Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Birding Tour
The Australia and New Zealand Grand Tour
This is Part 2 of the Grand Tour
Part 1 is September 14 - 20, 2026, 7-day tour in the Sydney, Australia area
Part 2 is September 20 – 29, 2026, 10-day tour of New South Wales
Part 3 is September 29 – October 10, 2026, 12-day tour to New Zealand
If you sign up for all three tours, it is a total of 27 days
Part 1, The Sydney Opera and Birding Festival: We will go birding in and around the Sydney area, and travel to birding areas that are within a 1-hour drive from Sydney. Please the Sydney Opera and Birding page for more details.
Part 2: Below you will find the details of Part 2
Part 3: This will be a 12-day tour of New Zealand. The tour starts in Christchurch, New Zealand (south island) and ends in Auckland (north island). Please see our New Zealand Tour page for more details.
- Travel Dates: September 20 - 29, 2026
- Group Size: 5 travelers, spots left = 5
- Trip Length: 10 days
- Rate per person: $5,250 per person (based on double occupancy), an extra $1,300 for single occupancy.
- Rates include: Lodging, breakfast, lunch on days 2 - 9, dinner on days 2 - 9, daily birding tours, airport transfer to/from Sydney, basic travel insurance.
- Not included: Airfare to the Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD), snacks, alcohol, lunch on days 1 and 10, dinner on days 1 and 10, and trip cancelation insurance.
- Adventure level: Easy, please check the "Welcome" page for definition
- Reservations: To reserve a spot on the trip, a non-refundable 30% deposit is required, and the non-refundable balance is due six months prior to the trip.
2026 Itinerary for Part 2
We are still working on this itinerary and will be adding more details and hotel links.
This tour will make a loop through eastern New South Whales. Distance between lodging locations is never more than a 2 – 2.5 hour drive. This way we can spend our time birding and not sitting in the car. Most of our birding stops are also eBird hotspots, and you can view the bird lists on eBird. The stops listed are an indication of what we will be doing. Our local guide may make small changes to the stops based on bird activities and sightings.
Day 1: Arrival in Sydney
If you were on the Part 1 tour, this day you will be on your own because some guests might be leaving, and some guests might be arriving, and that will be the activity for the day while we get reorganized in between tours. Your hotel will be included for the night and breakfast, but lunch and dinner are not included. Shuttle transfer from the Sydney Airport (SYD) to the Sir Stamford Circular Quay Hotel where we will stay for the next 6-nights. The Sydney Airport is a 20-minute drive from our lodging. No activities for the day. Lunch and Dinner on your own.
Day 2: Newcastle
A 2-hour drive north of Sydney is the city of New Castle where we will stay for 2-nights. Stops along the way include: Ourimbah RTA Reserve, Central Coast Wetlands - Pioneer Dairy, Tuggerah Bay Saltmarsh, Tuggerah Wastewater Treatment Plan, and Chittaway Point West.
Day 3: Newcastle
A full day of birding areas in and around New Castle: Birding the hotel property, Glenrock State Conservation Area, Awabakal Nature Reserve, Belmont Wetlands State Park, and Hunter Wetlands Centre.
Day 4: Sandy Hollow
From New Castle it is a 2-hour drive to the small village of Sandy Hollow, where we will spend 1-night. Stops along the way include: Hunter Wetlands (various locations within the complex, Walka Water Works, Quarry Wetland, and Giant’s Leap Walking trail.
Day 5: Mudgee
From Sandy Hollow, it is a 2-hour drive to the town of Mudgee where we will spend 2-nights. Stops along the way include: Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve, Castle Rocks trail, and Goulburn River National Park.
Day 6: Mudgee
A full day of birding the Mudgee area: Putta Bucca Wetlands, Mellissa Harwood Memorial Park, Rare Dog Name National Park, and Lawson Park.
Day 7: Rydal
From Mudgee it is a 1.5 hour drive to Rydal. Stops along the way include: Turtle Island Park, Lake Windamere, and Capertee National Park (numerous stops).
Day 8: Rydal
A full day of birding the Rydal area: Birding the hotel property, Marrangaroo National Park, Lake Wallace, and Lake Lyell.
Day 9: Sydney
From Rydal, it is a 2.5 hour drive back to our hotel in Sydney. Stops along the way include: Lithgow Wastewater Treatment Plant, Blue Mountains National Park (westside stops), and numerous short stops along the route back to Sydney.
Day 10: Fly Home or stay for Part 3
If you choose to stay for Part 3 of the tour, this day you will be on your own because some guests might be leaving, and some guests might be arriving, and that will be the activity for the day while we get reorganized in between tours. Your hotel will be included for the night and breakfast, but lunch and dinner are not included.
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