Daintree Birding

As with all Tropical Queensland destinations, Daintree has a lot to offer the visiting birder and bird photographer. Daintree is famous for its birdwatching river trips where experienced small boat operators take people out at dawn. Great-billed Heron, Little Kingfisher and Black Bittern are some of the target species, and are regularly seen on the river. Where else can you find nine kingfisher species in one valley? A trip to the Daintree is further enhanced by visits to other parts of the Daintree Valley including Daintree Village, Stewart Creek Road, Barratt Creek, Wonga Beach and the rainforest north of the Daintree River. With lowland rainforest, wetlands, riverine, mangrove, grassland and urban habitats, the diversity of birdlife is immense.

Other sought-after species include Double-eyed Fig-Parrot, Little Bronze-Cuckoo, Wompoo Fruit-Dove, Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Beach Stone-Curlew, Lovely Fairy-Wren and Yellow Oriole.

All sites within the area are easily accessible by 2WD vehicle.

Places to Stay

Daintree offers a range of birding-friendly accommodation. Click the 'Accommodation' tab for listings and links.

Local Bird Tours

Fine Feather Tours of Mossman offer broad-based birding covering all habitats from Daintree River to higher mountain rainforest and venturing to dry savannah woodlands. Del caters for all levels of interest, some guests returning six times or more.

Daintree River Experience with Ian “Sauce” Worcester. “Sauce” is a knowledgeable and enthusiast birder & photographer who operates a cruise on Barratt Creek and the Daintree River.

Chris Dahlberg's Daintree River Tours. Since 1992 Chris Dahlberg has been taking birdwatchers out at dawn with spectacular results by finding and getting close to the hard to see birds.

Alan's Wildlife Tours Your Naturalist and Guide is Alan Gillanders, specialising in tree-kangaroos, birds and nocturnal mammals on the beautiful Cairns Highlands, North Queensland, Australia.

Local Bird Guides

Red Mill House Ellen Terrell, long-term resident naturalist and birdwatching guide. Available for local guiding to suit individual itineraries. Full-day, half-day and short local walks.

	Download Bird Site Coordinates (CSV File)

Daintree Village

Tiny township surrounded by a mix of grassland, rainforest, the Daintree River and with extensive parks and gardens. A variety of species including Black Bittern in season, Azure Kingfisher, Double-eyed Fig-Parrot,Little Bronze-Cuckoo, Channel-billed Cuckoo, Blue-winged Kookaburra, Forest Kingfisher, Wompoo Fruit-Dove and many others. Access to birdwatching Daintree River Cruises.

Wonga Beach

Address: Marlin Drive Wonga 4873.
Wonga Beach is a reliable Beach Stone-Curlew location. It is also easier to find Double-eyed Fig-Parrots here. They are frequently seen and heard on the wing and can be traced into trees more easily than other areas with a more closed forest.

Daintree River

Address: Stewart Street, 100 metres down hill from the general store, Daintree 4873.
Different habitats can be accessed by tour boats from this location. Records of birds seen this way since 1992 have provided a base for predicting those special bird sightings. Great-billed Heron, Black Bittern, Little Kingfisher, Papuan Frogmouth, Pale-vented Bush-hen, Azure Kingfisher, Shining Flycatcher, White-eared Monarch, Little Bronze-Cuckoo and others.

Stewart Creek Road

Address: Stewart Creek Road.
An 8km drive commencing from Daintree Village, partly overlooking the Daintree River and then following Stewart Creek. The road covers grassland, lowland rainforest, riparian and wetland habitats. Specialties include Buff-breasted Paradise-Kingfisher, Azure Kingfisher, Black Bittern, Double-eyed Fig-Parrot, Wompoo Fruit-Dove, Great-billed Heron, Lovely Fairy-Wren, Monarchs, Red-necked Crake and a variety of raptors.

Upper Daintree Road

Address: Upper Daintree Rd, Daintree, 4873.
Following the Daintree River upstream from Stewart Creek Bridge for approximately 8 km and passing through varied habitats. Several large fruiting Ficus trees good for Channel-billed Cuckoo, Double-eyed Fig-Parrot and Eastern Koel. Rainbow Bee-Eater, Dollarbird, Pale-vented Bush Hen, Black-necked Stork, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, all Egrets and several raptors all commonly seen.

Barratt Creek

Address: 3198 Daintree Mossman Rd, Daintree 4873.
Barratt Creek is 3 km south of the Daintree Village. It offers a good range of birds which include Great–billed Heron, Azure & Little Kingfisher. Records show that Barratt Creek offers more consistent sightings of Wompoo Fruit-Dove and Double-eyed Fig-Parrot than anywhere else in tropical Queensland.

Jindalba Boardwalk

Address: Tulip Oak Rd, Cow Bay 4873.
Within the World Heritage listed Daintree National Park, this boardwalk provides easy access to the rainforest and difficult rainforest species such as Southern Cassowary, Victoria’s Riflebird, Buff-breasted Paradise-Kingfisher, Wompoo Fruit-Dove, Superb Fruit-Dove, Noisy Pitta and a variety of honeyeaters, monarchs and others. Best early morning or late afternoon.

Newell Beach

Address: Newell Beach and Somerset Drive, Somerset between the Newell Beach turn off and Miallo.
Swallow sightings. For more than 20 years now this general area has been known for Red-rumped Swallows sightings (particularly after cyclones). Since 1995 it has been reliable for Barn Swallows in the summer months as well. Both species are rare in Australia.