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OUR OUTINGS

Outings are a great way to enjoy birdwatching, to learn about the birds and to meet new friends.  We have a range of outings including:

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  • Weekend outings on either Saturday or Sunday

  • Mid-week outings on Wednesday

  • Outings for young birdwatchers - click Nestlings for details

  • Weekends away to prime birding locations

  • Opportunities to participate in bird surveys and other events

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We have at least 3 outings per month.   The outings are informal and cater for birdwatchers of all experience levels.  Helpful, friendly advice is always available on all aspects of birding.

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Visitors are welcome to attend two outings prior to joining CBOC.  If an outing is nearly full, priority will be given to members.   

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For more information, click the links below, or email the Activities Officer on outings@cboc.org.au.

BOOKINGS REQUIRED for all outings

Outings will be limited to 25 people so that the group is not too large for effective birding, but may sometimes have a lower limit based on the outing location.

An email will be sent to members when outings are open for booking and a confirmation will be sent confirming your place on the outing.

White-throated Gerygone2 EV.jpg
Friday 16 May 2025 | 8.20am for an 8.30am start (open for booking)

MILL CREEK PICNIC AREA, DHARUG NP then ONE TREE REACH WETLANDS and LAUGHTONDALE GULLY

Meeting place

Meet at Mill Creek Picnic Area on Mill Creek Rd off Wisemans Ferry Rd, Gunderman.  Turn left before the car camping area and go past the turn-off to group camping, to the picnic area.  Allow time for the ferry crossing if coming via Wisemans Ferry.

Leader

Gabrielle Rees | 0414 947 138

Habitat

Bushland, wetland, sandstone woodland, parkland and rainforest

Grade

Mill Creek Picnic Area: Grade 2.  Approx 2 km on a dirt rocky trail and a flat dirt road.One Tree Reach Wetlands: Grade 2.  Easy flat track.
Laughtondale Gully: Grade 2. Stop at the top of the hill; short walk only.

Facilities

Toilets and plenty of parking at Mill Creek Picnic area.  Some picnic tables, but best to bring a chair.

Saturday 24 May 2025 | 8.20am for an 8.30am start (nearly full)

EMU GREEN and PENRITH WEIR

Meeting place

Meet at Emu Green Reserve, corner of Palomino Road and Russell Street, Emu Plains. For Penrith Weir, meet at Weir Reserve, in the furthest car park, towards the north (far) end of Bruce Neale Dr (signposted to the Great River Walk and Rowing Club), Penrith

Leader

Robyn Pedersen | 0438 989 422

Habitat

A mix of parkland, riverside and bush reserves

Grade

Grade 2. Generally flat on gravel paths or bush tracks with up to 4km walking at Emu Green.

Sunday 1 June 2025 | 8.20am for an 8.30am start (nearly full)

NORTH HEAD - SYDNEY HARBOUR NATIONAL PARK AND NORTH HEAD SANCTUARY

Meeting place

Meet at Gunner Road Carpark, Manly..

Leader

Bill and Nicci Raffle | 0438 941 611

Habitat

Coastal and bushland

Grade

North Head Sanctuary: Grade 3.  Approx 4km on roads, dirt tracks, and boardwalks with steps, uneven surfaces and some steep climbs.
Sydney Harbour National Park: Grade 2.  Approx 2km on flat paths.
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Facilities

North Head Sanctuary: Plenty of free parking.  Toilets in the vicinity.  Will need to bring chairs.
Sydney Harbour National Park: Plenty of free parking.  Toilets and cafe available.

Wednesday 4 June 2025 | 8.20am for an 8.30am start (open for booking)

BUSHELLS LAGOON AND PITT TOWN LAGOON

Meeting place

Meet at the junction of Blacktown Road and Brewers Lane, Freemans Reach

Leader

Adrian Dick |  0451 825 403

Habitat

Wetland and forest

Grade

Bushells Lagoon: Grade 2.  Approx 2 kms on gravel track with short hill.
Pitt Town Lagoon: Grade 2.  Easy but may have areas of long grass.  Moderate climb back to cars.

Facilities

Plenty of street parking near Bushells Lagoon.  No toilets or picnic tables.  

Sunday 15 June 2025 | 8.20am for an 8.30am start (open for booking)

BEGINNERS AND NEW MEMBERS - SYDNEY OLYMPIC PARK - Wentworth Common and Waterbird Refuge

Meeting place

Meet at Wentworth Common, Sydney Olympic Park on Marjorie Jackson Parkway.  Parking is on either side of the road.  After parking, walk north along the path to the pond on your left..

Leader

Cathy Goswell | 0418 865 421

Habitat

Wetlands and forest

Grade

Grade 2.  Up to 2km on paved paths.

Facilities

Plenty of parking.  Toilets at Wentworth Common and some picnic tables.  No facilities at the Waterbird Refuge.

Saturday 21 June 2025 | 8.20am for an 8.30am start (open for booking)

WEST HEAD, KU-RING-GAI CHASE NP

Meeting place

Meet at the lookout at the end of West Head Road. National Park entry fee of $12 applies unless you have a NP pass

Leader

Coralie Turner-Morris |  0408 510 525

Habitat

Sandstone country

Grade

Grade 2.  Approx 4 km of mostly flat walking on tracks and fire trails.

Facilities

Plenty of parking at West Head early in the morning.  No toilets.  Plenty of parking at Resolute Picnic area with toilets and picnic tables.  No other toilets on West Head.

Sunday 29 June 2025 | 8.20am for an 8.30am start (open for booking)

"LONGSWAMP" PRIVATE PROPERTY AT COBBITTY

Meeting place

70 Cheviot Drive Cobbitty.  From Cobbitty turn right into Cut Hill Road, right into Coates Park Road, Right into Colonel Pye Drive and Right into Cheviot Drive. At the apparent ‘end’ of Cheviot Drive follow the ‘driveway’ which continues straight ahead. Continue along this gravel road until you see the property entrance on your right hand side – turn in here (the gate will be open on the day). Continue straight along the gravel to park beside the house. 

Leader

Peter Ridgeway | 0401 481 037

Habitat

Woodland with clearings and small dam

Grade

Grade 3.  Approx 2 km of relatively flat walking with one very short but steep gully.

Facilities

Plenty of parking. Pit toilet available.  No picnic tables.

Eastern Rosella JM.jpg
Location link

Map: Mt Annan

Wednesday 2 July 2025 | 8.20am for an 8.30am start (open for booking)

AUSTRALIAN BOTANICAL GARDEN,

MT ANNAN

Meeting place

Meet near the Visitors Centre.  Parking is in the P3 carpark on Cunningham Drive, Mt Annan.

Leader

Heather Cavanagh and David Cree | 0419 432 720

Habitat

Grassland, lakes and forest

Grade

Grade 1.  Approx 3 km flat walking.

Facilities

Plenty of parking.  Toilets near carpark.  No picnic tables near the carpark.

Sunday 13 July 2025 | 8.20am for an 8.30am start (open for booking)

NURRAGINGY RESERVE, WESTERN SYDNEY PARKLANDS

Meeting place

Meet at the Colebee Centre, Nurragingy Reserve, Knox Road, Doonside. 

Leader

Daniel McDonald | 0404 374 362

Habitat

Bushland, woodland

Grade

Grade 2.  Approx 3 km on level bush tracks.

Facilities

Plenty of parking.  Toilets at the Colebee Centre.  Some picnic tables near the centre, but these are often being used.

Saturday 19 July 2025 | 8.50am for a 9am start (open for booking)

CENTRAL COAST WETLANDS (PIONEER DAIRY) and CANTON BEACH

Meeting place

Pioneer Dairy parking area, 1897 South Tacoma Rd.  Veer left off the Pacific Hwy near the Hyundai dealer before the Wyong River bridge, then follow this around to South Tacoma Rd.  After passing under the railway line, the turnoff is on the right.

Leader

Prasad Ganesan | 0450 670 199

Habitat

Wetlands and coastal habitat

Grade

Grade 1 or 2 easy walks, depending on tracks chosen.

Facilities

Central Coast Wetlands has plenty of parking, toilets and undercover picnic tables. Canton Beach has street parking and amenities.  Bring a scope if you have one.

Sunday 27 July 2025 | 6.45am start (fully booked - waiting list open)

PELAGIC BOAT TRIP with SYDNEY PELAGICS - $170 paid on board.  Max: 13

Meeting place

The boat picks up at 6.45 from Mosman Bay Wharf, Avenue Rd Mosman. The wharf is located at the end of Avenue Road in Mosman. There is unrestricted public parking adjacent to the wharf.
It then picks up from approx 7am at Double Bay Wharf in Bay St, Double Bay.  The wharf is situated in Steyne Park, Double Bay. Access is via New South Head Rd Double Bay. The public wharf is at the end of Bay Street.

All day free parking is available in designated areas near the wharf in Bay Street and Ocean Avenue.

If the boat is cancelled, Greg will lead an outing somewhere else.

Leader

Greg McLachlan | 0405 578 967

Habitat

Seabirds

Grade

Grade 1.  Minimal walking but you need to be able-bodied.  If you're prone to sea-sickness, this may not be the outing for you.  Otherwise, talk to your GP and take the tablets as prescribed.  Greg does not recommend Ginger tablets or Travacalm.

Facilities

Toilet on the boat.

Friday 12 to Sunday 14 September 2025 (fully booked - waiting list open)
Friday 19 to Sunday 21 September 2025 (fully booked - waiting list open)

WEEKENDS AWAY - NARRABRI AREA

Meeting place

These two Members' weekends will be based in Narrabri, travelling to nearby birding areas.  They are now open for booking.  Once the booking has been confirmed, more details will be sent to you.   Do not book any accommodation until then as there will be a maximum of 30 people on this weekend.

Leader

Heather Pearce |  0412 051 951

Habitat

Various

Grade

Various

Facilities

TBC

Wednesday 6 August 2025

Floyd Bay and Mirrambeena Regional Park

Leader: Peter Abraham

Friday 15 August 2025

TBC

Leader: TBC

Saturday 23 August 2025

Crosslands Reserve, Hornsby Heights

Leader: Prasad Ganesan

Sunday 31 August 2025

Blue Gum Creek Reserve, Annangrove

Leader: Paul Johnstone

Wednesday 3 September 2025

Narrabeen Lagoon

Leader: Lindsay Sherman

Sunday 28 September 2025

Second Ponds Creek Reserve, Rouse Hill

Leader: Damian Turner

Wednesday 1 October 2025

Laughtondale Gully and Wisemans Ferry

Leader: Adrian Dick

Saturday 11 October 2025

Field of Mars, Sugar Loaf Point, Boronia Park

Leader: Cathy Goswell

Sunday 19 October 2025

TBC

Leader: TBC

Saturday 25 October 2025

Cumberland State Forest

Leader: Peter Abraham

Sunday 2 November 2025

Members' BBQ - Location TBC

Leader: Coralie Turner-Morris

Wednesday 5 November 2025

Wattle Forest and Lady Carrington Drive, Royal NP

Leader: Robyn Pedersen

Saturday 15 November 2025
Sunday 16 November 2025 (morning)

Capertee Valley

Leader: Cathy Goswell

Saturday 22 November 2025

Sydney Olympic Park - starting at the Waterbird Refuge

Leader: Prasad Ganesan

Wednesday 3 December 2025

TBC

Leader: TBC

Sunday 7 December 2025

TBC

Leader: TBC

20-22 March 2026
27-29 March 2026

Advance notice of Autumn 2026 weekends away from Friday to Sunday inclusive - location TBC

Leader: Heather Pearce

11-13 September 2026
18-20 September
 2026

Advance notice of Spring 2026 weekends away from Friday to Sunday inclusive - location TBC

Leader: Heather Pearce

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