![[Dividing Line Image]](div.gif){kind=small}
AUSTRALIA BIRDING
& NATURE EXPEDITION
Sydney Tour Description
Sydney, home of the world-famous Sydney Opera House, has unmatched allure as a top-of-the-list tourist site. Yet, surprisingly, it has a great natural site not far from the hubbub of the city. We will stay at a national park within easy train reach of the city, giving us the split opportunity of finding new birds as well as hitting the city highlights.
Day 1: Coming off our Queensland tour, we will fly from Brisbane to Sydney. Then we will take the train across the city to a national park with comfortable cabins for our three nights in the Sydney area. This night, or an alternative night here, we will walk the adjacent campground roads, using flashlights, and find an amazing number of night creatures. On our last trip, in the space of 45 minutes one evening, we spotlighted four Ringtail Possums, five Bushtail Possums, a Long-nosed Bandicoot and a pair of sleeping Laughing Kookaburras.
Day 2: Sydney's fast and comfortable train will speed us to Circular Quay. Here we board a tour bus that will take us to the highlights of the city and surrounding area. We will see Darling Harbour and Cockle Bay, cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and get spectacular views of the Opera House from Milsons Point. Among many other stops, we will get great views of the Pacific Ocean from Arabanoo Lookout, and visit the seaside town of Manly and its famous beach. In the afternoon you can roam the Darling Harbour area on your own, or join our tour leader for a walk to the Sydney Botanic Gardens, where among the amazing floral displays and labeled plants we can find birds and, most interestingly, a large colony of Gray-headed Flying-foxes hanging from wearied trees, squabbling amongst themselves and flying from tree to tree.
Day 3: Our tour leader will lead us on a morning walk through the national park, often among walkers and bicyclists who enjoy this park as well. Heavily wooded and with a trickling stream, the habitat attracts an impressive list of birds, including Chestnut Teal, Australian King-Parrot, White-throated Treecreeper, White-browed Scrubwren, Striated Thornbill, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Golden Whistler, Olive-backed Oriole, Silvereye, and Red-whiskered Bulbul.
Day 4: A free day, choose between visiting more Sydney sites or enjoying more of the national park.
Day 5: For those continuing with the New Zealand tour, we fly from Sidney to Auckland.