Tour 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
- All experience levels welcome
- Category
Start
Darwin
End
Darwin
- Birdwatching focus
- low | moderate
- Wildlife focus
- moderate
- Photography focus
- high
- Culture focus
- low
- Walks rating
- moderate
- Number of boat cruises
- Public0Private3
- Sleeping options
- ensuite
Tour Summary
Photographic Workshop: Top End Birds & Wildlife Immersion
30 August – 5 September 2024
Darwin – Pine Creek – Kakadu – Mary River, Australia’s Northern Territory
This wildlife photography workshop has been specifically designed for you to capture key endemic and speciality birds and wildlife of the Top End, such as the sought-after Rainbow Pitta, Gouldian Finch, Hooded Parrot, 7 species of kingfisher, Saltwater and Freshwater Crocodile, Frill-necked Lizard, macropods, plus many of the 290+ bird species found here.
NT Bird Specialists and Jay Collier from the Photography Workshop Co are partnering up for a 6th year to bring you this exclusive Northern Territory wildlife photography workshop. During our comprehensive & specialised photography travel package (7 days of field workshops/tutorials and a welcome evening) you’ll learn and trial Jay Collier’s creative photography techniques in diverse and remote World Heritage landscapes.
Intimate local knowledge and the super-sharp eyes and ears of award-winning guide Luke Paterson will ensure you’re positioned well to make the most of your time with incredible species.
Join our breath-taking wildlife photo workshop in remote Northern Territory World Heritage sites:
• Immerse yourself in ancient wilderness while photographing rare & migratory bird species plus iconic macropods, reptiles, invertebrates and amphibians in the Northern Territory.
• Enjoy 3 private photographic cruises on Ramsar-listed wetlands teeming with wildlife (9-hours, led by Luke Paterson).
• Increase your up-close photographic encounters with unbeatable local knowledge when exploring a huge array of biodiverse habitats.
• Learn pro tips for photographing wild birds and animals in their natural environment without disturbance.
• Be professionally led by award-winning specialist bird and wildlife guide Luke Paterson (23 year’s experience in northern Australia).
• Enhance your photography techniques when tutored by photography educator Jay Collier (17 years experience Australia & Africa).
• Sit back, relax & enjoy life through your lens during our fully-accommodated package including all meals & private customised touring vehicles with professional accredited driver throughout.
• All camera brands, experience levels and non-photographing partners welcome.
• Extend your adventure and join connecting tours – see dates and special offers below.
Join Australia’s Best Birding & Wildlife Team for a Photographic Immersion You’ll Never Forget.
Rest assured with our award-winning team as we combine over 38 years experience when packaging our custom ecotours. Our local expertise and services in special-interest nature tourism are amongst the best on offer. Come & experience it for yourself.
Read our 5 Star Guest Reviews here:
Book today, spaces are limited and fill quickly.
Please complete our booking form and we will be in touch with deposit & payment details.
Need to know more? Visit our FAQ page, or Email us on [email protected] / Call us on 0455 921 092.
Enhance the experience, join connecting tours:
If you would like to see more of this beautiful country & have the time to stay & play longer, we have connecting photography tours for many departures. *Enquire today about special offers & see Itinerary section below.
See our Special Offers and Tour Notes below.
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Join the Photographers Collective Facebook group for exciting updates about this expedition.
Join our photographic and wildlife network by subscribing to NT Bird Specialists’ ENewsletter here.
Regions Visited
- Darwin
- Kakadu National Park
- Mary River
- Katherine
- Pine Creek
Tour Route
Tour Gallery
Day by Day Itinerary
Contact Us For Full itineraryTour Notes
At a glance:
• Group Size: 6-10 guests, 1 Photo Educator, 1 Local Expert Naturalist Guide.
• Tour departs and concludes in Darwin, Northern Territory Australia.
• Full days of exceptional bird & wildlife photography tuition in a comprehensive travel package.
• Hard to find key bird species & Top End specialities.
• Private transport with professional driver, three photographic cruises, photography lectures and field tuition is included throughout.
• Welcome dinner and tour briefing.
• Complimentary pre and post-tour accommodation booking services.
• Enquire for professional equipment-hire and stay tuned for special offers.
• Solo guests may choose to pair up to remove single supplement charges.
• Moderate general fitness is required. Walks over uneven surfaces with some rocky steps to lookouts with potentially high temperatures.
• Accommodation styles and rooms may vary in remote areas.
• Comprehensive travel insurance is recommended.
Inclusive Travel:
• All cameras and experience levels welcome.
• Non-photographing partners welcome.
We tailor our sessions to suit all photography experience levels from beginners to advanced.
This is the perfect opportunity to meet like-minded photographers and ask those tricky questions that can save you hours of research, trial and error, but best of all, take some incredible photos on your own camera set up on this remote Australian wildlife journey.
Responsible Travel:
• We only use and support local and/or Aboriginal-owned businesses and communities in this unique photography package.
• We practise ethical wildlife viewing and photography guidelines on all our tours.
• Our modern vehicles and solar-powered trailer is maintained to the highest standards.
• Our Team flies Carbon Neutral.
• We minimise waste wherever possible.
* Please be respectful and always ask before photographing people.
* NT Bird Specialists are fully licensed and accredited COVID-19 Safe Operators with valid permits and entry passes to tour in all the places we visit. These payments support traditional owners and management of the lands we visit.
Customised Vehicles:
Our professional accredited driver operates our spacious 18-seater 4WD tour bus and solar-powered trailer throughout the tour. Complete with air-conditioning, extra leg room, personal charging points and microphones we aim to give you a comfortable ride for the 1,450km journey from Darwin.
So sit back, enjoy some local stories and relax as we give you the time and space to unwind and engrain the Northern Territory’s exceptional wildlife experiences in your heart and mind – you won’t want to miss the fabulous scenery along the way.
Staying on in Darwin? There’s plenty to do. Ask us for suggestions.
Join Australia’s Best Birding & Wildlife Team for a Photographic Immersion You’ll Never Forget.
Book today, spaces are limited and will fill quickly:
Please complete our booking form and we will be in touch with deposit & payment details.
Need to know more? Visit our FAQ page, or Email us on [email protected] / Call us on 0455 921 092.
Read our 5 Star Guest Reviews here
*Special Offers*
Enhance the experience and join additional tours.
Post-tour Accommodation:
We are pleased to offer a complimentary night of post-tour accommodation to thank any returning guests or to those who book 2 or more tours delivered by NT Bird Specialists and Jay Collier in 2024.
Just ask our team to add this to your booking & enquire for venue details.
- 1 tour = 1 night post-tour accommodation
- 2 tours = 2 nights post-tour accommodation
- 3 tours = 3 nights post-tour accommodation
Equipment:
Enquire for equipment-hire and stay tuned for special offers.
Tour Inclusions & Exclusions
Exceptional Value Includes:
• 6 nights en suite accommodation (boutique, 4.5 star & best available)
• 7 days wildlife photography tuition by professional Photographers Collective leader Jay Collier (over 17 years experience in Africa and Australia)
• 7 days with multi award-winning tour operators and specialist guide Luke Paterson, owner of NT Bird Specialists (23 years experience in northern Australia)
• 7 days Private air-conditioned & spacious 4WD commercial tourist vehicle with driver (18-seater bus) with purpose-built 4WD trailer
• 1 arrival day with welcome dinner, hotel-restaurant transfers
• 1 night pre-tour accommodation
• All transport, tours and private cruises (3x 3-hours) as stated in itinerary
• All meals on tour (please notify us of allergies at time of booking) – we serve fresh & healthy home-cooked & ethical palm-oil free menus
• Unlimited cool water refills, plus morning tea and coffee
• Hotel transfers
• Field guides to share
• Airport transfers on arrival
• Complimentary pre and post-tour booking services
• All National Park commercial touring permits, entry fees and exclusive-access License
• Emergency communications, COVID-19 hygiene kit, first-aid kits
• Assurance of touring with an award-winning Australian Accredited Tourism Business and Licensed Commercial Tour Operator
• COVID-19 safe & Sustainable Tourism-accredited operators
• Genuine ecotourism, low impact tours that support the environment and local communities
• Excellent interpretation and customer service
• Excellence in guiding skill, photographic tuition skill and local natural history knowledge
• Exclusive itineraries built by local specialists
• Birds! Birds! Birds! Birds!
And more…
Read our 5 star reviews
The per person rate excludes:
• Flights to/from Darwin and excess baggage
• Visas
• Airport transfers on departure
• Pre and post tour meals and accommodation not stated in itinerary – complimentary booking services available
• Comprehensive travel insurance (recommended)
• Alcoholic & evening beverages. (BYO is available in some places but may be restricted in others).
• Laundry, personal shopping, phone calls, gratuities and other items not stated in itinerary are excluded
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