Grasswren Birding & Birdwatching Tours

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Six Grasswren Tour Nine Grasswren Tour Northern Grasswren Tour Grey Grasswren Short Tour White-throated Grasswren Short Tour Sandhill Grasswren Short Tour

Grasswrens are amongst the most difficult and hence most sought-after bird species in Australia by visiting and local birders alike. Join our flagship Grasswren tours (which have been running since 2006) to see these and other wonderful outback bird species! Choose from six tours.

These tours are real outback birding adventures that require at least a moderate level of fitness (yet they’re fully accommodated), taking us through the heart of the outback during the Australian late winter season, generally a great time to go birding.

These tours are very popular and usually fill up quickly. Choose one of our six Grasswren tours to suit your wish-list, budget and available time. Depending on which tour you choose, expect to see between 150 and 300 bird species.

Six Grasswren Tour

This tour is run once or twice each year. Now in our 14th year, the 6 Grasswren tour continues to be one of our most popular outback birding tours. This is one of Australia’s epic birding adventures, during which we search for half of all of Australia’s current Grasswren species: Grey, Striated, Short-tailed, Thick-billed, Western and Eyrean Grasswren. We will travel through exceptionally remote areas including Birdlife Australia’s Gluepot Reserve, the Flinders Ranges, the vast Strzelecki desert and endless stony ‘gibber’ plains.

In addition to the Grasswrens, time will also be spent searching for other good species such as Bourke’s Parrot, Red-lored Whistler, chats, Honeyeaters including Pied and Grey-fronted; Banded and Chestnut-breasted Whiteface, Chestnut and Cinnamon Quail-thrush, Gibberbird and more. Some years we see Letter-winged Kites and Flock Bronzewings. Departs from and returns to Adelaide, SA.

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Nine Grasswren Tour

This tour is run twice each year. Now in its 5th year, this is one of Australia’s epic birding adventures, where we search for nine of Australia’s 13 Grasswren species: Striated, Short-tailed, Western, Thick-billed, Eyrean, Grey, Kalkadoon, Carpentarian and Rusty Grasswren. We explore the vast expanses of Mallee scrub in the Vic-SA border region, the scenic Flinders Ranges, travel the entire Birdsville track through the outback, visit the stark country around Boulia-Winton and the rocky ranges around Mt Isa. This trip is a real adventure (yet fully accommodated), taking us through the heart of the outback during the Australian winter season, generally a great time to go birding.

During these 12 days we expect to see some 200 species, and besides the Grasswrens we have a good chance of sought-after birds like Red-lored Whistler, Banded and Chestnut-breasted White¬face, Chestnut and Cinnamon Quail-thrush, Gibberbird, Yellow Chat, Inland Dotterel, Flock Bronzewing, Spinifex Pigeon, Painted Finch and even the enigmatic Grey Falcon. This tour has a new itinerary so read on below to whet your appetite!

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Northern Grasswren Tour

In 2016 we we ran Australia’s first and only bird tour to successfully see all current grasswren species. Following this successful Great Grasswren tour by private plane, we occasionally offer variations on this theme. Following this successful Great Grasswren tour by private plane, we occasionally offer variations on this theme. In 2018, we offered another Air Adventure across the Great Northern wilderness of Australia. Visiting iconic birding destinations such as the Red Centre, Uluru, Mt Isa, the Pilbara, the Kimberley (including Broome), Mitchell Plateau and Kakadu National Park, this once-in-a lifetime tour is bound to boost your species list significantly. We used our own private chartered aircraft for this trip, while ground excursions will be delivered by local bird guides in 4WD’s.

On this trip we saw over 200 species, including all northern Grasswrens, Rufous-crowned Emu-wren, Spinifex Pigeon, Chestnut-quilled Rock-pigeon, Kimberley Honeyeater, Buff-sided Robin, Red-headed Honeyeater, rare waders and many, many more. Departs from and returns to Melbourne, Vic.

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Grey Grasswren Short Tour

Grey Grasswren is one of the most difficult Grasswren species for birders to see, because of its very small distribution in remote outback locations, and its elusive nature. It inhabits dense lignum – canegrass swamps in only a few spots on the Birdsville track and along the Qld-NSW border. Some years we offer a short expedition into the outback in search of this elusive Grasswren. During this trip we’ll also look for Mallee Emu-wren and Striated Grasswren before the search for Grey Grasswren.

Expect to see many other great species including Budgerigar, Pied Honeyeater, Inland Dotterel, Crimson and Orange Chat, Gibberbird, Australian Bustard and many more, and of course there’s always the chance of Bourke’s Parrot or even Grey Falcon! Departing from and returning to Mildura, Vic.

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White-throated Grasswren Short Tour

We’ve run three successful White-throated Grasswren expeditions in recent years, in the Top End Wilderness of Australia in search of this most elusive of all Grasswrens. Accompanied by our local bird guide this trip is a real adventure, trekking through little-visited terrain and camping 2 nights in the wild, with a final night in an air-conditioned room.

September is a great time to go birding here and in addition to the Grasswren, expect to see many other great species including Chestnut-quilled Rock-pigeon, Buff-sided Robin, Red Goshawk, Rainbow Pitta, Sandstone Shrike-thrush, Rufous-throated, Banded, Bar-breasted and White-lined Honeyeater, Silver-crowned Friarbird, and Black-tailed Treecreeper. And of course there’s always a chance of Banded Fruit-dove and Gouldian Finches! Departing from and returning to Darwin, NT.

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Sandhill Grasswren Short Tour

Recently split by taxonomists from the Striated Grasswren, the Sandhill Grasswren Amytornis (striatus) oweni has been on top of many a birder’s wish-list. We are very fortunate to have our Alice Springs-based guide who is familiar with this bird having been fortunate to encounter the species at several locations over the years. We have breeding locations of this bird within a half-day’s drive of Alice Springs with accommodation reasonably nearby.

Other good species we’re likely to encounter on this trip are Chiming Wedgebill, Spinifex Pigeon, Banded Whiteface, Cinnamon Quail-thrush, Ground Cuckoo-shrike, Major Mitchell as well as a chance of Scarlet-chested Parrot, Grey Honeyeater, other nomadic inland honeyeaters and Inland Dotterel. Departing from and returning to Alice Springs, NT.

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Pricing

AU$3999 per person
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Included:
accommodation and all meals, transport, expert guiding, entry fees, taxes.

Not included:
drinks, personal expenses, tips, pre- and post-tour accommodation/meals.

Price based on double or twin-share occupancy. Single occupancy attracts a surcharge.
$99 Earlybird discount
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Earlybird discount of $99 applies for bookings received up to 6 months prior to departure.
Return-client discount
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Book a tour within 12 months of your last tour and receive 4% off your second tour, 6% off your third tour, 8% off your fourth tour and 10% off your 5th tour. If your bookings are made within 3 months of each other for tours that take place within the same calendar year, discount applies to the cheaper tour(s). Discounts are subject to change at any time at the discretion of Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd.

Featured Birds

Western, Thick-billed, Grey Grasswren
Eyrean, Kalkadoon, Black Grasswren
Kalkadoon, White-throated, Dusky
Short-tailed Grasswren, Striated Grasswren complex
Chestnut-breasted and Banded Whiteface
Orange, Crimson, White-fronted Chat
Shy Heathwren, Gibber Chat
Inland Dotterel, Australian Pratincole
Mallee Emu-wren, Redthroat
Black-eared Miner, Red-lored Whistler
Letter-winged Kite, Black-breasted Buzzard
Grey Falcon, Grey Honeyeater
Gouldian and Painted Finch
Flock Bronzewing, Spinifex Pigeon
Chestnut and Cinnamon Quail-thrush
Ground Cuckoo-shrike, Bourke's Parrot
Chestnut-quilled Rock-pigeon, Spinifexbird
and many, many more.

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Grasswren Birding Tours - 6 to 12 days

Six Grasswren Tour

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Nine Grasswren Tour

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Northern Grasswren Tour

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Grey Grasswren Short Tour

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White-throated Grasswren Short Tour

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Sandhill Grasswren Short Tour

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Grasswren Birding Tours Gallery