Newcastle and Hunter region guided birding experiences and tours

Hi, I'm Steph!

I've always loved animals, and growing up with Dad's aviary in the backyard meant birds were a part of everyday life. Somewhere along the way, that childhood fascination turned into a bit of an obsession (the good kind... mostly!).

For the past 11 years, I've been photographing birds, combining my love of wildlife with my career as a professional photographer. These days you'll usually find me wandering around the Hunter a camera over my shoulder, and probably stopping every five minutes because I heard something call from a tree.

While I love travelling to find new birds around Australia, the Hunter is home, and its birds have completely stolen my heart. In fact, I've set myself the slightly crazy challenge of photographing every bird species ever recorded in the Hunter Region—and getting at least one photo I'm genuinely proud of. Some species are definitely making me work for it!

I'm also the Conservation Convenor for the Hunter Bird Observers Club (HBOC), where I've been a member for the past eight years. Looking after birds is just as important to me as photographing them.

The best part, though, isn't adding another bird to my own list. It's watching someone else spot a bird they've never seen before. That moment when their eyes light up, the binoculars come down, and they say, "Wow!"—I never get tired of that. Whether you're an experienced birder, a photographer, or you've never really noticed birds before, I'd love to share a morning with you and show you why I think they're so addictive.

Tours currently available

• 🌿 Birding in the Vines – Hunter Valley (7:00 am – 10:00 am) (times change according to the season with an earlier start time in summer)
  Relaxed birdwatching, photography assistance, followed by wine tasting and a local cheese platter.

• 🚤 Pelagic and Prosecco (7:00 am – 12:00 pm) (times change according to the season with an earlier start time in summer)
  Venture out on an inshore to photograph and observe the birds that visit our beaches and coastal islands with an onboard light champagne breakfast.

• 🦅 Woodland Birds Experience (Available on request) Let me take you into our local bushlands to see and experience some of our local birds. If you have specific birds that you wish to see simply provide me with a list beforehand so we can do our best to try to find them for you.

• 🌸 Hunter Wetlands Centre Bird Photography Class (Available on request)
  Experience the Hunter Wetlands Centre with a guided tour and photography tips followed by a lovely morning tea at the Wetlands Centre Cafe.

• 📷 Hunter Bird Photography Masterclass (Coming Soon)
  A hands-on workshop for photographers wanting to improve their bird photography techniques in the field followed by an inclass presentation of managing your processing and workflow.

• 🦜 Hunter Birding Day Tour (Available on request)
  Explore some of the Hunter Region's best birding locations in search of a wide variety of local species.

• 🌅 Sunrise Bird Photography Experience (Coming Soon)
  Chase the beautiful early morning light while learning techniques for photographing birds in their natural habitat.