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Australia - Kakadu & the Top End

© Gouldian Finch by Jonathan Rossouw
Australia - Kakadu & the Top End 2025

25 Aug 2025 - 09 Sep 2025 (16 days)

AUD12,895 - No Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Local Leader

Tour price (Per person): AUD12,895 * USD8,047 * GBP6,423 * EUR7,737

Single Supplement: AUD2,350 * USD1,467 * GBP1,171 * EUR1,410

Flight costs: AUD560 * USD349 * GBP279 * EUR336

Australia - Kakadu & the Top End 2026

20 Aug 2026 - 04 Sep 2026 (16 days)

AUD13,400 - Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Local Leader

Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change*

Tour price (Per person): AUD13,400 * USD8,362 * GBP6,674 * EUR8,040

Australia is a land of scenic beauty and stark, contrasting habitats, only eclipsed by its remarkable diversity of endemic mammals and brilliantly-coloured and elaborately-patterned endemic birds. This epic birding adventure across northern Australia takes in the Northern Territory’s best birding and wildlife localities on a quest for a number of the continent’s most range-restricted and seldom-seen endemics! The scenery is spectacular with vast areas of seemingly endless plains, extensive wetlands, and rugged, rocky mountains.. We will explore the arid interior around Alice Springs for legendary Australian dry-country endemics such as Dusky Grasswren, Rufous-crowned Emu-wren, Orange Chat, Bourke’s Parrot, Spinifexbird, Spinifex Pigeon, Pied Honeyeater, Western Bowerbird, Banded White-face, Chiming Wedgebill, Inland Dotterel, Cinnamon Quail-Thrush and the magnificent Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo. Thereafter, we journey up to the Darwin area and the tall woodlands and extensive, seasonal marshlands of Kakadu where highlights include Chestnut Rail, Rainbow Pitta, Chestnut-quilled Rock Pigeon, Banded Fruit Dove, Black-tailed Treecreeper, Hooded Parrot, Square-tailed Kite and Banded Honeyeater. Finally, we end in the remote Kimberley area where we hope to encounter mouth-watering rarities such as White-quilled Rock Pigeon, Yellow Chat, Pictorella Mannikin, the immaculate Masked, Long-tailed and Star Finches, the splendid Purple-crowned Fairywren, Brolga, Sandstone Shrike-Thrush and the rare and outrageously colourful Gouldian Finch. We will also, no doubt, be treated to a range of exciting mammals that should include an amazing selection of unique and varied kangaroos, wallabies and wallaroos while taking in our awe-inspiring and near-pristine surrounds.

Top Birds

Chestnut Rail; Chestnut-backed Buttonquail; Grey Falcon; Bourke’s & Hooded Parrot; Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo; Northern Rosella; Dusky Grasswren; Rufous-crowned Emu-wren; Yellow & Orange Chat; Purple-crowned Fairywren; Grey & White-lined Honeyeater; Spinifexbird; Redthroat; Banded Whiteface; Spinifex Partridge; Chestnut-quilled Rock & White-quilled Rock Pigeon; Cinnamon Quail-thrush; Chiming Wedgebill; Inland Dotterel; Rainbow Pitta; Sandstone Shrikethrush; Black-tailed Treecreeper; Buff-sided Robin; Silver-crowned Friarbird; Gouldian, Painted, Masked, Star & Long-tailed Finches; Yellow-rumped & Pictorella Mannikins.

Top Mammals

Grey Wolf (Dingo), Black-footed & Short-eared Rock Wallaby, Common & Black Wallaroo, Northern Nailtail Wallaby

Habitats Covered

Spinifex, desert and semi-desert, stony plains, mangroves, monsoon forest, wetlands, open eucalypt and grassy woodland, rocky outcrops, gorges

Expected Climate

Warm to hot throughout, humid in the north

Max Group Size

8 with 1 Tour Leader

Tour Pace & Walking

Moderate. Endemic and target focused trip. Not suitable for dedicated photographers; inexperienced birders; or anyone with mobility or health challenges.

Accommodation

Comfortable.

Ease of Birding

Moderate. Most species provide decent visuals in open conditions. But some skulkers and low-density targets.

Other Attractions

Southern Plains, Yellow Water Billabong, Nourlangie Rock, Mamukala Wetlands, Lake Argyle, Simpson’s Gap, Ormiston Gorge

Photographic Opportunities

Good to good+. Some species distant, and bright light can be challenging. No dedicated hides.

What our clients say about us

Glen Valentine
RP, Australia 2022

Glen was excellent at finding the birds and keeping track of who had not yet seen specific birds. By the end of the tour there were very few birds not seen by all in the group.

Erik Forsyth
KH, Australia 2018

Erik Forsyth did a great job, and both his remarkable knowledge and his unflagging good humor were indispensable; I look forward to traveling with him again in the future.

Angus McNab
EL - Kakadu 2022

We traveled through strangely beautiful and interesting areas and were able to get great birds – almost all the endemics of the area. Angus was good at finding the birds which often involved traveling to very remote and isolated places for 1 or 2 species. I love Australian birds – beautiful, unique, often loud and delightful. The Lake Argyle cruise was fabulous and the Yellow River cruise was a great break from riding in the van and seeing water birds from a distance.

Erik Forsyth
MR & MB, Australia 2018

Erik Forsyth is a wonderful guy, so enjoyable to travel with. He is knowledgeable, down to earth and quite humorous! We did New Zealand with Erik a few years ago and would definitely go with him on other Rockjumper Trips in the future. Also, we would recommend Erik to others considering him as their leader.

Steve Davidson
MW, Australia 2022

Steve Davidson is a superb guide. He has a vast knowledge of Australian birds, other wildlife, and plants. He has a keen ear and I appreciated that he described what he was hearing. We had challenges in terms of Covid and flooding, and he very responsibly addressed both issues. I truly don't know how he had the stamina to guide, drive the extra miles on detours, and organize the needed diversions from the itinerary.

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