Australia is a birdwatcher’s paradise, with everything from dazzling parrots and majestic raptors to lovely little songbirds. Whether you’re a casual bird watcher or a dedicated ‘twitcher’ (a passionate birder who travels to specific locations to spot rare species), there’s always a chance to see something spectacular.
With over 800 bird species, many found nowhere else in the world, Australia offers amazing opportunities for both seasoned birders and nature lovers to enjoy the beauty of our feathered friends. So, grab your binoculars and get ready to discover some of the best birdwatching spots around!
Queensland
Lamington National Park
Gold Coast hinterland, QLD
Birds to see: Albert’s Lyrebird, Paradise Riflebird, Noisy Pitta, Regent Bowerbird, Satin Bowerbird.
Stay at the Tweed River Motel,
Murwillumbah, QLD
Daintree Rainforest
Diwan, QLD
Birds to see: Southern Cassowary, Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Papuan Frogmouth, Metallic Starling.
Stay at the Curtain Fig Motel, Yungaburra, QLD
Mullers Lagoon Park
Bowen, QLD
Birds to see: Plumed Whistling-Duck, Radjah Shelduck, Maned Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Hardhead.
Stay at the Bourbong Street Motel,
Bundaberg, QLD
Lake Proserpine
(Peter Faust Dam), Proserpine, QLD
Birds to see: Black Swan, Australian Brushturkey, Pheasant, Eastern Cattle-Egret, Blue-winged Kookaburra.
Stay at the A & A Motel,
Proserpine, QLD
Pioneer Valley
Eungella / Mackay, QLD
Birds to see: Barking Owl, Rainbow Bee-eater, Sacred Kingfisher, Mangrove Honeyeater, Brahminy Kite..
Stay at the Mackay Motor Inn, Mackay, QLD
Murray Lagoon
Rockhampton Botanic Gardens, QLD
Birds to see: Black Cockatoo, Pink-eared Ducks, Cotton-pygmy Geese, Australasian Shoveler.
Stay at the Citywalk Motor Inn,
Rockhampton, QLD
New South Wales
Hunter Estuary Wetlands
Newcastle, NSW
Birds to see: Black-necked Stork, Brolga, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Australian Pelican, Royal Spoonbill.
Stay at the Mayfield Motel, Newcastle, NSW
Mudgee Wetlands
Putta Bucca, NSW
Birds to see: Blue-billed Duck, Pink-eared Duck, Latham’s Snipe, White-fronted Chat.
Stay at the All Seasons Motor Lodge, Dubbo, NSW
Narrandera wetlands
Narrandera, NSW
Birds to see: Superb Parrots, Yellow Rosella, White-winged Chough, Apostlebird, Currawong, Robin.
Stay at the Fig Tree Motel, Narrandera, NSW
Tenterfield Lake & Dam
Tenterfield, NSW
Birds to see: Green Catbird, Eastern Whipbird, Rainbow Pitta, Logrunner, Fruit- Dove.
Stay at the Tally Ho Motor Inn, Tenterfield, NSW
Victoria
Phillip Island
VIC
Birds to see: Little Penguin, Short-tailed Shearwater, Hooded Plover, Pied Oystercatcher.
Stay at the Admiral Motor Inn, Rosebud, VIC
Lake Boga & Round Lake
Swan Hill, VIC
Birds to see: Whiskered Tern, Gull-billed Tern, Caspian Tern, Cormorant, Pelican, and Great Crested Grebe.
Stay at the Paruna Motel, Swan Hill, VIC
Werribee Treatment Plant
Werribee, VIC
Birds to see: Orange-bellied Parrot (critically endangered), Freckled Duck, Australasian Bittern, Fairy Tern.
Stay at the West City Motel, Ardeer, VIC
Hattah-Kulkyne National Park
Mallee District, VIC
Birds to see: Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo, White-browed Treecreeper, Black-eared Cuckoo, Red-lored Whistler.
Stay at the Orana Motor Inn, Irymple, VIC
Lake Purrumbete
Camperdown, VIC
Birds to see: Musk Duck, Blue-billed Duck, Freckled Duck, Magpie Goose, Great Crested Grebe.
Stay at the Camperdown Cascade Motel, Camperdown, VIC
You Yangs Regional Park
VIC
Birds to see: Peregrine Falcon, White-throated Treecreeper, Crested Shrike-tit, Eastern Rosella.
Stay at the Hacienda Motel, Rippleside Park Motor Inn, or the Colonial Lodge Motel, Geelong, VIC
Tasmania
Mount Field National Park
TAS
Birds to see: Pink Robin, Olive Whistler, Scrubtit, Tasmanian Thornbill.
Stay at the Marquis Hotel Motel, Hobart, TAS
Narawntapu National Park
TAS
Birds to see: White-bellied Sea Eagle, Blue-winged Parrot, Striated Pardalote, Beautiful Firetail.
Stay at the Menai Hotel Motel, Burnie, TAS
Information and images courtesy and © Birdlife Australia. Check them out here.
