O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat, Lamington National Park

Located in World Heritage listed Lamington National Park, Gold Coast Hinterland, O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, Mountain Villas and Lost World Spa provides the perfect escape to relax, revive and rejuvenate. Escape to a world of lush subtropical rainforest, home to over 250 species of Australian bird and wild life – unique to this region.

O’Reilly’s provides a true nature lovers paradise and the perfect escape to reconnect with nature. Owned and operated by the O’Reilly family, O’Reilly’s has become legendary for providing traditional Australian hospitality for over 80 years. O’Reilly’s has Advanced Eco-accreditation and a full ‘Discovery Program’ of guided rainforest tours operates daily. Choose from the traditional warmth and charm of O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat or the private luxury of our new 2 or 3 bedroom, self-contained Mountain Villas with rainforest or mountain views.

To complement the wonder of the rainforest, each November O’Reilly’s plays host to their internationally renowned Annual Bird Week. The popularity of this week continues to grow and it is now in its 33rd year. During this week we meet new friends, share a chat, a cup of billy tea and discover a world with the easy pace and values of years past. Guided walks and bus trips with experienced leaders will be arranged to spots where birds of interest have been seen previously.

O’Reilly’s... where good things just come naturally.

For more information please contact:

O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, Mountain Villas and Lost World Spa
Lamington National Park Road
via Canungra
QLD 4275

E: reservations@oreillys.com.au
T: +61 7 5502 4911
F: +61 7 5502 0988
W: http://www.oreillys.com.au

Mount Clunie Cabins 2 hours from Brisbane

At the foot of World Heritage listed Mount Clunie Flora Reserve, comfy self-contained cabins (both sleeping 6) make the perfect base from which to enjoy an amazing spectacle of sky, mountains and forest.

Help add to our bird list of over 160 species, including Regent Bowerbird, Albert's Lyrebird, Paradise Riflebird, Russet-tailed Thrush, Southern Emu-wren & Spectacled Monarch. Sightings include the occasional Koala.

Make use of our extensive reference library to verify what you find; let us take you spotlighting or simply relax.
Contact: Fran & Jim Standing, PO Box 36, WOODENBONG NSW 2476
Phone/fax: 07 4666 5118 international Phone/fax: + 61 7 4666 5118

Web page: http://www.mountcluniecabins.com.au
Email: franstanding@dodo.com.au

Kingfisher Bay Resort - Fraser Island, Queensland

Kingfisher Bay Resort on Queensland's Fraser Island conducts daily bird watching walks in a World Heritage wilderness, which has an incredible 354 - recorded bird species.

A number of the island's birds are considered rare or vulnerable like the ground parrot. Many that are subject to international bird migratory treaties visit Fraser Island.

The diversity of habitats, ranging from coastal through rainforest to Ramsar wetlands, and the fact that the island is in the transition zone between sub-tropical and tropical climates, accounts for the broad range of birds found.

Fraser Island is the world's largest sand island and supports beautiful fresh water lakes, massive sand blows, towering rainforest, clear fast-flowing streams, spectacular cliff faces of coloured sands and 120km of continuous ocean beach.

You can explore the wonders of Fraser Island from the comfort of award- winning Kingfisher Bay Resort. Activities are designed to allow guests to enjoy and, at the same time, learn about this very special island without impacting on the environment.

The resort has expert guides to take you on walking and 4WD tours or you can hire a vehicle and explore on your own. Resort ranger conduct bird watching walks every morning and it is not unusual to twitch more than 20 birds on the hour-long walk.

Easily seen around the resort are 11 species of honeyeaters, the black-breasted button quail and eastern whip birds. The brilliant azure, forest and sacred kingfishers and rainbow bee-eaters all nest around the resort.

Discover amazing pockets of rainforest where you can see rare giant ferns and catch glimpses of beautiful rainforest birds.

Find your own private spot on the white sandy shores of a clear, blue-water lake perched in the top of a sand dune and observe musk ducks.

You'll also see shipwrecks, some of Australia's purest bred dingoes, wild flower strewn sand dunes and drive along a spectacular beach highway to spot kites and magnificent sea eagles and osprey nesting on headlands. Eighteen species of birds of prey have been observed on Fraser Island including the rarely seen powerful owl.

On Fraser you are spoilt by nature but after a day spent exploring you are spoilt by the creature comforts available at Kingfisher Bay Resort and Village.

Enjoy Australian bush foods, relax with a cocktail by one of the four swimming pools, play tennis, simply bubble in a spa or indulge at the natural therapy and beauty clinic.

You can also do your bird watching from the private deck of your hotel room or self-contained villa.

Kingfisher Bay Resort
Fraser Island,
PMB1, Urangan, Qld 4655
Email: reservations@kingfisherbay.com
Toll free on: 1800 072 555
Fax: 07 4120 3326
Website: http://www.kingfisherbay.com

World Heritage Fraser Island with its diversity of habitats, ranging from coastal through rainforest to Ramsar wetlands, supports a rich abundance of bird life.
Discover the birds of Fraser Island from the comfort of award-winning Kingfisher Bay Resort.
Rangers conduct daily bird-watching walks to find some of the 354-recorded species, which include the rarely seen ground parrot and powerful owl as well as 18 birds of prey. These walks are free for house guests.
Easily seen around the resort are 11 species of honeyeaters, the black-breasted button quail and eastern whip birds.
The brilliant azure, forest and sacred kingfishers and rainbow bee-eaters all nest around the resort.

Kingfisher Bay Resort
Fraser Island,
PMB1, Urangan, Qld 4655
Email: reservations@kingfisherbay.com
Toll free on: 1800 072 555
Fax: 07 4120 3326
Website: http://www.kingfisherbay.com

Wildlife Walkabout

Wildlife Walkabout is a distinctive business that specialises in walks/tours for individuals, couples or small groups.  Conducted at selected sites just 90 minutes north of Brisbane on Queensland's Sunshine Coast and adjoining hinterland, this region has recorded over 300 bird species.

Your guide Gail Hill introduces you to ‘behavioural birding’ and wildlife observation.  With a focus on watching the behaviour of animals the tours are scheduled to suit you (from a few hours to a half day or full day or longer). Of course, it’s your call; special interests such as photography are catered for during the tours. We aim to meet your special needs by visiting a range of habitats.

Some examples of  wildlife commonly seen: Wompoo Fruit-dove, Rose-crowned Fruit-dove, Platypus, Black-necked Stork, Azure Kingfisher, Fruit bats, Australian King Parrot, Kookaburra, Golden Whistler, Fantail Cuckoo, Rainbow Lorikeet, Red-necked Pademelon, Eastern Grey Kangaroo, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Southern Angle-headed Dragon and innumerable insects.

Nocturnal species include Brushtail and Common Ringtail Possum, Tawny Frogmouth, Giant Barred Frog (endangered) and many other frog species.

Less commonly seen: Paradise Riflebird, Marbled Frogmouth, Koala

Exciting sightings: Channel-billed Cuckoo, Echidna, Satin Bowerbird.

Please visit our website www.wildlifewalkabout.com

Enquiries and bookings

Phone: 07 54427274 International: 61 7 54427274

Mobile: 0408154336

Email: grhill@powerup.com.au   

We offer full day and extended birding tours from the Gold Coast and Brisbane in South-east Queensland, including Lamington National Park, to a variety of habitats, including rainforest, mangroves, mudflats, wetlands, open forests and woodlands. We also run a 5 day (4 nights) tour to Lamington and Girraween National Parks during which over 200 species of birds can be seen. Customised short tours, longer tours and group tours can be organised anywhere in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Norfolk Island.
All tours are designed to suit the needs of the individual clients.

Scheduled birding tours in 2010 in association with Birding Services Brisbane to Western Queensland in June and the Northern Territory, Cairns region and Lamington NP in August. Tours to New Guinea and Namibia are scheduled for 2011.

Specialist bird watching interests e.g. photography, interpretive birding, twitching and focusing on particular bird groups are catered for.

We also sub-contract to other tour operators to lead specialised walking and wildlife tours.

All tours are conducted in an air-conditioned 4wd, with meals and accommodation provided where required. Chartered buses are used for larger groups. We hold all the required transport operators permits and licenses and permits to operate in national parks.

Our principal guide is Barry Davies, who has over 25 years experience as a bird watching, natural history, bushwalking and interpretive guide. In 2005 and 2009 Barry received the Australian EcoGuide of the Year Award from the Ecotourism Association of Australia. He holds advanced and wilderness first aid qualifications.

Gondwana Guides offers a friendly, personalised service and an unforgettable birding experience.

Please visit our website at www.gondwanaguides.com.au/Birdwatching.htm for more information
and contact us at info@gondwanaguides.com.au 

Our standard birding day-tours visit Lamington National Park (Binna Burra or O’Reilly’s) and/or various other forest, wetland and coastal habitats. Maximum group size is usually 10, and we still run if you have booked but turn out to be the only guest for the day. Whoever books first for a birding tour for any particular day gets to choose the destination and the time of departure. Frequent stops for photography are n problem – we’re photographers ourselves.

Ronda Green. BSc(Hons) PhD, has been conducting research on birds since 1974 (and in southeast Queensland since 1984) and was a keen amateur birder for some years before. Her research topics include the dispersal of rainforest seeds by birds and the effects of habitat modification. The focus of the tours is usually more on the behaviour and ecology of the birds we see and hear (and some we don’t) and the ecosystem as a whole, rather than seeking the rare species for the avid life-listers. We do however see a good variety of species.

Our 3-day wildlife tour (leaving Brisbane most Wednesdays) visits many parts of southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales. The tour includes nocturnal searches, so for safety in driving we don’t lead early morning birding as well, but our guests can step out of their tent or accommodation and do plenty of birding before breakfast each morning in tall eucalypt forest, along the creek or the edge of dry rainforest.

Our 6-day outback tour leaves Brisbane just four times a year (in autumn and spring) to the wonderful birding area of Currawynia National Park with its large inland lakes and many small waterholes attracting birds from the semi-arid habitats.

We also run customized tours, usually for four or more guests and with ample notice. Anything from half a day to a couple of weeks or so could be possible. We hold all necessary permits and senior first aid certificates. The mood is relaxed and friendly and we enjoy sharing our fascinating local birds with our visitors.

We hold advanced eco-accreditation for the 3-day wildlife tour and the birding day-tours., and will be applying for same for other tours

Phone: (07) 5544 1283

International Phone: 61 7 5544 1283

Email: platypuscorner@bigpond.com

Website: www.learnaboutwildlife.com 

or phone +617 4120 3311

or events_mgr@kingfisherbay.com  

Australian Pelagic Home Page
A page dedicated to those with an interest in pelagic bird watching, photography and whale-watching. Offering some interesting information on what can be seen around oceans of Australia. Pelagic trips have been departing from a number of ports around Australia for many years now. For information on these take a look at the Pelagic Directory. All of these pelagics are operated on a non profit basis and provide much valuable information about our little known seabirds.
http://www.tonypalliser.com

Sicklebill Safaris

Sicklebill Safaris arranges bird and wildlife orientated tours throughout Australia. We specialise in customised private tours for individuals and small groups. We have a number of tours available around Queensland including short local ones around our home base on the Atherton Tablelands to those going further afield to Cape York in the Far North, the Lamington Brisbane area in the south east and the Channel Country of the south west We also regularly visit most of the major birding areas in Australia including the Eastern Seaboard, The Northern Territory, Tasmania, Western Australia, and the desert and mallee regions of the south. Please visit our website at www.sicklebillsafaris.com for further information and feel free to contact us if you have any queries. We are happy to make suggestions and work with you to set up the best tour possible for your interests and budget.

Phil and Sue Gregory
Cassowary House, PO Box 387, Kuranda, Queensland 4881

Phone Intl: 61 7 4093 7318 Within Australia: 07 4093 7318
Fax Intl: 61 7 4093 9855 Within Australia: 07 4093 9855
Eddress: sicklebill@optusnet.com.au

WILD WATCH AUSTRALIA with experienced professional naturalist, Jonathan Munro.

Personalised bird watching and wildlife excursions for individuals and groups. Excursions can be fully accommodated and are tailored to your interests. Destinations include Cape York, Lakefield and Iron Range, Georgetown and the Western Gulf Savannah, Darwin, Kakadu and Litchfield NPs, Lamington NP, Tasmania, Victoria and most other notable birding areas within Australia. Clients include well-known international birding companies, Audubon societies, university and zoo groups and film crews.

Please visit our web site for more details:

Wild Watch Australia
http://www.wildwatch.com.au

email: info@wildwatch.com.au
or      munro.jonathan@gmail.com.
or      jmunro@wildwatch.com.au
or      jmunro@austarnet.com.au


P.O. Box 707 , Ravenshoe,
Queensland 4888
Australia
Phone/fax: (07)  4097 6747 or 4097 7408
International: +(617) 4097 7408
Mobile : 0429 438 064

Go to North Queensland Page

Interstate Tour Operators visiting Queensland

 

Australasian Ornithological Services Pty Ltd
Australian Ornithological Services (formerly Inland Bird Tours) started in Deniliquin in the southern Riverina area of N.S.W. 15 years ago.
The main focus of those tours was the Plains-wanderer. While the Plains-wanderer is still our flagship species we have increased our repertoire to include all States of Australia and New Zealand, specialising in difficult skulkers and nocturnal birds.
We are the inland specialists for serious birders. We endeavour to ensure that the whole group see the birds and not just a lucky few.

Tour leader, Philip Maher, is interested in all aspects of natural history.
The Strzelecki Track 2000 trip report and other trip reports can be found at:
http://www.philipmaher.com/main.htm

Patricia Maher Australian Ornithological Services P/L
P.O. Box 385
South Yarra Victoria 3141
phone/fax: +61 3 98204223
mobile 0417310200
Email: enquiries@philipmaher.com
http://www.philipmaher.com/

Birding Tours Australia Sydney and Newcastle. NSW. Australia. 

Australia has about 780 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 many different trips around Newcastle, The Hunter Valley and Sydney. We can also organise tours around New South Wales, anywhere in Australia or in fact anywhere around the world. 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.
The secret to several of our tours is the variety of habitats that we can take you to in a short period of time. We usually try to finish with an hour or two looking for the local night birds where ever we end up.
Birding tours - Australia is based in Newcastle, New South Wales, an easy 1.5hrs drive north of Sydney International Airport.

Brisbane Sydney OR Sydney Brisbane Tour.
This five day fully accommodated tour visits beautiful beaches, waterfalls, lakes, lush rainforest, high altitude forests, coastal heaths and eucalypt forest. As we travel down the coast we will see many fantastic birds and animals at a pace to suit you. This tour requires a minimum of two people.
(Excludes evening meals) Cost 5 days $1500 US. (Per Person)

Outback Queensland Tour
This tour Starts in Sydney and can finish in either Cairns, Brisbane or Sydney. This outback tour visits areas of desert, gibber plains, river systems and inland lakes. The birds in this part of Australia are different to those on the coast and some species we can expect to see include, Budgerigar, Gibberbird, Bourke's Parrot, Inland Dotterel, Letter-winged Kite, Pink Cockatoo, Cockatiel, Mulga Parrot, Mallee Ringneck Parrot, Spotted Bowerbird, Blue-bonnet Parrot, White-winged fairy Wren, Halls Babbler and many other species.
Cost 11days $2100 US (per person) This tour requires a minimum of two people.

For further information visit our website at www.birdingtours.com.au

Outback Track Tours Pty Ltd

Outback Track Tours has operated tours throughout Australia for over 30 years. We specialise in Australian remote outback tours for special interest groups such as: Birdwatchers, Bushwalkers, Botanists, Photographers, Artists as well as remote 4WD expeditions. Our guides offer specialist knowledge in flora, fauna and geology on each tour. Each year we have different tours, so it is worth checking back to our website to see what is on offer.

As well as a full schedule of departures each year, we can organise a custom made itinerary for groups. We can organise dates to suit you as we have access to many 4WD vehicles that can accommodate 2 – 50 people. Within our resources, we have access to camping and accommodation in many areas. We can provide local guides, and cooks along with our modern fleet of vehicles.

We work closely with many other organisations to create unique itineraries every year. These include ‘Birds Australia’, ‘Birding NSW’, ‘Australian Wildlife Conservancy”, We understand their needs and can accommodate them to suit their members. Often they require different tours every year, so it keeps us researching new areas to visit.

We have also managed numerous other groups, family groups, clubs and overseas groups, customising itineraries between 5 – 50 people. Those that choose to travel with us, choose to travel Australia with us!

For more information:

www.outbacktracktours.com

Contact details:

68 Whiting Street
Artarmon
NSW 2064

PH: +61 2 9439-3010
FAX: +61 2 9439-3050

email: resobt@aapt.net.au

Endemic Bird Tours Australia

Endemic Bird Tours Australia specialises in customised birdwatching tours throughout Australia. Our focus is to provide you with the most rewarding birding experience possible - whether you wish to see numerous species at a faster pace or fewer species at a gentler pace, we are here to arrange a tour that suits you.

We are based in the Hunter Valley (on the east coast of New South Wales, 2 hours from Sydney International Airport) though are able to arrange extended tours that take in the many unique birding areas around Australia, including the Top End, South-west WA, Queensland Wet Tropics, the arid interior and Tasmania. These are just examples of places we can take you – please tell us what you wish to see and we will customise an itinerary to suit you at very competitive prices.

With over 330 endemic species of birds, Australia is a country not be missed for seeing unique birds found nowhere else on Earth. Indeed, Australia is considered a world ‘hotspot’ of endemism, not only in terms of birds, but in biodiversity in general (for example Australia ranks as the country with the most endemic reptiles and mammals and second in terms of birds – only Indonesia ranks higher).

Keep in mind that we are not restricted to just birdwatching tours - we are able to show you many unique facets of the Australian environment. Please take a look around our website and feel free to contact us if you have any queries.

Contact:
Mick Roderick
61 2 4023 0322
61 421 761 237
info@endemicbirdtours.com.au or mickhhb@yahoo.com.au
www.endemicbirdtours.com.au

A newsletter, Contact Call, is issued four times a year and regular field trips are organized at least once a month in the various regions. We have campouts at least twice a year where the emphasis is on fun as well as worthwhile projects which cater for all levels of expertise from beginner to professional.

If you are concerned about the future of Australia's wild birds and their habitats then you should join Birds Australia. You can participate in our activities and research projects that have a real impact on the conservation of our birds. Alternatively, you can just enjoy Australia's best bird magazine Wingspan, in the knowledge that your subscription is hard at work safeguarding our beautiful birds.
Membership details can be obtained from the secretary:

Birds Australia North Queensland Group
c/o Secretary
PO Box 37
Belgian Gardens 
QLD  4810

Email: birdsaus@birdsaustralianq.org
Web page: www.birdsaustralianq.org

Birdline Central & Southern Queensland
http://www.eremaea.com/BirdlineRecentSightings.aspx?Birdline=7

Birdline North Queensland
http://www.eremaea.com/BirdlineRecentSightings.aspx?Birdline=5

Birds Australia Capricornia Group
We are a Regional Group of Birds Australia with a geographical area from
Bundaberg to Birdsville in the south and Gumlu to Boulia in the North. Our
operational base is Rockhampton but we travel right across our regional area
to further our knowledge of local birds. This is a huge area rich in
diversity and species.

We are dedicated to the conservation, study and enjoyment of Australian
native birds, migratory birds and their habitats. We are a non-profit
organisation and exist solely by the voluntary efforts of our members.

The members of the committee are shown on the right and you are encouraged
to contact us through our Secretary for any further information. Please
follow the links below for specific information about membership, activities
and services.
Please contact the secretary Allan Briggs for further details email:
birdscapricornia@irock.com.au 

Birds Queensland
PO Box 2273 Milton, Qld 4064.

Toowoomba Bird Observers Inc.
Serves birders and visitors to the Darling Downs and south-west. The club was established in 1975 to promote the enjoyment of the region's bird and to stimulate serious ornithological research throughout the area. The city's position on the very edge of the Great Dividing Range enables Toowoomba birdwatchers to enjoy birding on both the eastern and western sides of the Great Dividing Range.

Regular club outings on the last weekend of each month take advantage of this location to access both inland and coastal species. Visitors to the area are always welcome to participate in these outings, or to contact club members for assistance at other times of the month.

The club, which is affiliated with the Bird Observers Club of Australia, publishes an interesting and informative monthly Newsletter and participates in numerous local and national projects.

Tweed Bird Observers
http://www.bigvolcano.com.au/custom/birdos

Location: Tweed Valley - Byron Bay - Gold Coast region of New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland (QLD).

Introduction, Calendar of Events/Outings, Projects, Tweed Valley Bird List, Northern Rivers Bird List, and more. Printable bird lists and a page detailing local bird watching spots with likely species, available in several formats. Visitors welcome to meetings and outings, just check the site for details.

Birding Southern Queensland
http://www.aviceda.org
Tom and Marie's Birding and Wildlife Pages!
From desert to rainforest, mangroves to mulga visit our pages and see why this area has such a wide appeal to birders and naturalists from all over! From this site visit pages on regional and overseas birding, see features on rarities, bird types and even frogs.

Birds and Birding Queensland
http://www.uq.oz.au/~anpwooda/qld-birds.html
Descriptions of the country, the birds and other useful information

Bird Trails of the Crows Nest Shire
http://www.crowsnest.info/content/blogcategory/29/115/

Birds Australia Southern Queensland
http://www.birdsaustralia.com.au/the-organisation/southern-qld.html

Cooper Creek Wilderness' guided Daintree Forest Tours
http://www.ccwild.com