• Amazing bird watching experience around the Tropical Atherton Tablelands just behind Cairns.
• Visit the picturesque Clanys Lagoon, Pandanus Lagoon, Yungaburra and Lake Barine  
• Exclusive access to the Shared Earth Reserve, (Mareeba Wetlands) 5,000 acres of lagoons, trails, bird hides and dirt roads with a myriad of bird watching opportunities.

Our Cairns bird watching tour is a unique full day private charter tour taking you to the Tropical Wetlands on the Atherton Tablelands with exclusive access to the Shared Earth Reserve (formerly Mareeba Wetlands) where more than 220 bird species have been recorded.

What to Expect

Experience a unique full-day private charter bird-watching tour in Cairns, taking you to the Tropical Wetlands on the Atherton Tablelands. With exclusive access to the Shared Earth Reserve (formerly Mareeba Wetlands), home to over 220 bird species, this private charter nature and wildlife tour is perfect for birding enthusiasts.

Your private naturalist guide will lead you through 5,000 acres of lagoons, trails, dirt roads, and bird hides, ensuring an unforgettable day of bird watching. The tour starts early, with pickup at 6:30 am from Cairns, and concludes around 4:30 pm.

The Shared Earth Reserve is owned by Forever Wild, an organisation dedicated to protecting Earth’s last wilderness areas. Our guides are highly experienced and passionate about birdwatching and photography, guaranteeing a rich and engaging experience.

Features and Highlights

• Exclusive Access: Explore the Shared Earth Reserve with 5,000 acres of bird-watching opportunities, including lagoons, trails, bird hides, and dirt roads.
• Diverse Bird Species: Spot over 220 bird species, including Quails, Magpie Geese, Black Swans, various Ducks, Grebes, Pelicans, Herons, Cranes, and many more.
• Birds of Prey: Encounter Ospreys, Kites, Hawks, Eagles, Harriers, and Falcons.
• Parrots and Cockatoos: Observe Red-Tailed Black Cockatoos, Lorikeets, Rosellas, and Red Wing Parrots.
• Kingfishers and Kookaburras: Delight in sightings of Azure Kingfishers, Laughing Kookaburras, and Blue Winged Kookaburras.
• Unique Wildlife: Experience the thrill of spotting Kangaroos, Echidnas, Dingos, Snakes, and other native wildlife.
• Expert Guides: Learn from highly experienced and passionate naturalist guides dedicated to providing an educational and interactive experience.
• Customised Itineraries: Tailor your special interest nature and wildlife tour to include additional destinations such as the Daintree Rainforest and enjoy a birdwatching and crocodile spotting river cruise.

Cairns Birding Tour Opportunities

• Diverse Habitats: Explore lakes, swamps, billabongs, creeks, and savanna woodlands, each offering unique bird-watching opportunities.
• Savannah and Eucalypt Habitats: Observe Finches, Fairy Wrens, and Manikins in the open savannah and eucalypt areas.
• Night Tours: For those interested in nocturnal wildlife, extended overnight tours are available, including accommodation and night walks in the Daintree Rainforest.

Curated Nature and Wildlife Tours

• Alternative Itinerary: Customsze your bird-watching experience to suit your needs, combining different habitats and locations such as the Daintree Rainforest for a more comprehensive tour.
• Exclusive Experiences: Enjoy secluded locations and private land access for an intimate and immersive bird-watching adventure.

Private Charter Rainforest Itinerary

6:30am – Pickup in Cairns

• Your private naturalist guide will pick you up early in the morning to maximise bird-watching opportunities. Travel to the Atherton Tablelands, enjoying the scenic drive.

8:00am – Clancy’s Lagoon

• Arrive at Clancy’s Lagoon, surrounded by walking tracks. Observe a variety of bird species in their natural habitat.

Morning Tea Break

• Take a short break for morning tea before continuing the day tour.

Pandanus Lagoon

• Explore Pandanus Lagoon, home to waders and waterbirds, including a large colony of Black Swans. Observe kangaroos, echidnas, dingos, snakes, and other reptiles.

Lunch at a Shady Billabong

• Enjoy a well-deserved lunch break under the shade, surrounded by the serene billabong setting.

Afternoon Birdwatching

• Continue birdwatching in the nearby Atherton Tablelands, visiting locations such as Lake Barrine and Yungaburra.

Optional Extension to Daintree Rainforest

• For an enhanced experience, combine the Tropical Wetlands tour with a visit to the Daintree Rainforest. Enjoy a morning at the Shared Earth Reserve, followed by a wildlife river cruise in the Daintree Rainforest.

4:30pm – Return to Cairns

• Return to Cairns, concluding your private birdwatching tour filled with unique sightings and memorable experiences.

See more private charter rainforest tours and wildlife tours in Cairns and Far North Queensland, Australia.

Learn more about the things you need to know before you go in Cairns and Tropical North Queensland on our blog.  

Cairns Birding Tour Highlights

• Exclusive access to the Shared Earth Reserve, (Mareeba Wetlands) 5,000 acres of lagoons, trails, bird hides and dirt roads with a myriad of bird watching opportunities.
• Highest bird count in a single day was an impressive 98 species on our birding tour.
• Highly experienced and passionate naturalist guides.
• Wide variety of bird watching habitats: lakes, swamps, billabong, creeks and savanna woodland

Cairns Birding Tour Opportunities

You will observe many bird species on your Tropical Wetlands Birdwatching private tour such as 6 different Quail species, Magpie, Geese, Black Swans, 11 different duck species and three different Grebes, Darters and Cormorants, Pelicans, Crakes, Rails, Swamphens, Moorhens, Coots, Herons, Egrets, Bitterns, Ibis, Spoonbills, Storks (Jabiru), Cranes including Brolga, Sarus Crane, Bustards, Sandpipers, Godwits, Common Greenshank, Stints, Jacanas which thrive on the water lilies, Curlews, Stills, Avocets, Lapwings, Plovers, Dotterels, Terns.

Some of the birds of preys you may encounter are: Osprey, Kites, Hawks, Eagles, Harriers and Falcons.

Five different pigeons species inhabit the Shared Earth Reserve and doves have also been recorded.

Another regular sighting is the famous Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo. We have great sightings of Black Cockatoos at the Wetlands and on the road into Mareeba Wetlands.

Parrots including Lorikeets, Rosellas & Red Wing Parrots are quite often seen as well as 9 different varieties of Cuckoos, Keels and Coucals AND Frogmouths and Night jars.

A crowds favourite... the Kingfishers especially the Azure Kingfisher (stunning bird), a delight to see around the lagoons.

Both the laughing Kookaburra and Blue Winged Kookaburra are regularly spotted as well as Bee eaters, Rollers, Tree Creepers and Pardalotes.

Numerous Honeyeaters, Robins, Bee Eaters, Thrushes, Monarchs, Magpie Larks, Fly Catchers and Wagtails are seen throughout the Wetlands.

Don't miss the Great Bowerbird.

The open savannah and eucalypt habitats within the Mareeba Wetlands give great opportunities to observe Finches, Fairy Wrens and Manikins.

There are a lot of bird species to discover and/or re-discover in the Tropical Wetlands; each tour is unique and every time you join us on a private Tropical North Queensland birdwatching tour you will experience something distinctively unique.

Cairns Best Bird Watching Tours - Curated Nature Tours

Alternative Itinerary

We are very fortunate to live in Tropical North Queensland where we can experience several different bird watching habitats and they are all very easily accessible.

We can taylor made your day to suit your needs; we can shorten the above day and add the Daintree Rainforest and include a Daintree bird watching river cruise.

See more private charter rainforest tours and wildlife tours in Cairns and Far North Queensland in Australia.

Tour Languages Offered

• English

Departs From

Cairns

Departure Time

• Cairns City 6:30am – returns 4:30pm
• Northern Beaches 6:30am – returns 4:30pm
• Port Douglas 6:30am – returns 4:30pm

Pickup Locations

• Cairns
• Cairns Northern Beaches
• Palm Cove
• Port Douglas

• Modern 7 seat capacity fully air-conditioned Imax. 13 seat Hi-Ace can be arranged for larger groups.

Destinations

• Atherton Tablelands
• Mareeba Wetlands & Atherton Tablelands

Months of Operation

January - December

Days of Operation

Daily

Duration

10 hours (approx.)

Fitness Level Required

Low, Medium

• Sun protection (hats, sunglasses)
• Insect Repellent
• Natural coloured light weight clothing
• Binoculars (communal pair in the vehicle)
• Day pack with camera
• Comfortable walking shoes

• This private birding tour is more suitable for young adults however we are happy to discuss children’s age.
• Please note this tour’s duration is approximately 10 hours and includes a lot of walking.