In 1870, a Macaw parrot is captured by a pirate in the Amazon jungle and taken aboard his ship, along with priceless stolen temple treasure. After a fallen lamp sets the ship afire the ship explodes and the pirate, bird and treasure are set adrift somewhere in the South Pacific. The parrot watches as the wounded pirate buries the treasure on a deserted isle, then dies beside it...

It is 1997 in Sydney and the same parrot, Mac, is now 149 years old and lives with his old buddy, the lovable Grandpa. His 15 year old grandson, Sam also dotes on grandpa, but their fun filled world is shattered when Sams father discovers Grandpa is in serious debt and organises to sell his lifetime home and move him into a pet-free retirement centre.

The prospect of being separated from Grandpa is too much for Mac, who reveals to a speechless Sam that he can talk! Really talk! Whats more, he knows where the buried treasure is buried! So Sam and the eccentric Mac decide to run away on a treasure hunt...