Varied Honeyeaters inhabit mainly mangroves - in Australia from near Townsville north to Cape York and Torres Strait but also in New Guinea. They form a continuum with the Mangrove Honeyeater which occupies mangroves south from Townsville into NSW - some authors regard them as a single species, they are certainly very similar.

One of the easiest places to see the Varied is at the north end of the beach in Cairns.