Southern Eyre Peninsula Bird Watching Tour, South Australia

A birdwatcher’s delight! Join us over three days and two nights. With 100 national and conservation parks, over 270 species of birds living in mallee bushland and spectacular coastal scenery, Eyre Peninsula is emerging as a ‘must-see’ destination for eco and wildlife tours. 

Your guide is Fran Solly. A keen birdwatcher for more than 30 years, Fran knows the local birds well, including many by their call. She contributes to the local scientific database through bird surveys that are conducted across the Peninsula. Fran is also a professional photographer and started her photography journey capturing birds.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit wetlands, Lincoln, Coffin Bay, and Mount Dutton Bay National Parks, Conservation Parks, mallee scrub, islands, coastal hamlets, wilderness areas, and protected areas
• Observe an abundance of seabirds, shorebirds, songbirds, parrots (including the beautiful Port Lincoln parrot) and raptors including osprey and white-bellied sea eagles
• Add to the list the western grey kangaroos, emus, koalas and Rosenberg’s goannas, plus so much more.
• Be surprised by the best wild interaction with our iconic koalas.
• Learn about the Coffin Bay oyster and the beauty of Coffin Bay with the oyster tour & tasting.

AT A GLANCE

26-28 OCT 2024

20-22 NOV 2024

27-29 OCT 2025

24-26 NOV 2025

(If the dates listed are not suitable, please contact our team travel@australiangeographic.com.au or call 1300 241 141 to enquire about alternative dates if you prefer to travel with your own private party)

Activity level

Moderate

Duration

3 days, 2 nights. Tour starts and ends in Port Lincoln

Prices

From $1790 per person twin share in 2024

From $1990 per person twin share in 2025
Single supplement available

Group size

Minimum 4, maximum 4 guests

Featuring region

Southern Eyre Peninsula

ITINERARY

Day 1: Welcome to beautiful Eyre Peninsula

If you are flying into Port Lincoln, your guide will pick you up from the airport. Start your journey at the small coastal hamlet of Tulka where waders, swans and sea birds can be seen from the bird hide. This is another known location for Southern emu-wrens. Next we take you to the diversity of the Port Lincoln National Park. From the naturally rugged and wild Sleaford Bay and the Southern Ocean to the tranquility of the Spalding Cove area and other beautiful beaches. Rugged cliffs provide an opportunity to view osprey and white bellied sea-eagles and to keep a look out for kites and harriers.

Head towards Taylors landing and encounter birds such as the mallee fowl, purple-gaped honeyeaters, striated pardalotes, spiney-cheeked honeyeaters, dusky woodswallows, Australian pipits, Western yellow robins, blue breasted wrens, and white-Browed scrubwren. Enjoy lunch and more opportunities to stop and watch the birdlifeIn the afternoon, visit the privately owned Mikkira Station, one of Australia’s very best habitats where koalas can be found in the wild. Here we go exploring under the beautiful old eucalypt trees and come face to face with koalas as they laze in the Manna gums. Wild kangaroos casually hop around and emus roam around amongst mobs of sheep. This is also the home of astounding bush birds including Australian ringneck parrots, black-faced cuckoo-shrikes, pallid cuckoos, golden whistlers and an occasional scarlet robin.

Accommodation: Port Lincoln Hotel

Lunch provided.

Day 2: Eastern coast of the Eyre Peninsula

Today we travel to Port Neill where we look for sea birds on the eastern coast of the Eyre Peninsula. Driving back through Port Neill we will be looking for ruddy turnstones and the endangered hooded plovers known to nest on the beaches in the area. Heading off the main road we will stop at Rogers Beach before visiting a crested tern colony at Lipson Cove. A picnic lunch on the beach will provide an opportunity to stop and watch the birdlife. Accommodation: Port Lincoln Hotel

Breakfast and lunch provided.

Day 3: Coffin Bay National Park

This morning we are off to Billy Lights Point for a short walk – a bird lovers delight! A small fringe of coastal mallee and sheltered bays is the perfect location for both water birds and bush birds. Pied, little pied and black cormorants, grey teal and chestnut teal ducks, osprey, white-bellied sea-eagle, sooty and pied oyster catchers, striated pardalotes, Western yellow robins, superb blue wrens, blue-breasted wrens, white-browed babblers, New Holland honeyeaters, brown-headed honey eaters and rock parrots can all be found on this walk.

We head further up the highway to the beautiful Coffin Bay, the home of the renowned Coffin Bay Oysters. The area is of outstanding beauty, and home to a variety of important species of flora and fauna. There are no other comparable systems of bays and inlets in such compact form anywhere on the coast, which is why this area is classified as a maritime wilderness areaWe have a 1.5-hour tour with Pure Oysters Coffin Bay owner Chris Hank, educating you all about the Pacific and the native Angasi oyster and the growing and harvesting process. You will cruise into the beautiful bays and inlets direct to the oyster farms and get to sample these magnificent oysters. This is a typical operation that contributes to the 60 tonnes of oysters that are trucked out of Coffin Bay every week.

We meander out to the Coffin Bay National Park, ranging from ancient granite, limestone and sandstone cliffs to long beaches bordered by white sand dunes. A place of amazing contrasts, the unprotected side of the peninsula reveals rugged headlands, limestone cliffs and islands shaped by the relentless southern ocean and frequent southwesterly winds.

In contrast, the leeward side is calm and serene where wildlife is plentiful throughout the 31,000ha National Park with western grey kangaroos, emus, goannas, snakes and dolphins in the bays. There are plenty of stops for photographic opportunities and stretching your legs on one of Eyre Peninsula’s best and picture perfect, golden sandy beaches.

Active osprey nests can be found and white-bellied sea eagles are seen fishing along the cliffs and sandy white beaches. The area is also home tocaspian terns, hooded plovers, red capped plovers, red necked stints, golden whistlers, masked lapwings, emu, and wedge tailed eagleOur next stop is at Big Swamp where a bird hide is available for viewing black swans, grey teal ducks, chestnut teal ducks, pink eared ducks, musk ducks, black winged stilts, banded plovers, common greenshank, cape baron geese.

We then transfer you to Port Lincoln airport for your return flight back to Adelaide (we recommend a late afternoon flight) or choose to stay another night. Contact our friendly team for suggestions.

Breakfast and lunch provided.

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

• Experienced, local and professional birdwatching guide
• 2 nights accommodation at Port Lincoln Hotel in an ocean view balcony room
• Breakfasts, daily lunches, morning/afternoon teas
• Selected beverages
• All national park & other entry fees as per itinerary
• Birds of Southern Eyre Pocket Guide Book
• Transport in luxury 4WD land cruiser
• Airport transfers (on tour days only) - please note you need to arrive on the 9am flight on day 1 and leave around 6pm on day 3.

COSTS DO NOT INCLUDE:

• Domestic or international airfares
• Pre-registration, late check-out or day use at hotels other than specified above
• Guide services other than specified
• Meals/beverages other than specified
• Tips & gratuities
• Optional tours/services