04 Aug 2025 - 09 Aug 2025 (6 days)
USD3,695 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Lev Frid
Tour price (Per person): USD3,695 * GBP2,947 * EUR3,556 * AUD5,933
Single Supplement: USD520 * GBP415 * EUR500 * AUD835
Flight costs: USD260 * GBP207 * EUR250 * AUD417
Can be linked with: Papua New Guinea - Birding in Paradise II 2025
03 Jun 2026 - 08 Jun 2026 (6 days)
USD3,900 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Lev Frid
Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change*
Tour price (Per person): USD3,900 * GBP3,110 * EUR3,753 * AUD6,262
Can be linked with: Papua New Guinea - Birding in Paradise 2026
Our extension to the Huon Peninsula takes in some of the remotest birding available, in an already distant part of the world. Due to its geographical location, there is little in the way of amenities or comfort on this tour. However, this is more than made up for by resplendent, cool montane forests that host some rarely seen, endemic Bird-of-paradise that include Huon Astrapia, Wahne's Parotia and the regal Emperor Bird-of-paradise. Throw in the attractive and localised Spangled Honeyeater, Macgregors Bowerbird (soon to be split as Huon Bowerbird), Cinnamon-browed Melidectes, Mottled Berryhunter or Whistler (now in its own monotypic family, endemic to New Guinea), Pesquet's (Vulturine) Parrot, Tit and Fan-tailed Berrypecker (two different families endemic to New Guinea!), gaudy Papuan Lorikeet, Papuan Sitella, Blue-capped Ifrit (endemic to New Guinea) and Superb Bird-of-paradise, and this short extension is sure to satisfy listers of both rare and remote species and families alike.
Emperor Bird-of-paradise, Huon Astrapia, Wahne's Parotia, Spangled Honeyeater, Macgregors Bowerbird (soon to be elevated to Huon Bowerbird), Pesquet's Parrot, Papuan & Orange-billed Lorikeet, Dusky Lory, Red-breasted & Buff-faced Pygmy Parrot, Double-eyed Fig Parrot, Tit, Streaked, Mid-mountain and Fan-tailed Berrypecker, Sclater’s, Brown-backed and Regent Whistler, Canary & Lemon-bellied Flyrobin, Mountain & Hook-billed Kingfisher, Blue-capped Ifrit, Great Cuckoo-Dove, Ornate Fruit Dove, Rufescent Imperial Pigeon, Papuan Sitella, Red-collared & Mountain Red-headed Myzomela, Red-capped Flowerpecker, Black Monarch, Black-breasted Boatbill, Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo, Rufous-backed Honeyeater, Buff-faced Scrubwren, Brown-breasted Gerygone, Mottled Berryhunter (or Whistler, now in its own monotypic family), Great Woodswallow, Brown Falcon, Black-mantled Goshawk, Papuan Eagle, Blue-grey Robin, Spotted Jewel-babbler, White-shouldered and Orange-crowned Fairywren, Cinnamon-browed Melidectes, Growling Riflebird, Superb Bird-of paradise.
primarily high montane forest
hot and humid in the lowlands, with expectant rain showers. Cool to cold in the mornings and evenings at higher altitude
7 with 1 Rockjumper Leader & 1 local leader
DIFFICULT: This is a high-intensity “mega” tour designed for passionate listers and serious birders who enjoy a fast-paced schedule. Due to its demanding nature, it’s not recommended for avid photographers, inexperienced birders, or anyone with mobility or health limitations.
Our Mega tours are very fast-paced birding adventures designed for the dedicated lister and serious birder. The focus of the tour is to see as many of the endemics and area specials as possible in our given time. In order to cover the necessary route to maximise the species list we tend to spend a single night at most sites and travel large distances. There is very little down time aside from that spent driving from one site to the next. These tours are not suitable for dedicated or avid photographers; inexperienced or new birders; as well as anyone with serious mobility or health challenges.
very basic at Wasu, good in Lae
moderate, can be challenging at times
+-75
good
This was my first birding tour ever, so I wasnt sure what to expect. The tour leader, Paul, was so amazing, there are not enough superlatives. All of the other participants had been on birding trips before, and Paul was very gracious to make sure I had the opportunity to see as many birds as possible and know what to expect. He was very conscientious, and prepared for almost anything. The trip was physically challenging due to the steep muddy trails, high and low temperatures, and oh yeah, the earthquakes. I wasnt sure what to expect, although the descriptions were pretty accurate, but I was ready to stop hiking by the 11th day. Thank you for the recommendation of collapsible walking sticks. Those were very useful. I am very glad I had the opportunity to take this trip. I cant say enough good things about Paul as the trip leader. I hope he gets to lead all of his first choice tours in the future!
The credit for the trip’s success goes to our guides, Glen Valentine and David Erterius. Both have seemingly limitless knowledge of the birds, extrasensory capacities to find them, apparently endless patience and generosity with their clients, and (critically) wonderful senses of humor. They consistently squeezed more out of the birds, the environment, and the experience than I thought possible.
The tour was excellent overall. The main guide, Stephan Lorentz, was really top class. His knowledge of the birds and calls and the fine id details was exceptional and his field skills were awesome, outdoing the local guides at times. And he is extremely personable and friendly. The local guides were also excellent and provided an exceptionally high level of field skill and support, and great enthusiasm in getting pax onto the more challenging birds. And physical support also, including even helping some of the pax on slippery slopes and cutting stairs on river landings at times!! The landed arrangements were generally slick and the accommodation of good quality. Overall it was an exceptional and really memorable tour with superb birds and birding, much or most of which would not have been possible without the Rockjumper team, slick tour planning and arrangements, Stephan and the local guides.
We thought the birding went very well. Both Dusan and Stephan were great guides - very knowledgeable, very dedicated, quite determined to get everyone onto pretty much everything, and they combined very well. And, they both tried very hard to help all the participants who needed it, whether it was locating a bird, getting up a steep section or getting in or out of the boats. They did an admirable job.
Adam Walleyn knew the birds and the calls and worked hard to make sure we saw not only the specialties of the area but all the birds. His nightbirding skills were phenomenal. It is like he knew exactly where the bird was going to show.
Papua New Guinea - Bowman & Horgan 2024 - September 2024
Papua New Guinea - Birding in Paradise (Small Group) II 2024 - September 2024
Papua New Guinea - Highlights II 2024 - September 2024
Papua New Guinea - New Britain Extension III 2024 - August 2024
Papua New Guinea - Bird Families 2024 - July 2024
Papua New Guinea - Birding in Paradise (Small Group) I 2024 - June 2024
Papua New Guinea - New Britain Extension I 2024 - May 2024
Papua New Guinea - Birding in Paradise (Small Group) II 2023 - August 2023
Papua New Guinea - Highlights II 2023 - August 2023
Papua New Guinea - New Britain Extension III 2023 - August 2023
Papua New Guinea - Birding in Paradise IV 2023 - August 2023
Papua New Guinea - Adelbert Range & Huon Peninsula 2023 - July 2023
Papua New Guinea - Birding in Paradise III 2022 - July 2022
Papua New Guinea - New Britain Extension II 2022 - July 2022
Papua New Guinea - Birding in Paradise II 2022 - June 2022
Papua New Guinea - Huon Peninsula Extension I 2022 - June 2022
Papua New Guinea - Highlights I 2019 - September 2019
Papua New Guinea - New Britain III 2019 - August 2019
Papua New Guinea - Birding in Paradise V 2019 - August 2019
Papua New Guinea - Huon Peninsula Extension II 2019 - August 2019