Easy, accessible getaways to Australia's top bird watching spots

We've pulled together these easy, affordable packages (including accommodation and car hire) for the top 5 EASY-ACCESS bird watching destinations in Australia.

Option 1:
TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND

Tropical North Queensland has a range of locations within easy driving distance of Cairns.  Base yourself in Cairns and do day trips or split your time with a few nights south of Cairns in Mission Beach and/or a few nights north of Cairns in the Daintree Rainforest or Cape Tribulation. Here a few suggestions in TNQ to get you started:

• Hasties Swamp
  Located one hour south-west of Cairns, you will see a range of tropical waterbirds, such as Cotton and Green Pygmy-Geese, Radjah Shelduck, the delicate-looking White-browed Crake & the Sarus Crane.
• Mission Beach
  Located 2-hours south of Cairns, you are here to see the beautiful flightless bird, the Cassowary.  The best option for spotting an elusive Cassowary is to ask the locals where the latest sightings have been (& don’t be surprised if they tell you to head to the local hardware store or the rubbish tip!). 

PRICING:
MISSION REEF RESORT
5 nights' accommodation
6 days' car hire (pick up and drop off at Cairns airport)
from $732.50 per person twin share

(We highly recommend combine your stay before or after Mission Beach with a trip to the Daintree Rainforest, north of Cairns. Call 1300 414 198 for a friendly chat about your holiday plans.)

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Option 2:
LAMINGTON NATIONAL PARK

Lamington National Park is 90 minutes south of Brisbane. The last part of the trip is on a winding mountain road that has spectacular views over the valleys. The absolute twitcher's highlight would be spotting a bowerbird with a nest. 

Lamington National Park

A wide range of rainforest species, including the Regent Bowerbird, Albert’s Lyrebird, Rufous Scrub-bird and Paradise Riflebird are all in the rainforest.  Taking a short walk on the flat boardwalk near the hotel reception and you will be spotting birds within minutes of your arrival!

PRICING:
O'REILLY'S RAINFOREST RETREAT
5 nights' accommodation
6 days' car hire (pick up and drop off in Brisbane airport)
from $757.50 per person twin share

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Option 3:
DARWIN

The capital of the tropical north, Darwin has a range of locations within easy driving distance.  The city is a perfect home base the many spectacular Top End day trips within easy reach. Here a few suggestions to get you started:

• Mary River Park
  Located 1 hour south-east of Darwin near the boundary of Kakadu National Park. Search for a wide range of forest, woodland and riverine species, including Great-billed Heron, Black Bittern, Rainbow Pitta, Pacific Baza, Radjah Shelduck or Rufous Owl.
• Pine Creek
  An easy two hour drive south-east of Darwin. See Hooded Parrot, Northern Rosella, Gouldian Finch or Banded Honeyeater.

PRICING:
DOUBLETREE BY HILTON
5 nights' accommodation (please note: car hire not included in this package)
from $332.50 per person twin share

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Option 4:
PERTH

You'll definitely want to see the beautiful black swans that give Perth's Swan River its name - but this is only one of the many easily accessible bird watching locations in the Perth region. Hire a car and take your time exploring the following locations:

• King’s Park, Perth
  On the hill overlooking Perth, just a 5-minute drive from the CBD, is King’s Park. Once you’ve enjoyed the views back over Perth city, take a walk around and look for Western Spinebill, Western Wattlebird, White-cheeked Honeyeater, Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, Sacred Kingfisher or Rainbow Bee-Eaters.
• Herdsman Lake, Wembley
  Head north-west from Perth CBD for approximately 10-minutes on the Mitchell Freeway to get to Herdsman Lake. The lake has great birding all year round, including a good variety of waterbirds, Little Bitterns and many bush birds. Time your trip for a Saturday so you can explore the wetland boardwalk, visit ‘Twitchers coffee window’, check out the gift store and learn more about the local wildlife from native animal exhibits.
• Victoria Reservoir
  Located just 30 minutes' drive south-east of Perth, Victoria Reservoir is one of the few suburban locations where the south-western Australian endemic species might be spotted.
• Lake McLarty
  Drive for 1 hour south to just south of Mandurah for the best spot for shorebirds near Perth. November to February is the best bird watching time, but it is highly dependent on rainfall, often drying out in early to mid-summer.

PRICING:

NOVOTEL PERTH LANGLEY, PERTH CBD
5 nights' accommodation
6 days' car hire (pick up and drop off at Perth airport)
from $696.50 per person twin share

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Option 5:
SYDNEY

When you think bird watching, Sydney is probably not the first destination that springs to mind! However, with a Western Sydney base you will have fabulous access to bird watching spots both north and south. Here just a few highlights:

• Sydney Olympic Park
  Twitchers can easily explore the 420 hectares of original and planted woodlands, freshwater wetlands and estuarine habitats just 14kms from Sydney’s CBD.  You may see a range of common and migratory waterbirds including Black-winged Stilt, Black Swan, Silver Gulls and Sharp-tailed Sandpipers.  Terrestrial species may include Red-browed Finch, Superb Fairy-wren and Mangrove Gerygone.  Birding hotspots can be found at the Waterbird Refuge, Northern Water Feature and Lake Belvedere. Also located at Sydney Olympic Park is BirdLife Australia's Discovery Centre located in the Newington Armory, which is the former Royal Australian Navy Armaments Depot.  We recommend you time your visit for the last Sunday of every month to make the most of the free guided bird walk. 
• Royal National Park
  Home of the Australian King Parrot, the Royal National Park is just 40 minutes south-west of Sydney. See a wide range of birds of the angophora forests, such as Rockwarbler, Superb Lyrebird, Pilotbird, Cicada bird and Little Lorikeet.

PRICING:
IBIS SYDNEY OLYMPIC PARK
5 nights' accommodation
6 days' car hire (pick up and drop off in Sydney airport)
from $861 per person twin share

 To ask for a full quote for preferred destination and dates, call 1300 414 198 and speak to a friendly consultant - or simply email your preferred travel dates and location to [email protected].

The Travel at 60 team can assist you with flights, accommodation and/or car hire for any bird watching destination you would like to visit.