Mega Expedition to Australia July-August 2025 – Advice Por Favor!
OK! I think I have a plan – still very tentative. But after doing the requisite trip report perusal and back and forth, I have a skeleton outline of the plan. Initially I was planning on a one-vehicle circuit but the distances and varying degrees of road restrictions from rental companies, I’ve decided to break the trip in to segments with flights to the various segments. This saves quite a bit of time AND money actually. The order of the below is still in flux but the 50-day trip is the time I want to spend there. I would LOVE to hear thoughts of the Australia-pros out there. I’m not planning on any guides at this point but that may change in the near future. I do have a list of target species for each location as well – I can share that if requested.
| 28-Jun | BKK – Brisbane |
| 29-Jun | Lamington |
| 30-Jun | Lamington |
| 01-Jul | Lamington |
| 02-Jul | Pottsville |
| 03-Jul | Brisbane to Cairns |
| 04-Jul | Daintree Discovery Ctr |
| 05-Jul | Kingfisher Lodge Julatten |
| 06-Jul | Kingfisher Lodge Julatten |
| 07-Jul | Chambers Wildlife Lodges |
| 08-Jul | Chambers Wildlife Lodges |
| 09-Jul | Tinaroo Creek Road |
| 10-Jul | Atherton Tablielands Birdwatchers Cabin |
| 11-Jul | Atherton Tablielands Birdwatchers Cabin |
| 12-Jul | Atherton Tablielands Birdwatchers Cabin |
| 13-Jul | Atherton to Undara |
| 14-Jul | Undara Volcanic Tubes |
| 15-Jul | Undara Volcanic Tubes |
| 16-Jul | Cairns to Darwin – Jabiru |
| 17-Jul | Jabiru |
| 18-Jul | Jabiru |
| 19-Jul | Jabiru |
| 20-Jul | Jabiru |
| 21-Jul | Jabiru |
| 22-Jul | Darwin – Perth-freemantle |
| 23-Jul | rottnest |
| 24-Jul | drive Dryandra |
| 25-Jul | Dryandra |
| 26-Jul | Dryandra |
| 27-Jul | Dryandra to Albany |
| 28-Jul | Albany |
| 29-Jul | Albany to Adelaide |
| 30-Jul | Kangaroo Island |
| 31-Jul | Kangaroo Island |
| 01-Aug | Kangaroo to Mainland |
| 02-Aug | Brookfield Conservation Park |
| 03-Aug | Back to Adelaide |
| 04-Aug | Adelaide – Hobart |
| 05-Aug | Hobart – Bruny Island |
| 06-Aug | Bruny Island |
| 07-Aug | Bruny Island |
| 08-Aug | Bruny Island – Bakers Beach |
| 09-Aug | Bakers Beach |
| 10-Aug | Devonport |
| 11-Aug | Devonport – Cradle Mtn/Loongana Road |
| 12-Aug | Cradle Mtn/Loongana Road |
| 13-Aug | Cradle Mtn/Loongana Road |
| 14-Aug | Port Arthur-Maria Island |
| 15-Aug | Port Arthur-Maria Island |
| 16-Aug | Hobart |
| 17-Aug | Tas to BKK |
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16 Comments
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PandaSmith
Thanks so much Jon! Great info – I will get Cooktown in for sure. Definitely trying for both Tree Kangaroos. Your suggestions for changes make sense – and I have not done in internal flights yet so I can give and take from other segments… Melbourne may be doable too. For WA, I have Perup as well – I put Dryandra with the assumption I may go back and forth or switch once there. Same for Jabiru – I have Fogg Dam in my notes with some targets… I may be able to get Litchfield in – will check on the cane toad situation. Oh and yes – Cheynes Beach was my reason for Albany area. My main concern is how well I will do in TAS in the dead of winter. iNAT has all targets with sightings, just fewer but all still being spotted….
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BrettHartl
Hi Coke, Im going to be in Australia for about 90 days next year, looks like I will be chasing you about a few weeks later in each place. Would you mind shooting me an email at bretthartl@gmail.com ? I would love to keep in touch as you are refining your targets. The only area where we seem to diverge is in Darwin area where I am going to go to more locations, spend less time in Jabiru, going to Fogg Dam and a few areas towards the west for a few additional mammals and birds.
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PandaSmith
Great! Will do! 90 days sounds amazing. I’ll be in Fogg Dam too – just got lazy and wrote Jabiru six times! haha. Would love to know more about the western areas you plan on – Litchfield? Here is my email in case you beat me to the punch – cosm@patana.ac.th
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PandaSmith
Here is my target list – organized by segment of the trip:
Antechinus – Fawn Antechinus Kakadu NP Mardukal Cpgd
Bandicoot – Northern Brown Kakadu NP Jabiru
Bat – Black Flying Fox Kakadu NP
Bat – Ghost Bat Kakadu NP
Bat – Little Red Flying Fox Kakadu NP
Bat – Sharp-nosed Tomb Bat Kakadu NP Anbangbang Rock Shelter
Dingo Kakadu NP Jabiru, Lamington NP NSW
Glider – Savanna Glider Kakadu NP Jabiru
Horse Kakadu NP
Pig Kakadu NP
Possum – Common Brushtail Possum Kakadu NP
Possum – Northern Brush-tailed Possum Kakadu NP Jabiru, Bicentenial Park Darwin
Possum – Rock Ring-tailed Possum Kakadu NP Near Ubirr Rock Art Site
Quoll – Northern Quoll Kakadu NP Near Ubirr Rock Art Site
Rat – Black-footed Tree Rat Kakadu NP Jabiru nr Bowali Vistor Center
Wallaby – Agile Wallaby Kakadu NP Everywhere
Wallaby – Eastern Short-eared Rock Wallaby Kakadu NP Near Ubirr Rock Art Site
Wallaroo – Antilopine Wallaroo Kakadu NP Mount Bundy Mary River NP
Wallaroo – Black Wallaroo Kakadu NP Anbangbang Rock Shelter
Wallaroo – Common Wallaroo Kakadu NP Near Ubirr Rock Art Site
Wallaroo – Northern Kakadu NP Arnhem Highway 36
Water Buffalo Kakadu NP
Antechinus – Brown Antechinus Lammington NP Oreilly Campground
Bandicoot – Long-nosed Bandicoot Lammington NP Oreilly Campground
Bandicoot – Northern Brown Bandicoot Lammington NP Oreilly Campground
Bat – Grey-headed Flying Fox Lammington NP Russ Hall Playground
Deer – Fallow Deer Lammington NP
Dingo Lammington NP Oreilly Campground
Echidna – Eastern Short-beaked Echidna Lammington NP Oreilly Campground
Glider – Sugar Glider Lammington NP Oreilly Campground
Hare – Brown Hare Lammington NP Veresdale Scrub Road
Kangaroo – Eastern Grey Kangaroo Lammington NP Koala Trail-Brisbane
Koala – Queensland Koala Lammington NP Ring Road Brisbane
Melomys – Fawn-footed Melomys Lammington NP Oreilly Campground
Pademelon – Red-legged Pademelon Lammington NP Oreilly Campground
Pademelon – Red-necked Pademelon Lammington NP Oreilly Campground
Platypus Lammington NP NA
Possum – Common Brushtail Possum Lammington NP Common
Possum – Common Ring-tailed Possum Lammington NP Oreilly Campground
Possum – Eastern Pygmy Possum Lammington NP NA
Possum – Short-eared Brush-tailed Possum Lammington NP Oreilly Campground
Rat – Australian Bush Rat Lammington NP Oreilly Campground
Rat – Australian Swamp Rat Lammington NP Oreilly Campground
Wallaby – Black-striped Wallaby Lammington NP Numinbah Valley Brush Camp
Wallaby – Red-necked Wallaby Lammington NP Oreilly Campground
Wallaby – Swamp Wallaby Lammington NP Koala Trail-Brisbane
Wallaby – Whiptail Wallaby Lammington NP Oreilly Campground
Kangaroo – Red Kangaroo NSW Brookfield Conservation Area
Wombat – Hairy-nosed Wombat NSW Brookfield Conservation Area
Dunnart – Kangaroo Island Dunnart NSW – Kangaroo Island NA
Echidna – Kangaroo Island Echidna NSW – Kangaroo Island Emu Bay
Kangaroo – Kangaroo Island Kangaroo NSW – Kangaroo Island Karatta & Emu Bay
Koala – Victorian Koala NSW – Kangaroo Island Karatta & Emu Bay
Penguin – Little Blue Penguin NSW – Kangaroo Island Emu Bay
Possum – Common Brushtail Possum NSW – Kangaroo Island Karatta & Emu Bay
Possum – Common Ring-tailed Possum NSW – Kangaroo Island Karatta & Vivonne
Possum – Western Pygmy Possum NSW – Kangaroo Island Stun Sail Boom – Nest box
Sea Lion – Australian Sea Lion NSW – Kangaroo Island Seal Bay
Seal – Long-nosed Fur Seal NSW – Kangaroo Island Cape du Couedic Road & Kingscote Harbor
Wallaby – Kangaroo Island Tammar Wallaby NSW – Kangaroo Island Karatta, Pennshaw, Vivonne
Antechinus – Yellow-footed Antechinus Perth & SW Australia Dryandra
Dolphin – Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin Perth & SW Australia
Echidna – Western Short-beaked Echidna Perth & SW Australia Dryandra
Kangaroo – Western Grey Kangaroo Perth & SW Australia Len Howard Conservation Pk, Dryandra, John Forest NP
Mouse – House Mouse Perth & SW Australia
Numbat Perth & SW Australia Boyagin Rock
Numbat Perth & SW Australia Dryandra
Numbat Perth & SW Australia Perup
Numbat Perth & SW Australia
Phascogale – Brush-tailed Phascogale Perth & SW Australia Perth – Railway Tce, Sawyer’s Valley
Phascogale – Red-tailed Phascogale Perth & SW Australia Dryandra
Possum – Common Brushtail Possum Perth & SW Australia Dryandra
Possum – Honey Possum Perth & SW Australia Albany & Plantagenet need specific, Cheyne’s Beach
Possum – Western Pygmy Possum Perth & SW Australia Porongurup Twin Creeks Nature Reserve
Possum – Western Ring-tailed Possum Perth & SW Australia Albany need specific
Quenda Perth & SW Australia Albany need specific, Perth too
Quokka Perth & SW Australia Rottnest
Quoll – Western Quoll Perth & SW Australia Dryandra
Rabbit – European Rabbit Perth & SW Australia
Rat – Australian Bush Rat Perth & SW Australia Eastern Aus is better?
Red Fox Perth & SW Australia
Sea Lion – Australian Sea Lion Perth & SW Australia Seal Bay Kangaroo Island, Perth has lots but obscured
Seal – Long-nosed Fur Seal Perth & SW Australia Rottnest-Cathedral Rocks and Cape Vlamingh, Kangaroo Island-Admirals Arch, TAS Bruny Is
Wallaby – Tammar Wallaby Perth & SW Australia Dryandra, Tonebridge, Kangaroo Island
Wallaby – Western Brush Wallaby Perth & SW Australia Dryandra
Whale – Humpback Perth & SW Australia
Woylie Perth & SW Australia dryandra
Perth & SW Australia Boyagin NR
Antechinus – Rust Antechinus Queensland Mt Lewis
Antechinus – Yellow-footed Antechinus Queensland Kingfisher Lodge Julatten
Antechinus – Yellow-footed Antechinus Queensland Mt Lewis
Bandicoot – Long-nosed Bandicoot Queensland Atherton Birdwatchers Cabin
Bandicoot – Long-nosed Bandicoot Queensland Curtain Fig Tree
Bandicoot – Long-nosed Bandicoot Queensland Kingfisher Lodge Julatten
Bandicoot – Long-nosed Bandicoot Queensland Mt Lewis
Bandicoot – Long-nosed Bandicoot Queensland My Hypapypamee
Bandicoot – Northern Brown Bandicoot Queensland Cooktown
Bandicoot – Northern Brown Bandicoot Queensland Kingfisher Lodge Julatten
Bandicoot – Northern Brown Bandicoot Queensland My Hypapypamee
Bat – Easten Horseshoe Bat Queensland Undara Lava Tubes
Bat – Eastern Blossum Bat Queensland Kingfisher Lodge Julatten
Bat – Eastern Horseshoe Bat Queensland Cooktown
Bat – Eastern Horseshoe Bat Queensland Kingfisher Lodge Julatten
Bat – Eastern Long-eared Bat Queensland Kingfisher Lodge Julatten
Bat – Eastern Tube-nose Bat Queensland Kingfisher Lodge Julatten
Bat – Little Bent Wing Bat Queensland Kingfisher Lodge Julatten
Bat – Little Bent Wing Bat Queensland Undara Lava Tubes
Bat – Spectacled Flying Fox Queensland Curtain Fig Tree
Bat – Spectacled Flying Fox Queensland Kingfisher Lodge Julatten
Bat – Spectacled Flying Fox Queensland Tinaroo Creek Road
Bettong – Northern Bettong Queensland Tinaroo Creek Road
Bettong – Rufous Bettong Queensland Atherton Birdwatchers Cabin
Bettong – Rufous Bettong Queensland Tinaroo Creek Road
Bettong – Rufous Bettong Queensland Undara Lava Tubes
Echidna Queensland Tinaroo Creek Road
Feathertail – Broad-toed Feathertail Queensland Atherton Birdwatchers Cabin
Feathertail – Broad-toed Feathertail Queensland Kingfisher Lodge Julatten
Feathertail – Broad-toed Feathertail Queensland Mt Lewis
Glider – Yellow-bellied Glider Queensland Atherton Birdwatchers Cabin
Kangaroo – Bennett’ Tree Kangaroo Queensland Cedar Bay National Park
Kangaroo – Bennett’ Tree Kangaroo Queensland Daintree Discovery Center
Kangaroo – Eastern Grey Kangaroo Queensland Cooktown
Kangaroo – Eastern Grey Kangaroo Queensland Undara Lava Tubes
Kangaroo – Lumholtz Tree Kangaroo Queensland Atherton Birdwatchers Cabin
Kangaroo – Lumholtz Tree Kangaroo Queensland Curtain Fig Tree
Kangaroo – Lumholtz Tree Kangaroo Queensland My Hypapypamee
Kangaroo – Musky Rat-Kangaroo Queensland Mt Lewis
lider – Kreft’s Sugar Glider Queensland Atherton Birdwatchers Cabin
Melomys – Fawn Footed Melomys Queensland Cooktown
Melomys – Fawn Footed Melomys Queensland Kingfisher Lodge Julatten
Melomys – Fawn Footed Melomys Queensland Mt Lewis
Pademelon – Red Legged Pademelon Queensland Atherton Birdwatchers Cabin
Pademelon – Red Legged Pademelon Queensland Cooktown
Pademelon – Red Legged Pademelon Queensland Curtain Fig Tree
Pademelon – Red Legged Pademelon Queensland Kingfisher Lodge Julatten
Pademelon – Red Legged Pademelon Queensland Mt Lewis
Pademelon – Red Legged Pademelon Queensland My Hypapypamee
Pademelon – Red Legged Pademelon Queensland Tinaroo Creek Road
Planigale Queensland Atherton Birdwatchers Cabin
Platypus Queensland Kingfisher Lodge Julatten
Possum – Common Brushtail Possum Queensland Atherton Birdwatchers Cabin
Possum – Common Brushtail Possum Queensland My Hypapypamee
Possum – Common Brushtail Possum Queensland Tinaroo Creek Road
Possum – Common Brushtail Possum Queensland Undara Lava Tubes
Possum – Coppery Brushtail Possum Queensland Atherton Birdwatchers Cabin
Possum – Coppery Brushtail Possum Queensland Curtain Fig Tree
Possum – Coppery Brushtail Possum Queensland My Hypapypamee
Possum – Daintree River Possum Queensland Mt Lewis
Possum – Green Ringtail Possum Queensland Curtain Fig Tree
Possum – Green Ringtail Possum Queensland Kingfisher Lodge Julatten
Possum – Green Ringtail Possum Queensland Mt Lewis
Possum – Green Ringtail Possum Queensland My Hypapypamee
Possum – Herbert River Ringtail Possum Queensland Atherton Birdwatchers Cabin
Possum – Herbert River Ringtail Possum Queensland My Hypapypamee
Possum – Lemuroid Ringtail Possum Queensland Atherton Birdwatchers Cabin
Possum – Lemuroid Ringtail Possum Queensland My Hypapypamee
Possum – Long-tailed Pygmy Possum Queensland Mt Lewis
Possum – Striped Possum Queensland Atherton Birdwatchers Cabin
Possum – Striped Possum Queensland Cooktown
Possum – Striped Possum Queensland Kingfisher Lodge Julatten
Quoll – Northern Quoll Queensland Cooktown
Quoll – Northern Quoll Queensland Tinaroo Creek Road
Rat – Bush Rat Queensland Kingfisher Lodge Julatten
Rat – Bush Rat Queensland Mt Lewis
Rat – Giant White-tailed Rat Queensland Cooktown
Rat – Giant White-tailed Rat Queensland Curtain Fig Tree
Rat – Giant White-tailed Rat Queensland Kingfisher Lodge Julatten
Rat – Giant White-tailed Rat Queensland Mt Lewis
Rat – Prehensile-tailed Rat Queensland Kingfisher Lodge Julatten
Rat – Prehensile-tailed Rat Queensland Mt Lewis
Wallaby – Agile Wallaby Queensland Cooktown
Wallaby – Agile Wallaby Queensland Kingfisher Lodge Julatten
Wallaby – Agile Wallaby Queensland Tinaroo Creek Road
Wallaby – Black-striped Wallaby Queensland Undara Lava Tubes
Wallaby – Godman’s Rock Wallaby Queensland Cooktown
Wallaby – Mareeba Rock Wallaby Queensland Mareeba Granite Gorge
Wallaby – Mareeba Rock Wallaby Queensland Tinaroo Creek Road
Wallaby – Mareeba Rock Wallaby Queensland Undara Lava Tubes
Wallaby – Swamp Wallaby Queensland Atherton Birdwatchers Cabin
Wallaby – Swamp Wallaby Queensland Undara Lava Tubes
Wallaby – Whiptail Wallaby Queensland Undara Lava Tubes
Wallaroo – Antilopine Wallaroo Queensland Undara Lava Tubes
Wallaroo – Common Wallaroo Queensland Undara Lava Tubes
Antechinus – Swamp Antechinus Tasmania NA
Bandicoot – Eastern Barred Bandicoot Tasmania Hobart Linear Park/Rivulet, Waterworks Reserve, Devonport-Mersey Bluff, Eaglehawk Neck
Bandicoot – Southern Brown Bandicoot Tasmania Queens Domain/Hobart Botanical Gardens, Wentworth Play Park
Betong – Southern Bettong Tasmania Waterworks Reserve, Dalgarth Forest Reserve nr Narawntapu NP nr Devonport
Dolphin – Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin Tasmania
Echidna – Tasmanian Echidna Tasmania South Bruny Island, Kentish, Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair, Loongana
European Rabbit Tasmania
Kangaroo – Eastern Grey Kangaroo Tasmania Baker’s Beach, Narawntapu NP
Kangaroo – Tasmanian Forester Kangaroo Tasmania Baker’s Beach
Mouse – House Mouse Tasmania
Padamelon – Rufous-bellid Pademelon Tasmania Baker’s Beach, Cradle Mountain, Inala Jurasic Garden Bruny Is
Penguin – Little Blue Penguin Tasmania Little Penguin Observation Center
Platypus Tasmania Tasmanian Arboretum-Devonport, Hobart Rivulet
Possum – Common Brushtail Possum Tasmania Waterworks Reserve, Cradle Mountain, Bruny Is
Possum – Common Ring-tailed Possum Tasmania Waterworks, Royal Tas Bot Gardens, Lamington NP
Possum – Eastern Pygmy Possum Tasmania Eagle Hawk Neck, Sydney?
Possum – Tasmanian Brushtail Possum Tasmania Waterworks Reserve, Mount Field Visitors Center & Cpgd, Cradle Mtn
Potoroo – Long-nosed Potoroo Tasmania Bruny Island-Rt66, Don Reserve Devonport, Port Arthur Historic Site
Quoll – Eastern Quoll Tasmania Bruny Island-Rt66-North Bruny, Cradle Mtn
Quoll – Spotted-tailed Quoll Tasmania Loongana Rd, Mountain Valley Wilderness Holidays
Rat – Australian Swamp Rat Tasmania
Sea Lion – Australian Sea Lion Tasmania NA
Seal – Brown Fur Seal Tasmania Bruny Island-Adventure Bay
Seal – Long-nosed Fur Seal Tasmania Bruny Island-Adventure Bay, Errol Flynn Reserve Hobart
Seal – Southern Fur Seal Tasmania Same as Long-nosed
Tasmanian Devil Tasmania Cradle Mtn-Devils Cradle, Loongana Road-Mountain Valley, Maria Island
Wallaby – Bennett’s Wallaby Tasmania Waterworks Reserve, Adventure Bay, Baker’s Beach
Wallaby – Red-necked Wallaby Tasmania Same as Bennetts
Whale – Southern Humpback Whale Tasmania
Whale – Southern Right Whale Tasmania
Wombat – Bare-nosed Wombat Tasmania Bakers Beach, Kentish Cradle Mtn, Loongana Rd, Cradle Mtn Visitors Center, Ronny Creek Cradle Mtn
Wombat – Flinders Wombat Tasmania Maria Island Cpgd -
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Jon Hall
Coke – looks like it will be an epic trip. A list of target species would be useful I think. In general I think it looks good. A few suggestions
1. In north Queensland you would enjoy a couple of nights close to Cooktown I think. Charlie Roberts up there is a legend. He is not a guide but will take you out. And it is worth going up there just to spend time with him. He can likely show you some good bats and birds and some of the mammals you might have missed on the tablelands. You could shave off a bit of time by shortening your stay at Undara (I think a day is enough there), and maybe a day or two less on the tablelands for example.
2. In WA then think about adding a night or two at Perup to the Itinerary (sometimes numbats are easier there than at Dryanda) and also a night or two at Cheynes Beach (near Albany) (or was that your plan or Albany?)
3. In the NT then Fogg Dam near Darwin is worth a night spotlighting and Litchfield is also well worth a visit… or at least they were pre-toads. I don’t know how these places have fared now the Cane Toads are there.
4. A couple of nights in the Melbourne Area ought to get your Leadbeater’s Possum and a few other species you will have likely not seen.
I could go on. And on. And on… We can talk at length in December.
I don’t think you need a guide for any of these places though you might want to arrange one for a night on the tablelands to make sure you get the tree roos and all the possums.