Australia : Birdlife of the Tropical North

Day 1 arrive in Cairns and transfer to the Hotel Cairns for a 3-night stay.

Day 2 join a cruise and crocodile farm tour along picturesque Trinity Inlet with Cairns Habitat Cruises. Discover the secrets of this unique and special mangrove-lined waterway and see a rich and diverse array of wildlife. Transfer to the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway for your return trip over the tropical rainforest canopy, with time to explore the forest boardwalks.

Day 3 board Ocean Spirit’s luxury sailing catamaran to Michaelmas Cay, a natural sand island surrounded by coral gardens and a protected sanctuary hosting over 20,000 migratory seabirds. Snorkelling from the beach is easy and rewarding, whilst semi-submersible boat trips are available for those who prefer to stay dry. Optional extras include guided snorkelling and diving.

Days 4-5 collect your rental car and make your way to the Atherton Tablelands for a 2-night stay at Rose Gums Wilderness Lodge. The beautiful wooden tree houses are located amidst 230 acres of private tropical forest offering an unforgettable bush experience with plenty of opportunity to see some of the area’s 160 species of birds as well as musky-rat kangaroos, platypus, possums and other indigenous wildlife.

Days 6-7 drive to the Mareeba Tropical Savannah and Wetland Reserve, home to a wide array of birdlife. Your tented cabin accommodation for 2 nights at the Jabiru Safari Lodge will provide the perfect place to immerse yourself in this wildlife haven. Fall asleep to the distinctive call of the curlew and awake to the song of the blue-winged kookaburra and brolga. Enjoy a tour of the reserve, the highlight being Pandanus Lagoon with its prolific birdlife including jabirus, jacanas, black swans, pelicans, magpie geese, egrets, ibis, cormorants and darters.

Day 8 return to Cairns to drop off your rental car and continue your Australian adventure.