Tours
Customised birdwatching tours are the focus for Endemic Bird Tours Australia - we are here to design a birding tour to suit you. There are many types of birdwatchers in the world - some wish to see as many bird species as possible, some want to see a bird within every family, some are interested in guilds of birds (eg raptors), some like to photograph birds and some just like to venture out and observe simply what there is to see.
We are very flexible and really want you to get the most out of your birding time in Australia. Just tell us exactly what you have in mind and we will be happy to arrange something for your birdwatching needs.
Short Tours (1-2 days)
We are based in Newcastle, on the east coast of New South Wales and the capital of the Hunter Region, famous for it's fine wines and home to a startling array of bird species. More than 420 species of birds have been recorded in the Hunter Region - an area about the size of Belgium. In a day's birding out of Newcastle it is easy to record over 100 species of birds in a day and at the right time of year it is possible to find up to 150 species in a single day's birding!
The Hunter Region is easily accessible from our largest city and international hub, Sydney. By car it is around 2 hours from Sydney and trains depart every hour or so.
More information about birds seen in the Hunter is provided on our Birds page.
If you want to explore the option of combining fine wine tasting and birding, check out our Other Tour Options page.
Extended Tours (3 days or more - whatever you wish)
Of course, what we have outlined above is literally in our backyard. We can take you to anywhere in Australia that you want to go. Australia is a haven for birders seeking endemic bird species and finding these birds are our speciality (refer to our Birds page for some facts about Australian endemic species). It is completely up to you on how intensive you want the tour to be. We will adapt to the pace that you wish to set.
For the more adventurous birder willing to see maximum species, as an example, an 8-day tour that departs and returns to Newcastle should garner about 250-300 species (during spring / summer). A 3-week tour could reap close to 400 species, depending on how keen you are!
Information about our tours
All of our tours are run within a modern, comfortable 4wd vehicle. Our vehicles can comfortably seat 4 passengers, though if necessary, can seat up to 6.
We carry a Zeiss spotting scope and a spare pair of binoculars - so seeing the birds won't be a problem. Our other important equipment includes bird-call sound recordings, spotlights and torches for night birds.
If requested, we can carry a digital SLR camera to capture some of the birds seen on the tour (or other things such as areas visited). These photographs will be provided to you after the tour (via mail) on compact disc, compliments of Endemic Bird Tours Australia.
Most importantly, bird field guides are provided so we can show you how to identify the birds that we are seeing and hearing. We usually carry 2 or 3 field guides to use as cross-references in the field. We also have field guides for other animals and plants in case you are interested.
Meals are generally not included in our tour costs, except on one day tours (where lunch and refreshments are supplied). On extended tours an estimated cost for food to suit your tastes and requirements is provided. We supply fresh spring water on all of our tours.
A potential bird list for the tour that you choose can be provided, showing species that are likely, or less likely, to be seen. We can assist you with other information about birding in Australia, including other worthwhile areas to visit, places to stay before and after your tour etc, just ask!
Following completion of the tour our clients are given a list of the birds and other animals we have recorded.
Endemic Bird Tours Australia firmly recommends that you have all appropriate travel insurances for your journey.
