Windorah, Queensland – Long Excursion, New Days now: 14-18 September 2026, 4 nights (5 field days) plus travel time

Windorah Long Excursion Monday 14– Friday 18 September 2026, QLD

Note: the days have been updated to get us clear of the Birdsville Races. You will have to arrive in Windorah at a minimum the day before. 

Don’t miss this one! Steve Wilson is well known to many QNC members who have enjoyed his fascinating talks at club meetings. Steve Wilson is a renowned Australian herpetologist, author, and photographer known for his extensive work on reptiles, particularly snakes. He has dedicated his career to documenting and understanding Australian reptiles, including authoring and co-authoring several influential books on the subject. For this excursion to Windorah and environs, Steve states “we would probably need about 5 days in the area to explore properly. There is a council-owned campground in Windorah; small and basic but would serve as a base. There is also bush camping on Cooper Creek about 15 km east of Windorah”.

Excursion Secretary Cathie Duffy excursion@qnc.org.au will assist QNC members with accommodation options. Annie Neill president@qnc.org.au will also be helping coordinate so please feel free to contact us for more information. The plan is to travel to Windorah (about 2-3 days from Brisbane), spend 5 days in the field, and then allow 2-3 days to travel home.

Suggested itinerary (you do not have to follow the itinerary prior to and after the actual excursion) :

Day 1 Saturday 12 September – Brisbane to Mitchell or Morven.

Day 2 Sunday 13 September – Arrive Windorah. Set up in the campground (small and basic but suitable).

Monday 14 – Friday 18: Five days in Windorah allows access to the following diverse habitats: Riparian at the Cooper Creek (appr 15 km east): Red sand and spinifex (in and around Windorah including a dune 5 km west): Mesa/breakaway 80 km west: Morney Plains immediately beyond the mesas.

Day 8 Saturday 19 – Windorah to Quilpie

Day 9 Sunday 20 – Quilpie to Mitchell

Day 10 Monday 21 – Mitchell to Brisbane

NOTE: Some participants may prefer 3 days to reach Windorah comfortably. You need to be in Windorah Sunday evening at the latest for early start Monday morning. The main excursion leaves form Windorah Monday 7 and finishes in Windorah Friday 11 September 2026. Most members will leave Saturday morning. Some members may want to branch out and do their own thing after Windorah, such as heading north via Longreach or visiting Hellhole Gorge NP.

A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia has been the most comprehensive field guide available on the subject since the first edition was published in 2003. As new species are discovered, known ranges extended and higher quality images become available, updated editions of the book have been written to reflect these changes. This new edition adds 92 reptile species, mostly comprising new descriptions since the publication of the fifth edition, plus 10 species that come with the inclusion of Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. This sixth edition of the book includes images, descriptions and maps for all 1,109 species of Australian reptiles described up until the end of June 2020. Some of these are pictured in life for the first time, and many are represented by several images to depict geographical and sexual differences. 

The book features easy-to-use diagnostic illustrations to explain anatomical features, a comprehensive glossary, and the more significant reptile habitats are pictured. Each species has a clear and concise text description to aid identification, with diagnostic differences from confusion species given in bold font. Each species has a distribution map and image(s) on the facing page. For ease of use there are indexes to scientific and common names. Designed as a field guide, with a sturdy plastic cover and compact layout, the target readership for this book is anyone with an interest in reptiles, whether scientists or amateurs. It is regarded as the standard reference guide for professionals working in the eld and is also popular with general naturalists.