• Amazing bird watching experience around the Tropical Atherton Tablelands just behind Cairns.
• Visit the picturesque Yungaburra and Lake Barine  

Guided birdwatching tour of the Atherton Tablelands exploring key Wet Tropics habitats, including Hasties Swamp, Mount Hypipamee, Lake Barrine and Yungaburra, with opportunities to spot endemic and migratory species near Cairns.

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. 

Your specialist birding guide leads you through a handpicked selection of hotspots across the Atherton Tablelands, the elevated inland counterpart to the coastal Daintree Rainforest. The morning typically includes trails through freshwater creek systems and mesophyll vine forest, followed by time at renowned viewing sites known for exceptional species diversity.

Hasties Swamp, one of the region’s major wetland systems, offers excellent waterbird viewing from a purpose-built hide equipped with identification signage. More than 220 bird species have been recorded here, including seasonal migratory visitors and a reliable collection of resident waterbirds.

Mount Hypipamee National Park forms another key part of the day. This high-altitude rainforest is regarded as one of the best locations to observe the magnificent male Golden Bowerbird, with active bowers often found in the surrounding area. The park is also known for sightings of the Southern Cassowary and a wide variety of upland rainforest species.

The afternoon often includes visits to Lake Barrine and Yungaburra, two of the Tablelands’ most rewarding environments for nature enthusiasts. Several walking options are available—from short 30-minute circuits to longer, slow-paced two-hour loops—selected based on conditions and the species we aim to find. These environments consistently produce excellent encounters with a long list of Wet Tropics endemics.

Features and Highlights

• Specialist birdwatching guide with deep expertise in North Queensland’s endemic and migratory species.
• Visit multiple birding hotspots across the Atherton Tablelands, known for more than 450 recorded species, including 13 regional endemics.
• Early 6:30AM pickup from Cairns for prime morning bird activity.
• Walk freshwater creek tracks and mesophyll vine forest rich in high-altitude Wet Tropics species.
• Experience Hasties Swamp National Park, a seasonal wetland home to more than 220 documented species, with outstanding viewing from a dedicated bird hide.
• Search for the Golden Bowerbird and observe active bowers within Mount Hypipamee National Park; a strong site for Southern Cassowary.

 

See more 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.  

Tour Languages Offered

• English

Departs From

Cairns

Departure Time

Cairns City 6:30am – returns 4:30pm

Pickup Locations

• Cairns Northern Beaches
• Palm Cove

Destinations

• Atherton Tablelands
• Lake Barrine
• Yungaburra
• Mount Hypipamee National Park

Months of Operation

January - December

Days of Operation

Tuesday, Thursday

Duration

10 hours (approx.)

Fitness Level Required

Low, Medium

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