Nine Grasswren tour – 2 departures - 12-15 days

Nine Grasswren tour – 2 departures
Book now Brochure (PDF)

This is one of our most popular tours and most years we’re offering 2 departures to cater for the demand, a ‘standard’ tour and a slower-paced ‘comfortable tour’:

The standard 12-day tour is one we have been running twice per year for the last 8 years. Since 2019 we’ve also been offering a slower-paced version of the same tour, taking it easy by adding an extra 4 days to the standard itinerary.

Either tour can be described as one of Australia’s epic outback birding adventures. We’ll 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 tours 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 Whiteface, Chestnut, Cinnamon and Chestnut-breasted Quail-thrush, Gibberbird, Yellow Chat, Inland Dotterel, Flock Bronzewing, Hall’s Babbler, Mallee & Rufous-crowned Emu-wren, Spinifex Pigeon, Painted Finch and much more, including the enigmatic Grey Falcon. During this time of year the weather is generally quite pleasant. The rewards are some of Australia’s hardest to find, yet most sought-after outback species!

Please use the following links to download full tour details and booking information.

Upcoming Scheduled Departures:

Tour Reviews:

Top Quality Birds

“I’ve never been to a site with so many top quality birds in such a short time anywhere in Australia”

M Lord - Australia
Nov 2009

Wonderful Trip!

“Thank you again for a wonderful trip last week. We were very fortunate!”

D Frederick - Australia
Sept 2010

Top Birding Moments

“Thank you for being part of my top birding moments of 2010”

U Gotthardson - Sweden
Oct 2010

Great Time

“Thank you again for the great time I had last week! I saw 45 new birds thanks to your in depth knowledge…”

A Schulte - Germany
Jun 2011

Truly Legendary Birds!

“Just a note to say how much I enjoyed the trip. I saw some truely legendary birds!”

S Summers - Australia
Jun 2011

Ticked All Boxes for Me

“I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the recent 5 Grasswren trip. It ticked all boxes for me. The trip was really well paced and I loved your flexibility and the way you responded to all our various wish-lists. Our birding at Gluepot was one of the most fantastic days birding I have ever experienced.”

J Broadberry - Australia
Oct 2011

Best Vehicles and Equipment

“You have the best vehicles and equipment of any Australian birding tour I’ve been on…”

A Wright - Australia
Oct 2011

Enjoyed the Trip

I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the recent 5 Grasswren trip. It ticked all boxes for me. The trip was really well paced and I loved your flexibility and the way you responded to all our various wish-lists. Our birding at Gluepot was one of the most fantastic days birding I have ever experienced.

J Broadberry - AUSTRALIA
October 2011

I Felt Very Safe

“Thank you for a fantastic experience. I felt very safe and confident with your highly skilled driving and excellent guiding.”

M Moxon - Australia
Nov 2011

Wonderful!

“Thank you very much for a most enjoyable and successful trip. I did not expect to see Grey Falcon. Wonderful!”

S Taylor - Australia
Jun 2012

Great Fun!

Thanks for a splendid trip that was full of interest and great fun. You did a fine job getting us on many great birds – not to mention the odd letter winged kite or two…!

J Hollyhead - UK
September 2012

A Splendid Trip

“Thanks for a splendid trip that was full of interest and great fun. You did a fine job getting us on many great birds – not to mention the odd letter winged kite or two…!”

J Hollyhead - UK
Sept 2012

Great Nine Grasswren tour!

Thanks again for a great Nine Grasswren tour!

P Crane - Aus
Aug 2014

Delighted!

A brief personal note of thanks: we were delighted with the entire Nine Grasswren Tour. I believe you set an inspirational yet practical example.

P & A Kabel - Aus
Aug 2014

Thanks for the Enthusiasm!

Thanks Peter for your guiding and driving and enthusiasm!

Robin - Australia
2018

All needs are met!

Thanks especially to Peter for his expertise, driving, finding birds and arranging for all our needs to be met.

Lyn - Australia
2018

Tremendous Amount of Work

Thanks to Peter for the tremendous amount of work put in (both before and during the trip) and to you all for making it fun.

John - Australia
2018

We enjoyed it immensely.

Just wanted to say a huge thank you for the trip. We enjoyed it immensely.

Neil, Jeff & Joy - USA/UK
Sept 2018

A Wonderful Trip

Thank you for a wonderful trip, and great birds. Really appreciate all the effort that you put in to make it work so well.

Ann M. - Aus
July 2019

A Wonderful Trip of Outback Birding

Thank you for a wonderful trip of outback birding and seeing a unique part of Australia!

Jane & Kevin - Aus
Aug 2019

A Truly Amazing Experience!

Our 9 day Grasswren tour with the awesome Peter Waanders was a truly amazing experience! Thanks to Peter for finding all target Grasswren species for us and over 200 other outback bird species, including Grey & Black Falcon, Flock Bronzewing, Banded Whiteface, Gibberbird, Inland Dotterel etc etc! We made friends with our like-minded traveling companions and
had some good laughs along the way.

Linda & Peter, Australia
Oct 2020

Absolutely Cracking Birds!

One of the best trips I’ve done: great adventure, top comradeship & absolutely cracking birds!

Matt - Australia
Aug 2021
Pricing
  • AU$ per person
    i

    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
    i

    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.

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