in tours costs.
Prices
are shown in Australian Dollars (except PNG tours)
and are subject to change and include:
All
meals / accommodation / transport / 10% GST (Goods
& Services Tax) / some flights / guided tours
/ permit fees / boat cruises
Only
tours with at least one vacancy are shown below,
but please check the 'last updated' on the front
page.
Most
tours have 4 guests minimum, 6 guests maximum
Tour
Dates & Prices |
|
Cape
York Bird Week
(8
days)
4th
- 11th January, 2013
Cost:
Twin share/double $
3415.00
+ flights (approx. $ 680.00)
Single supplement $ 567.00
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Gulf
& Inland Bird Tour
(13 days)
25th
of July - 6th August, 2012
Cost:
Twin share/double $ 4867.00
Single supplement $ 645.00
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Iron
Range Tour
(6 days)
5.12.
- 10.12. 2012
Twin
Share/Double only
Cost:
$2464.00 + flights
(approx.
$ 730.00)
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Iron
Range Tour
(8 days)
8.6.
- 15.6. 2012
27.8.
- 3.9. 2012
11.10.
- 18.10. 2012
9.11.
- 16.11. 2012
Cost:
Twin
Share only, $ 2992.00 +
flight (approx. $
365.00)
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Black
Grasswren Tour
(13 days)
17.9.
- 29.9. 2012
Cost:
Twin
share/double $ 5869.00
Single supplement $ 795.00
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Golden
Bowerbird Tour
(6
days)
24.10.
- 29.10. 2012.
Cost:
Twin
share / double $ 1943.00
single supplement $ 380.00
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|
18.6.
- 30.6. 2012
Cost:
Twin
share / double $ 4365.00 +flight
(approx. $ 365.00)
single supplement $ 430.00
(except at Archer River & Iron Range)
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Papua
New Guinea Bird Tour
(16
days + extension to New Britain Island)
Currently
not offered
Cost
are in US Dollars
twin
share/double: $ 6735.00
Single supplement: $ 880.00
Flights
are not included,
approximately US $ 1655.00
New
Britain Extension
twin
share/double: $ 2232.00
Single supplement: $ 120.00
Flights are not included,
approximately US $ 490.00
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Papua New Guinea Island Boat Tour (17 days)
Walindi
(New Britain Island) - Wasu on the Huon Peninsula, Manus,
Tong, Mussau,Tench, New Hanover, New Ireland and Djaul
Island - Rabaul
8
guests minimum, 10 maximum
In addition to our usual PNG Bird Tour, Kirrama Wildlife
Tours is offering a boat tour that will visit key islands
of the Bismarck Archipelago and the mountains of New
Guinea's Huon Peninsula. The purpose of this tour is
to observe birds that are endemic to those remote locations.
The
tour starts on the island of West New Britain where
our accommodation will be at Walindi Plantation Resort.
After birding this area we embark the MV FeBrina (www.febrina.com),
our comfortable air-conditioned accommodation for the
rest of the tour, except for one night on New Ireland.
We then depart for Wasu, situated on the north coast
of the Huon Peninsula. After birding the Wasu hinterland
the next port of call is Manus Island, followed by Tong,
Mussau, Tench, New Hanover, New Ireland and Djaul Island.
The tour ends at Rabaul, East New Britain.
Among
the birds we will be seeking during the tour are Beck's
Petrel, Heinroth's Shearwater, New Britain Buzzard,
Melanesian Scrubfowl, Yellow-legged Pigeon, Pied Cuckoo-dove,
Nicobar Pigeon, Yellow-bibbed & Red-knobbed Fruit-doves,
Pacific, Red-knobbed, Finsch's, Island & Black Imperial-pigeons,
Blue-eyed Cockatoo, White-naped Lory, Red-chinned Lorikeet,
Meek's & Green Pygmy-parrots, Song Parrot, Bismarck
Hanging-parrot, Violaceous & Pied Coucals, Manus,
New Britain & New Ireland Boobooks, Bismarck &
White-mantled Kingfishers, Black-headed Paradise-kingfisher,
Superb Pitta, Manus Cuckoo-shrike, Mussau Triller, Bismarck,
Admiralty & Mussau Rufous Fantails, New Ireland
Drongo, Bismarck, Djaul, Admiralty & Mussau Pied
Monarchs, Lesser Shining Flycatcher, New Britain, New
Ireland & Manus Friarbirds, Huon Wattled & Spangled
Honeyeaters, Ashy, Bismarck Black, New Britain Red-headed,
New Ireland & Scarlet-bibbed Myzomela Honeyeaters,
Bismarck Flowerpecker, Black-headed White-eye, Hunstein's,
New Ireland & Buff-bellied Mannikins, Atoll Starling,
Melanesian Myna, White-backed Wood-swallow, Huon Astrapia,
Wahnes' Parotia and Emperor Bird of Paradise. During
the tour we expect to list more than 200 species.
Cape
York Bird Week (8 days)
Cairns -
Bamaga - Cairns (fly/fly)
21 birdwatchers
maximum
7 birdwatchers
- 1 guide (Klaus) / 7 - 14 birdwatchers - 2 guides (Klaus
& Lloyd) / 14 - 21 birdwatchers (Klaus, Lloyd &
special guest guide)
This annual event takes place at Seisia Holiday Park,
which is 33 km south of the Tip of Cape York, the northernmost
point of the Australian Mainland. The Bird Week is timed
just before the wet season and after the arrival of
the last migrant from New Guinea, the beautiful Red-bellied
Pitta. Only then are all migrants from New Guinea present,
plus the other endemic birds of the upper Cape York
region, including two species of Birds of Paradise.
South-Western
Endemics Tour (12 days)
Perth - Rottness Island - Armadale - Dryandra - Stirling
Range - Two People Bay - Armadale
8 birdwatchers
maximum
This
tour concentrates on the endemics and specialties of
this region, which include some of the most beautiful
parrots and cockatoos, and in the south-west the three
difficult birds (Western Bristlebird, Noisy Scrubbird
and Western Whipbird). In regards to parrots, lorikeets
and cockatoos we have the chance of seeing 17 species.
We also look for the introduced birds, which can’t
be found easily anywhere else. Numbats and Bilbies have
also been seen on this tour.
The
itinerary is set out to give us a chance of multiple
sightings, as some species can be difficult to find,
depending on water and food supply, which are unpredictable.
The tour does not concentrate on waders, shorebirds
and pelagics, but of course when encountered we don't
ignore them.
Gulf
and Inland Bird Tour (13 days)
Mt Isa - Lawn Hill National Park - Karumba - Cloncurry
- Mt Isa
6 birdwatchers maximum
The
distance from Cairns to Mt Isa is about 1400 km. Only
the main highways are sealed, and once away from the
city you are again in the 'outback'. In these arid regions
during an Inland Bird Tour birding takes place mainly
near dams, lakes, rivers and creeks.
The
Kalkadoon and Carpentarian Grasswrens are some of the
highlights of this region, but there are plenty more
exiting birds around like the Purple-crowned Fairy-wrens,
Painted Finches, Spinifex Pigeons, Spinifexbirds, Rufous-crowned
Emu-Wrens, Sandstone Shrike-thrushes, Black-tailed Treecreepers
and Ground Cuckoo-shrikes.
The
mangroves at the coast of the Gulf are great for Red-headed
Honeyeaters, White-breasted Whistlers, Broad-billed
Flycatchers and Mangrove Golden Whistlers plus an assortment
of Terns, Waders and Waterbirds. This is also one of
the few regions in Australia where Star Finches can
occur.
Golden-shouldered
Parrot Tour (5 days)
Cairns -
Musgrave - Lakefield National Park - Kingfisher Park
(Julatten) - Cairns (Mini-Bus)
6 birdwatchers maximum
The
Golden-shouldered Parrot is one of the endangered birds
of Australia and endemic to the Musgrave area on Cape
York Peninsula. Only some 150 pairs are estimated to
live in that region.
We
search for these parrots and other birds in the vast
Lakefield National Park. At Kingfisher Park Birdwatcher's
Lodge and nearby forests on Mt Lewis we look for the
endemic highland birds plus the boat cruise with Chris
Dahlberg shows us birds at the Daintree River. The Golden-shouldered
Parrot Tour is a short tour and a great supplement to
your visit to North Queensland.
Golden
Bowerbird Tour (6 days)
Cairns -
Kingfisher Park (Julatten) - Yungaburra (Tablelands)
- Mission Beach - Cairns
6 birdwatchers maximum
The Wet Tropics World Heritage area between Cooktown
and Townsville is one of the best and most famous birding
regions in Australia. 14 species of birds are endemic
to the highland and lowland rainforests, which receive
the highest rainfall of the Australian mainland. That
accounts for its natural beauty, clear rivers and creeks
with Platypus and a large number of endemic frogs and
possums.
Habitats
include woodland and swamps, but we mainly concentrate
on lowland and highland rainforests, plus birds at the
Daintree River on the famous Chris Dahlberg dawn cruise.
The Golden Bowerbird only occurs above 800 meters sea
level.
North
Queensland Bird Tour (11 days)
Cairns -
Musgrave - Lakefield N.P. - Julatten - Atherton Tablelands
- Georgetown - Undara - Mission Beach - Cairns (Mini-Bus)
6 birdwatchers maximum
A
high number of species are seen on the North Queensland
Bird Tour, which covers an area of about 350 km around
Cairns, which includes the Atherton Tablelands, Musgrave,
Georgetown and Mission Beach regions. These are the
important key areas for Australian birds.
The
diversity of habitats in this region makes birdwatching
very versatile and enjoyable, and specially the Tablelands
offers a high number of endemic birds. Cairns is now
a major tourist attraction, situated close to World
Heritage Rainforests and the Great Barrier Reef. Most
roads are sealed and accommodation is of good to high
standard.
Papua
New Guinea Bird Tour (16 days + extension)
Port Moresby
- Kiunga - Tabubil (Ok Tedi Valley) - Mt Hagen (Kumul
Lodge) - Tari (Ambua Lodge) - Port Moresby
Optional
extension: Port Moresby – New Britain Island -
Port Moresby
(fly & drive)
8 birdwatchers minimum / 12 birdwatchers maximum
Our tour will begin in Port Moresby where we will stay
for two nights. We will visit hill forest habitat in
Varirata National Park to look for Raggiana Bird of
Paradise and Hooded Pitohui, plus other birds. We will
also visit eucalypt savanna and the Pacific Adventist
University grounds to look for various species including
Orange-fronted Fruit-dove, Fawn breasted Bowerbird,
Spotted Whistling-duck and Grey headed Mannikin.
From
Port Moresby we will fly to Tari where we will transfer
to the world famous Ambua Lodge, situated at the edge
of montane forest at an altitude of 2130 m (7000 ft).
Here we look for birds in the surrounding forest, ranging
up to Tari Gap, and also in the Tari Valley. The many
special birds present in this splendid area include
New Guinea Eagle, Papuan Lorikeet, Whiskered Lorikeet,
Brehm's Tiger parrot, Blue capped Ifrita, Spotted Jewel
babbler, Wattled Ploughbill, Belford's Honeyeater, Red
collared Myzomela, Crested Berrypecker, Archbold's Bowerbird,
Loria's Bird of Paradise, Crested Bird of Paradise,
Short tailed Paradigalla, Ribbon tailed Astrapia, Stephanie's
Astrapia, Brown and Black Sicklebill, Lawes' Parotia,
King of Saxony Bird of Paradise, Superb Bird of Paradise
and Blue Bird of Paradise.
Following
our stay at Ambua Lodge we will transfer to Tari and
then return to Port Moresby for our flight to Mount
Hagen, where we will transfer to Kumul Lodge, which
is located in cool upper montane forest at an altitude
of 2800 m (9200 ft) and offers excellent birding. Birds
to be found in this area include Papuan Lorikeet, Whiskered
Lorikeet, Orange billed Lorikeet, Painted Tiger-parrot,
Mountain Nightjar, Blue-capped Ifrita, Dimorphic Fantail,
White-winged Robin, Rufous-naped Whistler, Belford's
Honeyeater, Ornate Honeyeater, Crested Berrypecker,
Mountain Firetail, Yellow-breasted Bowerbird, Crested
Bird of Paradise, Ribbon-tailed Astrapia, Brown Sicklebill,
Superb Bird of Paradise and Blue Bird of Paradise.
We
fly from Mt Hagen to Tabubil in the Ok Tedi Valley where
we will stay for two nights. Here we will explore the
hill and lower montane forests for a range of species
including Salvadori's Teal, Blue collared Parrot, Stout-billed
Cuckoo shrike, Obscure Berrypecker, Carola's Parotia,
and Magnificent and Greater Birds of Paradise.
The
road trip takes us to Kiunga, a port town located on
the upper Fly River not far from the Irian Jaya border
and surrounded by a vast expanse of lowland rainforest
and swamp forest. We will stay for four nights in the
Kiunga area, including a trip by boat up the Elevala
River, where we will look for birds in the surrounding
forests. Southern Crowned Pigeon, Palm Cockatoo, Pesquet's
(Vulturine) Parrot, Little Paradise kingfisher, White
bellied Pitohui, Flame Bowerbird, and Twelve wired,
King and Greater Birds of Paradise are just some of
the many splendid species resident in this wonderful
area.
Following our stay at Kiunga the tour ends in Port Moresby.
The
optional extension starts with the afternoon
flight to New Britain Island.
Walindi Plantation Resort is located on New Britain,
the largest island in the Bismarck Archipelago. Here
are found a number species that are endemic: (i) to
the islands of Northern Melanesia, (ii) to the Bismarck
Archipelago, and (iii) to New Britain. At Walindi we
will look for birds in nearby forested and marine areas.
Species to be found here include Melanesian Scrubfowl,
New Britain Buzzard, Red-knobbed Fruit-dove, Red-knobbed
Imperial-pigeon, Blue-eyed Cockatoo, Eastern Black-capped
Lory, Violaceous Coucal, Pied Coucal, Black-headed Paradise-kingfisher,
White-mantled Kingfisher, Bismarck Pied Monarch, Ashy
Honeyeater, Bismarck Flowerpecker, Buff-bellied Mannikin
and White-backed Wood-swallow.
We
will also visit two or three small islands in Kimbe
Bay to look for small-island specialists, including
Nicobar Pigeon, Beach Kingfisher and Island Monarch.
Black
Grasswren Tour (13 days)
Darwin -
Kakadu National Park - Katherine - Darwin - Kununurra
- Lake Argyle - Kununurra - Darwin (drive / fly)
11 birdwatchers maximum.
A
well-known highlight in northern Australia for birdwatchers
is Kakadu National Park near Darwin in the Northern
Territory as part of the Great Northern Bird Tour and
Black Grasswren Tour. In late winter to early summer
the few remaining lagoons attract a vast number of waterbirds,
and the escarpment and monsoon forests offer interesting
and often endemic birds. Kakadu, Darwin and Katherine
are well developed and have great accommodation.
The
Black Grasswren Tour ends in the Kimberley, after the
northern part of Northern Territory, where we fly by
light plane into the Mitchell Plateau and transfer by
helicopter right to the area of the Black Grasswren.
This avoids travelling on one of the roughest roads
for two days, and you get a scenic flight at the same
time.
Iron
Range Bird Tour (8 days)
Cairns -
Musgrave - Lakefield National Park - Iron Range - Cairns
(fly / drive)
6 birdwatchers maximum
The distance by road from Cairns to Iron Range on Cape
York is about 800 km, almost all of it unsealed and
rugged. During summer (wet season) the river and creek
crossings make this journey, even by 4WD vehicle, virtually
impossible. Consequently, during this time of the year
only fly/fly tours take place.
Accommodation
on Cape York is often basic in roadhouses or guesthouses.
It's definitely worthwhile to visit these area, as birds
like Palm Cockatoos, Eclectus Parrots, Magnificent Riflebirds
and many more are only found in New Guinea and here
in the upper Cape York region.
We
also watch the birds of Lakefield National Park and
the Golden-shouldered Parrot on this tour. On an Iron
Range Tour we average about 170 - 200 bird species.
Iron
Range Bird Tour (6 days)
Cairns -
Iron Range - Cairns (fly / fly)
Special
Tour for the summer migrants from New Guinea with the
best chance of seeing all endemic birds and more at
Iron Range.
Northern Endemics Tour (13 days)
Cairns -
Iron Range - Archer River - Musgrave - Kingfisher Lodge
(Julatten) - Yungaburra - Mission Beach - Cairns (Fly/Drive)
6 birdwatchers maximum
This tour covers the most important key areas of North
Queensland with the chance of seeing all endemic birds
on one tour.
Iron
Range is our first destination, and this National Park
is one of the important birding locations in Australia.
Eclectus Parrots, Red-cheeked Parrots and Green-backed
Honeyeaters are only found in this region, plus the
other endemic birds of upper Cape York, which also occur
in New Guinea.
We
then travel south and spend some time around Musgrave
and Lakefield National Park, where Black-backed Butcherbird,
Golden-shouldered Parrot, Star Finches and many more
are the highlights, plus a chance to see the Red Goshawk,
Australia's rarest Raptor.
The
Wet Tropics World Heritage area between Cooktown and
Townsville is one of the best and most famous birding
regions in Australia. 14 species of birds are endemic
to the highland and lowland rainforests.
Kingfisher
Park Birdwatcher's Lodge and the birdwatching cruise
on the Daintree are important features of this comprehensive
tour.
Great Northern Bird Tour (17 days)
*** Presently
not offered ***
Cairns -
Atherton Tablelands - Mission Beach - Bamaga (Cape York)
- Darwin - Kakadu National Park - Katherine - Darwin.
(fly / drive)
8 birdwatchers maximum
The
Great Northern Bird Tour covers a huge area with the
potential to see virtually every northern endemic bird
and has definitely the highest bird count of about 270
- 300 species. This tour is highly recommended for overseas
birdwatchers.
The
first part of the Great Northern Bird Tour takes place
in the Atherton Tablelands, at Bamaga on Cape York and
in Mission Beach and includes an all-day excursion for
seabirds and snorkelling at the Great Barrier Reef.
The
second part includes Darwin, Kakadu National Park and
the Katherine area. We concentrate on all endemic birds
of this region. A well-known highlight in northern Australia
for birdwatchers is Kakadu National Park near Darwin
as part of the Great Northern Bird Tour and Black Grasswren
Tour.
In
late winter to early summer the few remaining lagoons
attract a vast number of waterbirds, and the escarpment
and monsoon forests offer interesting and often endemic
birds. Kakadu, Darwin and Katherine are well developed
and have great accommodation for us to choose from.
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