Blue Mountains Birdwatching Adventure

Fabulous bird filled day out

I had a fabulous few days with Simon on 2 birdwatching tours, it was a great escape from the bustle of the city. We visited Royal national park and the Blue mountains area over a 2 day period, and saw just over 100 species along with a diverse array of habitats, we also saw some whales and 2 antechinus. Simon himself is a very engaging guy who is very easy to talk to and has a very interesting wildlife background, his knowledge of birds and their habitats is exceptional, and I was amazed how he could find cockatoos high in the trees just from the sound of their munching on seeds. The sweet treats were the icing on the cake so to speak, we definitely walked these off in the search for our targets, not to mention the great coffee stops to start the day. The whole combination made for a perfect day out (well 2 in my case) and allowed me to experience parts of Sydney I would have never seen otherwise. I highly recommend Birding Sydney & Beyond and Simon for anyone interested in seeing the beautiful birds around Sydney, or just to see the national parks which are stunning. My favorite sightings were the Gang Gang Cockatoos, Satin Bowerbird (dancing) and the stunning New Holland Honeyeaters.

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Full-day birding in the Royal National park with Simon

Simon gave me a brilliant day out in July 2026. I happened to be the only booking for that date, so what was meant to be a group tour of the Royal National Park became a one-on-one outing — and he ran it with no less care for having just one guest. The weather was wet winter, and it made not the slightest dent in his energy. We were out for nine or ten hours and finished on 55 species, plus another two heard but not seen. Simon knows this landscape and its birds deeply, and his love for both is obvious within about five minutes. He's also a fine guide to the park as a place, not just a bird list: over the course of the day we went from dripping rainforest to clifftop lookouts over the ocean, everything moody and saturated under the grey sky. When a species he'd usually expect refused to cooperate (the Superb Lyrebird in particular took some doing), he simply kept at it until we tracked it down. A genuinely perfect day, and among the best of my time in Australia. I'd recommend him without hesitation.

Response from the operator: Hello Kseniia Thankyou so much for your incredibly thoughtful and generous review. It was an absolute pleasure to spend the day birding with you, and I'm delighted to hear it was one of the highlights of your time in Australia. Although the weather certainly gave us a true Sydney winter experience, I think it added a unique atmosphere to the Royal National Park. From the misty heathland and dramatic coastal cliffs to drizzly mangroves, it was a wonderful reminder that birding is about so much more than simply finding species, it's about immersing yourself in the landscape and enjoying every moment in nature. I'm especially pleased that we eventually tracked down the Superb Lyrebird! They're such an iconic Australian species and seeing one was a perfect reward for our persistence. Finishing the day with 55 bird species, despite the wet conditions, made the birding adventure all the more memorable. Thankyou again for your wonderful company, enthusiasm, and conversations throughout the day. It was a real pleasure sharing Australia's remarkable birdlife and the beauty of the Royal National Park with you. I wish you all the very best with your future birding adventures, and I hope our paths cross again one day—whether that's back in Australia or somewhere else in the world in search of more incredible birds. Best regards and happy birding Simon

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A fantastic birding experience!

This was an incredible experience. I am a keen birder based in the UK; this was my first visit to Australia and I couldn't have wished for a better introduction to the birds of the Blue Mountains. Simon has a superb knowledge of birds; his ability to recognise the bird calls was so impressive. He took me to a variety of sites and I was able to see some incredible birds, including some very rare ones. I was very well looked after throughout the day and I got to see some of the wonderful scenery of the Blue Mountains too. I have been left with some wonderful memories which I wont forget - I wish I could have done many more days! I really recommend this experience to anyone who has an interest in birds, whether you are just beginning your interest in birding, or if you are an experienced birder - you will definitely enjoy it.

Response from the operator: Hello James, Thankyou so much for your wonderful review and for choosing to spend your first Australian birdwatching adventure with Birding Sydney and Beyond. It was an absolute pleasure guiding you through the spectacular Blue Mountains and introducing you to some of Australia's unique birdlife. I thoroughly enjoyed sharing the different habitats, beautiful scenery, and of course the birds with you. One of my favourite parts of the day was seeing your excitement each time we found another new Australian species. It still brings a smile to my face thinking about the birding magic we experienced in the car parks that day! Watching the Rockwarbler bouncing around the parked cars, picking off insects right in front of us, and then having that stunning male Gang-gang Cockatoo fly into the tree directly above us in the Megalong Valley car park was simply perfect. And you really can't beat being able to spend as much time as you like quietly observing a Superb Lyrebird foraging for food right beside the walking track. Amazing memories! Thankyou for your kind words about my birding knowledge and recognising bird calls. One of the things I enjoy most about guiding is sharing not only the birds themselves, but also their behaviour, calls, habitats, conservation and the stories behind them. Every tour is different, and it's always exciting helping guests experience Australia's remarkable birdlife and wildlife for the first time. I'm also so pleased you enjoyed the spectacular scenery of the Blue Mountains. One of the things I love most about this region is that it combines world-class birding with breathtaking landscapes, wonderful local coffee and food, and the opportunity to experience a little of Australia's unique culture along the way. Thankyou again for your thoughtful recommendation and for spending the day birdwatching with Birding Sydney and Beyond. It was great fun sharing the adventure with you, and I hope your wonderful memories of Australia's birds stay with you for many years to come. I look forward to catching up again one day for another Australian birding adventure. There are still many more incredible birds waiting for your next visit! Best regards, safe travels and happy birding, Simon

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An Incredible and Unforgettable 3 Days!

I cannot recommend Birding Sydney and Beyond highly enough!! Do NOT hesitate to book! We have birded with guides all over the world, and Simon is, absolutely without question, the best bird guide we've ever had. I first joined him for a single day of birding in November at the Royal National Park. The experience was so exceptional that when I returned to Australia with my husband, we booked three more days with Simon to explore the Blue Mountains and Capertee (and hit the Royal on the way back to Sydney). We included two nights of spotlighting and took Simon up on the option to arrange lodging as well, which made things so easy for us. Those three days are the highlight of our YEAR! Simon is the perfect combination of extraordinary birder and genuinely wonderful human. His knowledge of birds, their calls, behavior, habitats, and the best places to find them is incredible. Whether you're an experienced birder chasing lifers or someone newer to birding, he can totally meet you exactly where you are. He truly is simply a joy to spend time with. He's kind, patient, enthusiastic, and loves sharing Australia's incredible wildlife with others. His excitement when finding a bird is infectious, and his passion for conservation comes through in everything he does. We also enjoyed all the non-bird wildlife, including kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, and platypus (!!), possums, and sugar gliders at night. What also sets Simon apart is how thoughtfully he designs each tour. Every stop is purposeful and intentional, maximizing both bird diversity and the overall experience. We saw an astonishing number of species, including many Australian specialties we had hoped for, and in winter! The cooler and car are well stocked with drinks and snacks, and wonderful coffee shops, bakeries, and meal stops are destinations in their own right and excellent birding locations as well. We had too many highlights to list here, and every place we birded had something memorable and special; to name a few: we watched male lyrebirds have a showdown right in front of us, marveled at a mated pair of wedge-tailed eagles flying together against a gorgeous mountain backdrop, shared joy at spotting rare finches at one of the lunch stops, delighted in watching gang-gangs munch on seed pods, chased down rare honeyeaters... and SO much more! The memories from these tours will stay with us forever. We left with incredible memories, countless lifers, and stories we'll be telling for years. We're already talking about how soon we can come back and bird with Simon again. If you're considering a birding tour anywhere around Sydney, don't hesitate. Book it!!! Whether you have one day or several, it is sure to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for any birder.

Response from the operator: Hello Susan and Matt, Thankyou both so much for such an incredibly kind and thoughtful review. I genuinely don't know where to begin! Reading your words brought a huge smile to my face, and I'm so grateful that you took the time to share your birding and nature experience in such detail. It was an absolute pleasure to guide you both, and so wonderful to finally meet you Matt and share Australia's incredible birdlife, wildlife and landscapes with you for the first time. Those three days were honestly one of the most enjoyable and fun tours I've had, and I loved every moment of exploring the Blue Mountains National Park, Capertee Valley and Royal National Park together. What made the tour so special for me wasn't just the birds we found, but the enthusiasm, excitement and fun we shared throughout the journey. Whether we were celebrating another lifer, listening to Superb Lyrebirds displaying, watching the Gang-gang Cockatoos feeding, admiring the pair of Wedge-tailed Eagles soaring over the valley, finding Plum-headed Finches and Speckled Warblers, or enjoying the incredible Platypus during our spotlighting adventure, every day seemed to produce another unforgettable memory. Even after many years of birding, I still find those moments just as exciting, and it was wonderful to share them with two people who appreciated every sighting so much. Thankyou also for your incredibly generous comments about my guiding. Helping guests discover, and learn about Australia's unique birds, wildlife and beautiful landscapes is something I genuinely love, and it means a great deal to know that came across during your birding tour. My goal has always been to create more than just a bird list—to share an experience that combines birding, wildlife, conservation, local culture, great coffee, food, and plenty of laughs along the way. Thankyou once again for returning for another birding adventure in Sydney with Birding Sydney and Beyond, for your friendship, your enthusiasm, your wonderful stories, and your continued support of my own local birding business in Sydney Australia. It truly means the world to me. I already look forward to the day we catch up for another birding and wildlife adventure. Whether that's here in Sydney, Australia, during migration in the USA, or perhaps even somewhere in Africa! Until then, I wish you both many more unforgettable birding adventures and amazing new birds. Best regards and happy birding, Simon

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New South Wales bird trips with Simon Husher

Absolutely amazing tours with Simon. I did a day tour which included Budderoo and Barren Grounds National Parks. Birding was incredible with beautiful scenery. We also had great coffee, some delicious meat pies, and excellent local craft beer. Highlight birds from the day were Superb Lyrebird, Southern Emuwren, Glossy Black- Cockatoo, Wedge-tailed Eagle and many more. I also did a multi-day trip to the Blue Mountains and Capertee Valley with Simon. We had great coffee again and great local food and still more craft beer. The scenery in this part of Australia was yet again beautiful. Highlight birds were Beautiful Firetail, Rockwarbler, Little Lorikeet, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Scarlet and Hooded Robins and Pink-eared Duck. In total I was able to record 120+ species (more if we counted heard or quickly saw) and over 30 lifers. Simon is an excellent guide and knows where the birds are knows how to get you on the birds. He is very easy-going and a real pleasure to spend time with! Would book with Simon again!

Response from the operator: Hello Stacey, Thankyou so much for your wonderful review and for spending your time birding with Birding Sydney and Beyond. It was an absolute pleasure and a lot of fun guiding you through Budderoo and Barren Grounds National Parks, as well as the Blue Mountains and Capertee Valley on one of our customised birding adventure tours. I thoroughly enjoyed sharing these beautiful places with you and reliving the excitement of finding so many special birds together. The Superb Lyrebird, Southern Emu-wren, Glossy Black-Cockatoo, Beautiful Firetail, and Rockwarbler were certainly memorable highlights, and made for a fantastic birding adventure. The birding we enjoyed in Capertee Valley was especially amazing—six Speckled Warblers, three Scarlet Robins, a Hooded Robin, and that incredible raptor display featuring a Brown Falcon, Nankeen Kestrel, and Peregrine Falcon. Very special memories indeed! I'm also so pleased that you enjoyed the local coffee, food, craft beer, and spectacular scenery along the way. One of my favourite parts of guiding is sharing not only Australia's incredible birdlife but also the local culture, landscapes, and hidden places that make these regions so special. Thankyou again for your kind words about my guiding. It was great fun spending time with you, sharing birding stories, and searching for Australia's unique and special birds together. I wish you many more wonderful birding adventures in the future, and I look forward to our paths crossing again one day for another Australian or American birding adventure, hopefully combined with some New Orleans culture with great music and food. Best regards, safe travels and happy birding, Simon

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