New South Wales

New South Wales has a wide range of enivronments to explore. From central Sydney to outback towns like Lake Cargelligo, there is something for every taste. Sydney has the ocean to the east and on the coastal walks along Waverley and Bronte, you can see fantastic animals from whales to quails! My favourite place is Centennial Park in Randwick where you can wander the entire day and see bats, crakes, waterfowl and owls. There is an established colony of Powerful Owls here, which are a must do for any birder. 

Less than 3 hours south of Sydney is the Beecroft Peninsula. Home to a weapons range, you can still visit there at specific times and it is a hotspot for the Eastern Ground Parrot. I was dubious that I would see them but on the right day, they were just sitting out eating grass in the sunshine. An added bonus was the Eastern Bristlebird, another rarity. The walk through the range is stunning with fabulous views of the coastline. 

South west of Sydney is Kangaroo Valley which is well known for its population of wombats. Visiting there can mean driving endlessly hoping to see more than roadkill. However, Bendeela Recreation Area makes it much easy. A huge area for all types of camping comes with a warning from at the gate about wombats waking you up. You might not believe those tall stories but every night I stayed there, I was gently awoken as my campervan rocked. On investigation, a wombat could be found scratching itself against the perfectly placed bumper!

To the west of Sydney are the Blue Mountains and they are a huge tourist attraction. Rightly so, as they are stunning. However, the small town of Katoomba struggles to host large numbers of visitors in cars and coaches. Move away from the rugged cliffs and you will find camping areas and walking tracks that host a myriad of animals. In the winter months, it may be cold in a camapervan but you cannot fail to be warmed by the incredible sight of the Superb Lyrebird imitating the sounds of the forests! Worth a trip just for that.

Fivebough Wetlands is north west of Wagga Wagga, close to the town of Leeton. My first visit here was mind blowing. Crakes, herons, spoonbills, raptors and roos were everywhere. I loved it and got some great shots of tricky birds. The water was low, which meant the birds were more visible on the margins. It was one the best birding experiences I have ever had. My next visit was when the wetlands were full and part of the area was closed for maintenance. I saw very little. Right place, right time I guess. Still worth a visit if you are in the area.

I had heared that Lake Cargelligo was one of the top birding spots in the country and was eager to visit. However, I found the sheer size of the lake to be daunting and unmanageable. On seeking local help, the resident birding expert wanted to charge me $300 to sit in her make shift hide/shed for 2 hours. I sought out somewhere to camp and found the campsite at the weir. Different story away from the people and activity. With no-one but me and the wildlife, I found the real hotspot. 

I have put Norfolk Island as a NSW territory but it probably isn't any more. There seems to be lots of debate about where it belongs but it is part of Australia and last time I checked, it was governed by NSW laws. My advice to anyone who asks if it is worth visiting Norfolk Island is an emphatic 'Just go!'. It is full of endemics, nesting seabirds and regular vagrant shorebirds. There are lots of places to explore and interesting history for anyone who has to take along a civilian non-birder!

Wollongong is included here simply because it is the place to get out onto the ocean. The pelagic trips from here are easier, shorter and better than from Sydney. Albatross, petrel and shearwater are plentiful on the boat trips and they can be an experience of a lifetime.