Wildlife Photography Safari Far North Queensland

The Daintree is an area of ancient tropical rainforest spanning 120,000 hectares, making it the largest portion of tropical rainforest in Australia. We will visit several quiet nature trails that offer unique opportunities to experience the natural scenery and endemic wildlife within the National Park. Private property access increases our chances of encountering a wild Southern Cassowary, one of our major target species for the day. After lunch is the hottest part of the day, so while the wildlife is less active, take advantage of a swim in one of the many freshwater rainforest creeks that epitomise the tropical rainforest. As the sun goes down, the day is not over! After we have enjoyed an outstanding evening meal, it is time to consider adventuring into the nocturnal world for a spotlighting session! Daintree and Cape Tribulation wildlife sightings may include the Southern Cassowary, Eastern Osprey, Boyd’s Forest Dragon, Papuan Frogmouth, Green Tree-Snake, Saltwater Crocodile, Wompoo Fruit Dove, Shining Flycatcher, Ulysses butterfly, White-lipped Tree Frog, Bennett’s Tree Kangaroo, Striped Possum, Azure Kingfisher, Little Kingfisher and Australian Scrub Python. Accommodation: Heritage Lodge, Daintree

Our day begins with a private boat cruise on the beautiful Daintree River. Observing wildlife on a quiet, clean, solar electric boat with zero impact on the environment is a huge advantage for wildlife photographers. We have a 99% success rate for spotting crocodiles, excellent bird watching opportunities and other wildlife possibilities such as snakes, frogs and fish and bats. Daintree River wildlife sightings may include the Great-billed Heron, Little Kingfisher, Azure Kingfisher, Black Bittern, Shining Flycatcher, Radja Shellduck, Black-necked Stork, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Saltwater Crocodile, Spectacled Flying-fox Green Tree Snake, Water Dragon and butterflies. After the cruise and lunch, we leave the coast and head towards the Port Douglas Hinterland through the township of Julatten. On this journey you will observe the transition in our surroundings from tropical rainforest to open savannah. Our wildlife excitement for the afternoon is a visit to Wildlife & Raptor Care Queensland. This is a ‘behind the scenes experience, not available to the public. Amber Dahlberg is the founder and coordinator the rehabilitation organisation whereby Amber and her team rescue and rehabilitate, mammals, marsupials, birds, owls and Australian raptors. At present, the WARCQ facilities comprise a purpose-built 15m care and flight aviary for raptors and birds of prey as well as a treatment clinic and other support services. A raptor prey-breeding facility is also located on-site. Guests will meet Amber and gain insight into her lifelong passion of educating the public through caring for injured and rehabilitated wildlife. Weather dependant, a great place to capitalise on the dusk lighting is Granite Gorge. This nature park is a famous sight to witness the endemic Mareeba Rock Wallaby. The granite outcrops abound riparian grasslands encompassing interesting birding opportunities too, such as the Red-backed Fairywren, Rainbow bee-eaters, Dollarbirds, Tree Creepers and Pardalotes. Accommodation: Chambers Wildlife Lodge, Atherton Tablelands

In the higher altitudes of the Tableland vine forests, we are sharing our oxygen with extraordinary Marsupials and Monotremes. Your guide will showcase his local knowledge to facilitate memorable moments with the Lumholtz Tree Kangaroo and the Australian Platypus. These endangered animals will be the initial focus of the Tablelands. Our first morning on the Tablelands we will concentrate on the infamous town of Yungaburra. This area has been the delight of many visiting wildlife photographers. With several mountain streams populated with the Australian Platypus and no time constraints, the odds are in our favour for that perfect shot of a Platypus emerging to breathe. After a midday meal, we move on to the Crater Lakes National Park. Lake Eacham and Lake Barrine are two popular geological attractions, both formed when rising lava was pushed against ground water, resulting in explosions from the heating of these underground streams. The resulting craters of Lakes Eacham and Barrine were formed around 10,000 years ago and reach a depth of 65 metres. A visit to the Crater Lakes provides us with a high likelihood of seeing a Red-legged Pademelon, Musky Rat Kangaroo, Saw-shell Turtle, Giant Eel, Eastern Water Dragon, and Saw-shell Turtle. A wildlife and photography tour in North Queensland would not be complete without a session a of Night Spotting for nocturnal wildlife. The Tablelands boasts several ideal locations. These excursions can be optional for all guests. Night spotting on the Tablelands may include sightings such as the Boyd’s Forest dragon, Leaf-tailed Gecko, Chameleon Gecko, Scrub Python, Lesser-sooty Owl, Barn Owl, Wood frog, Northern barred frog, Green-eyed Treefrog, Lemuroid Possum, Green ringtail possum, Herbert River ringtail possum, and many invertebrates. Accommodation: Chambers Wildlife Lodge, Atherton Tablelands

Today we start early with two walks in the Malanda Conservation Park. This conservation park is invaluable to the elusive Mapee (Lumholtz Tree Kangaroo) They are seen on a regular basis in this small patch of protected forest. No Western people had seen a tree-kangaroo until 113 years after Captain Cook landed in Australia. They had remained undiscovered for so long due to their remote, tree-canopy habitat in the rainforest. Furthermore, they are solitary animals and incredibly hard to spot. In fact, some considered them mythical creatures, due to their elusiveness. Malanda has high potential for photo opportunities on the walks. Several other wildlife opportunities are available here, such as the Green ringtail possum, Boyd’s Forest dragon, Eastern Whipbird and Red-legged Pademelon. Enjoy lunch nearby before heading out of town to another special feature of the Tablelands wildlife community, the famous Tolga Bat Hospital. Have you ever looked a flying-fox in the eye? Seen and heard the echolocation calls of a microbat on a bat detector? The Tolga Bat Hospital is a wildlife experience offering one of Australia’s leading and most innovative ecotourism experiences. We visit this special place to observe this community group that works for the conservation of bats and their habitat through rescue and land care work, advocacy, education, and research. Accommodation: Chambers Wildlife Lodge, Atherton Tablelands

Hasties Swamp and Hypipamee National Park will be the focus for our final day together. Hasties Swamp is a large seasonal wetland renowned for its diverse range of resident and migratory birds. Over 220 species have been identified and a large bird hide, with informative identification signs, offers excellent waterbird viewing opportunities. The diverse range of birdlife and wildlife include Magpie Geese, Black Swans, Darters and Cormorants, Pelicans, Swamphens, Moorhens, Coots, Herons, Egrets, Ibis, Spoonbills, Storks (Jabiru), Cranes including Brolga, Sarus Crane, Bustards and Jacanas are seen throughout the Wetlands. The Red-backed Fairy-wren and Forest Kingfisher. Would be big highlights for our photographers. A meal in Malanda before heading to Mount Hypipamee National Park. One of the most stunning geological formations on the Tablelands. This, along with the parks population of Tree Kangaroo’s makes it a wonderful stopover. Saves the best for last right!? What better place to say our goodbyes to the Atherton Tablelands than the ever-memorable Curtain Fig Tree. One of the most incredible trees you will see in your life. This ancient fig tree is an epic rainforest survivor with a very complex ecosystem surrounding its lifecycle. The birdlife that can be heard in the surrounding forest is quite amazing here. We will be returning to Cairns at approximately 4:30PM.