Australia: The Far North & Western Queensland

Golden-shouldered Parrot © Scott Baker

A new tour to Australia’s far north promises birds and wildlife not seen on our other Australia tours; many specialty species are expected including birds closely affiliated with those of New Guinea.

This brand-new departure visits several contrasting regions within Queensland, Australia’s most biodiverse state. Twice the size of Texas and spanning 19 degrees of latitude, Queensland boasts a longer list of birds and more endemics than any other Australian state. This tour will focus on locations not covered on our Grand Australia tour series or any previous VENT itinerary—from the tropical rainforests of the far north to the remote arid interior of the central west.

We’ll convene in Brisbane before flying to Cairns where our adventure begins. From Cairns we’ll travel up the Cape York Peninsula, the most northerly point on mainland Australia. The 800-kilometer journey will take us through the historic townships of Cooktown and Coen, traversing tropical savanna woodland and grassland habitats, strongholds for several range-restricted species, including the endangered Golden-shouldered Parrot, a priority bird for any visiting birder. Other birds of interest include Squatter Pigeon, Red Goshawk, Black-backed Butcherbird, and Black-throated Finch.

Our next stop is Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park, a tropical mountainous coastal zone and a nature-lover’s paradise. This area holds the largest protected lowland rainforest in Australia and is an internationally significant region for its special affinity with the flora and fauna of New Guinea. Around twenty species of birds are found here and nowhere else in Australia. Among the many star attractions are Magnificent Riflebird and Trumpet Manucode (both in the Birds-of Paradise family), Palm Cockatoo, Papuan Eclectus Parrot, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, and the secretive Northern Scrub-Robin.

The final leg of the tour takes us inland to Mount Isa, a mining town set among the spinifex-clad hills of western Queensland. This being the “arid zone” but with a subtropical influence, a great diversity of birdlife occurs here including some of the most sought-after and cryptic avian treasures in Australia.

A five-day circuit of Mount Isa and the “Channel Country,” including Boulia and the fossil-rich ranges of the Winton district, will showcase distinctive outback Australian landscapes and the specially adapted wildlife that inhabit these harsher environments. Topping the list of desired birds are three near-endemic grasswrens: Kalkadoon, Carpentarian, and Opalton. There are also opportunities for sighting a wonderful array of nomadic and irruptive species. Some, like Budgerigar and Flock Bronzewing, can be expected, sometimes in the thousands.

Our journey concludes back in Brisbane, where we’ll celebrate our unforgettable experience in some of the more remote, beautiful, and less traveled parts of this Great Southern Land.

Accommodations and food of good quality throughout; moderate level of fitness required for extended walks on gentle slopes, roadsides, and established trails; no strenuous physical demands or terrain; tour does involve some distance driving, mostly on paved roads in air-conditioned vehicles; pleasant weather the norm at this season, with mild days and cool nights; dry conditions expected.

Crimson Chat © Scott Baker