Five places to see Australian animals in the wild
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Many native wild animals are only found in Australia. Seeing koalas and kangaroos can be a holiday highlight, and the best place to see these and other famous Australian animals is in the wild – where they belong.
No matter how well they are looked after in captivity, a wild animal’s needs can only be fully met in their wild environment. To help you be an animal-friendly traveller, we’ve put together some of our favourite places where you’re likely to see native animals in the wild. Why not try visiting one of these destinations on your next holiday?
Koalas in Noosa National Park, QLD
Koala numbers have declined sharply in past decades but luckily, they’re still relatively easy to find.
Spot them munching on the leaves of the eucalyptus trees that are their home and food source in Noosa National Park. It’s just a short walk from the town of Noosa Heads into the park, where a blackboard at the entrance will show you where koalas have been sighted recently.
Remember not to disturb them as they need a lot of sleep.
Image credit: Shannon Plummer
Wombats in Kangaroo Valley NSW
Just two hours south of Sydney, Bendeela in Kangaroo Valley is the ideal place to see wombats. Set up camp at the Bendeela Recreation Area and wait for dusk, when the wombats – nocturnal creatures – are known to come out from their burrows and graze on the grass of the campground.
Make sure to be as quiet as possible and keep your distance so as not to frighten them.
Image credit: Shannon Plummer
Crocodiles in Kakadu National Park, NT
There are 10,000 crocodiles in Kakadu, and you can spot them safely from the viewing platforms at Cahills Crossing and Yellow Water. The end of the dry season (August to November) is the best time to go as the crocs will be more concentrated in the shrinking water bodies.
Depending on the weather and the time of day, you might see them warming in the sun, or keeping cool in shade or water.
Image credit: Adriaan Greyling
Quokkas on Rottnest Island, WA
Quokkas are a type of small wallaby native to Rottnest Island off the coast of Perth. Between 10,000 and 12,000 quokkas live on the island, so you have a good chance to see them. Visit in early spring and you could even see joeys!
Image credit: Natalie Su on Unsplash
Tasmanian Devils at the Tarkine, TAS
Tasmanian devils are not easy to spot in the wild. An aggressive cancer has sadly killed many of them, so they are growing rarer and rarer.
The Tarkine is a huge reserve in northwest Tasmania with an incredibly diverse landscape of rainforest, sand dunes and coastal heathland. It is home to a huge range of wildlife, so even if you’re not lucky enough to see the nocturnal carnivores, you could spot platypuses, echidnas, wombats, bandicoots, possums, gliders and quolls. It’s a true wildlife destination.
Image credit: Christine Mendoza
We hope that no matter what state you live in, you can find an animal friendly destination to suit your travel dreams and budget.
To help you be an animal-friendly traveller, we’ve put together some of our favourite places where you’re likely to see native animals in the wild.