Townsville Region
With more than 400 recorded bird species waiting to be found, the Townsville North Queensland region provides bird watchers access to a diverse array of habitats within easy driving distance from the main metropolitan area of Townsville City.
From the pristine wetlands of the Burdekin and Hinchinbrook region’s, to the world heritage-listed rainforests of Paluma, and the open woodlands and Brigalow (Acacia) forests of the Outback, this tropical region is alive with of some of the world’s most impressive birdlife.
Townsville, its northern beaches and Magnetic Island have a variety of vegetation types from tidal estuaries fringed with mangroves to grasslands and swamps, woodlands and vine thickets. The Townsville Town Common is one of the best known birding sites in North Queensland, with several hides located beside the wetlands and grasslands, making it a must-do for bird watchers when in region.
About 60 kilometres north of Townsville (40km south of Ingham), the historic Mt Spec Road leaves the Bruce Highway and winds up the beautiful mountains of the Paluma Range, to the township of Paluma. Walking trails around the town and lake, allow bird watchers to explore the depths of World Heritage-listed rainforest for potential sightings of Golden Bowerbird, Tooth-billed Bowerbird and Victoria’s Riflebird.
Driving west from Paluma; on-route to Hidden Valley, the vegetation gradually changes replacing rainforest with magnificent eucalypts woodlands. These woodlands support an array of woodland bird species, including the vibrant Scarlet Honeyeater, Glossy Black Cockatoo and Square-tailed Kite.
Located in Ingham, the internationally famous Tyto Wetlands features lagoons, interpretive signs, hides and lookouts where bird watchers can appreciate over 230 different bird species as well as a plethora of other native wildlife and flora. The Wetland’s are well known for their resident Grass Owl’s (Tyto Capensis), from which the Wetlands derives its name.
Travelling south from Townsville takes you to the wetlands of the Burdekin. This area has some of the most significant and expansive wetland complexities on the east coast of Australia comprising of shallow marine waters, through to areas of intertidal mangrove swamps, to freshwater lakes and swamps.
Located approximately 135 kilometres west of Townsville, Charters Towers is a genuine Outback town. Surrounded by open savannah woodlands, Brigalow forests, grasslands and ephemeral lakes, bird watching around Charters Towers provides birders with a unique opportunity for sighting many of Australia’s endemic open country bird species all within a short drive from the east coast.