Atherton Tablelands Nocturnal Wildlife Tour

See Australia's unique animals and birds in their natural environment on a rainforest wildlife-spotting tour in the Atherton Tablelands. Led by an expert nature guide, your small-group nocturnal tour visits a number of locations including lush tropical rainforest and a volcanic crater lake. See tree kangaroos, lizards and musky rat kangaroo by day, and search for platypus at dusk. Enjoy afternoon tea at Lake Barrine and dinner at a country restaurant, then go spotlighting for possum, bandicoots, owls, bats and tree kangaroos by starlight on this fascinating nocturnal wildlife tour.

What's included:

• Local guide
• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Afternoon tea
• All equipment (binoculars, spotlighting gear, rain ponchos, reference materials)
• National Park fee

Not included:

• Drinks, unless specified

What to expect:

Duration: 8 hours

Lake Barrine

Yungaburra, Queensland

After our drive from Cairns up the scenic but very twisty Gillies Range Road we arrive at Lake Barrine. A beautiful volcanic crater lake surrounded by the Rainforest. Firstly we take a break for afternoon tea and there is no better setting than Lake Barrine to enjoy it. Afterwards we take a slow walk through the surrounding forest searching for Forest Dragons and Musky Rat Kangaroos!

1 hour

Atherton Tablelands

, , Cairns, Queensland

There is no better place close to Cairns to see some of the rarest animals in Australia in the wild. We spend the majority of our tour exploring the region searching for wildlife. Walking through the oldest tropical rainforest in the world is an amazing experience by itself. You will be immersed with all the sights and sounds within it.
In the late afternoon coming up to sunset we then go searching for the Platypus. The thrill of catching sight of this amazing creature will always stay with you. We do not stop looking until we run out of time to make sure you get the best possible chance of success. That is why we really do see them 90% of the time :)

4 hours

Yungaburra

Yungaburra, Queensland

When it’s time for dinner we go to the beautiful heritage village of Yungaburra. Started in the 1890’s. Many of the original buildings are still in use giving the reel feeling of stepping back in time. The centre piece of the village is our dinner location, the Yungaburra Hotel. Built in 1910 from the timbers extracted from the rainforest. And of an impressive size! It creates a great atmosphere as you mingle with the locals at the bar giving you a glimpse of the rural life in the pioneer days. The food is good and the meals are hearty so you will not be hungry. And you can wash it down with a local beer or wine if you choose.
After dinner we relax and get ready for sundown so we can start the nocturnal search.

1 hour

Curtain Fig National Park

Yungaburra, Queensland

Once the sun goes down we start our search for the nocturnal creatures. This is the time when most animals are active in the Rainforest. The sensation of being surrounded by the sights and sounds and smells of the Rainforest by night is also an amazing experience that will stay with you. The places we go to are all specially chosen to make sure they are safe and easy to navigate by dim light as well. The range of animals includes mammals, reptiles, birds and insects. By the way, mosquitoes are low in numbers where we go. So unless you are a mosquito magnet you do not get eaten alive. The conclusion to the tour is our visit to the incredible Curtain Fig. An amazing natural wonder of the plant world. Reputed to be the largest strangler fig known in the world. We then make our way back down the Great Dividing Range to your accommodation in Cairns. But the sites and sound of the rainforest at night is an experience you will not forget.

1 hour, 30 minutes