DAINTREE BIRDWATCHING ACTIVITIES

Daintree Experience

Daintree Birdwatching What to expect!!!     click here for the Winter Months

Below is a comprehensive list of local Daintree Birdwatching activities.  Each of the activities is operated by a local, dedicated wildlife and birdwatching enthusiast.  The region of Daintree, with its’ varied habitats of rainforest, farming areas, rivers, mangroves, wetlands and beaches, offers Daintree Birdwatchers some of Australia’s best birding. For other birdwatching information and resources go to our LINKS page

Daintree River Birdwatching Tours  

• Dan Irby’s Mangrove Adventures – early morning Daintree River birdwatching tour or evening spotlighting tour are available. Purpose-built boat with removable swivel seats. Considered by many of our international birdwatchers as the best birding boat they had been on. Easily the most comfortable birdwatching boat on the river. Great for some of the specialty Daintree birds such as Little Kingfisher and Great-billed Heron. Ideally suited for wildlife and bird photography.
• Daintree River Experience - Ian (Sauce) Worcester has launched his new purpose built birdwatching craft complete with swivel seats. Ian will do early morning and late afternoon birding and nature tours and is available for private charter.
• Daintree River Cruise Centre – Mick is a very experienced operator, taking people in his small, comfortable boat for birdwatching, often to the mouth of the Daintree River. A stable boat suitable for photography. Excellent for Daintree birds which inhabit the lower reaches of the river.
• Solar Whisper - Electric eco-cruise.
• Specialised Daintree River Tours - Chris Dahlberg- – well known early morning wildlife tours.

Daintree Birdwatching Land-based Tours  

• Guided Birding with Ellen Terrell – local naturalist, birder and potter, Ellen Terrell is available for full day’s guiding or local walks. Operating from Red Mill House, Ellen can be contacted via Red Mill House or at ellenterrell@ledanet.com.au
• Wild Wings and Swampy Things – guided walks available on Barb Maslen’s Barratt Creek property with revegetated rainforest, orchard, wetlands and magnificent bird hide. Extra time is allowed to spend some time in the bird hide.

• Alan's Wildlife Tours - Alan Gillanders - specialising in tree-kangaroos, birds and nocturnal mammals on the beautiful Cairns Highlands, North Queensland, Australia.
• Cassowary Tours – Ben Blewitt takes small groups for local Cairns birding and beyond.
• Kirrama Wildlife Tours – Klaus Uhlenhut’s long established tours, including to Cape York.
• Fine Feather Tours – Del Richards’ Julatten-based half day and full day birdwatching tours.
• Wild Watch Australia – Jonathon Munro’s personalised birdwatching and wildlife tours.

Well worth a visit!!!

Daintree Discovery Centre - The Ultimate Rainforest Experience

The Rainforest Habitat - Australia's Leading Environmental Wildlife Experience. Home of breakfastwith the birds.

2009 Daintree Birdwatching Package

For 2009 Red Mill House offers the following 4 Night Package:

• 4 nights deluxe accommodation
• 4 full breakfasts with home made yoghurt, breads and jams plus cereal, juice, local fruits and cooked breakfast
• 2 full days of guided birdwatching with local naturalist and experienced guide and birder Ellen Terrell. One day including a tour on the Daintree River and exploring the local area, with lowland rainforest birding. The other day exploring the drier country west of the Great Dividing Range.
• 2 lunches with home made goodies
• 1 early morning river cruise on the Daintree River.
• 1 guided walk through the private revegetated and restored land and magnificent wetlands with bird hide of Wild Wings and Swampy Things. Time to bird the wetlands.

Rates

• $740 per person on a twin share basis
• Guest’s transport used
• Please enquire for single or larger groups

2009 Introduction to Birdwatching Package

Do you have an interest in birds and would like to learn more about them and about the rewarding art of birdwatching?

This is an opportunity to have personalised guidance in finding and identifying birds, and learning about our local birds here in Tropical North Queensland. We will cover bird characteristics and how to observe and describe them, bird behaviour and habitats, and the use of optics. There will many opportunities for observation in the field in a variety of habitats, and for improving your skills.

These skills will stand you in good stead long after your visit to Daintree.

This program will be conducted by our local naturalist and experienced guide and birder Ellen Terrell, in conjunction with Red Mill House.

For 2009 Red Mill House offers the following 4 Night Package:

• 4 nights deluxe accommodation
• 4 full breakfasts with home made yoghurt, breads and jams plus cereal, juice, local fruits and cooked breakfast
• Introductory talk about local birds and birdwatching
• An evening presentation, over dinner, covering various topics as outlined
• 1 full day of guided birdwatching exploring mid-level rainforest and the drier country west of the Great Dividing Range.
• 1 lunch with home made goodies
• 1 early morning river cruise on the Daintree River.
• Two hours of guided birdwatching in the various habitats of the Daintree Valley
• 1 guided walk through the private revegetated and restored land and magnificent wetlands with bird hide of Wild Wings and Swampy Things. Time to bird the wetlands.

Rates

• $695 per person on a twin share basis
• Guest’s transport used
• Please enquire for single or larger groups

Independent Birders suggested intineries

Red Mill House provides birdwatching accommodation in Daintree, offering information and advice, checklists, maps, guide books and binoculars for their guests. If travelling independently and wishing to go birding alone, the following itinerary is suggested.

Day 1

• Arrive at Red Mill house mid afternoon from Cairns.
• Late afternoon walk around Daintree Village and to the Daintree River. Urban, river and farmland environments.
• Overnight at Red Mill House

Day 2

• Early morning specialist birding river cruise (3 choices in varied habitats)
• Birding in the comforts of the garden during the day or explore the local roads following the river and creeks through a mix of rainforest and open farming land.
• Late afternoon guided walk through varied habitats including a wetland with bird hide on private property offering excellent birding opportunities.
• Overnight at Red Mill House
• Guiding available.

Day 3

• An early start for a day in the Daintree National Park/Cape Tribulation exploring the rainforest and looking for the Southern Cassowary and rainforest specialities. Guiding available.
• Return for late afternoon walk along Stewart Creek Road following the Daintree River and Stewart Creek. (Often 40 species found)
• Overnight at Red Mill House.

Day 4

• Possibly another early river cruise before departing for Kingfisher Park at Julatten or the Atherton Tablelands or back to Cairns. Stop at Mossman Gorge on the way.

Back to Daintree Birdwatching Bulletin Board

Red Mill House - Daintree birdwatching accommodation