When picturing Australia, most people imagine Kangaroos jumping around the place, koalas up in the trees and sharks in the ocean (which is somewhat true).
But, I bet you didn’t know that Aussie is home to:
- The largest herd of camels
- One of the few reefs in the world where you can swim with whale sharks
- Wild penguins just outside of the city..
- Kangaroos and Koalas are easily found
Yup – the place has it all and we’re going to tell you where to go to spot all of this epic wildlife.
Where can you find them?
We’re not talking zoos here or even wildlife sanctuaries – Aussie is a great place for spotting animals in their natural environments, in the wild. Some animals, including koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, platypus and the lesser known echidna can only be found in Australia – no where else in the world – how cool is that!
From adorable koalas and quokkas to majestic whales and wild dingos, if you know where to look you can really start to tick these awesome creatures off your bucket list.
So, if you’re a lover of animals (and I mean, who isn’t!?) then keep reading…
Koalas
You’ve gotta see one of these epic dudes when you’re over there. Just be warned, they blend in to the trees more than you think – so eyes peeled.
Where to find them:
- Noosa National Park
- Forts Walk, Magnetic Island
Kangaroos
Everyone knows what a kangaroo is, so here is a fun fact for you all – Emus are as common as kangaroos in some areas of Australia. Okay, so you can pretty much spot kangaroos anywhere but here are a few specific and EPIC spots.
Tip – you’ve got more chance of spotting Kangaroos on a roadtrip via campervan than bus!
Where to find them:
- Cape Hillsborough (spot them on the beach!)
- Murramarang National Park
- Anywhere at dusk, watch out for these guys when you are driving!
Quokkas
Quokkas are about the size of a domestic cat and it goes without saying that they’re MEGA cute.
Where to find them:
- Islands off Western Australia (check out Rottnest Island)
Dolphins
Dolphins always look like they’re having the best time ever – we love to see them surfing the waves here in Byron.
Where to find them:
- Byron Bay (after you come say hey to us, keep an eye on the ocean – Byron is home to a regular pod of these funny fellas)
- Monkey Mia, Western Australia (they come right up to the shore)
- Tin Can Bay, Rainbow Beach
Whale sharks
Swimming with one of these beautiful, majestic creatures is complete bucket list material. These guys are around 7m and have the body of a whale but the tail of a shark and swimming with them is probably one of the most incredible experiences you could imagine…
Where to find them:
- Ningaloo Reef (between March and July each year 300 to 500 gather here)
Wallabies
Part of the kangaroo family, wallabies are super friendly little creatures.
Where to find them:
- Geoffrey Bay, Magnetic Island (head here at sunset)
Dingos
They may look relatively cute but these wild dogs come with a warning. If you come across a Dingo you have to be super careful as they have been known to attack humans, specifically children. All of the compounds on Fraser island are guarded with an electric fence to ensure no dingoes can get in.
Where to find them:
- Fraser Island – keep an eye out for them on the beach and through the jungle tracks!
Penguins
When someone told me you can see penguins – wild – in Australia, I thought they were joking! But you can! And they’re so small and sweet.
Where to find them:
- St Kilda, Melbourne (head to the pier at sunset and look beneath the slats)
- Phillip Island
Whales
If you’re lucky, and in Australia at the right time of the year (between May and November), you may be in with with the chance of some whale spotting!
Where to find them:
- Near Perth (spot humpbacks and killer whales)
- Palm Beach, Sydney (the lighthouse provides 360 views, so keep an eye out for migrating whales)
- Hervey Bay (if you’re here in early September, you may even see some baby whales)
- Great Ocean Road, Melbourne ( you may spot a rare blue whale)
- And all the way up the East Coast between May and November
Cassowaries
These funky creatures are defo one to try and find, they look like a combination of an emu and we think a dinosaur, crazy right?
Where to find them:
- Daintree Rainforest – keep an eye out whilst you are on your rainforest tour but don’t get too close!
Camels
Yup, you heard us right – camels! Australia is actually home to the largest herd of camels (they’re called feral camels).
Where to find them:
- South and central Australia
Platypus
These shy little dudes are very rare – so don’t set your hopes to high with getting a glimpse of one.
Where to find them:
- Atherton Tablelands, Cairns (if you go on a waterfall tour, your guide may know where to find one!)
Sharks
The one I’m sure you’ve been waiting for…
Sharks can be found all over Australia (but please don’t let this stop you from going in the sea – the beaches are usually really well patrolled by the lifeguards and coastguard). There are all sorts of different sharks that are in Australia, ones not to worry about are the reef sharks, if you see one of these out on the Great Barrier Reef don’t panic. Ones to watch out for are the infamous Great White, Bull and Tiger Sharks…
Where to find them:
- Fraser Island (is one of the places where you really can’t swim in the ocean – shark sightings are common here)
- We don’t mean to freak you out… but everywhere! If a shark is spotted at the beach you will be evacuated by the lifeguards so always listen out for any sirens and take note of any signs on the beach that tell you not to swim
Ready for an adventure?
Aussie is such an epic spot to be when it comes to wildlife. Why not make yourself a list of animals and tick them off as you go! Just remember be patient (especially with koalas), don’t be intrusive to their homes and most importantly, if you choose to go on a wildlife tour ensure they are ethical and don’t bother the animals. From our experience in Australia all of the companies offering snorkel and dive trips, swimming with whale sharks and kayaking with dolphins have the protection of these beautiful creatures at the forefront and treat them with respect which we are ALL about and love them for it!
- Whilst you are in Byron Bay head out on a kayak trip with the legends at Go Sea Kayak to spot Dolphins..
- If you want to get up to Ningaloo Reef to swim with the whale sharks, either rent a campervan OR head on a West Coast tour
- Magnetic Island is home to SO much wildlife and epic adventures.. check out our epic backpacker deal here.
- AND of course, don’t forget that we can hook you up with epic discounts for your trip… Shoot us a WhatsApp and lets get chatting.
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I hope all my tips and tricks have inspired you to explore Aussie and meet the locals! Don’t forget to enjoy yourself RatPack Style.
Yewwwwwwwwwwwwww Holly
Stay tuned for my next piece…
