One day tours usually start with a Melbourne pick up around 6.30am to escape the city area before the rush hour, and drop off is around 6.30pm (or earlier if required) The following flexible day tours are tried and tested, more targeted tours for specific bird species can be easily arranged. We are one of only two companies licensed to run tours to the Western Treatment Plant at Werribee.

Tour 1. Woodlands and Wetlands including the Western Treatment Plant (Werribee)

On this tour we shall spend the morning exploring a selection of the diverse woodlands found a short distance to the west of Melbourne. Depending on conditions and the season this may include Woodlands Historic Park (a River Red Gum dominated grassy woodland), Eynesbury Grey Box Forest, the You Yangs Regional Park (Yellow Gum, Red Gum and Wattle), Serendip Sanctuary (regrowth forest and wetlands) and/or the Brisbane Ranges National Park (mixed forest including Stringybarks, Ironbarks, Gums and Box trees).

A wide range of bushland birds are found in this area representing most Victorian bird families plus a few scarcer and/or cryptic species such as Little Eagle, Tawny Frogmouth, Purple-crowned Lorikeet, Satin Flycatcher, Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, Blue-winged Parrot (summer), various Cuckoos, Crested Shrike-tit, Speckled Warbler, Chestnut-rumped Heathwren, Scarlet Robin, Red-capped Robin, Diamond Firetail, Varied Sitella and Spotted Quail-thrush to name a few. Spring and summer migrants increase the diversity

The morning’s birding sets us up for a big day list with a visit to the Western Treatment Plant and surrounds near Werribee where waterbirds, grassland birds and raptors are abundant. Conditions vary from season to season and even week to week. Migratory shorebirds and Terns are a feature especially from September to March, raptors are varied and common all year with a peak in late summer, rails and crakes are usually seen when water levels are just right, duck numbers fluctuate with a good variety nearly always present, winter brings Blue-winged Parrots and Flame Robins, plus rarities can and do turn up any time. Brolgas, Cape Barren Geese, Egrets and Spoonbills, Fieldwrens and Zebra Finch, a visit is never dull

Aus$650-00 total for a single person/couple Aus$750-00 total for 3-4 people ) - includes drinks and snacks, lunch not included - larger groups are possible

Tour 2. The Surf Coast (plus Western Treatment Plant)

This tour takes us down to Victoria’s Surf Coast (between Torquay and Lorne) for a day’s birding near the start of the world famous Great Ocean road. We will explore a variety of different habitat types in an action packed day including ocean beaches and headlands, coastal heathlands and coastal woodlands of Ironbark and Stringybark. 

Along the coast we will look for the endangered Hooded Plover and various seabirds may be visible from shore such as Gannets, Terns, Shearwaters, Jaegers and Albatross

The woodland and heathland areas hugging the coastline here hold a diversity of vegetation types and are home to a wide range of bush birds including some localised specialties. The Rufous Bristlebird is endemic to the Western Victorian coastline plus adjacent South Australia.

We should see this localised skulker on this tour whilst the supporting cast of possible species includes Gang-gang Cockatoo, Blue-winged Parrot, Bassian Thrush, Tawny-crowned Honeyeater, Southern Emu-wren, Chestnut-rumped Heathwren and Rufous Bristlebird. Lewin’s Rail, Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo, Australian King-parrot, Olive Whistler, Dusky Woodswallow, Striated Fieldwren, Scarlet Robin, Satin Flycatcher (summer), Beautiful Firetail, Singing Honeyeater, Grey Currawong, Crescent Honeyeater, Black-faced Cormorant, Grey Goshawk, Forest Raven, Crested Shrike-tit, Satin Bowerbird, White-throated Needletail (summer) and lots lots more. Lots of great birds and some rarer species to try for in beautiful surroundings

 Our drive from Melbourne down to the Surf Coast takes us right past the WTP near Werribee where we will be able to make some targeted stops at the best current sections of this vast area, both on the way and on the way home adding greatly to the diversity of species for this tour.

Aus$650-00 total for a single person/couple Aus$750-00 total for 3-4 people - includes drinks and snacks, lunch not included - larger groups are possible

Tour 3. Great Dividing Range (Full day - October to mid-March only)

Exploring the hills and mountains east of Melbourne deserves a full day especially in the warmer months of summer when breeding migrants add to the resident birds. Driving through the suburbs various wetlands and riverine woodlands may be visited. At certain times roosting sites for Tawny Frogmouth and Powerful Owl can be worth visiting. Small wetlands on the drive can produce rails and crakes in the right season as well as a variety of commoner waterbirds and bush birds

The main part of the day will be spent further out in the tall lush mountain forests of the Central Highlands. These spectacular forests of towering Eucalypts and giant Tree Ferns support a range of birds that reach the limit of their range here (not being found further west) including the Superb Lyrebird, Pilotbird, Lewins Honeyeater, Large-billed Scrubwren, Black-faced Monarch, Eastern Whipbird and Brown Gerygone.

Other wet forest specialities to look for include Olive Whistler, Flame, Rose and Pink Robins, Satin Flycatcher, 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 as well as a range of commoner forest species.

Our route may also include some of the woodlands found to the north-east of the city area where rocky soils on low ranges support stringybark and box trees with diverse wildflowers. Crested Shrike-tit, Sacred Kingfisher, Scarlet Robin, Olive-backed Oriole, various Cuckoos, Pardalotes, Honeyeaters, Thornbills, Weebills and Varied Sitellas may be sighted in more open and more easily birded habitat

This stunningly beautiful countryside will not produce the longest species list for one day, however there are some sought after south-east Australian endemics to be found in idyllic surrounds.

Aus$650-00 total for a single person/couple Aus$750-00 total for 3-4 people - includes drinks and snacks, lunch not included - larger groups are possible

Tour 4. Dandenong Ranges and WTP (Werribee)

This tour is designed to give a taste of the mountains found to the east of Melbourne, home to the Superb Lyrebird, the worlds largest passerine, as well as a visit to the Western Treatment Plant in the afternoon.

As with the full day Great Dividing Range tour, targeted stops on the way through the suburbs may be made in the right season. The best part of the morning however will be spent enjoying the mighty Mountain Ash forests in the Dandenong Ranges NP This provides a good chance of Superb Lyrebird, in a forest where the birds have become a little more accustomed to human presence.

A nice introduction to wet forest birding is guaranteed with Rosellas, Whistlers, Robins, Scrubwrens and Thornbills sure to be seen. Other possible sightings include Eastern Whipbird, Rose Robin, Crested Shrike-tit, Large-billed Scrubwren, Brown Gerygone, Crescent Honeyeater, Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo, King Parrot, White-throated Needletail, Satin Flycatcher etc.

And for the afternoon the freeway will take us easily across Melbourne and out to the WTP at Werribee where a birding wonderland awaits us. A few hours at Werribee is plenty of time to encounter a wide range of species targeting the best sections for the season and the tides

This tour can be run all year. Although the mountain forests have quieter birding in winter it is still worthwhile as it is breeding season for the Superb Lyrebirds, the time when the males are at their most vocal

Aus$650-00 total for a single person/couple Aus$750-00 total for 3-4 people - includes drinks and snacks, lunch not included - larger groups are possible

Tour 5. Central Victoria – The Box-Ironbark country

With freeways heading north from Melbourne it is possible to visit the inland slopes of the Great Dividing Range in a day. North of the divide, rainfall is lower, and the days are sunnier, with habitats opening out allowing for easier birding. There are also many large tracts of bushland.

This tour typically starts with a one and a half hour easy drive north from Melbourne. A different suite of species occur here in the “box-ironbark” country to those found in southern Victoria. A wide range of Honeyeaters occur, taking advantage of year around nectar supplies including the three classic box ironbark species (Yellow-tufted, Fuscous and Black-chinned).

Species that may be found include Musk, Purple-crowned and Little Lorikeets. Swift Parrot (winter), Crimson and Eastern Rosellas, Red-rumped Parrot, Powerful Owl (roosting sites may be checked), Peaceful Dove, Rainbow Beeeaters (summer), Scarlet Robin, Red-capped, Flame Robin (winter), Jacky Winter, Crested Shrike-tit, Olive-backed Oriole, Dusky Woodswallow, Varied Sitella, White-bellied Cuckoo-Shrike, Crested Bellbird, Speckled Warbler, Spotted Quail-thrush , Painted Button-quail, Little Eagle, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Square-tailed Kite (spring and summer), Leaden Flycatcher (spring and summer), White-browed Woodswallow (spring and summer), Sacred Kingfisher (spring and summer), Brown Treecreeper, Restless Flycatcher, White-browed Babbler, Chestnut-rumped Heathwren, various Cuckoos including Black-eared in season, Buff-rumped Thornbill, Diamond Firetail plus many more Thornbills, Pardalotes, Fantails and Whistlers !

Enough birdlife to keep us busy all day, but for a more hardcore birding day, time may be found to allow us to drive further north to visit some “mallee” country supporting Shy Heathwren, Purple-backed Fairy-wren, Inland Thornbill, Southern Scrub-robin, Brush Bronzewing, White-backed Swallow, Gilberts Whistler, and yet more Honeyeaters (White-fronted, Yellow-plumed and Tawny-crowned).

Quality birding any time of the year on the sunny side of the ranges touring quiet rural areas.

Aus$650-00 total for a single person/couple Aus$750-00 total for 3-4 people ) - includes drinks and snacks, lunch not included - larger groups are possible