Specialists in birdwatching & photographic safaris
DELIVERING YOUR PERSONALISED ITINERARIES & AUTHENTIC SMALL GROUP TOURING.
Join NT Bird Specialists’ award-winning team on exceptional birdwatching, wildlife & photographic safaris exploring the tropics & outback Australia. Seek endemic, rare & migratory species in biodiversity hotspots of the Northern Territory, the Kimberley (Western Australia) & beyond… Immerse yourself in ancient wilderness while searching for some of the region’s 400+ bird species & world-class nature experiences.
Spread your wings.
Our Top Tours
View all toursBorneo Birding & Wildlife Tour: Hornbills, Trogons & Orangutans
Borneo is a naturalist’s dream & a breathtaking destination for NT Bird Specialists’ guests to experience incredible accessible birding & mammal viewing in style.
Find out more9 Day Australian Outback Birdwatching Tour, Darwin (NT) to Mount Isa (QLD)
Find out more10 Day Ultimate Top End Birding Adventure Tour
NT Bird Specialists’ ‘Ultimate Top End Birding Adventure’ tour discovers some of the most remote and impressive landscapes and targeted bird and wildlife species in one fowl swoop!
Find out more7 Day North Australian Finch Frenzy Tour
Join NT Bird Specialists on a Grass ’Finch Frenzy’ of the best birding sites for Gouldian Finch, Star Finch, Pictorella Mannikin and up to 200 bird species spanning the Top End, Northern Territory. Start & finish in Darwin.
Find out moreWild Kakadu Nature Photography Expedition
Join our exclusive photographic expedition through the heart of Crocodile Dundee country. Special offers available.
Find out morePhotographic Workshop: Top End Birds & Wildlife Immersion
Join our breath-taking bird & wildlife photography workshop with Luke Paterson & Jay Collier in Kakadu’s World Heritage sites. Limited availability. 2 Expert Tour leaders. Special offers available.
Find out more5 Day Top End-Kakadu Birding, Wildlife & Nature Tour
Our 5 day ‘Top End Birding & Wildlife Experience’ provides fantastic chances to view many Top End specialty birds and wildlife, including Banded-fruit Dove (endemic), Rainbow Pitta, Hooded Parrot (endemic), Gouldian Finch and many waterbirds.
Find out more15 Day Sri Lankan Birdwatching & Wildlife Tour
Join NT Bird Specialists on a 15 day Wildlife Adventure through the biodiverse and culturally rich lands of Sri Lanka in March 2024 and 2025. ‘Immerse yourself in World Heritage wilderness and ancient cultural sites while searching for unique and endemic birds and wildlife off the beaten track. Sri Lanka – the Wonder of Asia, the Pearl of the Indian Ocean.’
Find out more8 Day Tropical Outback Bird Photography Tour
Embark on our 8 Day ‘Tropical Outback’ Bird Photography Tour to photograph an incredible range of colourful and unique northern Australian birds and wildlife in beautiful landscapes.
Find out more4 Day Kakadu Birdwatching Tour ‘Djakarna Jaunt’
Our 4 day Kakadu Birdwatching tour ‘Djakarna Jaunt’ explores a 1200 kilometre circuit along the Arnhem, Kakadu and Stuart Highways, in the Top End of the Northern Territory.
Find out more4 Day East Kimberley Bird Photography Tour
Join our tantalising bird photography adventure in the East Kimberley. Photograph finches, local speciality birds and reptiles in gorgeous boab-clad landscapes with million star astro views.
Find out more2 Day Pine Creek Birdwatching Tour ‘Parrot and Finch Paradise’
10 species of parrots, including the (locally endemic) Hooded Parrot, Red-winged Parrot, Cockatiel and Northern Rosella, rightfully makes the historic gold mining and railway township of Pine Creek the ‘Top End’s home of parrots’.
Find out more1 Day Kakadu Birdwatching Tours
Our 1 day Kakadu bird watching tours start and finish in the heart of the World Heritage Kakadu National Park.
Find out more1 Day Darwin Birdwatching Tour ‘Sticky Beak’
Darwin’s urban landscapes retain an array of habitats for birds and wildlife to flourish in.
Find out more1 Day Wild Kakadu Wildlife & Rock Art Tour
Only have a day or two to spare? Join our 1 Day Wild Kakadu Wildlife & Rock Art tour for a glimpse of the World Heritage wildlife and rock art at home amongst the mighty South Alligator floodplains and Ubirr rock art sites adjacent to the East Alligator River.
Find out moreKakadu Bird Week Tours 2025
Get a fantastic taste of Kakadu’s birding highlights when Luke guides you to the best sites during Kakadu Bird Week 2024. Enquire and book Kakadu Bird Week tours today [email protected]
Find out moreAbout Us.
Join NT Bird Specialists' award-winning team on exceptional birdwatching and photography tours exploring the tropics and outback Australia. We seek endemic, rare and migratory species in biodiversity hotspots, including the Northern Territory, the Eastern Kimberley in Western Australia and Cairns, Queensland. Contact us for tour details and international itineraries.
Reviews
On our birding trip in the Northern Territory we staked out a waterhole waiting for finches. To our great delight, around 700-800 budgies arrived in a swirling mass, circling again & again until they found the courage to come down & drink. Thanks to our brilliant guide, Luke, for making this possible. I hope you enjoy these most endearing birds.
I went on this tour with my 12 year old son who is a keen birder and I have to say that even as a non-birder it was the best tour I have been on. Luke was amazing in not only spotting birds but taking the time out to be engaging, funny and educational while literally spotting and knowing where all the best birding and nature spots are. My son didn't want the trip to end and wants to book the 10 day tour ASAP. I couldn't recommend Luke more! Will definitely be back.
My eyes were opened to this ancient landscape through the lens of watching birds - what a fabulous way to have ones eyes opened. Our guide Luke Paterson provided a superb blend of knowledge, skill and enthusiasm. His people skills and patience were as well developed as his bird knowledge - exceptional at times and breath-taking. this is a holiday to be remembered for the rest of our lives - a stand out!
I have been on many guided tours throughout the world and this one was absolutely stunning an outstanding in comparison. Luke was friendly; endlessly obliging; his ability in bird-spotting was amazing; everything was well organised; attention to detail extraordinary and food excellent and abundant. Luke's kindness and thoughtfulness in making sure everyone was ok and seeing the birds (and we saw way more than expected) was great. Luke was endlessly knowledgeable but modest in sharing his expertise and a great sense of warm humour. I would recommend this tour to anyone!
- Tour MapsBorneo Birding & Wildlife Tour: Hornbills, Trogons & Orangutans
- Tour Maps9 Day Australian Outback Birdwatching Tour, Darwin (NT) to Mount Isa (QLD)
- Tour Maps10 Day Ultimate Top End Birding Adventure Tour
- Tour Maps7 Day North Australian Finch Frenzy Tour
- Tour MapsWild Kakadu Nature Photography Expedition
- Tour MapsPhotographic Workshop: Top End Birds & Wildlife Immersion
- Tour Maps5 Day Top End-Kakadu Birding, Wildlife & Nature Tour
- Tour Maps15 Day Sri Lankan Birdwatching & Wildlife Tour
- Tour Maps8 Day Tropical Outback Bird Photography Tour
- Tour Maps4 Day Kakadu Birdwatching Tour ‘Djakarna Jaunt’
- Tour Maps4 Day East Kimberley Bird Photography Tour
- Tour Maps2 Day Pine Creek Birdwatching Tour ‘Parrot and Finch Paradise’
- Tour Maps1 Day Kakadu Birdwatching Tours
- Tour Maps1 Day Darwin Birdwatching Tour ‘Sticky Beak’
- Tour Maps1 Day Wild Kakadu Wildlife & Rock Art Tour
- Tour MapsKakadu Bird Week Tours 2025
- Tour HighlightsTour highlights
- Birding Sabah for 650+ tropical bird species (64 endemics)
- Pittas, Trogons, Bulbuls, Bristlehead, Broadbills, Kingfishers, Rhinoceros Hornbill
- SE Asia's unique mammals: Orangutan, Proboscis Monkey, Gibbon, Clouded Leopard
- Exploring some of the World’s oldest & biologically richest rainforests
- Gunung Mulu's 3-million bat exodus & world's most extensive cave networks
- Staying in some of Asia's best ecolodges
- Birding Mount Kinablau's foothills for cooler climate endemic bird species
- Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre & Rainforest Discovery Centre
- Danum Valley Primary Rainforest
- Tour HighlightsTour highlights
- 3 Grasswrens, Grey Falcon, 10 Grass Finches
- Exceptional local specialist bird guide
- Endemics and rarities
- Fully accommodation, all meals
- Tour HighlightsTour highlights
- Yellow Chat
- White-quilled Rock Pigeon
- Little Kingfisher
- Spinifex Pigeon
- Great-billed Heron
- Gouldian Finch
- Chestnut Rail
- Purple-crowned Fairy-wren
- Hooded Parrot (local endemic)
- Star Finch
- Red Goshawk
- Sunrise boat cruises
- Privately-guided Aboriginal rock art sites
- Lake Argyle
- World Heritage Kakadu National Park
- Kununurra
- Tour HighlightsTour highlights
- Gouldian Finch
- Star Finch
- Pictorella Mannikin
- Crested Shrike-tit
- Purple-crowned Fairy-wren
- Partridge Pigeon
- Budgerigar
- Chestnut Rail
- Banded Fruit-Dove (local endemic)
- Little Kingfisher
- Chestnut-quilled Rock Pigeon (local endemic)
- Black-breasted Buzzard
- Full day bird watching in Darwin
- Full day bird watching in Darwin
- 2 x Sunrise boat cruises (Mary River & Yellow Water)
- Kakadu National Park
- Tour HighlightsTour highlights
- Sunrise/Set, Astro & Macro techniques
- Optional helicopter aerials
- 2 Private photographic cruises
- Exclusive access safari camp
- Private Aboriginal rock art sites
- All experience levels welcome
- Tutorials with professional photographer Jay Collier
- Led by award-winning specialist guide Luke Paterson
- Tour HighlightsTour highlights
- Unique wildlife & rare birds up close
- Macro & bird in flight techniques
- 3 Private wildlife photography cruises
- Led by award-winning specialist guide Luke Paterson
- Tutorials with professional photographer Jay Collier
- Birds! Birds! Birds! Birds!
- 1 guide per 3-5 guests
- All experience levels welcome
- Tour HighlightsTour highlights
- Rainbow Pitta
- Banded Fruit-Dove (local endemic)
- Gouldian Finch
- Hooded Parrot (local endemic)
- Red Goshawk
- Wilkin’s Rock Wallaby
- Black Wallaroo
- 2 Aboriginal Rock Art sites
- 1 Boat Cruise
- World Heritage Kakadu National Park
- Tour HighlightsTour highlights
- 35 Endemic birds of Sri Lanka
- Serendib Scops Owl
- Sri Lankan Leopards
- Sloth Bear
- Horton Plains
- Sigiriya Rock
- Tour HighlightsTour highlights
- Gouldian Finch
- Little Kingfisher
- Rainbow Pitta
- Star Finch
- Purple-crowned Fairy-wren
- Budgerigar
- Private cruises
- Leliyn/Edith Falls, Nitmiluk National Park
- Azure Kingfisher
- Comb-crested Jacana
- Northern Rosella
- Red-tailed Black Cockatoo
- Plumed Whistling-Duck
- Rainbow Bee-eater
- Red-winged Parrot
- Tawny Frogmouth
- Rufous Owl
- World Heritage Kakadu National Park
- Tour HighlightsTour highlights
- Rainbow Pitta
- Black Bittern
- White-lined Honeyeater (local endemic)
- Gouldian Finch
- Hooded Parrot (local endemic)
- 2 privately-guided Aboriginal rock art sites
- Sunrise boat cruises (Yellow Water)
- World Heritage Kakadu National Park
- Tour HighlightsTour highlights
- Award-winning specialist guide Luke Paterson
- 11 species of Australian Grassfinch
- 5-hour private bird photography cruise
- All cameras & experience welcome
- Tour HighlightsTour highlights
- Hooded Parrot (local endemic)
- Gouldian Finch
- Red-winged Parrot
- Long-tailed Finch
- Northern Rosella
- Historic railway & mining town of Pine Creek
- Leliyn/Edith Falls, Nitmiluk National Park
- Tour HighlightsTour highlights
- Black-necked Stork
- Chestnut-quilled Rock Pigeon (local endemic)
- Australian Bustard
- Sandstone Shrike-thrush
- Masked Finch
- Mamukala Wetlands
- Wilkin’s Rock Wallaby
- Black & Little Red Flying Fox
- Saltwater Crocodile
- Private guided rock art tour around Ubirr
- Tour HighlightsTour highlights
- Rainbow Pitta
- Rufous Owl
- Beach Stone-curlew
- Mangrove Robin
- Chestnut Rail
- Migratory Shorebirds
- Fogg Dam
- Howard Springs
- Diverse habitats
- Tour HighlightsTour highlights
- Black-necked Stork
- Chestnut-quilled Rock Pigeon (local endemic
- Australian Bustard
- Sandstone Shrike-thrush
- Masked Finch
- Mamukala Wetlands
- Wilkin’s Rock Wallaby
- Black & Little Red Flying Fox
- Saltwater Crocodile
- Private guided rock art tour around Ubirr
- Tour HighlightsTour highlights
- Black-banded Fruit-dove (endemic)
- Rainbow Pitta
- White-lined Honeyeater (endemic)
- Partridge Pigeon
- Little Kingfisher
- Chestnut-quilled Rock Pigeon (endemic)
- Black Bittern
- Arafura Shrike-thrush
- Red Goshawk
- Yellow Water birdwatching cruises
- Community walks & presentations
- Borneo Birding & EcoToursBorneo Birding & Wildlife Tour: Hornbills, Trogons & OrangutansBird Watching Tours9 Day Australian Outback Birdwatching Tour, Darwin (NT) to Mount Isa (QLD)Bird Watching Tours10 Day Ultimate Top End Birding Adventure TourBird Watching Tours7 Day North Australian Finch Frenzy TourPhotography ToursWild Kakadu Nature Photography ExpeditionPhotography ToursPhotographic Workshop: Top End Birds & Wildlife Immersion
- Bird Watching Tours5 Day Top End-Kakadu Birding, Wildlife & Nature TourSri Lanka Birding & EcoTours15 Day Sri Lankan Birdwatching & Wildlife TourPhotography Tours8 Day Tropical Outback Bird Photography TourBird Watching Tours4 Day Kakadu Birdwatching Tour ‘Djakarna Jaunt’Photography Tours4 Day East Kimberley Bird Photography TourBird Watching Tours2 Day Pine Creek Birdwatching Tour ‘Parrot and Finch Paradise’
- Bird Watching Tours1 Day Kakadu Birdwatching ToursBird Watching Tours1 Day Darwin Birdwatching Tour ‘Sticky Beak’Wildlife and Nature Tours1 Day Wild Kakadu Wildlife & Rock Art TourBird Watching ToursKakadu Bird Week Tours 2025
Latest News
Birds of a feather flock together
Unique Gift Vouchers – Gift Something Wild They’ll Truly Love!
Sri Lankan Birding and Wildlife Tour: Species Highlights & Trip Notes with NT Bird Specialists
3 Day AIPP Kakadu Photographic Workshop led by Peter Eastway
Effects of Australian bushfires on birdlife & birdwatching tours
Australian Geographic comes to Kakadu Bird Week
Australasian Ornithological Conference Darwin (AOC) 2019
The Urban Birder films Darwin and the Top End
Past Newsletter Highlights and Touring Specials
We’re super pleased to have John Gitsham joining the NT Bird Specialists’ Guiding Team from 2023.
With over 40 years of experience as a dedicated conservationist, naturalist, birder, and bird photographer, John Gitsham brings a wealth of knowledge to our team at NT Bird Specialists.
John is a seasoned professional whose experiences include 25 years in the Conservation Industry (Head Park Ranger for the famous Coorong National Park in South Australia, Wildlife sanctuary roles – Earth Sanctuaries, Australian Wildlife Conservancy, National Parks & Wildlife SA, Nature Guide, Wildlife Manager, Fleurieu Swamps Project Officer & Wetlands Manager for the Murraylands in SA).
John first met Sarah through their University studies in Ecotourism at Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia & naturally, he hit it off with Luke sharing their birding passions.
John is the past President & Committee Member of Birds SA & has been on BirdLife Australia’s Gluepot Bird Reserve Management Committee (in South Australia’s Riverland) for the past 20 years.
During this time, John has been the Facilitator/Head guide of many birdwatching walks, birdwatching events, lectures & Birdwatching Courses & operated his own Birding/Bird Photography business.
As an accomplished Nature Photographer of Birds & Landscapes, John’s Professional Photography was recently published in two of his black and white landscape photography books.
As we do, John firmly believes in “Conservation through Education” when working with guests & communities, so you can see why we’re excited to welcome John to our team!
Come and meet John on our Darwin and Kakadu tours, or at his presentations at the 12th Australasian Ornithological Conference (AOC) in Brisbane November 2023 and attendance at the Australian Birdlife Photography Conference in Adelaide March 2024.
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