Daintree Dawn Cruise & Birdwatching Tour
Adults - $565.00 per person
Available 7 days
10.5 hours
Minimum 2 adults
Pick up at 4:30am & return at 3pm
This can be discussed at time of booking.
Details & Itinerary
An early start allows us to travel north and join the famous early morning Daintree River bird cruise where Great-billed Herons, a variety of Kingfishers, Papuan Frogmouth and Black Bitterns (summer only) can be amongst the stars. After breakfast we visit the Mt Lewis massif which rises from the nearby surrounding area. With a variety of different altitudinal height bands this is one of Far North Queensland’s birding hotspots. Boat tours can be taken at other times of day which may suit some people better – photographers often like the late afternoon light – but the dawn cruise is usually the best for birds.
Schedule
- 7am – Pick up from your accommodation
- Morning birding – sites visited can depend on weather and target lists
- Midday – Lunch
- Afternoon birding – sites visited can depend on weather and target lists
- 5pm – Return to your accommodation
Tour Inclusions
- Tour Guide Fees
- Transport in a comfortable tour 4WD air-conditioned vehicle
- Lunch
- Permits & entrance fees
- Accommodation pick up and drop off
- Bottled water in vehicle
Tour Excludes
- Items of a personal nature including soft drinks and snacks
What You Should Bring
- Comfortable covered walking shoes – while there are no major hikes during this tour there will be some walking on potentially rough paths
- Lightweight long-sleeved shirt and long trousers- some plants can be rather scratchy
- Lightweight raingear
- Hat
- Sunblock
- Insect repellent
- Camera and binoculars
Daintree River Cruise
The Daintree River is is a great place to visit. It is very photogenic and your boatman on his very quiet boat can take you right up to the birds and animals you want to see. The river winds through the rainforest and then mangroves on its way to the sea providing a home to a wide range of plant and animal life. Unlike the majority of cruises the Dawn Bird Cruise leaves from Daintree village rather than the boat ramp near the ferry crossing. This means that you are already in one of the best areas along the river to see a wide range of birds and butterflies, and with luck some local reptiles in the form of Saltwater Crocodiles – for which the river is famous, Eastern Water Dragons, Green Tree Snakes and perhaps a Amethystine Python as well. Great-billed Herons, Papuan Frogmouth, Black Bittern (summer only), Little Kingfisher, Azure Kingfisher and Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher (summer only) are amongst the birds we will hope to see.
Photographers may want to think about an afternoon cruise when the light is usually better but for the average birdwatcher the morning cruise will give you more birds. For photographers a private cruise is an option.
Cruises on the Mossman River can also be arranged.
Mount Lewis
After the cruise we retire to a local café for breakfast. After breakfast we head up Mt Lewis which acts as the watershed between the Mossman and Mitchell Rivers.
It is one of the highest rainforest clad mountains which rise up from the Daintree lowlands. However the 28km Mt Lewis Drive makes exploration of this treasure trove of plants and animals possible. The 4WD only road winds up the mountain to a height of over 1200m following the contours up and along rainforest clad ridges and spurs.
All the mid to high altitude bird species which include most of the local endemics, can be seen here including Fernwren, Atherton Scrubwren, Grey-headed Robin, Tooth-billed Catbird and Spotted Catbird, Chowchilla and even Golden Bowerbird if you are lucky. Some are easier to find elsewhere but all are possible. In the summer months Blue-faced Parrot-Finch can also often be seen as well.
Mareeba Area
After lunch we start back to our accommodation. Taking the inland route through the drier country around Julatten, Mt Molloy and Mareeba. Abattoir Swamp is often worth a stop and is a great place for honeyeaters. We pass Lake Mitchell where Ospreys nest and Black Swans can be seen. Great Bowerbird, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, a variety of Lorikeets and other dry country specialities can be expected.