Birding Trails
A birding trail is a suggested route for bird watchers linking top birding hotspots and bird walks.
Each birding trail shows several bird walks and birding hotspots that can be reasonably visited in a day in the Geelong area. A map showing the bird walk locations is provided. Details for each bird walk and birding hotspot include parking, walking distance, facilities, and birds to expect. The trails include links to eBird hotspots.
The printable versions have QR code links to eBird hotspots and a link to a Google map. The online versions have direct links to the hotspots from the map icons and each description, and also a link to the Google map from the minimap
In the Geelong area there is a diverse range of bird habitats including wet forests, heathlands, dry woodlands, beaches, and riverine wetlands.
These birding trails, created by GFNC birders, will help you to locate some of the 342 bird species recorded in eBird for Greater Geelong.
Unless mentioned sites are open to the public and easily accessible. Locations are not managed by the GFNC and access conditions may change.
Barwon Heads and Ocean Grove
Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads offer birdwatchers a range of birding habitats including ocean beaches, the Barwon River Estuary and coastal wetlands and a significant stand of native bushland at Ocean Grove Nature Reserve.
Use the birding trail on your phone or download a printable version.
Point Lonsdale & Queenscliff
Point Lonsdale and Queenscliff offer birdwatchers a range of birding habitats including ocean beaches, samphire ringed wetlands, remnant coastal woodland and the extensive mudflats of Swan Bay.
Use the birding trail on your phone or download a printable version.
Lake Connewarre and Reedy Lake
Lake Connewarre and Reedy Lake offer birdwatchers a range of wetland habitats from swamps and salt marshes to open waters. Water levels and vegetation growth in these wetlands vary considerably affecting the species present and ability to observe these birds. Some birds, such as bitterns, may be heard rather than seen.
Use the birding trail on your phone or download a printable version.
Northern Bellarine Peninsula
Birding locations on the northern Bellarine Peninsula include wetlands, remnant bushland and an extensive coastline.
Use the birding trail on your phone or download a printable version.
Geelong Waterfront
The Geelong Waterfront, Eastern Park, and Point Henry provide visitors with several easily accessible birding sites.
Use the birding trail on your phone or download a printable version.
Geelong Waterways
This trail visits the Barwon River, Moorabool River and Amstrong Creek. The Barwon River rises in the Otways and flows north-east to Geelong where it is joined by the Moorabool River which flows south from near Ballan. Amstrong Creek flows east from the slopes of Mt Duneed to Lake Connewarre.
Use the birding trail on your phone or download a printable version.
Avalon and Hovells Creek
Hovells Creek rises in the You Yangs and meanders across the plain to Limeburners Lagoon at Avalon. This trail starts at Avalon and works its way upstream through Lara to the You Yangs passing through a diverse range of habitats, including coast, saltmarsh, lake, forest and rocky outcrops.
Use the birding trail on your phone or download a printable version.
Thompson Creek and Adjacent Coast
Thompson Creek originates in the Gherang region southwest of Geelong. The creek flows in an easterly direction to Connewarre where it turns south to enter the sea at Breamlea. This trail visits riverine vegetation, swamps and salt marshes on the lower reaches of Thompson Creek and the adjacent coastline.
Use the birding trail on your phone or download a printable version.
Other popular birding spots
Point Addis and Ironbark Basin
Point Addis car park is known for Rufous Bristlebird that afford good views. Out to sea, look for Shy and Black-browed Albatross, Short-tailed (October to April) and Fluttering Shearwater. Brush Bronzewing is possible.
Moving to nearby Ironbark Basin will provide opportunities for views of Crescent Honeyeater, Gang-gang Cockatoo, Scarlet Robin, White-throated Treecreeper, Striated Thornbill, Varied Sittella, White-eared and Brown-headed Honeyeaters, Satin Flycatcher (spring-summer) and, less frequently, Leaden Flycatcher and Bassian Thrush. Blue-winged Parrot quietly feed on seeding grasses or loaf in trees during summer.
Inverleigh Nature Conservation Reserve and Bannockburn Reserve
These reserves contain some of the few remaining Yellow Gum grasslands and are excellent areas for bird watching.
The late winter and early spring flowering of the magnificent Yellow Gums make it an important stop-over for nectar feeders such as Spiny-cheeked and Black-chinned Honeyeater, while White-browed Woodswallow, Olive-backed Oriole and Jacky Winter are reported at other times. Swift Parrot may pass through from April to September.