Birdwatching North West NSW & South West QLD 2011 - Accommodated
| Accmdated: | Yes |
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| No.of days: | 9 |
| Ex: | Sydney - Sydney |
| Departure: | 22nd - 30th October, 2011 |
| Price: | $3840pp $3840pp |
| Deposit: | $300pp |
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Join us for a 9 day tour to North-West New South Wales and South-West Queensland. The tour is fully accommodated in shearers quarters / cabin-style / motel-style rooms. Note that due to restricted accommodation, there is a mamimum of 10 passengers on this tour.
This tour will provide the opportunity to see a great variety of birds ranging from the waterbirds of inland wetlands, bushbirds of the mulga and saltbush of the outback plains to the mixed woodlands of the western slopes.
OUR GUIDE:
An experienced birdwatcher will accompany the tour as a birdwatching guide and will be on hand to identify birds.
Photo of Mallee Fowl by Ji Qiu.
Trip Overview
Goonoo National Park near Dubbo protects a large area of woodland and is an important refuge for many threatened species including the endangered Malleefowl. Although our time will be limited, with luck, we may see a Malleefowl at one of the active mounds within the forest.
Mt Oxley near Bourke has outstanding 360 degree views over the surrounding perfectly flat landscape. Our farmstay on “Rossmore” station at the base of the mountain will provide plenty of time to explore and birdwatch on the mountain and the surrounding farmland. Species that could be seen include parrots such as Red-winged, Blue Bonnet, Australian Ringneck, Cockatiel and Budgerigar. Red-tailed Black-cockatoos are regularly seen along the river at Bourke.
In the mulga country on “Kilcowra” we will be looking for Bourkes Parrot, Chestnut-breasted Quail-thrush, Halls Babbler and White-browed Treecreeper. Grey Falcon and Black-breasted Buzzard can also be seen. Other birds include Spotted Bowerbird, Splendid and White-winged Fairy-wrens, Slaty-backed Thornbill, Hall’s and Chestnut-crowned Babblers and Chirruping Wedgebill.
The mixed Ironbark and Cypress Pine woodland in the Pilliga National Park and State Forest is an important refuge for many of the species of the woodlands of the western slopes including the endangered Glossy Black-cockatoo. Other threatened species found in the forest are Turquoise Parrot, Speckled Warbler and Hooded Robin. Square-tailed Kites nest near the township of Barradine.
Details of Trip
BOOKINGS Can only be confirmed with the payment of $250 Deposit.
Final payment falls due 45 days before departure. Cheques are to be made payable to 'Outback Track Tours Pty Ltd'. We also accept VISA MASTERCARD. All credit card transactions over $250.00 will attract a 3 percent fee.
TRAVEL INSURANCE We strongly recommend travel insurance against loss of possessions accident and cancellation through unforeseen circumstances. Insurance is available at the office if you require it.
PLEASE NOTE This is a fully accommodated tour. Limited space is available for single supplement for an extra cost. If weather road conditions or other circumstances necessitate a change in itinerary the decision to make such changes is solely that of the Tour Guide.
Included
Travel by air-conditioned OTT 4WD vehicle; All meals unless specified on brochure denoted as B:Breakfast, L: Lunch & D: Dinner. All National Park entrance fees. Any additional flights, cruises & side excursions are optional extras. Twin share accommodation. Price is based on twin share. Single supplement is available please contact the office for details.
WHAT TO BRING: Walking Shoes, Torch, Water Bottle, Camera and Binoculars.
Accommodation is varied, however we have tried to maintain consistency throughout: Dubbo (3.5 star ensuite motel rooms), Farmstay Mt Oxley Shearers Hut shared facilites; Shearers Quarters Kilcowera Station shared facilites; Lightning Ridge (3.5 star ensuite motel rooms); Camp Cypress twin share in 4 Bedroom Athlete Village comfortable Cabins
Minimum Passengers
8, 10 Passengers Maximum
Itinerary
DAY 1 (22 OCT) SYDNEY – DUBBO
Meet your crew at Central Railway Station (Coach Bay 5) at 0645 for a 0700 departure. A full day travelling via the Great Western Highway through the Blue Mountains to Orange and Mitchell Highway to Dubbo. There will be a number of birding stops along the way including the Orange Botanical garden. Accom DUBBO Ensuite (LD)
DAY 2 (23rd OCT) DUBBO – MT OXLEY
An early morning start to go to Goonoo State Forest with the hope of seeing Malleefowl. We then continue through Nyngan, Bourke en route to Mt Oxley Farmstay on Rossmore Station. We will arrive in time for dinner with our hosts, Bill & Denise Stalley. Farmstay MT OXLEY (BLD)
DAY 3 (24th OCT) MT OXLEY
A full day birding around Rossmore Station. We will be searching for species typical of the inland such Major Mitchell Cockatoo, Mulga Parrot, Crested Bellbird, Splendid and White-winged Fairy-wren and Red-capped Robin. Possible honeyeaters include White-fronted, Black and Pied. Farmstay MT OXLEY (BLD)
DAY 4 (25th OCT) MT OXLEY - KILCOWERA
We leave Rossmore to travel north via Bourke and Hungerford to Kilcowera Station, a remote cattle station near Thargomindah. Shearers Quarters: Kilcowera Stn (BLD)
DAY 5 (26th OCT) KILCOWERA
Bordering on Lake Wyara, the mulga woodlands of Kilcowera with its great variety of birds make it a birdwatchers’ paradise. We will have a full day to drive around the station birdwatching. Shearers Quarters: Kilcowera Stn (BLD)
DAY 6 (27th OCT) KILCOWERA – LIGHTNING RIDGE
Today we travel to Lightning Ridge which is particularly special because it is now the only place in Australia, and one of the few places in the world, where the precious and highly prized black opal is found. For those who want a warm, relaxing and therapeutic bath an afternoon visit to the Lightning Ridge Bore Baths where a permanent supply of warm mineralised waters bubbles up under natural forces from 900 m below the surface. Dinner at own expense. Accomm LIGHTNING RIDGE Ensuite (BL)
DAY 7 (28th OCT) LIGHTNING RIDGE - BARRADINE
We only have a short distance to travel today so we will arrive at our accommodation at Camp Cypress at Baradine showground in plenty of time for some afternoon birding. With plenty of Brimble Box and Cypress Pine, the grounds attract many birds including Red-winged Parrots, Diamond Doves, White-winged Trillers, Hooded Robins and Double-barred Finches. Accomm CAMP CYPRESS Ensuite (BLD)
DAY 8 (29th OCT) BARADINE
We will spend the day in the Pilliga State Forest which is an important for the endangered Glossy Black-cockatoo. Barking Owls nest along the water-courses and are sometimes seen during the day. We will visit various sites throughout the forest including water holes where the birds come in to drink including many species of honeyeater. Koalas can be found in the red gums along the dry watercourses. Accomm CAMP CYPRESS Ensuite (BLD)
DAY 9 (30th OCT) BARRADINE - SYDNEY
A full day travelling back to Sydney via Coonabarabran and the Hunter Valley. We arrive in Sydney via the Pacific Highway hoping to arrive back at Coach Bay 5 at approximately 5.30 - 6.00PM. (BL)
