4 Day Birdwatching Tour of Kakadu & Litchfield

Kakadu National Park Bird Week - 4 Day Birdwatching Tour

Departing: 22 September 2021

Join us on a 4 day birdwatching tour of Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks. This birding tour departs Darwin to Kakadu on Wednesday the 22nd of September 2021, taking a maximum of just 6 guests. Take a look below at the full itinerary. Please email or call us for more information. 

Tour cost:  $2990.00 per person (twin-share)

Day 1  - Birdwatching at Fogg Dam & Kakadu

This morning your Venture North guide will collect you from your Darwin accommodation for the beginning of your four day Top End birding tour. Our destination today is the World Heritage listed Kakadu National Park.

This morning our first stop will be at Fogg Dam. Originally built as a rice-plantation the area has become a conservation reserve and is now an important refuge for various bird species including Comb-crested Jacana, Magpie Geese, Pied Heron, Intermediate Egrets and Pigmy Goose.

Continue into Kakadu via the Arnhem Highway. Our first stop in Kakadu National Park will be at the Mamukala Wetlands. Here, we’ll visit the bird hide and take a short hike. Mamukala is a haven for various species of duck, egret, geese and ibis.

Next, we’ll start to make our way south towards Cooinda, stopping for a quick look at the Bowali Visitor and Information Centre. Bowali provides visitors with a wealth of information and displays on the Park and its habitats and helps you get a good feel for Park and where we’ll be travelling.

Finally today we’ll visit Barramundi Gorge. A scenic 1km walk along the edge of Barramundi Creek to the base of Barramundi Falls is an important habitat for Rainbow Pitta. After cooling off at Maguk we will travel to our accommodation for the next two night in Cooinda.

Overnight: Cooinda Lodge (glamping tent)

Day 2  - Birdwatching in Kakadu National Park

This morning at dawn we’ll depart on a 2hr cruise on the picturesque Yellow Water Billabong. On this scenic cruise you will have the opportunity to view a large variety of birdlife as well as salt water crocodiles in their natural environment. Notable species include; Brahminy Kite, White-breasted Sea Eagle, Whistling Kite, Black-necked Stork (Jabiru), Brolga, Radjah Shelduck, Wandering and Plumed Whistling-ducks, Green Pygmy-goose, Pied Heron, Nankeen Night-heron, Comb-crested Jacana, Royal Spoonbill, Azure Kingfisher, Little Kingfisher, Great-billed Heron and Glossy Ibis.

Next, we will visit the Nourlangie region, including our first stop at Nourlangie Rock, one of Kakadu’s oldest Aboriginal occupation sights open to the public. Enjoy a walk around this impressive rock, through ancient rock-art sites and savannah bushland which is home to a variety bird species including; Chestnut-quilled Rock Pigeon, Banded-fruit Dove, White-lined Honeyeater, Sandstone Shrike-thrush, and Helmeted Friar Bird.

We’ll then travel around the corner to Anbangbang Billabong and embark on a walk around this picturesque waterhole, home to a variety of water birds.

For sunset we’ll travel back to Cooinda to the pontoon on Yellow Water Billabong.

Tonight there will be an opportunity to go for a night drive to look for nocturnal birds such as the Barking Owl, Tawny Frogmouth, Owlet Nightjar, Large-tailed Nightjar and Bush Stone Curlew.

Overnight: Cooinda Lodge (glamping tent)

Day 3 - Birdwatching in Kakadu & Pine Creek

This morning we will travel into the southern region of Kakadu National Park. As the landscape changes so does the birdlife. We look out for an Australian Bustard in the open plains and stop at potential Gouldian Finch haunts, although siting them is quite rare.

Next we will visit Moline Rockhole, a special permit area in which only a few select operators are permitted to access; guaranteeing minimal crowds. The small waterfall and waterhole below the falls is another great place to cool down and relax. Species such as the Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, Hooded Parrot and Yellow-tinted Honeyeater can often be seen in this area.

After lunch we will begin to make our way out of Kakadu to our accommodation in Pine Creek. Originally an old gold mining town Pine Creek is now a great place to spot a range of colourful birds including the Hooded Parrot, Red-winged Parrot, Northern Rosella and Gouldian Finch.

Overnight: Pine Creek Railway Resort (cabin)

Day 4 - Birdwatching in Litchfield National Park

After a dawn bird walk around Pine Creek, we’ll travel on to Litchfield National Park. Litchfield comprises of a central sandstone plateau which supports rich woodland flora communities. Patches of monsoon rainforest thrive in the deep, narrow gorges and wildlife such as wallabies and many bird species are common.

See the Magnetic Termite Mounds as well as some of Litchfield’s famous waterfalls as we search for different bird species. Black Kites and other birds of prey are common throughout the Park. The Yellow Oriole, Figbird, Koel, Spangled Drongo, Dollarbird and the Rainbow Bee-eater can often be found near the sheltered areas close to waterfalls. Other bird species include: Spangled Drongo, Blue-winged Kookaburra, Great Bowerbird, Pheasant Coucal, Pied Butcherbird and Silver-backed Butcherbird.

Continue into Darwin late-afternoon where you’ll be dropped back at your Darwin hotel.

This ends your Venture North birdwatching tour.  

For more info about our birdwatching tours from Darwin to Kakadu and the Top End please contact us on (08) 89275500 or email us here.