Dandenong Ranges / Yarra Ranges Tour - One Day

The country to the east and north-east of Melbourne is completely different to the west. Low hills and valleys rise higher to cooler and wetter mountain forests.

The itinerary for this tour will vary with the season. In late spring and summer (October to March) it is worth visiting the higher altitude areas such as Toolangi SF, Mt Donna Buang, Kinglake NP, and the Yarra State Forest. The summer season is peak birding time in the higher mountains and the best chance for such specialties as Pink Robin, Rose Robin, Flame Robin, Pilotbird and Olive Whistler. Lower altitude areas will also be visited, the lush gullies hold many wonders

In the cooler months of the year this tour will focus more on lower altitude areas where the birdlife is more varied. Still targeting Superb Lyrebirds, checking roosts for nocturnal species, and calling in at any wetlands, but also visiting the diverse woodlands along the Yarra Valley to the North-east of Melbourne with a different suite of woodland bird species

The mountain forests of towering eucalypts and giant tree ferns support a range of birds that reach their limits here including the Superb Lyrebird, Pilotbird, Lewins Honeyeater, Large-billed Scrubwren, Black-faced Monarch (summer), Eastern Whipbird and Brown Gerygone. Other wet forest specialities to look for depending on the location and season include such gems as Olive Whistler, Flame, Rose and Pink Robins, Gang Gang Cockatoo, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, Australian King-parrot, Brush Cuckoo, Cicadabird, Rufous Fantail, Satin Flycatcher, Satin Bowerbird, White-throated Needletail, Bassian Thrush and Red-browed Treecreeper to name a few.

In the woodlands of the Yarra valley area birds such as Crested Shrike-tit, Sacred Kingfisher, Scarlet Robin, Olive-backed Oriole, Brush Cuckoo, Satin Flycatcher, various Cuckoos, Pardalotes, Honeyeaters, Thornbills, Weebills and Varied Sitellas may all be encountered. The lower and more open habitat makes for easier viewing

Driving through the well treed outer suburbs to get there also offer many possibilities, Various wetlands and riverine woodlands may be visited. Roosting sites for Tawny Frogmouth, Owlet-Nightjar and Powerful Owl can be worth checking whilst Rails, Crakes and Snipe are all possible in the right conditions. Bell Miners occur at a few very specific locations and in winter many Parrot and Cockatoo species are more commonly seen in the lower altitude valleys and suburbs than up on the mountains.

Aus$700-00 total for a single person Aus$750-00 total for a 2 people Aus$800-00 for 3-4 people - includes drinks and snacks, lunch not included - larger groups are possible

Note this tour will likely commence and finish in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne ( Box Hill area)