Firetail Birdwatching Tours have been successful in applying for a commercial licence from Melbourne Water to run tours at the Western Treatment Plant (WTP). See below for details of small group tours of half a day in length. We also regularly take visitors into the permit area on private tours throughout the year.

The meeting place is Melbourne Water Gate 5 on Pt Wilson Road where it meets Paradise road. There is no public transport to get there so you will need to drive and then will be able to leave your car in the WTP car park just inside the locked gate. In 2026 the cost is $220 per person for a 4 and a half hour tour. We typically record between 70 and 80 bird species

DATES : After a successful spring summer and autumn run of tours, we will be posting new dates for spring and summer 2026 before the end of the financial year

We are very excited to be able to offer this experience Small group trips are a cost effective way to join a birdwatching tour and at the same time meet like minded people