The Ultimate In Birding Tours

Australia & The Pacific Islands

AUSTRALIA’S OUTBACK QUEENSLAND & CAPE YORK – Australian specialities with a difference

Thursday 14th October – Tuesday 2nd November 2027

Leader: to be announced

20 Days Group Size Limit 7

AUSTRALIA’S OUTBACK QUEENSLAND & CAPE YORK BIRDING TOUR: OVERVIEW

Birdquest’s Australia’s Outback Queensland & Cape York birding tours reach some parts of the island continent that other Australia birding tours rarely or even never do! Our Australia’s Outback Queensland birding tour features the remote Cape York Peninsula of Australia’s far northeast, the Mount Isa region and the arid far southwest of Queensland in search of a host of specialities that we see on no other tour.

Australia, the smallest continent or the largest island on earth, depending on how you like to look at it, has been cut off from the rest of the world for more than sixty million years and as a result has evolved a remarkable and unique flora and fauna. The birdlife has followed its own evolutionary path and Australia has more endemic bird species (over 300) than any other country and many bird families which are entirely restricted to it or which do not extend beyond Australasia.

Australia’s immense geographical area means that it is simply impossible to see the great majority of its endemic birds during a single visit of just a few weeks, so it is far more sensible to regard the island continent as a place where one should make several visits. Superb, mostly easy, birding combined with good travelling conditions make for an unforgettable experience.

This exciting Outback Queensland & Cape York birding tour has been specifically designed to concentrate on the many endemic specialities of Outback Queensland or in other words the vast interior of this huge state and the remote Cape York Peninsula. Outback Queensland is one of a series of classic Birdquests that between them cover every corner of Australia and achieve a level of coverage of its specialities that is unequalled.

During the first section of the tour, we shall explore some wild, lonely country in the far north of Queensland, travelling up into remote Cape York as far as Iron Range.

Initially, we will head north into the base of the remote Cape York Peninsula to look for a highly localized and much sought-after endemic, the endangered Golden-shouldered Parrot, as well as Red Goshawk and Black-backed Butcherbird.

Moving further north, we will reach Iron Range, the largest remaining tract of rainforest on the continent. A host of fantastic specialities include Spotted Whistling Duck, Palm Cockatoo, Eclectus and Red-cheeked Parrots, Marbled Frogmouth, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Fawn-breasted Bowerbird, Tropical Scrubwren, Tawny-breasted and Green-backed Honeyeaters, Black-backed Butcherbird, Trumpet Manucode, Magnificent Riflebird, Yellow-legged Flycatcher, White-faced Robin and, most notably, three Cape York endemics; White-streaked Honeyeater, Frill-necked Flycatcher and Northern Scrub-robin.

After returning to Cairns, we will travel to the Winton region in west-central Queensland and then the remote Boulia region in southwestern Queensland, situated close to the even more remote Channel Country of the far southwest. Here we will be looking for the restricted-range Rusty Grasswren, Hall’s Babbler and Chestnut-breasted Quailthrush, as well as a wonderful supporting cast including the rare Grey Falcon, Inland Dotterel, Flock Bronzewing, Rufous-crowned Emu-wren, Orange Chat, Gibberbird, and the nomadic and unpredictable Pied and Black Honeyeaters. There is even a slim chance for the wonderful Letter-winged Kite.

Finally, we will explore the Mount Isa region in far western Queensland where we will be wanting to track down Carpentarian and Kalkadoon Grasswrens, the localized Cloncurry Ringneck and Spotted Bowerbird, as well as Spinifex Pigeon, Black-tailed Treecreeper and Spinifexbird.

Birdquest has operated Australia birding tours in Queensland since 1985.

Accommodation & Road Transport: The motels used range from good to medium grade. At Iron Range we will be staying in a large house at Portland Roads with several bedrooms, shared bathrooms and several people in each room. This is a much better option for visiting birders than staying in the ‘dry’ settlement of Lockhart River, with much better food provided by our hosts. Road transport will be partly by 4×4 vehicles and partly by minibus or cars and roads are mostly good, although we will spend some time on unsurfaced roads that are rough in places (particularly in Cape York).

Walking: The walking effort during our Outback Queensland & Cape York birding tour is mostly easy but there are a few moderate grade walks.

Climate: In Queensland, most days will be very warm or hot, dry and sunny but overcast conditions are not infrequent. Rain is unlikely but possible. It is rather humid near the coast.

Bird Photography: Opportunities during our Outback Queensland & Cape York birding tour are good.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

  • Enjoy birding in areas which relatively few birders ever explore.
  • Motor up the infamous Peninsula Development Road towards Cape York.
  • Sit quietly on a bank as Golden-shouldered Parrots come to drink in the early morning light.
  • Magnificent Red Goshawks are often seeable at one of their traditional haunts in remote tropical woodland.
  • Cape York endemics like Northern Scrub Robin, Frill-necked Monarch and White-streaked Honeyeater abound.
  • Search for Palm Cockatoo, Magnificent Riflebird and Tropical Scrubwren around Lockhart River settlement.
  • Penetrate the outback and search the spinifex of Winton for dainty Rufous-crowned Emu-wrens.
  • See the restricted Hall’s Babbler and Chestnut-breasted Quail-thrush.
  • Two of Australia’s most amazing raptors – the elusive Grey Falcon and largely nocturnal Letter-winged Kite.
  • Three regionally-endemic grasswrens - Carpentarian, Kalkadoon and “Rusty” Striated Grasswren.
  • Seeing the arid-zone Spotted Bowerbird with purple hindneck and quirky Spinifex Pigeon.
  • Survey remote gibber plains for Gibberbirds, Inland Dotterels and the sandgrouse-like Flock Bronzewings.
  • Going out at night to see inquisitive Rufous Bettongs and Spectacled Hare-Wallabies.

OUTLINE ITINERARY

  • Day 1: Evening tour start at Cairns.
  • Day 2: Drive to the Musgrave area at the base of Cape York.
  • Day 3: Musgrave area, Golden-shouldered Parrot and more.
  • Day 4: Drive north to the Iron Range region.
  • Days 5-8: Iron Range region.
  • Day 9: Iron Range region, then drive back to Musgrave.
  • Day 10: Drive to Cairns.
  • Day 11: Drive to Winton.
  • Days 12-13: Winton area.
  • Day 14: Drive to Boulia.
  • Day 15: Exploring the Channel Country.
  • Day 16: Drive to Mount Isa.
  • Day 17: Mount Isa region.
  • Day 18: Mount Isa, then drive to Hughenden.
  • Day 19: Return to Cairns.
  • Day 20: The tour ends this morning at Cairns.

To see a larger map, click on the square-like ‘enlarge’ icon in the upper right of the map box.

To see (or hide) the ‘map legend’, click on the icon with an arrow in the upper left of the map box.

To change to a satellite view, which is great for seeing the physical terrain (and for seeing really fine details by repetitive use of the + button), click on the square ‘map view’ icon in the lower left corner of the ‘map legend’.

PRICE INFORMATION

Birdquest Inclusions: Our tour prices include surface transportation, accommodations, meals and entrance fees.

Tipping is not customary in Australia.

Deposit: 20% of the total tour price. Our office will let you know what deposit amount is due, in order to confirm your booking, following receipt of your online booking form.

TO BOOK THIS TOUR: Click here (you will need the tour dates)


2027: provisional £6290, $8070, €7340, AUD12190. Cairns/Cairns.

Single Supplement: 2027: £750, $960, €870, AUD1460.

The single supplement will not apply if you indicate on booking that you prefer to share a room and there is a room-mate of the same sex available.

The single room supplement excludes the five nights at Iron Range.

This tour is priced in Australian Dollars. Amounts shown in other currencies are indicative.

Air Travel To & From The Tour: Our in-house IATA ticket agency will be pleased to arrange your air travel on request, or you may arrange this yourself if you prefer.

AUSTRALIA’S OUTBACK QUEENSLAND & CAPE YORK BIRDING TOUR: DETAILED ITINERARY

Australia’s Outback Queensland & Cape York: Day 1  Our tour begins this evening at Cairns in northern Queensland where we will stay overnight.

Australia’s Outback Queensland & Cape York: Day 2  Today we will head north to the remote Musgrave region in the southern part of the Cape York Peninsula for a two nights stay.

Road conditions have vastly improved in recent years, but there are still stretches of corrugated, unsurfaced road to cover. Late this afternoon we will begin our exploration of the Musgrave area.

Australia’s Outback Queensland & Cape York: Day 3  Our main purpose in coming to this remote region is to look for the rare and highly localized endemic Golden-shouldered Parrot, a much sought-after species that few Australian birders have ever seen, let alone overseas visitors, owing to the remote location of its small surviving population in the Cape York Peninsula. As well as dry eucalypt woodland punctuated by numerous termite hills (in which the parrots nest), there are also extensive grassy plains, lagoons and gallery woodland along the rivers of this region.

We have an excellent chance of finding the beautiful little Golden-shouldered Parrot at a drinking pool either early or late in the day, and we should also come across Black-backed Butcherbird, another Cape York speciality. We even have a very good chance of coming across a Red Goshawk, one of Australia’s rarest raptors, in this splendid area.

Other likely species in the Musgrave region include Australasian Grebe, Australasian Darter, Little Pied and Little Black Cormorants, White-necked, White-faced and Pied Herons, Eastern Great, Intermediate and Eastern Cattle Egrets, Nankeen (or Rufous) Night Heron, Glossy, Australian White and Straw-necked Ibises, Royal Spoonbill, Black-necked Stork, Magpie Goose, Plumed and Wandering Whistling Ducks, Radjah Shelduck, Green Pygmy-goose, Grey Teal, Pacific Black Duck, Hardhead, Whistling, Black and Brahminy Kites, the impressive Black-breasted Buzzard, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Nankeen (or Australian) Kestrel, Black Falcon, Brolga, the impressive Australian Bustard, Australian Pratincole, White-headed Stilt, Black-fronted Dotterel, Masked Lapwing, Comb-crested Jacana, Latham’s and perhaps Swinhoe’s Snipes, Common Greenshank, Marsh, Wood and Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, Gull-billed and Whiskered Terns, Common Bronzewing, Peaceful and Bar-shouldered Doves, Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, Galah, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Rainbow Lorikeet, Red-winged Parrot, Pale-headed Rosella, Pheasant Coucal, Eastern (or Australian) Koel, Channel-billed Cuckoo, Southern Boobook, Large-tailed Nightjar, Papuan Frogmouth, Laughing and Blue-winged Kookaburras, Forest Kingfisher, Rainbow Bee-eater and Oriental Dollarbird.

Passerines include Great Bowerbird, Red-backed Fairy-wren, Striated Pardalote, Weebill, White-throated Gerygone, White-gaped, Yellow, Yellow-tinted, Bar-breasted, Rufous-banded, Rufous-throated, Dusky, Red-headed, Banded, Brown, White-throated and Blue-faced Honeyeaters, Silver-crowned and Little Friarbirds, Grey-crowned Babbler, Black-faced and White-bellied Cuckoo-shrikes, Rufous Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Australian Figbird, Olive-backed Oriole, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Spangled Drongo, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Broad-billed and Leaden Flycatchers, Magpie-lark, Lemon-bellied Flycatcher, Jacky Winter, Horsfield’s Bushlark (split from Singing), Golden-headed (or Bright-headed) Cisticola, Olive-backed (or Yellow-bellied) Sunbird, Double-barred and Masked Finches, and Australian Pipit.

Australia’s Outback Queensland & Cape York: Day 4  After some early morning birding in the Musgrave area we will continue deeper into Cape York until we reach the Iron Range region on the east coast where we will spend five nights. We should arrive in time for some introductory birding in the late afternoon.

Australia’s Outback Queensland & Cape York: Days 5-8  The Iron Range region is a wonderful part of Australia and deservedly a birding ‘mecca’, although relatively few Australian birders get up here, never mind overseas birders. The Iron Range possesses the largest remaining area of lowland tropical rainforest on the continent. The habitat in much of Iron Range is a patchwork of tropical rainforest, drier eucalypt and paperbark woodland and areas of tropical heathland.

There is a fantastic selection of speciality birds at Iron Range, including a long series of species that normally only occur in Australia in the Cape York Peninsula: Spotted Whistling Duck, Palm Cockatoo, Eclectus and Red-cheeked Parrots, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Fawn-breasted Bowerbird, Tropical Scrubwren, White-streaked, Tawny-breasted and Green-backed Honeyeaters, Frill-necked Monarch, Trumpet Manucode, Magnificent Riflebird, Yellow-legged Flyrobin, White-faced Robin and Northern Scrub Robin. In addition, we may be fortunate enough to see the first migrant Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo and Black-winged Monarch arrive in the area.

Of these the most significant to visiting birders are those endemic to Cape York (rather than shared with New Guinea); Northern Scrub Robin (now a Cape York endemic following the splitting of Papuan Scrub Robin), Frill-necked Monarch and White-streaked Honeyeater. Another key species is Tropical Scrubwren, a species that is not normally seen on bird tours in New Guinea.

Other major specialities include Rufous Owl and Marbled Frogmouth (the form of the latter here, marmoratus, may represent a different species from the form plumiferus, Plumed Frogmouth, of the central east coast).

Some of the specialities here are highly memorable birds in their own right. Who could forget the huge Palm Cockatoos raising their punk-style crests and screeching loudly as they perch in the rainforest trees? Or fail to be impressed by a Magnificent Riflebird’s shiny plumage, or a Marbled Frogmouth peering down from its perch? And what about a puffed-up Frill-necked Monarch or some vividly-painted Eclectus Parrots?

Other new birds we may encounter at Iron Range include Australian Brush-turkey, Orange-footed Scrubfowl, Striated Heron, Little and Eastern Reef (or Pacific Reef Egrets, Black Bittern (infrequently seen), Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Pacific Emerald Dove, Superb, Rose-crowned and Wompoo Fruit Doves, Pied Imperial Pigeon, Australian Swiftlet, Lesser and Great Frigatebird, Pacific Baza, Brown and Grey Goshawks, Collared Sparrowhawk, Pied Oystercatcher, Pacific Golden Plover, Mongolian and Greater Sand Plovers, Eurasian Whimbrel, Common Sandpiper, Grey-tailed Tattler, Red-necked Stint, Ruddy Turnstone, Silver Gull, Greater Crested, Lesser Crested, Bridled, Little and Black-naped Terns, Brown (or Common) Noddy, Double-eyed Fig Parrot, Little Bronze Cuckoo, Oriental and Brush Cuckoos, Masked Owl (uncommon), Azure and Collared Kingfishers, Noisy Pitta, Spotted Catbird, Lovely Fairy-wren, Large-billed and Fairy Gerygones, Yellow-spotted, Graceful, Varied and Brown-backed Honeyeaters, Helmeted Friarbird, Cicadabird, Varied Triller, Grey Whistler, Little Shrike-thrush, Yellow Oriole, White-breasted Woodswallow, Black Butcherbird, Pied Currawong, Rufous Fantail, Shining Flycatcher, White-eared and Spectacled Monarchs, Yellow-breasted Boatbill, White-browed and Mangrove Robins, Silvereye, Metallic Starling, Mistletoebird and Red-browed Finch.

Mammals are not conspicuous, but we can expect Agile Wallaby and there is a good chance for Southern Spotted Cuscus.

[Kindly note that we will likely be at Iron Range too early to see one speciality of the area, the migratory Papuan Pitta (a species that occurs only in southern New Guinea and Cape York), which usually only arrives in December. The problem is, this is often after the onset of ‘the wet’ in Cape York and road access can be impossible, never mind the fact that interior Queensland further south would be baking hot and some birds hard to find. We have seen this species at Cape York in October, but the chances are very slim.]

Australia’s Outback Queensland & Cape York: Day 9  After some final birding at Iron Range we will retrace our steps to Musgrave for an overnight stay.

Australia’s Outback Queensland & Cape York: Day 10  We will have the chance to stop along the way today as we work our way southwards, looking out for such birds as Squatter Pigeon, Brown Treecreeper, the curious Apostlebird and the uncommon Black-throated Finch. Eventually we will reach Cairns where we will stay overnight.

Australia’s Outback Queensland & Cape York: Day 11  We will set out early today for our long drive to the remote town of Winton for a three nights stay.

We will make a short stop to try and see a Southern Cassowary along the way (but we will not have time to linger) and we should also encounter Spotted Bowerbird and Noisy Friarbird during the journey.

Australia’s Outback Queensland & Cape York: Days 12-13  The Winton area holds some very exciting birds. Pride of place goes to three restricted-range, mega-specialities, Rusty Grasswren, Hall’s Babbler and the attractive Chestnut-breasted Quailthrush, all of which we expect to find during our visit. Rusty Grasswren is one of three recent splits in the Striated Grasswren complex, and as the IOC has never failed to uphold previous splits in the grasswrens, we can surely expect this one to be ratified by them in due course. The other really great bird in this area is the rare Grey Falcon, which is reliably found at one particular site. We also have a good chance of seeing Rufous-crowned Emu-wren and additional opportunities for Spinifexbird and Painted Finch.

Australia’s Outback Queensland & Cape York: Day 14  We plan to set off very early today and head for southwest Queensland’s ‘Empty Quarter’, the Channel Country that stretches as far as the distant Birdsville Track connecting Queensland and South Australia. Only a few utterly remote cattle stations survive in this wilderness, but from a birding viewpoint, it has great attractions! We will loop down into the Diamantina region today, giving us a first crack at a number of very special birds, before ending up at the even more remote town of Boulia, where we will stay for two nights.

Australia’s Outback Queensland & Cape York: Day 15  Today we will head south to explore some arid plains that are home to some great birds, in particular the lovely Inland Dotterel, the smart Flock Bronzewing, Orange Chat and Gibberbird. We even have a slim chance of encountering the rare and nomadic Letter-winged Kite here in the Channel Country.

More widespread species we may well find in the Boulia or Winton regions include the comical Emu, Yellow-billed Spoonbill, the handsome Spotted Harrier, Australian Hobby, Mallee Ringneck (usually lumped with Port Lincoln Ringneck under the name Australian Ringneck), Australian Owlet-nightjar, White-winged Fairy-wren, Inland Thornbill, Red-browed Pardalote, Spiny-cheeked and Singing Honeyeaters, Crimson Chat, Masked and White-browed Woodswallows, Little Crow, Red-capped Robin and Brown and Rufous Songlarks.

Less frequently encountered possibilities include Black-breasted Buzzard, Little Buttonquail, Black-tailed Native-hen, Banded Lapwing, the elusive Black-eared Cuckoo, Bourke’s Parrot, Spotted Nightjar and Ground Cuckooshrike. Flowering bushes sometimes attract nomadic Pied and Black Honeyeaters.

Australia’s Outback Queensland & Cape York: Day 16  This morning we will head northwards to Mount Isa for a two nights stay. We will spend much of the day birding in the Mount Isa area.

Australia’s Outback Queensland & Cape York: Day 17  Mount Isa is an unlovely mining town (although the sheer scale of the mines is impressive in a Tolkienesque-manner), existing solely because of the huge mineral wealth of the surrounding region, but it has the distinction of being the only place of any consequence for about 700 kilometres (420 miles) in any direction! The near-desert conditions of western Queensland, thinly populated by tenacious farming communities that often barely seem to survive, are hard to reconcile with the verdant, tropical exuberance of the Queensland coast.

Around Mount Isa, the land has been turned on its side. Upheavals millions of years ago shattered the rocks and pushed them upwards, only for the elements to erode jagged peaks and contorted gullies over the subsequent aeons. Nowadays much of this country is covered in thin spinifex and wattle scrub where cattle eke out an existence, but there are also low sandstone ridges with many tumbled boulders and scattering of acacias and eucalypts, while the Mount Isa highlands are a belt of low, rugged hills made up of granite intrusions with areas of spinifex, Snappy Gums, Bloodwoods and Western Box on the plateau-like tops. For most of the year this is a hot, dry, harsh land, but after rain the landscape is enhanced for a short time by a brilliant display of wildflowers and the seasonal rivers begin to flow once more, either northwards to the Gulf of Carpentaria or southwards until they dissipate in the great thirstlands of South Australia.

During our visit to the Mount Isa region, we shall be looking in particular for the elusive Carpentarian Grasswren, a species that managed to remain undetected for more than 60 years after its initial discovery, and the Kalkadoon Grasswren, which was only described in 1969 and which was for a time lumped in Dusky Grasswren.

Additional specialities of the area include the cute Spinifex Pigeon, the localized Cloncurry Ringneck (usually lumped in Port Lincoln Ringneck), Black-tailed Treecreeper, the beautiful Spotted Bowerbird and the skulking Spinifexbird.

Other birds often found around Mount Isa include Hoary-headed and Great Crested Grebes, Australian Pied and Great Cormorants, Australian Pelican, the strange Pink-eared Duck, Maned (or Australian Wood) Duck, Brown Falcon, Dusky Moorhen, Eurasian (or Common) Coot, Red-necked Avocet, Red-capped Plover, Caspian Tern, Crested Pigeon, Diamond Dove, Little Corella, Cockatiel, the nomadic Budgerigar, Pallid Cuckoo, Tawny Frogmouth, Sacred and Red-backed Kingfishers, Variegated Fairy-wren, Grey-headed, Grey-fronted and White-plumed Honeyeaters, Yellow-throated Miner, Crested Bellbird, Black-faced and Little Woodswallows, Australian Raven, Paperbark Flycatcher, Fairy Martin, and both Painted Finch (or Painted Firetail) and Zebra Finch. We should also encounter the huge Red Kangaroo.

Australia’s Outback Queensland & Cape York:  Day 18  After a last morning around Mount Isa we will drive eastwards to Hughenden for an overnight stay. This evening a short spotlighting session should turn up the adorable Rufous Bettong and also Spectacled Hare-wallaby.

Australia’s Outback Queensland & Cape York: Day 19  We will return to Cairns for an overnight stay, probably arriving in time for some final birding from the famous Esplanade. Alternatively, we will make a stop near Mareeba.

Australia’s Outback Queensland & Cape York: Day 20  Our tour ends this morning at Cairns.

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