Far North Queensland
Wildlife Photography Workshop
31st July - 9th August, 2027
The Far North Queensland wildlife photography workshop is back for another year! Join me on a 10-day adventure through Queensland’s wet tropics (my favourite place), on a quest to photograph some of Australia’s most weird, wonderful, and beautifully elusive creatures!
Highlights:
Spend 10 days with Kate as we explore the magic of Far North Queensland and photograph Australia’s weird and wonderful creatures together.
Learn from our expert field guide throughout the trip, as he shares his knowledge of the FNQ environment and the 160+ unique species we may encounter.
Enjoy 2 nights in the Daintree rainforest; the oldest rainforest on Earth and one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet.
Visit Tolga Bat Hospital, the largest bat rehabilitation facility in Australia specializing in spectacled flying-foxes.
Spend 4 days in the outback Queensland environment, searching for larger mammals such as kangaroos, wallabies, emus and more.
Watch as thousands of micro bats emerge from the world’s oldest lava tubes.
Search for the elusive platypus and tree kangaroo throughout 4 days in the Atherton Tablelands; a mecca for wildlife and nature enthusiasts.
Learn from Amber at WARCQ; a non-profit wildlife organisation not open to the public, providing care and rehabilitation to specialised species including raptors and other birds of prey.
Cruise the Daintree River on a solar-electric boat, on the look out for saltwater crocodiles.
Scroll down for cost / sign-up details !!!
Itinerary
10 Day ⏤ Aussie Wildlife Safari
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After being picked up from your hotel in Cairns, we will begin our journey to the Daintree Rainforest. The Daintree is an area of ancient tropical rainforest spanning 120,000 hectares, making it the largest portion of tropical rainforest in Australia (and the oldest rainforest in the world!)
Over two days, we will visit several quiet nature trails that offer unique opportunities to experience the natural scenery and endemic wildlife within the National Park. Private property access increases our chances of encountering a wild Southern Cassowary, one of our major target species for the area.
Sunrise at Cape Tribulation Beach is optional for the early riser. The day continues with guided photography nature walks through Jindalba, Maardja and Dubuji boardwalks. The afternoon is the hottest part of the day, so while the wildlife is less active, take advantage of a swim in one of the many freshwater rainforest creeks that epitomise the tropical rainforest.
As the sun goes down, the day is not over! After we have enjoyed an outstanding evening meal, it is time to consider adventuring into the nocturnal world…
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Accommodation:
2 nights twin-share accommodation at Heritage Lodge.Included meals:
Day 1: L & D
Day 2: B, L & D -
Our day begins early for a two-hour private boat cruise on the beautiful Daintree River in the dawn light. Observing wildlife on a quiet, clean, solar-electric boat with zero impact on the environment is a huge advantage for wildlife photographers. We have a 99% success rate for spotting crocodiles, excellent bird-watching opportunities and other wildlife possibilities such as snakes, frogs, fish and bats.
After a bite to eat, we’ll leave the coast and head towards the Port Douglas Hinterland through the township of Julatten. Here we’ll pay a visit to WARCQ (Wildlife and Raptor Care Queensland) ⏤ a behind the scenes experience not available to the public. We’ll learn from Amber, the founder and coordinator, about her incredible work in rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing specialised wildlife & birds of prey in Far North Queensland.
From there we’ll continue on our journey to Mareeba where we’ll observe the transition in our surroundings from tropical rainforest to open savannah. After arriving, we’ll then spend our evening looking for the creatures that grace the night skies…
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Accommodation:
Tonight’s shared accommodation is at Mareeba Motor Inn.Included meals: B, L & D
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We’ll begin our morning exploring a few local areas around Mareeba with hopes of viewing Australia’s heaviest flying bird, the Australian Bustard, and maybe an Emu or two. We’ll spend the day exploring this outback environment and searching for kangaroos, wallabies, blue-winged kookaburras and more.
After enjoying lunch at a local cafe and diving into some editing, our wildlife destination for the afternoon will be Granite Gorge Nature Park. The big drawcard at Granite Gorge is the rock wallabies. This colony is an endangered species that is unique to the Mareeba area. After spending time with these cute little creatures, we will finish with a walk to ‘Wallaby Rock’ for a wonderful sunset view.
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Accommodation:
Tonight’s shared accommodation is our second night at Mareeba Motor Inn.Included meals: B, L & D
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Today we will begin our drive along the famous Savannah Way towards Undara Volcanic National Park. Here we will immerse ourselves in an authentic outback Queensland experience, home to an abundance of incredible wildlife from many different species, and the oldest Lava Tube systems on Earth!
After checking in to our cabins at Undara Experience, we’ll be heading off on a guided wildlife tour & sundowner with one of the Undara Savannah Guides. We’ll travel through the Savannah bushland, identifying native wildlife and bird species. Then, after a small walk, we will be rewarded with spectacular views from the top of the Sunset Bluff to enjoy drinks and nibbles as the sunset dips below the horizon and sets over the volcanic plains below. We’ll then be taken to Barkers Cave at dusk to watch as thousands of microbats emerge from the lava tubes looking for food.
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Accommodation:
Tonight’s accommodation is twin share rooms at Undara Experience (Premium Cabins).Included meals: B, L & D
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One of Undara’s iconic experiences is the bush breaky, served daily at the Ringers’ Camp. Walking distance from our accommodation, a truly unique and memorable breakfast, as you sit on logs surrounded by bush. Toast your own bread on the fire and enjoy a freshly boiled pot of billy tea under the watchful eye of the resident Kookaburras, Currawongs, and Magpies.
OPTIONAL MORNING ACTIVITY:
The Archway Explorer is a 2-hour historical tour through the Undara lava tubes. Learn about the region's geological features with an experienced Undara guide as you walk through the oldest lava tube system on Earth. This tour is optional, departing at 8 AM (and subject to availability). For those who would rather take extra rest, you will be free to use this morning to explore the Undara Lodge surroundings or relax at your leisure.The remainder of this rest day will be spent diving into an editing masterclass and photographing the local birdlife + macropods around the nearby swampland (a very short walking distance from the lodge). Finish the day chatting around the campfire and getting to know your fellow travellers!
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Accommodation:
Tonight’s accommodation is our second night at Undara Experience (Premium Cabins).Included meals: B, L & D
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Another opportunity to head down to the bush breakfast before collecting our luggage and departing for the Atherton Tablelands.
The Atherton Tableland region of the Wet Tropics is a true mecca for nature and wildlife enthusiasts, and hence, we will be based in the Tablelands for 4 days. Our hosts will be the Chambers family at Chambers Wildlife Lodges.
The lodge, spread across 20 acres of lush tropical rainforest is perfectly positioned on the edge of the Lake Eacham National Park. Chambers Wildlife Lodges not only entertains a myriad of local endemic species, but the lodge is also within a proximity to all the locations we’ll be exploring over the coming days.
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Accommodation:
Tonight’s accommodation is the first of 3 nights at Chambers Wildlife Lodge.Included meals: B, L & D
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In the higher altitudes of the Tablelands vine forest, we are sharing our oxygen with extraordinary Marsupials and Monotremes. Our guides showcase their local knowledge and facilitate memorable moments with the Lumholtz Tree Kangaroo and the Mainland Platypus. These endangered animals will be the initial focus of the Tablelands. The infamous town of Yungaburra has been the delight of many visiting wildlife photographers. With several mountain streams populated with the Australian Platypus and no time constraints, the odds are in our favour for that perfect shot of a Platypus emerging to breathe.
The rainforests of the Tablelands provide habitat for a diverse array of other marsupials, reptiles, invertebrates and over 320 species of bird.
During our time here, we are likely to visit wildlife hotspots such as Hasties Swamp, the Curtin Fig National Park, Malanda, Lake Barrine, Lake Eacham and Hypipamee Crater. If we feel like it, we may also take some time to enjoy some of the many incredible waterfalls in the area, such as Millaa Millaa falls.
A wildlife and photography tour in North Queensland would not be complete without at least one session night spotting for nocturnal wildlife. The Tablelands boasts several ideal locations with night spotting, which can be optional for all guests.
During our time here we will also be visiting Tolga Bat Hospital, the largest bat rehabilitation facility in Australia with a focus in Spectacled Flying Foxes!
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Accommodation:
Our final 2 nights are continued at Chambers Wildlife Lodge.Included meals: B, L & D
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On our final day together, we’ll take a good look at the wildlife highlights of the trip and dedicate this time to finding any specific critters that evaded our gaze.
We’ll then make our way back to Cairns by mid/late afternoon where we will sadly part ways.
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Included meals: B & L
A sneak peek of what to expect…
(No animal sighting is guaranteed, but we will certainly try our best!)
Who you’ll be travelling with…
Me, hiiiiiiii! Throughout our 10-days together I’ll be guiding you through my photography process and how to best create portraits of the unique species we encounter. I can’t wait to travel with you in one of my favourite places in Australia!
James is our INCREDIBLE nature guide! He has endless knowledge on the FNQ environment and always tries his absolute hardest to facilitate memorable wildlife experiences for us. One of the best (and most joyful) humans you’ll ever meet who will likely make you cry of laughter…
Details:
31st July - 9th August, 2027
Trip begins and ends in Cairns, Queensland.
Trip cost: $6,950 AUD
Deposit of $1,950 AUD followed by 2 instalments of $2,500 AUD due on February 1st, 2027 & May 1st, 2027 (or you can pay in full if that is preferred).
Group size: 8 participants ( + Kate & Nature Guide )
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Scroll down for FAQs and booking T&Cs.
What is included:
✓ Photography guidance from Kate over the entire 10 days.
✓ Accommodation and transportation for the duration of the trip (9 nights and 10 days).
✓ Guidance from our expert nature guide/driver with 10 years of experience within the Northern Queensland ecosystem. He will be with us for the duration of our trip to share all of his wildlife/nature knowledge with us!
✓ All tickets, entry fees etc.
✓ Editing/post-processing workshops + take home PDF
✓ All meals (B,L&D) starting from lunch on day 1 through to lunch on day 10.
✓ A guaranteed fun time!!
What’s not included:
✗ Your flights/transport to and from Cairns.
✗ Photography equipment.
✗ Travel Insurance.
✗ All items of personal nature.
✗ Optional 2-hour Archway Explorer Tour at Undara National Park.
✗ Alcoholic beverages + any drinks, meals & snacks not listed as included.
What are the animals that we will have the chance to see:
We saw 160+ species on Round 1!
No wildlife sighting is guaranteed, but we will certainly try our very best.
Workshop Testimonials
If you have any other questions feel free to email me! ⏤ hello@katenewman.com
FAQs
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Whilst our main focus will be on photographing the species we see, that certainly doesn’t mean that you need to be a photographer to join! As long as you are interested in wildlife and nature, you are bound to enjoy this experience as it is essentially an Aussie wildlife safari!
If you are a photographer however, this is most certainly open to any and all skill levels!
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There are direct domestic flights to Cairns from all of the major cities in Australia. The flight time is around 3-3.5 hours from Melbourne and Sydney, 2 hours from Brisbane, or 4.5 hours from Perth.
The workshop commences at around 8 AM on Day 1 (July 31st), so we suggest arriving the day before at the very latest and spending the night in a hotel in Cairns (which is a very short distance from the airport). Hotel recommendations will be given at a later date.
Upon the completion of the workshop on day 10, you are free to spend extra time in Cairns (the perfect place to explore the Great Barrier Reef) or fly back home/to your next destination that evening.
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My personal suggestion is to have a DSLR or mirrorless camera body, with a lens of at least 400mm in focal length (a 100-400mm or 200-600mm for example would be perfect). We will also be seeing many incredible bird species, so if you are interested in photographing birdlife, I do suggest having a lens with as much reach as possible.
However, do keep in mind that the aim of this workshop is for you to learn how to make the most of the equipment you already have, so bring what you can!
In terms of other accessories, we will not be photographing from an open vehicle so a beanbag will not be necessary. But if you prefer to shoot with a tripod or monopod, bringing that is definitely recommended (along with a wide-angle lens if you’re interested in some astrophotography).
You will also need to bring your laptop and an external hard drive (preferably 2 so that you have a backup) for editing and image organization.
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Yes absolutely! Throughout the workshop we will spend our free afternoons/evenings going through our images and working on them together ⏤ from image organisation to post-processing and diving into any questions you may have.
On day 6 (our rest day) and throughout our time in the Atherton Tablelands we will also have longer editing workshops wherever possible too.
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Our accommodation throughout the trip is double occupancy rooms (2 guests per room) grouped via gender. Each equipped with all of the essentials to ensure a very comfortable stay.
We begin with 2 nights at Heritage Lodge, have 2 nights at Mareeba Motor Inn, spend 2 nights in the outback at the Undara Experience Huts and finish with 3 nights at Chambers Wildlife Lodge.
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!
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Yes! All meals starting with lunch on Saturday 31st July (Day 1) and finishing with lunch on Monday 9th August (Day 10) are included and can be catered to any dietary requirements. A non-alcoholic drink is also included at lunch meals!
Throughout the trip we will have a mix of buffet styled catering, breakfasts in field, and dining at delicious local cafes and restaurants where you will pick off a menu. All alcoholic beverages and any additional drinks/snacks/food outside of main meals (explained on Day 1) are to be paid for at your own expense.
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We will be spending a lot of time walking in search of wildlife, so a moderate level of fitness is required. However, as long as you are comfortable with spending time on your feet, that is all you need in order to thoroughly enjoy this trip!
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August is the "dry" season in this region, so rain is less likely compared to other times of the year (but still very possible)... During this trip in previous years, we had 2 days of drizzly rain, and the rest were beautiful and sunny!
We will be travelling through the wet tropics and to some outback regions of Queensland, so the temperatures and humidity will vary. In general it will be consistently warm (25℃) during the day, and in some locations will get a little chilly at night.
After signing up I will give you further information about the locations, itinerary, packing lists etc.
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For those travelling from overseas and thinking about extending your stay, that is definitely encouraged (Australia has so much to offer)! Please reach out if you would like some suggestions on how to spend your additional time here ⏤ I would love to help!
However, if you’ll only be staying in Australia for the 10 days, please rest assured that our itinerary has been carefully curated to ensure that you have an unforgettable Aussie wildlife experience during our time together!
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⏤ Spots will be held upon receipt of the deposit.
⏤ Failure to make payments may result in the loss of your spot on the workshop.
⏤ Payments are to be made via direct bank transfer or via credit/debit card (with a 3% processing fee).
⏤ Deposits are non-refundable.
⏤ Any cancellations made before February 1st, 2027 will incur a 25% cancellation fee of the trip cost. Any cancellations made between February 1st and March 1st, 2027 will incur a 50% cancellation fee of the trip cost. Any cancellations after May 1st, 2027 are non-refundable.
⏤ In the event that the trip is cancelled by the operator due to unforeseen events or circumstances, refunds will be given or the trip will be rescheduled.
⏤ Travel insurance is strongly recommended to cover flight/trip cancellations, trip interruptions, illnesses and circumstances beyond our control (e.g. climate events, natural disasters, epidemics, etc.)