Mallee and Outback Birds of Victoria and Mungo

Travel north from Melbourne over the Great Dividing Range to Mount Korong Conservation Reserve, where ancient granite hills shelter woodland birds. Search for wedge-tailed eagles, brown falcons, Gilbert’s whistler, rainbow bee-eaters, diamond firetails and white-browed babblers among the rocky outcrops. Look for echidnas, kangaroos and reptiles, including shingleback lizards. Continue to the heritage gold-rush city of Bendigo for a two-night stay.

Explore the vast Greater Bendigo National Park, focusing on the Kamarooka and Whipstick sections. These protected mallee and grey box woodlands attract both northern and southern honeyeater species to flowering eucalypts. Visit conservation ponds at the Bendigo sewage works for waterfowl, raptors and forest birds including shy heathwren, red-capped robin, brush bronzewing and multiple honeyeater species. Search for grey-headed flying foxes in the city's leafy parks.

Head north to Mount Terrick National Park, where granite rises from cypress pine woodlands with panoramic views across the Riverina plains. Continue to the Kerang Lakes, visiting permanent and ephemeral wetlands depending on water levels. Large ibis rookeries, waders, waterfowl and terns may be present. Explore Lake Tyrrell, one of Australia's largest salt lakes — a vast salt-crusted expanse where rufous fieldwren, white-winged fairy-wren and black-faced woodswallow inhabit the surrounding shrublands. Arrive at the small Mallee town of Ouyen.

Spend the morning at a private 6,000-acre property protecting critical malleefowl habitat. With a local conservation guide, observe these incredible mound-building birds along with desert parrots and honeyeaters. Learn about the collaborative efforts to protect this vulnerable species from predators, fire and habitat loss. Return to Hattah-Kulkyne National Park to explore cypress pine woodlands, listening for crested bellbirds, peaceful doves and watching comical flocks of apostlebirds at picnic grounds.

Return to the western section of Hattah-Kulkyne, focusing on mallee-spinifex woodlands. Search carefully for Mallee emu-wren, striated grasswren, shy heathwren and chestnut quail-thrush — some of Australia's most elusive arid-zone specialists. Look for western grey kangaroos, lace and sand goanas, shinglebacks and bearded dragons. Cross the Murray River and enter the vast Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area, walking along the fossilised Willandra Creek. Arrive at Mungo Lodge and watch your first sunset over the ancient dry lakebed of Lake Mungo, often accompanied by red kangaroos and desert parrots.

Two full days to explore one of Australia's most significant landscapes. Lake Mungo has been home to Aboriginal people for at least 50,000 years — the eroded dunes beside the lake reveal the oldest human living site on Earth. Explore diverse habitats from dense mallee woodlands to cypress pine stands, mulga scrub and vast saltbush plains. Walk beneath towering white sand dunes and along the sculptured Walls of China lunette. Search for pink cockatoos, mulga parrots, bluebonnets, chestnut-crowned babblers, crested bellbirds, splendid fairy-wrens, white-backed swallows, orange chats and zebra finches. Observe emus, kangaroos and reptiles including sand monitors, mallee dragons and Bynoe's geckos. Document all sightings for citizen science databases while uncovering the deep cultural heritage of this remarkable place.

Two full days to explore one of Australia's most significant landscapes. Lake Mungo has been home to Aboriginal people for at least 50,000 years — the eroded dunes beside the lake reveal the oldest human living site on Earth. Explore diverse habitats from dense mallee woodlands to cypress pine stands, mulga scrub and vast saltbush plains. Walk beneath towering white sand dunes and along the sculptured Walls of China lunette. Search for pink cockatoos, mulga parrots, bluebonnets, chestnut-crowned babblers, crested bellbirds, splendid fairy-wrens, white-backed swallows, orange chats and zebra finches. Observe emus, kangaroos and reptiles including sand monitors, mallee dragons and Bynoe's geckos. Document all sightings for citizen science databases while uncovering the deep cultural heritage of this remarkable place.

Depart Lake Mungo and travel to Wentworth, where the mighty Murray and Darling (Barka) Rivers meet. Search the waters and riverbanks for Caspian terns, Australasian darters, white-bellied sea-eagles, whistling kites, yellow rosellas and blue-faced honeyeaters. The journey concludes in Mildura around midday.