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Top tips for viewing wildlife in Australia

Unique animals and birds can be found in every corner of the Australian continent – here’s your best chance of spotting them.

By Carolyn Beasley

Australia’s unique wildlife features on everything from television documentaries to t-shirts. But seeing these animals in real life, in the wild, is different – some might say a transformative experience. For nowhere else in the world can you watch huge kangaroos graze in fields, fuzzy unique wildlife snooze in gum trees, or spiky echidnas waddle through the Aussie bush. 

Wildlife can be found everywhere in Australia, even in our cities. But while spotting animals can be exhilarating, it’s important to give them space, for their safety and your own. Follow these simple tips and you’ll be spotting our furry and feathered friends in no time.

1. Seek local advice

Couple with guide standing beside an emu in Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve in Tower Hill © Archie Sartracom

Worn Gundidj @ Tower Hill, Great Ocean Road, Victoria © Archie Sartracom

Start your Australian wildlife journey by asking locals what type of animals can be found in the area, and when are the best times or places to spot them. Tourist information centres can also help to steer you in the right direction. Of course, the easiest way to find wildlife is to hire a guide or book a tour with a reputable and ethical company.

2. Do your research

Comb-crested Jacana bird on the water lilies at Bamurru Plains in Point Stuart © Wild Bush Luxury

Comb-crested Jacana bird, Bamurru Plains, Point Stuart, Northern Territory © Wild Bush Luxury

wildlife tourism in australia

Our guide to Australia's animals

Before you hit the road with your binoculars, it’s a good idea to read up on the animals or birds you’re hoping to spot. Find out if they are seasonal visitors, and what type of habitat they prefer. Many animals or birds are drawn to water, so staking out a position near a creek or waterhole often pays off. Scan the treetops for flitting birds, and the ground for scuttling lizards.

3. Be prepared

Hikers crouched in the Lamb Range in Cairns © FNQ Nature Tours

FNQ Nature Tour, Lamb Range, Cairns, Queensland © FNQ Nature Tours

Bring the right equipment to navigate the Australian bush: sturdy shoes, a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, and appropriate clothing. And always remember to take along plenty of water. A pair of binoculars will bring your animal-viewing to life, as will a local bird identification book. If you’re looking for animals at night, a flashlight with a red filter is less disturbing to the animals.

4. Pack the right lens

Kangaroo checking out camera in Cape Hillsborough National Park © Matt Glastonbury/Tourism and Events Queensland

Kangaroo, Cape Hillsborough National Park, Queensland © Matt Glastonbury/Tourism and Events Queensland

If you’re hoping to come home with some great souvenir wildlife shots, a telephoto lens is the ultimate accessory, allowing you to capture high detail from a distance. But don’t fret if you don’t have a big lens, as some animals, particularly slow-moving, ground dwelling animals like echidnas, can be captured beautifully on a smartphone camera. Above all, don't forget to give yourself time to take it all in outside of your screen – don’t miss the chance to just enjoy being in the company of wildlife.

5. Hit the countryside

Kangaroos in the grass in the Otways, Great Ocean Road, Victoria © Great Ocean Road Tourism

The Otways, Great Ocean Road, Victoria © Great Ocean Road Tourism

You’re unlikely to spot a kangaroo hopping through the centre of Sydney ,  but once you reach the outskirts of Australia’s cities, you can expect to find more animals roaming around. Some of our richest wildlife hotspots are in national parks and nature reserves, and these are great places to take a quiet bushwalk looking for animals. In regional areas, you may even share a round of golf with wild kangaroos, which love to hang out on golf courses.

6. Go wildlife-spotting at dusk and dawn

Kookaburras perched on a ledge at the Lake House in Daylesford © Christina Simons

Kookaburras, Lake House, Daylesford, Victoria © Christina Simons

Southern Cassowary spotted in the Daintree National Park © FNQ Nature Tours

Did you know

Australia has more than 680 national parks, and over 19% of Australia’s landmass is protected for nature.

The hours after dawn and before sunset are some of the best times for spotting animals. Many animals and birds forage for food then, avoiding the hotter part of the day. Listening to the bird calls of the “dawn chorus” in the Australian bush is unforgettable; go camping or upgrade to a night of glamping to immerse yourself in this experience.

7. Be quiet and patient

Couple crouched on a beach watching sea lions in Kangaroo Island © Tourism Australia

Sea lions, Kangaroo Island, South Australia © Tourism Australia

When searching for wildlife, it pays to reduce your noise. Travel in a small group, talk softly, and switch your phone to silent mode. Once you’ve spotted wildlife, it’s often a good idea to crouch low. If you make yourself look smaller, the animals will be less concerned about you.  

When watching an animal, sit and wait. If you stop moving, the animal may reward you by resuming its normal behaviour, like grazing or socialising. If you’re very lucky and the animal feels safe, it may even choose to come closer.

8. Be respectful of wildlife

People watching a wombat from a distance on The Maria Island Walk in Maria Island © The Maria Island Walk

Wombat, The Maria Island Walk, Maria Island, Tasmania © The Maria Island Walk

Don’t forget to keep in mind that wildlife is wild. For your own safety, animals should never be approached too closely. Maintaining a respectful distance , and never feeding wildlife, will give you the most authentic experience, and will also be best for the critters in your company.

More articles like this

Kangaroos on the beach at sunset at Cape Hillsborough National Park in Queensland © Tourism and Events Queensland

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See wildlife in australia: our top 30 spots to visit.

  • Post published: 29 September 2021
  • Post category: Australia / Oceania/South Pacific

A trip to Australia isn’t complete without seeing its wildlife. Of course, you could head to a sanctuary or a zoo to see iconic Australian animals, but it is a lot more exciting to actually spot them in their natural habitat. And it’s not too hard! I’ve been living in Australia for more than 10 years, and here’s what I think are the best places to see wildlife in Australia.

The list is in clockwise order, starting from the top of Queensland . The numbers refer to the map at the end of the article.

Responsible travel tip : It is tempting but for their safety, it is better not to feed wildlife. It can change their behaviour, make them sick and also unbalance the entire ecosystem. New South Wales Parks even write, “feeding native animals is the worst thing you can do”. Click here to know why .

The best places to see wildlife in Queensland

1. great barrier reef.

Underwater photography of a big coral structure with a scuba diver next to it

Do I even need to introduce the Great Barrier Reef? It’s obviously a fantastic place to spot fish, sharks and even minke whales.

Do you find scuba diving scary? I know the feeling. I have now done more than 200 dives, so I’ve shared my experience about overcoming my fear of scuba diving in this article ; I hope it can help!

2. Daintree forest

A trip on the Daintree River gives visitors the opportunity to see crocodiles, birds and bats in their natural habitat. You may also meet a cassowary while driving or hiking.

3. Mission Beach

Mission Beach is on the Cassowary Coast. Do I need to write more details on why it made it to the list? Cassowaries, and their babies, are regularly spotted in the town and nearby national parks.

Cassowary in Mission Beach - Djiru National Park

4. Magnetic Island

If you want to see koalas during your trip around Australia, Magnetic Island is a must-visit destination. We also spotted rock wallabies and many marine critters during our day trip.

Koala on Magnetic Island - one of the best places to see wildlife in Australia

5. Mackay Region

Broken River near Mackay is one of the best places to see a platypus in Australia . North of Mackay, in Cape Hillsborough , you can see wallabies on the beach and get a perfect shot at sunrise.

Broken River Mackay Platypus

6. Great Keppel Island

We didn’t see as much native wildlife as we had hoped while hiking Great Keppel Island (but we did see many goats, unfortunately). However, it was a great place to see echidnas (they even have a resident echidna at the resort!), dugongs and all the reef inhabitants too.

wildlife tourism in australia

7. Heron Island

Most islands on the Great Barrier Reef are great places to see wildlife in Australia, but Heron Island is my favourite. If you visit early in the year, you can see turtles nesting, hatchlings, baby sharks and shovelnose rays, and so many birds… just from the beach!

Heron Island - Turtle

8. Bundaberg

From December to March, turtle hatchlings can be spotted at many beaches on the coast of Queensland and on the islands. But you often need to be lucky to see them. At Mon Repos near Bundaberg, they organize tours with rangers to take you to the beach at night.

Mon Repos Bundaberg Baby Turtle ++

9. Hervey Bay

You can spot humpback whales migrating along the coast of Australia from many places, but in Hervey Bay, they often stop to rest for a while, making it the best place to see them in Australia.

10. K’gari (Fraser Island)

K’gari is one of the best places in Australia to spot wildlife. You’ll get to see dingoes, which are usually hard to spot. If you’re camping, you’ll also see a few marsupials at night. Indian’s Head is a great place to spot marine wildlife.

Wild dingo next to a 4WD on Fraser Island

11. Minjerribah (Stradbroke Island)

Minjerribah is an easy day trip from Brisbane and a fantastic place to see wildlife. On one trip, you can spot some of the most iconic Australian animals: kangaroos, koalas, dolphins, whales (in winter), and manta rays (in summer). The North Gorge Walk is perfect for spotting wildlife and enjoying stunning views.

Brisbane Gift Idea - Scuba Diving Manta Ray Stradbroke Island

12. Coombabah Lake Conservation Park

This reserve near the Gold Coast is easy to reach, and we spotted kangaroos straight away from the car park. We had to be a little bit more patient to see koalas, but we ended up seeing a couple.

wildlife tourism in australia

13. Natural Bridge

A trip to Springbrook National Park Natural Bridge at night will give you a chance to see rare glow worms in a natural cave. Bats also live further down in the cave. It’s a unique experience.

Natural Bridge Glow Worms Cave Springbrook National Park

The best places where to see wildlife in New South Wales

14. blue mountains.

We took our friends touring the world to the Blue Mountains for their only weekend in Australia. During our quick visit to Jenolan Caves, we spotted a cute rock wallaby and a platypus in Blue Lake. We could see them much closer than at Bombala (New South Wales), the capital of the platypus.

Blue Lake Jenolan Cave Platypus

15. Bendeela Recreation Area

Wombats aren’t as easy to find as many other iconic Australian wildlife. But only 2.5 hours south of Sydney, you’ll have the joy of finding wombats around the Bendeela Recreation Area. Remember, they are nocturnal animals, so your chances will be higher if you walk in the area closer to sunset.

16. Barunguba (Montague Island)

If you want to see little penguins up close, Barunguba (Montague Island) is a fantastic option. The number of people is limited to avoid having a crowd. Earlier in the day, we had fun in the water with the seals.

Montague Island Dive with Seals 01

The best places where to see wildlife in Tasmania

17. maria island.

A wombat scratching on a bike next to a path with the ocean in the background on Maria Island in Tasmania.

You’re guaranteed to see a lot of wildlife during a road trip around Tasmania, sometimes more than you wished for, as it can make driving quite stressful. There are no cars on Maria Island, so you can fully enjoy watching wildlife without worrying. It’s one of the best places where to see wombats in Tasmania . Even though they’re nocturnal animals, you still have a high chance of seeing them on a day trip to Maria Island. You’ll also see many wallabies and birds.

18. Bruny Island

You’ll see wallabies on Bruny Island, and if you’re lucky, you may spot a white wallaby at Adventure Bay. From there, you can join a cruise to explore the southeast of the island and see seals and birds in a stunning setting.

19. Cradle Mountain

A baby wombat and its parent eating grass in Cradle Mountain National Park

Cradle Mountain is famous for its magnificent hikes, but it is also a fantastic place to see wildlife. If you go for a short walk at the end of the afternoon near Ronny Creek in Cradle Mountain , you will see wombats close to the boardwalk. Echidnas are often spotted in the park too.

20. Lillico Beach

wildlife tourism in australia

Bicheno might be the most famous place to see penguins in Tasmania, on the east coast, but I much preferred our experience on Lillico Beach, near Devonport. They have created a boardwalk around the penguin rookery with red lights. It makes it easy for visitors to see penguins at night without disturbing them. There are other similar boardwalks at Burnie and Stanley. I’ve listed all the best places to see penguins in Tasmania here .

The best places where to see wildlife in Victoria

21. wilsons promontory .

National Parks are always a good choice to try to see wildlife. We hiked all day when we visited Wilsons Promontory. But it was back at the campground that I got very excited by our wildlife encounter: a wombat walked just past my tent!

22. Phillip Island

Phillip Island is famous for the Penguin Parade, so no list of places to see wildlife in Australia would be complete without it. However, there are so many people attending that it sometimes feels like you’re not in the wild! I haven’t seen them during my visit, but I’ve heard echidnas live there too.

23. Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road is not only one of the most beautiful roads to drive on with its remarkable cliffs, but it is also a great place to see wildlife in Australia. I’ve spotted koalas every time I visited (even during our half-marathon race!). The nearby Great Otway National Park is also reputed for seeing platypus – but I wasn’t lucky when I visited.

Great Ocean Road- Wild koala in a tree

Where to see wildlife in South Australia

24. kangaroo island.

With kangaroos, birds, seals, sea lions, koalas, and many more, Kangaroo Island is an amazing destination where you’re guaranteed to spot wildlife.

Sea lion on the beach on Kangaroo Island - the best place in Australia to see wildlife

25. Baird Bay

One of my favourite wildlife experiences in Australia was in Baird Bay. We got to swim with dolphins and play with sea lions from a small intimate boat. I was very surprised by how much they would interact with us. We saw a few emus during our drive there.

wildlife tourism in australia

The best places to see wildlife in Western Australia

26. lucky bay.

Wild kangaroo posing at sunset with Lucky Bay in the background

Lucky Bay is far from everything, but it is the best place to see kangaroos in the wild. They pose in front of a stunning white sandy beach with stunning turquoise water. You won’t get a better Australian postcard-perfect shot.

27. Rottnest Island

Have you heard of the quokkas? They’re so cute, and the best place to see them in the wild in Australia is on Rottnest Island. You’ll also have a chance to see seals at one of the stunning lookouts.

Quokka on Rottnest Island - the best place in Australia to see wildlife

28. Ningaloo Reef and Exmouth

This is the best place in Australia to spot whale sharks. Manta rays can also be seen, and of course, all the reef inhabitants.

The best places to see wildlife in the Northern Territory

29. katherine gorge.

While canoeing in Katherine Gorge, we had a close encounter with a couple of freshwater crocodiles. They’re not as dangerous as saltwater crocodiles, so it was a great experience seeing them in the wild.

Wild freshwater crocodile in the river in Katherine Gorge

30. Kakadu National Park

There are a few tours available to see saltwater crocodiles in the region, which is an impressive sight. The birdlife there is also amazing, and we had the opportunity to see the iconic Jabiru.

But the list shouldn’t stop at 25. There are many other places to see wildlife in Australia. The more time you spend in nature, the more chances you’ll have. Kangaroos are almost everywhere, and we regularly saw emus while driving.

What do you think are the best places to see wildlife in Australia? Share your experience in the comments below!

Map of the best places to see wildlife in australia.

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wildlife tourism in australia

Top 10 Wildlife Tours in Australia

An Australian wildlife tour is the highlight of any trip down under! Australia is packed with unique wildlife, with an average of 7,500 total animals calling the country home! But, did you know that 90% of animals in Australia are found nowhere else in the world? Seeing wildlife down under is truly a magical experience, and there are plenty of options to choose from, no matter where you’re visiting.

Here are the top 10 wildlife tours in Australia from our luxury travel specialists:

1. Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas

Port Douglas, Queensland

Cuddling a koala at Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas - Vanessa Massey, luxury travel designer

Witness free-ranging Australian animals and even cuddle a koala at this wildlife sanctuary near the Great Barrier Reef! Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas has been named Australia’s leading environmental experience, which allows the animals to roam in their recreated wildlife habitats.

2. Pepper Bush Adventures

Scottsdale, Tasmania

If you’re looking for wildlife tours in some of Australia’s most authentic wilderness, Pepper Bush Adventures is the perfect experience for you! Explore the remote regions of Tasmania with a private guide to see elusive animals like echidnas, platypi, and quolls. In the evening, gather around a campfire to enjoy gourmet “bush tucker” fare and watch Australian wildlife wander right up to you! This is the ultimate wildlife and wilderness experience and a favorite for our clients.

3. Great Barrier Reef Tours

Cairns, Port Douglas, and Hamilton Island, Queensland

Sea turtle in the Great Barrier Reef - Australian wildlife tours

The   Great Barrier Reef is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, filled with beautiful coral and unique marine life. This massive natural wonder supports an amazingly diverse ecosystem, made up of 350 different species of dazzling corals, over 1,500 species of tropical fish, 10,000 types of sponges, 125 types of sharks, and 4,000 species of mollusks. No trip to Australia is complete without snorkeling or diving in the Great Barrier Reef! Ask our Australian travel specialists about the best tour option for you.

4. Echidna Walkabout Tours

Melbourne, Victoria

Wild koala outside of Melbourne - Echidna Walkabout wildlife tours

What’s a better way to experience the wildlife of Australian than venturing into their natural habitat? Echidna Walkabout Tours lets you witness kangaroos, koalas, and other iconic creatures in the wild just outside of Melbourne! Read our guest post from the owner, Janine Duffy, about what it’s like to watch these fascinating animals in nature.

5. Australia Zoo

Brisbane, Queensland

The Irwin family at Australia Zoo

You can’t get a more quintessential Australian wildlife experience than visiting the Australia Zoo and seeing Steve Irwin’s legacy firsthand. The Australia Zoo, founded by the original Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin, runs one of the largest wildlife conservation programs in the world. All money raised is put back into wildlife projects and conservation efforts around Australia.

6. Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary

Hobart, Tasmania

Witness Australian animals, including the unique Tasmanian Devil, and even interact with them at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary! The nighttime feeding tour is a favorite here at Down Under Endeavours, along with the naturally recreated environments which make the wildlife feel right at home.

7. Healesville Sanctuary

Yarra Valley, Victoria

Cuddling Maggie the wombat at Healesville Sanctuary in Australia - Laura Tober, luxury travel designer

This wildlife sanctuary is located near Melbourne in the Yarra Valley Wine Region . We can’t think of a better way to spend a day than sampling delicious wines and finishing with some close-up animal encounters! See koalas, kangaroos, and dingos, as well as lesser-known animals like the pygmy possum or barking owl. Healesville Sanctuary offers some fabulous unique wildlife tours, like hand-feeding kangaroos or wading with the platypus! These experiences are reserved for a small number of guests for the animals’ well-being, and they are very popular, so be sure to book well in advance.

8. Kangas and Kanapes

Kangaroo Island, South Australia

Kangas and Kanapes experience at Southern Ocean Lodge, Kangaroo Island

Located on Kangaroo Island, Southern Ocean Lodge offers a number of unforgettable wildlife tours as part of its signature experiences. One of our favorites is the Kangas and Kanapes experience, otherwise known as Roos and Booze! Drive out to a secret local spot where wild kangaroos come to graze, enjoying a glass of premium Australian beverages and tasty “kanapes” as the sun sets on one of the world’s most beautiful islands .

9. Australian Coastal Safaris

Port Lincoln, South Australia

Swimming with Sea Lions in the Eyre Peninsula

Want a once-in-a-lifetime adventure? In Port Lincoln, one of the stops on the Great Ocean Road , you can snorkel with friendly sea lions—or, if you really want an adrenaline rush, go cage diving with Great White Sharks! The company prides itself on preserving the natural ecosystem for the animals, respecting their space and home. The experience will draw you in while the local town and its delectably fresh seafood will beg you to stay.

10. Paddle with the Platypus

Mount Field National Park, Tasmania

Platypus swimming in the water

This tour from Tassie Bound Adventures in Tasmania offers an opportunity to slow down, spot platypi in their natural habitat, and learn about their very secretive lives. This kayaking tour guarantees a 95% chance of seeing up to 5-10 platypi—a rare opportunity since they are such shy creatures!

Are you ready to meet the wildlife in Australia ? Browse our wildlife and wilderness vacation packages online, or give us a call at 888-229-0082, and we’ll be happy to handcraft your dream adventure!

The Planet Edit

9 Best Places To See Wildlife in Australia

Koala sleeping in a tree on Magnetic Island

Australia is blessed with unique wildlife that can’t be found anywhere else in the world, and it’s for this reason that many of its animals are so iconic.

If you’re anything like me, a trip abroad doesn’t feel quite complete without seeing the native wildlife. And given that Australia is a massive island contintent steeped in rainforests, beaches, national parks and more, you can expect to find a diverse range of incredible species.

From dingoes and dolphins to koalas and kangaroos, here’s the lowdown on the best places to see wildlife in Australia.

Kangaroos on Kangaroo Island, South Australia

While you can see kangaroos in most parts of Australia, there are a few places where you’ll find them in abundance. One such place is the aptly named Kangaroo Island, which is a two-hour ferry ride from Adelaide. The kangaroo population has flourished on the island thanks to the large number of protected parks and reserves. Head to Flinders Chase National Park, Lathami Conservation Park or Kelly Hill Conservation Park to see them. You’re also likely to spot seals on Kangaroo Island!

Kangaroos on Kangaroo Island, South Australia

Quokkas on Rottnest Island, Western Australia

After quokkas shot to fame on Instagram for their “selfies” with tourists, people have flocked to Rottnest Island in the hope to also snap a selfie with this adorable little critter. Appearing to smile into the camera, quokkas have been dubbed as “the happiest animal on earth.” They’re nocturnal marsupials, about the size of a domestic cat, and part of the same family as the kangaroo and wallaby. A visit to Rottnest Island — just off the coast of Perth — will guarantee that you’ll see quokkas as they’re almost everywhere! Just be sure not to handle them and to take photos responsibly.

Lauren Pears Quokka Selfie on Rottnest Island

Explore the biodiversity at Daintree Rainforest, Queensland

The Daintree Rainforest in northern Queensland is the oldest rainforest on the planet, and is home to many plants and animals that you won’t find anywhere else in the world. It’s for this reason that it’s one of the best places to see wildlife in Australia. This 180 million-year-old rainforest is home to cassowaries, bandicoots, musky rat-kangaroos, Rufous owls, sugar gliders, giant tree frogs and so much more. Opt to go on a guided tour, where your expert guide can track and point out the native wildlife, or perhaps a river cruise along the mangroves is more your style?

A cassowary in Daintree Rainforest

Scuba dive with marine life on the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland

The Great Barrier Reef surely needs no introduction, being the largest and most famous coral reef system in the world. Choose to go scuba diving on the reef and you’ll witness some spectacular marine life. More than 1,500 fish species live on the reef, including clownfish, blue tang, parrotfish and coral trout, along with turtles, sharks, rays and dugong.

Clownfish in a coral reef

Dingoes on Fraser Island, Queensland

Australia’s most famous dog can be found throughout Australia, but one of the best places to see them is on Queensland’s Fraser Island . Fraser Island is the world’s largest sand island, and here, the dingoes wander freely along the beaches. Fraser Island dingoes are protected by law as they are believed to be the purest strain of dingo in Australia, given that they have not cross-bred with feral dogs as much as most mainland populations. Do be aware: dingoes are wild animals, and while they are a species of dog, they are not domesticated and can behave aggressively towards humans. Be sure to watch them from a safe distance!

Wild dingo on Fraser Island

Seals at Montague Island, New South Wales

Montague Island Nature Reserve, which is situated off the far south coast of New South Wales, is home to hundreds of fur seals. Fur seals are the smallest species of seal, and despite the name, are actually closely related to sea lions. Renowned for its unspoilt environment and abundant wildlife, you’ll not only spot fur seals, but whales, dolphins and little penguins also call this reserve home. Montague Island Adventures offers a visit to the largest seal colony with snorkelling in a sheltered bay.

Fur seal colony on Montague Island Nature Reserve

Koalas on Magnetic Island, Queensland

No trip to Australia would be complete without seeing a koala! Though wild koalas are present throughout Australia, sightings are almost guaranteed on Queensland’s Magnetic Island. This island has the highest population of wild koalas in Australia – home to around 800 of the critters. Take a hike on the Forts Walk in the early morning or late afternoon and keep your eyes peeled. This hike will take you through a beautiful eucalyptus forest, where you should spot koalas munching away up in the trees — I saw 3 or 4 when I did this hike!

Koala sleeping in a eucalyptus tree on Magnetic Island, Queensland

Wombats, platypus and Tasmanian Devils at Cradle Mountain National Park, Tasmania

If you’re keen to see the world’s largest carnivorous marsupial, then Devils @ Cradle is the place to go. It’s a conservation sanctuary located at the entrance to the World Heritage-listed Cradle Mountain National Park in Tasmania. Visitors can wander through the sanctuary at their leisure, or join a personalised guided tour which ensures a closeup encounter with a Tasmanian Devil. Your visit will provide an insight into the daily operation of a working conservation facility for one of the world’s most iconic animals, plus your ticket fee will contribute to the conservation of the Tasmanian Devil. Wombats, platypus and other wildlife also reside in the park.

A wombat at Cradle Mountain National Park

Dolphins and whales at Byron Bay, New South Wales

Byron Bay is Australia’s most eastern point, and Cape Byron Marine Park is one of the best places in Australia to see whales and dolphins. Byron Bay is home to an estimated 100 bottlenose dolphins – you’ll almost always see some frolicking in the water if you look out around Wategos Beach. Whales also migrate through Byron Bay from May to November – head to the Cape Byron Lighthouse or Captain Cook Lookout for the best chance of seeing them. Wild Byron offers daily whale watching tours between June and October, where you’re likely to have multiple sightings.

Dolphins swimming at Byron Bay, Australia

About The Author

Lauren Pears is a freelance travel writer and blogger based in London. She writes about active adventure travel, aiming to encourage and inspire travellers to make the most of the great outdoors.

Thank you for reading! If you found this post useful, I’d be grateful if you would consider using the affiliate links below when planning your travels. I’ll make a small commission at no extra cost to you. This will help me to keep this blog running. Thanks for your support – Lauren. Hotels –  Booking.com Hostels –  Hostelworld Cheap flights –  Skyscanner Travel insurance –  World Nomads Outdoor gear –  Decathlon  /  GO Outdoors Cycling gear –  Chain Reaction Cycles Alternatively, you could buy me a coffee to say thanks!

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The Best Places to See Australia's Incredible Wildlife

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Geographically isolated Australia is home to many unique creatures found exclusively down under. While it’s easy to see these native species at a zoo, there is a remarkable thrill that comes from observing an animal in its natural habitat. From kangaroos to koalas, quokkas and cassowaries, these are the best places to see Australian wildlife broken down state by state.

Daintree rainforest.

As the third largest bird in the world, you would think the Cassowary would be easy to spot but these elusive creatures are rarely seen in the wild. Your best chance to see one is at the Daintree Discovery Centre in northern Queensland and along the road in Cape Tribulation. Be warned through, shy Cassowaries are territorial so if you’re lucky enough to spot one keep your distance.

wildlife tourism in australia

Nymboida River

Popular for white water rafting and canoeing, Nymboida River is also home to one of the largest platypus communities on the North Coast. Set up camp at Platypus Flat and hire a canoe, as you have a higher chance of seeing these timid creatures while exploring the river for yourself. The likeliest place to catch a glimpse is between Pollacks Bridge and the Nymboida Coaching Station Inn early in the morning or in the late afternoon.

Wild Platypus

Phillip Island

Phillip Island’s Penguin Parade is the only commercial venue in the world where you can see penguins in their natural environment, and you won’t be disappointed. Watch as little penguins wobble up Summerland Beach and into their burrows each day at sunset – don’t forget to rug up as it does get chilly.

people cheering on a mountain

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Courtesy Phillip Island Nature Parks

Kennett River

Koalas spend up to 19 hours of the day sleeping up in Eucalyptus trees which makes them hard to spot, however, there is one place in the wild where you’re likely to see these cuddly creatures. Kennett River on Great Ocean Road between Lorne and Apollo Bay is home to numerous Koala colonies. Grey River Road and the area around Kafe Koala are hotspots. Just remember to keep looking up at the trees, you may even find Blinky Bill munching on eucalyptus leaves.

Koalas

On the Australian Coat of Arms alongside the kangaroo stands the emu, a large flightless bird which could outrun Usain Bolt. Just like kangaroos, emus are often spotted in grasslands, but the best place to see them is Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve west of Warrnambool. The Reserve was deemed Victoria’s first National Park in 1892 and today it is the ideal place to see emus, kangaroos, wallabies, koalas and echidnas in their natural habitat.

Emus Tower Hill

1. Cradle Mountain

With its shrill screech, the Tasmanian Devil is more commonly heard than seen, but if you are keen to see the world’s largest carnivorous marsupial , then Devils@Cradle is the place to go. The conservation facility offers guided Day Keeper Tours and After Dark Feeding Tours, where you can come face to face with these boisterous creatures.

3950 Cradle Mountain Rd. Cradle Mountain (613 if overseas) 03 6492 1491

wildlife tourism in australia

Tasmanian Devil | © JJ Harrison/WikiCommons

Maria Island

As nocturnal burrowers, wombats are rarely seen, but on Maria Island off the east coast of Tasmania, these fuzzy marsupials can be seen waddling throughout the national park. A short ferry ride from Triabunna will take you to the 115 square kilometre island, where wombats graze undeterred by visitors.

Common Wombat Maria Island

South Australia

Kangaroo island.

If you want to see a kangaroo, the best place to look is on an island named after Australia’s most recognisable marsupial. Just a short flight or ferry ride from Adelaide, is an isolated island where the wildlife population has flourished thanks to the abundance of protected parks and conversation reserves. The best places on the island to spot Kangaroos are Flinders Chase National Park , Lathami Conservation Park and Kelly Hill Conservation Park .

Eastern Grey Kangaroo

Western Australia

Ningaloo reef.

Between March and August, divers can swim alongside the serene whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef. Growing to 12 meters long, these filter feeding sharks are completely harmless and swimming alongside them is a tranquil experience. Depending on the seasons you may ever see humpback whales, dugongs and manta rays passing through.

Courtesy of Three Islands Whale Shark Dive Photographer Marie-Josee Arsenault

Rottnest Island

Just off the coast of Perth, is an island paradise populated by the smiling Quokka. Native to Western Australia, these curious nocturnal marsupials are anything but camera shy and often pose with tourists for selfies. While you can be fined for feeding Rottnest Island’s furriest residents, the island offers tourists the chance to see these creatures in the wild.

Quokka-Setonix brachyurus

Northern Territory

Adelaide river.

While no person in their right mind would want to encounter a croc in the wild, there are a few places where you can safely view these prehistoric predators. Swarming with saltwater crocodiles including Brutus who once chowed down a bull shark, Adelaide River offers cruises where visitors can see crocodiles jumping out of the water for food.

Saltwater Crocodile

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Top 10 destinations for wildlife spotting in Australia

Australia is blessed with a unique richness of wildlife , including creatures found nowhere else on the planet. And while the zoos, sanctuaries, and conservation parks are all brilliant for a cheeky encounter, nothing beats venturing into the wild to see animals in their natural habitat. We head off to the most distinctive and diverse environments, all of which are perfect for tracking some of the country’s most amazing species.

koala bear and baby

Montague Island, New South Wales

The setting: Just six miles off the state ’s southern coastline and only accessible by boat from the seaside town of Narooma, this remote playground looms larger than you may expect from its 82 hectares of protected nature reserve. Known as Barunguba by the local Yuin Aborigines, it comes with crystal-clear waters for divers, snorkellers, and anglers, a fascinating 19th-century lighthouse for history buffs, and a huge roll call of wildlife for those keen to connect with nature.

The wildlife: While there’s a formidable population of little penguins, fish (the rich East Australian Current brings tuna, marlin, baitfish, kingfish, and squid to the waters around the island) and whales (usually humpbacks, southern rights, minkes, and pilots), it’s the impossibly  cute Montague seals that get all the love. Keep your eyes peeled for two varieties: the Australian Fur Seal that tend to hang out in tightly-packed groups on the rocks, and the less common New Zealand Fur Seal who has body space issues and is likely to bite any seal that gets too close.

Top viewing tips: If you don’t fancy plunging into the deep to snorkel with seals (around 1,000 of these cheeky creatures are found here from August to December), a boat tour will get you up-close to the island’s incredible wildlife. Equally rewarding is booking one of the NSW Parks and Wildlife Service’s year-round eco tours which include whale watching, visiting the seal colony on the island’s northern end, and watching the evening penguin parade (season depending).

montague island seals new south wales

Rottnest Island, Western Australia

The setting: Only a 25-minute ferry ride from Fremantle, Rottnest (otherwise known as Rotto) is the idyllic island playground chock-full of exquisite white-sand beaches, hidden bays, dive-worthy coral reefs, and a network of superb cycle paths. The famous furry marsupials that inhabit the island inspired its name; in 1696 Dutch sea captain Willem de Vlamingh mistook quokka’s for “a kind of rat as big as a common cat” and likened the place to a rat's nest.

The wildlife: The smiley and super-cute quokkas (one of the smallest members of the macropod family that also includes kangaroos and wallabies) are Rottnest Island’s biggest draw (to be fair, they’re the only land mammal here). There’s typically between 8,000 and 17,000 of these much-loved cuddly creatures living here, all of whom lap up the attention bestowed up them from the locals who have nicknamed them the “happiest animal in the world”. Just don’t be fooled into feeding them (anyone caught will be issued an infringement by a Rottnest Island Ranger).

Top viewing tips: The Rottnest Voluntary Guides Association runs the Quokka Walk, a free 45-minute guided tour departing daily at 2:15pm from the Meeting Post located outside the Salt Store in the Main Settlement. Led by an island volunteer, you’ll have ample opportunity to learn fascinating facts about Rottnest's famous inhabitants who tend to spend most of their time eating leaves and grasses, snoozing in the shade, and shamelessly posing for selfies.

quokka rottnest island

Phillip Island, Victoria

The setting: A 90-minute drive from Melbourne gets you to one of the coolest places on the planet to watch tuxedo-clad little penguins scurrying across the sand. Named for Admiral Arthur Phillip, the first Governor of New South Wales, this stunning island attracts three million wide-eyed visitors a year for its surfing scene, wildlife park, coastal views, and annual motor racing events, including the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix and the World Superbike Championship.

The wildlife: While the waddling little penguins steal the show at the nightly Penguin Parade (an enchanting 50-minute procession where hundreds of these cuties return to their sand dune homes at dusk after a day of fishing), there’s plenty more wildlife to please. Most impressive are the kolas at the Koala Conservation Centre, the kangaroos at the 60-acre Phillip Island Wildlife Park, and the huge fur seal colony (it ranks as Australian’s largest) at Seal Rocks, just offshore from The Nobbies - a magnificent headland on the island’s south-western tip.

Top viewing tips: There’s several ways to view the penguins, including the concreted terrace, elevated platforms, and a private ranger-led eco tours (all are organised by Philip Island Nature Park). Also head to the Koala Conservation Centre to watch koalas high in the crooks of trees - a favoured position that makes them hard to see in the wild (this is also a great place to see young joeys emerging from their mothers' pouches, usually between December and February).

little penguins of philip island

Mary River, near Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory

The setting: An hour’s drive east of Darwin and an easy detour on your way to Kakadu National Park , the Mary River is the Top End waterway where you’ll find vast wetlands, plunge pools, and epic waterfalls. But it’s most famous for its Saltwater Crocodiles (or Salties) - particularly around the Shady Camp Billabong where you’re guaranteed to spot these snap-happy creatures lining up in anticipation of an easy feed (swimming is 100 per cent forbidden).

The wildlife: Hungry crocodiles aside, you can expect serendipitous sightings of buffalos, wild horses, and wallabies around the lush wetlands, freshwater billabongs, and paperbark and monsoon forests. There’s also plenty of birdlife (black-necked storks, sea eagles, magpie geese jabiru, jacana, pygmy geese, brolgas, ibis, egrets) at the Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve within the Mary River floodplains, as well as a decent selection of fish at Shady Camp and Corroboree Billabong (the southernmost strain of barramundi are a big draw for anglers across the globe).

Top viewing tips: Not only are the organised cruises, wildlife safaris, and riverside bushwalks the best way to get up-close(ish) with the huge saltwater crocs, but they’re also your safest bet. For those who’d rather answer to the call of the wild alone, head to the Couzen's Lookout Camping Area - one of the region’s most incredible spots for gorgeous Mary River views, Top End sunsets, and magnificent photographs of the surrounding plains.

wetlands around kakadu

Kangaroo Island, South Australia

The setting: Eight miles off the coast of South Australia and around 30 minutes by plane (or 45 minutes by ferry) from Adelaide, Down Under’s answer to The Galápagos plays host to some remarkable wildlife in its conservation areas and national parks. Known to the locals simply as KI, this surprisingly large island is divided into seven regions, with four major towns: Kingscote (the capital), Penneshaw (where daily ferries disembark), American River, and Parndana.

The wildlife: You can rely on seeing all manner of interesting bird species as well as large goannas, rare tammar wallabies, a unique subspecies of echidna, and the Kangaroo Island kangaroo (a shorter version of the western grey kangaroo found on the mainland). The island is also home to the Seal Bay Conservation Park - the only place in the world where you can walk among endangered Australian sea lions (take the 900-metre-long Boardwalk Tour or book the guided 45 minute Seal Bay Experience tour which takes place right on the beach).

Top viewing tips: Head to the Koala Walk at the Hansen Bay Wildlife Sanctuary on the island’s south-west coast for the best views of the cuddly creatures chilling out in eucalyptus trees, and make your way to Grassdale in Kelly Hill Conservation Park and Black Swamp in Flinders Chase National Park to see native kangaroos. Also factor in a visit to the wharf in Kingscote that attracts dozes of Australian pelicans (they come here daily at around 5pm for their fish supper).

woman feeds kangaroos on kangaroo island

The Eyre Peninsula, South Australia

The setting: Covering over 2,000 kilometres of South Australia ’s western coast and bounded on the east by Spencer Gulf, the west by the Great Australian Bight, and the north by the Gawler Ranges, this triangular-shaped peninsula (named for 19th century English explorer Edward John Eyre) is the promised land for adventurers. Most head here to camp in the wilderness, swim with dolphins, come face-to-face with great white sharks, and explore the sublime national parks.

The wildlife: The marine life in this aptly-named Seafood Frontier is amazing, especially in the waters around the beautiful Port Lincoln (expect sea lions, sharks, dolphins, tuna, and cattlefish). Further inland, you’ll see kangaroos, emus, wombats and amazing birdlife whilst on safari in the stunning Gawler Ranges (this is also the stomping ground of the crimson mallee and the yellow-footed rock wallaby). Equally visit-worthy is the Bunda Cliffs on the Nullarbor Plain coastline for its Southern Right Whales who hang out here between May and October.

Top viewing tips: Mikkira Station is the wild koala colony just 30-kilometres southwest of Port Lincoln on the Fishery Bay Road. Open to public every day (except when the temperature hits over 30 degrees), this natural bush environment is loaded with Manna Gum trees with yummy leaves (so say the koalas). Also head to the Glen-Forest Tourist Park for old-fashion farmyard fun and a full line-up of Aussie animals (some of which are babies who can be cuddled and fed).

nullarbor cliff coastline

Cradle Mountain National Park-Lake St Clair National Park, Tasmania

The setting: Unlike anything you’ll find on Australia’s mainland, this ravishing nature park where ancient rainforests fringe glacial lakes and icy streams cascade down rugged mountains is one of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area's most standout. Home to the world-famous Overland Track and the dazzling Dove Lake, it provides an exciting landscape for wildlife fans, walkers, anglers, and hikers keen to spend the day tackling Cradle Mountain’s summit.

The wildlife: Reported cases of Devil Facial Tumour Disease (the aggressive non-viral clonally transmissible cancer which affects Tasmanian Devils), means that sightings of Australia's largest living carnivorous marsupial are not guaranteed. There are, however, around 78 species of bird (including the Green Rosella), three macropod species (Forester, Bennnett's wallaby, and Tasmanian pademelon), short-beaked echidna, quolls, and platypuses. Wombats are also plentiful, with most sightings taking place at dusk or dawn (they are nocturnal and crepuscular).

Top viewing tips: The 65-kilometre Overland Track that takes you on a six-day odyssey through temperate rainforest and crystalline glacial lakes before reaching the top of Mount Ossa (Tasmania’s highest peak at 1,617-metres) is a must-do for walkers with a good level of fitness. Alternatively, the Lake St Clair section of the park tempts with leisurely lakeside strolls, longer forest walks, and brilliant displays of wildflowers and orchids during the warmer months.

dove lake cradle mountain tasmania

Daintree Rainforest, Queensland

The setting: Two hours north from Cairns , this World Heritage-listed continuous area of pristine tropical rainforest is the largest on the Australian continent and the oldest in the world (beating the Amazon Rainforest by 65 million years). The scope for wildlife-watching is seriously off-the-scale, not least because a third of the country’s frog, marsupial and reptile species and almost two-thirds of its bat and butterfly species can be found beneath the Daintree's dense canopy.

The wildlife: This vast chunk of biologically diverse rainforest is home to around 430 species of bird (including 13 found nowhere else in the world) as well as a large number of rare and unusual animals such as the Southern Cassowary, Bennett’s and Lumholtz Tree Kangaroos, Musky Rat-Kangaroo, and Spotted-Tailed Quoll. And it’s all just as exciting along the mangrove-lined Daintree River, especially for those hopping board the Daintree River Ferry to get a good look at the fearsome saltwater crocodiles (the ferry operates daily from 6am to midnight).

Top viewing tips: Any Daintree River cruise will get you up-close with exciting wildlife. Another fun way to see this awe-inspiring place from a completely new perspective is on a Jungle Surfing Canopy Tour - a unique guided zip lining experience that takes you into the beating heart of the Daintree Rainforest where you’ll be hoisted up by the world's very first Human Hamster Wheel cable lift to a series of six eco-friendly tree platforms.

pool in the jungle daintree national park

Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

The setting: Set in the Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area that cover over 708,350 hectares of coastal waters and land (it was singled out by UNESCO in 2011 for its natural beauty and biological diversity), the 300-kilometre-long reef at Ningaloo Marine Park is a rich treasure trove of underwater life. Known as Western Australia's answer to the Great Barrier Reef, this incredible place is home to 200 species of hard coral, 50 species of soft coral, and over 500 species of fish.

The wildlife: Whale sharks weighing 20 tons and measuring in excess of 40-feet-long are a likely sighting for those who fancy plunging into the deep. There’s also four species of turtle (loggerhead, green, hawksbill, and leatherback), two species of mantra ray, six species of toothed whale, and eight species of baleen whale. Those heading to the adjacent Cape Range National Park will see emus, red kangaroos, rare black-flanked rock wallabies, euros, five types of bat, 80 species of reptile, and over 200 species of bird.

Top viewing tip: It’s possible to dive and snorkel with the world’s largest fish off Ningaloo Reef from March to August each year. To enrol in a PADI Open Water Diver course (or Junior Open Water Diver course) you must be at least 10-years-old and have competent swimming skills. Alternatively, book a glass-bottomed boat tour to glide along the turquoise-tinted waters (most operators run one-hour viewing tours or longer sessions that combine snorkelling adventures).

whale shark and cobia ningaloo reef

Great Barrier Reef, Queensland

The setting: Stretching for 2,300 kilometres along the northeast coast of Australia, the world’s largest living structure measures 135,135 square miles and encompasses 2,900 reef systems, 600 islands, and 300 coral cays. Not only is this World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef the most bio-diverse coral reef ecosystem on the planet, but it’s even visible from outer space.

The wildlife: The animals that call the Great Barrier Reef home include 1,800 species of rainbow-coloured fish, 134 species of shark and ray, six of the world's seven species of threatened marine turtle, 17 species of sea snake, and over 30 species of marine mammal. There’s also a vast expanse of hard and soft coral spread across the three broadly defined regions: Ribbon Reef, Northern Coral Sea, and Southern Great Barrier Reef. Equally visit-worthy is Fraser Island for dingoes and baby humpback whales, and the beach at Heron Island (one of Sir David Attenborough’s favoured places) for hundreds of green and loggerhead turtles.

Top viewing tip: For diving enthusiasts, nothing comes close to the Great Barrier Beef and the dizzying array of marine life it supports. As you’d imagine, there’s an enormous selection of organised activities and attractions available here; from well-priced boat tours with diving and snorkelling itineraries for adventurous types, to semi-submersibles and comfortable underwater observatories for non-swimmers (or simply for anyone who doesn’t fancy getting wet).

green turtle great barrier reef

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Travel For Wildlife

Top 10 Wildlife Tours in Australia

By Author cristina garcia

Posted on Published: July 26, 2022  - Last updated: March 24, 2023

As a kid, Australia always seemed like the most exotic and faraway place I could imagine, full of bizarre and wonderful creatures. Mammals that lay eggs! The biggest sharks and crocodiles on the planet! Huge flightless birds who could disembowl you with one kick! Bats as big as foxes! The world’s largest coral reef teeming with brilliant fish! Fantastic reptiles at every turn! And of course kangaroos hopping everywhere! To see everything I wanted to see my best bet was to join a safari in Australia.

male Galah perched on top of a pinnacle (Eolophus (Cacatua) roseicapillus) The Pinnacles - Nambung National Park Western Australia

Then I met Hal and he told me about all his wildlife adventures and all the Australian animals he met during his road trip in Australia . He drove through the Australian outback, to the Great Ocean road, and down to Kangaroo Island and Tasmania, visiting the incredible Cradle Mountain National Park.

It all turned out to be true. Australia truly is a wildlife watcher’s paradise. But if you don’t believe his tall tales and want to find out for yourself, dive into our list of the top wildlife tours in Australia that we’ve handpicked, and make your down under dreams come true.

A safari in Australia? Yes! How about a conservation safari in Australia ? Sign me up!

Native Australian animals on Kangaroo Island

*This post is sponsored by Australian Wildlife Journeys*

Table of Contents

A quick intro to native Australian wildlife

– north queensland wildlife and conservation safari in australia –, – tasmania wildlife and wilderness tour –, – orca whales of  western australia –, – tasmanian devils and wombats. walking tour of maria island, tasmania –, –  swimming with australian sea lions and dolphins, eyre peninsula –, – east gippsland wildlife journey with echidna –, – bird tour at kangaroo island –, – swim with whale sharks and humpback whales at ningaloo reef –, –  red crab migration and birdwatching at christmas island –, – murray river safari on a houseboat, south australia –.

When you think of Australian unique wildlife you probably picture the most famous mammals of Australia, the marsupials especially the kangaroos. You probably also remember that marsupials raise their young in a pouch. Well done! Indeed virtually every native land mammal on the Australian continent is a marsupial, excepting some rodents and bats. (We’ll save the debate about whether dingoes should be considered native for another day!)  

grey headed flying fox with baby in Australia

The radiation of marsupial life here is truly astonishing, filling every ecological niche imaginable, from wombats, to koalas, to the Tasmanian devil (an endangered species), and 80 percent of them are found nowhere else on Earth. Stranger still are the egg-laying mammals, the monotremes, represented by two of the world’s most fascinating creatures, the echidnas, and the duck-billed platypus. Mammal lovers, prepare to have your vision of the world turned on its head.

Birders are in for an even bigger kick in the life-list with more than 800 species, nearly half of which are endemic. From penguins to parrots, and cassowaries to kookaburras, some of the planets most beautiful and entertaining birds call Australia home. If you want to see parrots, check out our post about Australian parrots for a list of tours that will take you to see these wonderful birds.

Add to that, more reptile species than any other nation (including the world’s largest: the saltwater crocodile) and you can see why any stroll from tropical rainforest to the driest desert is likely to turn up surprising wildlife sightings. 

Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus) Warrawong Earth Sanctuary, Adelaide, South Australia

For those who prefer to peer under the waves, you’ve come to the right place. Australia’s waters host more than 5,000 species of fish, including more half the world’s sharks and ray species. Want to swim with whale sharks, dolphins, Australian sea lions or humpbacks? From the Great Barrier Reef to the Ningaloo Marine Park, Australia has got you covered.

Ready for the Australian wildlife adventure of a lifetime? Here are a few wildlife tours in Australia that you’ll never forget. Have a trip of a lifetime!

Venturing into North Queensland is like stepping back in time. It is home to the Daintree rainforest, the oldest tropical rainforest in the world. At an estimated 180 million years old, it is thought to be the site where songbirds first evolved. It’s also right next door to the world’s largest coral reef system, the magnificent Great Barrier Reef. It is the perfect place for a safari in Australia and visit one of the tropical rainforests down under.

Waterfall in spring

FNQ Nature Tours specializes in immersive Queensland wildlife tours, conservation tours, and wildlife photography tours of this incredible destination.  

During their 4-day Wildlife and Conservation Safari , guests not only have the opportunity to experience the magic of Daintree and its remote places, but can actively help to conserve it. Through special partnerships nurtured by FNQ Nature Tours over the years, guests will participate in citizen science data collection.  

Tree kangaroo sleeping

Guests get to be citizen scientists for a morning as they join researchers of the Australian Quoll Conservancy on a behind-the-scenes tour to locations restricted to the general public while they search for evidence of spotted-tailed quolls .

Then head deep into the forest on a Daintree River safari for some iconic Australian wildlife. Spot saltwater crocodiles (the largest living reptile) in their natural environment, as you navigate down river. To minimize your impact on the ecosystem the boat runs on solar! No engine noise and no stinky fumes that would otherwise upset the wildlife you came here to see.  

Photographer taking photo of saltwater crocodile in a river

Round out the journey with a night safari in Australia and a visit to the Curtain Fig, one of the largest trees in North Queensland. Still want more? How about an option to visit the Great Barrier Reef to swim in pristine coral reefs to put the icing on top of this well-thought-out tour!  

Some of the local wildlife you may spot on their natural habitat in this tour include cassowary , platypus , water dragon , red-legged pademelon , sugar glider , ringtail possum , agile wallaby , green tree snake , Boyd’s forest dragon , lace monitor , Australian scrub python , Orange-thighed tree frog , dainty tree frog , azure kingfisher , wompoo fruit-dove , blue-winged kookaburra , white-lipped tree frog , chestnut-breasted mannikin , red-backed fairy wren , and others.

Fun fact: Kookaburras are terrestrial tree kingfishers!

Platypus swimming

Premier Travel Tasmania offers several different trips to Tasmania, from wildlife tours to historic Tasmania, to Tasmanian luxury getaways. And always in small groups.

The 5-day Wildlife of Tasmania tour starts with a bang. Your first outing is a ‘behind the scenes’ night tour of Bonorong Sanctuary and their work rescuing and rehabilitating endemic Tasmania wildlife. Some of the characters you might meet during this immersive experience include  Tasmanian devils and eastern quolls . 

Another favorite of this trip to this South Australia location is an evening spent with another Tasmanian native animal, the little penguins ! You’ll visit a colony of the world’s smallest penguin, the little penguin (also called fairy penguins) on private land on a guided walk. 

Little Penguin (aka Blue Penguin) in Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island, South Australia

Along the way you’ll see St. Columba Falls, the highest waterfalls in Tasmania, and take a boat cruise along the Freycinet National Park coastline. Explore pristine beaches only accessibly by boat, like Cooks and Bryan, and enjoy a full day hike that will take you bring you face to face with the Tasmanian wilderness. 

portrait of a Cape Barren Goose

Tasmanian birds typically seen on this adventure are Short-tailed   shearwater ,  green rosella , Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle , pink robin ,  yellow wattlebird , and many others.

The journey includes a day trip to Maria Island where wombats , Tasmanian pademelons , forester kangaroos , and Cape Barren geese are the protagonists. Interested in a multi-day hiking tour of Maria Island? Check out the walking tour below!

photographer taking a photo of a wombat

Premier Travel Tasmania contributes to the Tasmanian devil’s plight. This includes a donation to the ‘Save the Devil program’ for every party that joins the tour.

Just a five-hour drive southeast of Perth, in south Western Australia, Bremer Canyon brings you the best best chance for orca whale sightings. Naturaliste Charters have an 8h orca whale expedition  to see these incredible predators. They have been lucky enough (even if it can be gruesome) to witness successful whale hunts. 

Bremer Canyon is a 1.5h catamaran journey from Bremer Bay, and every January to April, over 100 killer whales return to this underwater canyon, and it is almost guaranteed to see them every day. Orcas in this area are very friendly and like to investigate boats by swimming around the bow. Marine biologists on board will interpret orca whale behavior and interactions with other marine species. The goal of the tour is for visitors to leave more knowledgeable about these apex predators than before the tour.

tourists watching killer whales in Australia

One way that tourists can give back is by becoming scientists for a day for Project Orca. Imagery that travelers take, be it dorsal fin shots or eye patches, can be used by researchers that create catalogs to monitor populations and to understand wildlife movements. 

An exciting addition to these tours is acoustic monitoring where you’ll be able to listen to different pods. This information is used by scientists to identify different pods and their movements. 

tourists watching whales on a boat

Other wildlife that can be spotted during the outings: sperm whales , oceanic sunfish ,  long-finned pilot whales , giant squid ,  pigmy whales, and the rarer beaked whales or blue whales . If it’s your lucky day, you might even come up close and personal with pods of striped , bottlenose dolphins . Can also spot different species of sharks including great white sharks , whaler shark  and blue shark . You’ll soon see that whale watching in Australia is incredible.

Pelagic bird enthusiasts will have the pleasure to see Indian Yellow-nosed albatross , petrel , flesh-footed shearwater and wandering albatross taking advantage of any scraps that the killer whales left behind from their hunting expedition.

coastline at bremmers bay

There are a few reasons why you should visit Maria Island in the winter. Firstly, there are fewer visitors this time of year so you and your party may be the only humans around. Perfect for a Maria Island walk with expert guides.

Secondly, winter months (June, July, and August) are when wildlife viewing gets really exciting on Maria Island as native wildlife is busy. Tasmanian devils emerge from their dens, wombats are accompanied by their joeys, the gorgeous Cape Barren geese are busy building their nests, and Tasmanian native hens are having disputes over their territories. It is truly a paradise for wildlife travelers. 

Tasmanian Devil portrait

Over the past 20 years, The Maria Island Walk tour company, have been guiding people through this small island off Tasmania sharing the history, wildlife, and culture of this place with travelers from around the world and earning numerous awards. Their commitment to wildlife and sustainability shows in every detail of their trips.

For example, they avoid single-use items like plastic water bottles, they treat their used water on site, and their organic waste is all locally composted. They also pick up any litter they find during their trips encouraging guests to join them. They’ve donated more than $10,000 to the Tasmanian Land Conservancy to plant trees for the endangered swift parrot (there are fewer than 300 individuals remaining in the wild).

A wombat and her baby grazing

During your 3-day  Maria Island Winter Escape , you’ll experience different northern Maria Island walks. Since this is one of their small group tours (maximum 8 guests) you’ll be able to choose which nature trail you’d like to take that day. 

For example, on one day you’ll be able to choose between gentle walks or a strenuous hike. The first follows Reservoir Circuit or Oast House Circuit for great opportunities for marsupial encounters. The latter will take you on an 11-mile hike to the towering peaks of Mt Maria or Bishop and Clerk to enjoy the views. This is the beauty of this safari package, you get to choose each day!

The last full day is reserved for a grassland visit to watch kangaroos,   Bennett’s   wallabies , Cape Barren geese , and the gorgeous flame robin .

Red-necked Wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus) Lake St. Clair National Park, Tasmania, Australia

You’ll have plenty of opportunities to hear stories from your guides and other travelers while enjoying candle-lit dinners, Tasmanian produce, and fine wines. 

A great addition to your Adelaide-based adventures, the 3-day Eyre Peninsula and Ocean encounters  with Australian Coastal Safaris tour offers the best of land-based and water-based adventures.

On one hand, you have the incredible experience of swimming with playful Australian sea lions at a spot just off Jones Island. Australian sea lions are very inquisitive, and they love to study swimmers. After this, you’ll be taken to deeper waters to search for dolphins and you’ll get to get in the water with them. Remember that dolphins are wild animals and very powerful predators and we should always stop the urge to reach out to touch them.

And the other hand you have 2 days to explore iconic national parks like Lincoln National Park and Coffin Bay National Park.

coastal cliffs on a red sunset

A visit to the Big Swamp Wetland brings sightings of many duck species, like grey teal ducks , pink-eared ducks , chestnut teal ducks , musk ducks , and black swans .

During your visit to Coffin Bay National Park, you’ll be busy trying to spot some of the 150 species of birds, 11 species of terrestrial mammals, 20 species of lizards, 12 species of marine mammals, and six species of snakes.

The 70,000 acres of Lincoln National Park offer rugged cliffs, secluded coves, white sandy beaches, sheltered bays, and scenic offshore islands. On the southern side of the park, you’ll find the massive, wind-sculpted sand dunes. This national park is one of the many natural wonders in Australia.

Spot osprey , white-bellied sea-eagles , swamp harriers , and whistling kites along the rugged cliffs, and along the more sheltered coves you’ll find Australian pipits , striated pardalotes , dusky woodswallows , western yellow robins , and blue breasted wrens .

Rosenberg's Goanna walking on arid land

Other wildlife spotted in this tour are numerous skinks , Rosenberg’s goanna , dragon lizards , swamp harrier , Australasian shoveler , eastern curlew ,  long-nosed fur seals , and  bottlenose dolphins .

If you ever wanted to learn how oyster farming works, this is your chance as this 3-day tour includes an outing with a local oyster farmer where you’ll get to learn all bout oyster farming and do some oyster tasting.

Stroll around Mikkira Station, home of the only wild koala colony near Port Lincoln. Mikkira Station is a private property where the manna gum trees are stunted. The leaves of these trees are the koala’s favorite so you’ll get to have close encounters with them as they’ll often be feeding at head height or just above your head. Western grey kangaroos and emus are also the wildlife highlight together with wood sandpiper , Australasian shoveler , eastern curlew , diamond firetail , and scarlet robin .

Kangaroo Island subspecies, South Australia

Add an extra day to your tour and visit the Neptune Islands where you can observe great white sharks from a cage. During the day outing, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to spot white-bellied sea eagles, Australian sea lions, long-nosed fur seals, and occasionally pilot, blue, or southern right whales during the winter season.

Janine is a bit of a celebrity in the wildlife tourism world. She founded Echidna Walkabout Nature Tours 30 years ago with her partner Roger and they’ve been studying Australian wildlife and leading wildlife tours together ever since. Their commitment to responsible wildlife tourism was recognized by the tourism community when they won gold at the WTM Responsible Tourism Awards. They also went the extra mile by founding the  Koala Clancy Foundation  and, with the help of some generous landowners, they started restoring land for the wild koala population by planting native trees. (73,000 trees planted since 2016!)

Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) Flinders Chase National Park, Kangaroo Island, South Australia

Now you can join them on their East Gippsland Wildlife Journey  and learn about the magnificent wildlife and diverse landscapes of the region. 

This 4-day trip east of Melbourne takes you through the RAMSAR wetlands of the Lake District. It’s in this area of lush eucalypt forests where you’ll be rewarded with iconic Australian wildlife like koalas , kangaroos , echidnas , Australian   parrots , and honeyeaters . During this outing, you’ll help record wildlife species sightings for scientific purposes. 

Short-beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) Ninety Mile Beach, near Lakes Entrance, Victoria, Australia

The rest of the trip is spent in Giant Alpine Ash forests and woodlands, the perfect habitat for spotting gliders , visiting a complex dune system, and learning about how Aboriginal people have lived in this ancient landscape for thousands of years at Krowathunkoolong Keeping Place, an Aboriginal Learning Center. 

Along the way, the group will also help recover discarded fishing nets from the beaches. 

A biodiversity-rich area, some species that you might encounter are  platypus , dingos , dunnarts , quolls , diamond pythons , flying foxes , galahs , king parrots ,  wallabies , wombats , bandicoots , rosellas , and lace monitor . 

A kangaroo with two joeys

One of the magnificent birds you’ll spot on this trip is the Superb Lyrebird , known for its incredible mimicry skills and for sounding just like R2D2! 

Kangaroo Island is the third largest Australian island and is just southwest of Adelaide. Over a third of the island is protected and its diverse geology, weather, and landscape make it a haven for a wide range of wildlife. In fact, you could spot more than 260 species of birds! This is why Kangaroo Island is the perfect place to book a private birding tour with Exceptional Kangaroo Island. 

New Zealand Fur Seals (Arctocephalus forsteri) Admirals Arch, Flinders Chase NP, Kangaroo Island, Southern Australia

A bird tour in Kangaroo Island is slow and immersive. While many visitors rush to get to Flinders Chase National Park and its exceptional rock formations (like the famous Remarkable Rocks and the stalactite covered Admirals Arch), your group will also stop and observe other wildlife you spot during the drive.

Since this is a private tour, this can always be fine-tuned to your interests. There are good chances to see Kangaroo Island kangaroos , tammar wallabies , and short-beaked echidnas during the drives to different birding locations.

At Remarkable Rocks it’s time to pull your binoculars out and scan for Australian kestrels , southern emu-wrens , tawny-crowned honeyeaters , white-bellied whipbirds . 

At Admiral’s Arch you can visit with  Australian ravens , Pacific gulls  ,  sooty oystercatchers , crested terns , and a long-nosed fur-seal colony.

a glossy black cockatoo feeding while perched on a branch

One of the stars of this tour is the glossy black-cockatoo . Not to mention  galahs , little corellas , and grey currawongs . You’ll take a boat ride to a conservation area to observe protected bird colonies of  white-bellied sea-eagles , royal spoonbills , and Australian pelicans .

Australian Pelicans (Pelecanus conspicillatus) Monkey Mia Reserve Shark Bay, Western Australia

During your journey you’ll have the opportunity to take a private tour among Australian Sea lions at Seal Bay, taking your time to watch sea lion behavior and learn about their biology from your guides. You might also encounter caspian and crested terns , hooded plovers , sooty oystercatchers ,  eastern ospreys, and pied cormorants .

This private tour will give you the opportunity to learn more about the natural history of the island from your knowledgeable guide and also enjoy delicious meals in gorgeous surroundings, like a picnic on a clifftop or a seafood barbecue. If you are used to the luxury safaris offered in Southern Africa you won’t be disappointed!

Australian Sea-lions (Neophoca cinerea) Seal Bay, Kangaroo Island, Southern Australia

If you find yourself in Western Australia, a visit to Ningaloo reef is in order. Ningaloo Marine Park protects 1.5 million acres along the coast of Exmouth peninsula, including the Ningaloo reef. The reef is just a few meters from the shore and easily accessible. Visitors to this marine park can swim with  whale sharks , turtles , manta rays , and even humpback whales in their natural habitat. 

Every year around 30-40,000 humpback whales migrate to the area from Antarctica from June to late October. It is then when they bring their calves to the feeding grounds. An opportunity to not only witness this wonderful wildlife spectacle but to be in the water with them is life-changing. This is one of the reasons why whale watching in Australia is one of the best in the world.

humpback whale breaching

A full-day trip with Exmouth Dive & Whalesharks will take you on a swim with humpback whales outing of a lifetime. The boat has a special license to approach the whales within a distance of 250 ft. This is where the boat stops and snorkelers are allowed in the water. An expert crew will guide you through the experience and will advise you on the proper behavior around these incredible animals. 

While these tours are not a multi-day event, you can do a few of these and swim with whale sharks, swim with humpbacks, and spot manta rays and sea turtles during the same trip while you are based in the area. 

whale shark and a few snorkelers

Timing is everything though. Whale sharks are in the area from March to August, humpback whale trips run from mid-July to late October, and manta rays are found cruising along the reef between April and November. Book your trip during the best time to see your favorite marine species.

Other marine life seen during these outings is  spinner dolphin , dugong , Australian humpback dolphin , parrotfish , butterfly fish , damselfish , potato cod , coral trout , black-tip reef shark , and others.

If you are a diver take a look at their diving trips. On one of their recent outings,  they spotted a rare Czeblukov’s sea snake ! 

two yellow coral fish swimming

Christmas Island’s red crab migration is one of the most incredible wildlife spectacles on Earth. During October-November, with the arrival of the first rains, millions of red crabs leave their homes in the forest and make their way through the forest and to the ocean to breed. 

Here’s a tip: the crab migration only lasts a few days (a couple of days on their way to the ocean, and a couple of days on their way back to the forest) so try adding a birdwatching tour and snorkeling trip during red crab migration to round out your wildlife experience!

wildlife tourism in australia

With over 60% of the island covered by Christmas Island National Park, the island is famous not only for its red crabs but for its fantastic bird-watching opportunities and snorkeling. 

Indian Ocean Experiences offer a  birdwatching tour on Christmas Island that combine two or more of these unique experiences. 

Christmas Island is home to one of the world’s most famous rookeries, where 80,000 sea birds nest every year. This is your only opportunity to see Christmas Island frigate birds and the endemic  Abbott’s booby . They spend most of their lives hunting at sea and Christmas Island is the only place where they nest. The colony supports about 3,000 birds. 

Other birds that you’ll spot during your tour are Christmas Island hawk owl , Christmas Island emerald dove , brown booby , common noddy , red-footed booby , golden bosun , nankeen kestrel , sacred kingfisher , red-tailed tropicbird , Christmas Island white-eye , Christmas Island thrush , Christmas Island imperial pigeon , and  Christmas Island goshawk. 

Golden bosun flying over the ocean

Snorkel in the newly proclaimed Christmas Island Marine Park habitat protection zone where whale sharks , turtles , manta rays , spinner dolphins , coral reef species, oceanic fish, and a vast array of seabirds call this magical place home. Find your next favorite deserted beach!

Fun fact! Did you know that there are bioluminescent fungi on Christmas Island?

Join this multi-activity 3-day river safari on Australia’s longest river. The Murray River winds its way across the dry outback transforming the arid landscape into an oasis of lakes, floodplains, billabongs, islands, ancient red gum forests, wetlands, and riverine forests. And it’s full of incredible wildlife. Incredible that this oasis is so close to Adelaide.

Living on a river doesn’t mean roughing it, as during your Murray River Safari  you’ll be staying on a luxury houseboat where you can enjoy nature from your comfortable room during your downtime. Alternatively, enjoy the river from the hot tub on the top deck. Watch the dark night sky, marvel at the river sunset, enjoy luxury meals with your fellow travelers, and share stories while sipping on local wines. 

Pontoon boat docked on the river

Your houseboat is perfect for a wildlife cruise . As a small capacity boat housing no more than ten people, you’ll enjoy 2 bathrooms with hot showers, a spacious lounge and a modern kitchen. The river safari with Murray River Trails follows the Leave no Trace approach as no waste is dumped in the river and no infrastructure has been built in the river. And since you are on a houseboat with a luxury lodge feel, your sunset tour is included.

After boarding the luxury pontoon cruiser your guides will teach you about the river system and the history of the area. After lunch, a cliff walk with an expert guide will take you higher up to marvel at the views of the river and its forests, and will be a great opportunity to spot some rainbow bee-eaters as they nest in the sand dunes and cliffs.  

three people standing on a cliff and looking at river below

Dinner doesn’t mean the day is over, as you’ll get to experience a guided night walk to spot tawny frogmouths  and brush-tailed possums  and listen to the different frog species that live in the floodplain. This is one of the many authentic experiences you’ll have during your Australian safari.

Your second day on safari involves a nature drive along the ephemeral lakes to enjoy some birdwatching. Some bird species you might spot are white-winged fairy-wrens , black swans , sharp-tailed sandpipers , white-winged trillers , Australian pelican , red-capped robin ,  bluebonnets , emus ,  pied stilts , red-necked avocets , and raptors. Also, you’ll have opportunities to spot red kangaroos , koalas , and short-beaked echidnas . 

red-capped robin sitting on a stick

Your last day will take you on a guided canoe trip on the Riverland Ramsar river system where you’ll explore the backwater and small creeks while listening to the sounds of this natural system. Spot western grey kangaroos , lace monitors , and yellow rosellas . 

As a farewell to the river, lunch is served on the top deck of the houseboat during the last leisure cruise. 

In 2020, Murray River Trails founded the Murray River Trails Fund , a sub-fund of the Australian Communities Foundation . The Fund provides grants to registered charities that work on projects to improve the health of the river floodplain; improve biodiversity; and  inspire people to care for the river system. You can donate here . 

As you’ve seen there are plenty of opportunities to watch wildlife in Australia. Joining an Australian wildlife tour is the way to go as they know where the animals are, their behavior, and ecology, and will also show you the many different ways you can help native animals during your travels. 

Have you chosen one Australian wildlife tour yet for your future trip? What’s you next safari adventure?

safari tours in Australia pin image with kangaroo

Cristina Garcia

Zoologist and wildlife photographer. She has worked in the field with jackals, wolves, cheetahs, & leopards. She serves on the Board of Directors of SEE Turtles , a non-profit sea turtle conservation organization.

Read her posts at Travel For Wildlife and see more of her work at Truly Wild , & Our Wild Yard .

Privacy Overview

Wildlife Tourism Australia

Wildlife by State of Australia

Wildlife in the australian states.

Information about some of the wildlife found in each state and territory of Australia:

Australian Capital Territory

New south wales, northern territory, south australia, western australia.

The Australian Capital Territory is home to Australia’s capital city, Canberra, and is the smallest State or Territory in the country.

Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, south-west of Canberra is a great place to see kangaroos, koalas and other native fauna in a natural setting. The National Aquarium and Australian Wildlife Sanctuary near the city also features kangaroos, koalas, dingoes, marine and freshwater fish and little (fairy) penguins.

As you travel from the beautiful coastline, over the Great Dividing Range and into the rangelands and deserts of the interior, you encounter a range of different wildlife communities, all fascinating in different ways.

Even in Sydney, the capital city of New South Wales, you can see thousands of flying foxes and an array of beautiful and colourful birds. In the famous Blue Mountains near Sydney, you can see Eastern Grey Kangaroos, Swamp Wallabies, lyrebirds, honeyeaters, lorikeets, parrots and glow worms, to name a few.

Byron Bay, Australia’s most easterly point, has great Humpback whale viewing in winter and spring on their migratory path from Antarctica to the northern breeding grounds and back again. Port Stephens is a prime location to see the resident bottlenose dolphins playing and frolicking in the bay.

Along the south coast, hundreds of Australian fur seals sun themselves on the rocks and little (fairy) penguins parade up the dunes as they return from their daily feeding at sea. A unique bird and wildlife observatory near Jamberoo, south of Wollongong, provides the perfect opportunity to take part in wildlife workshops and see reptiles, frogs, snakes, lyrebirds, firetails, robins, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos and the endangered ground parrot.

To get a close up view of these beautiful creatures visit Taronga Zoo (0one of the world’s most scenic and innovative zoos), the Sydney Aquarium, or any of the many other wildlife parks.

Out west you head into the real Australian Outback, home to the Red Kangaroos, an array of fascinating lizards and a wide range of other animals adapted to dry conditions. Visit Sturt National Park or Meningee Lakes for an authentic Outback wildlife experience.

The ‘Top End’ of the Northern Territory is a tropical paradise for wildlife, mostly arid (with an abundance of desert-adapted fauna), but also many pockets of lush greenery.

The world-renowned Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory is a permanent home for one-third of Australia’s bird species.

Billabongs in the park attract a variety of magnificent birds including jabirus, jacanas, spoonbills, kingfishers, magpie geese and egrets. The Top End also offers a wealth of specialised fauna from water pythons, crocodiles, turtles, frill-necked lizards and barramundi to kangaroos, wallabies, emus, dingoes, flying foxes and thorny devils (one of the world’s wedirdest-lookng lizards).

Further South, you encounter the spectacular scenery of Central Australia including the famous Uluru (Ayers Rock), rich in Anoriginal legend: keep an eye out for euros a species of kangaroo), cockatoos, ringneck parrots, honeyeaters, bustards, zebra finches, kestrels, whistling kites and an abundacne of lizards. 

Queensland is most famous for its reef and rainforests, but also boasts many other habitats.

The Great Barrier Reef is the largest in the world, a huge 2000km long structure of coral branches, limestone-coated polyps, sea urchins, anemones, shellfish and tropical reef fish. Snorkelling or diving on the GBR ranks as one of the world’s greatest wildlife experiences.

In these warmer waters of Queensland you can also find dugongs, sea turtles, dolphins and the largest whale-watching centre in Australia at Hervey Bay.

The rainforests of Queensland, including the Daintree in the far north, are teeming with an amazing array of rainforest animals such as pademelons, tree-kangaroos, glowworms, bats, frogs, cassowaries, bandicoots, geckoes, possums, tawny frogmouths, boobook owls, gliders, bandicoots and butterflies. In fact, the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area in the is home to 30% of Australia’s marsupial species, 60% of its bats, 30% of its frogs, 23% of its reptiles and 18% of its birds.

Mon Repos Turtle Rookery near Bundaberg, is the largest hatching ground in eastern Australia for green, loggerhead and Australian flatback turtles. The best time of day to see the turtles nesting is after dark during the months of November through to February. Near Brisbane, the state’s capital city, there are numerous parks including (in combination with the contiguous park over the border) the world’s largest largest area of rainforest outside of the tropics – Lamington NP combined with the adjoining Border Ranges NP of NSW.

Near to Brisbane you can see large colonies of koalas, possums, gliders, kangaroos, wallabies, pademelons, dugong, Humpback whales and dolphins. Moreton Island is a wildlife haven where hundreds of species of seabirds and shorebirds congregate and friendly wild dolphins are fed at the popular Tangalooma Resort. 

South Australia boasts over 4000km of coastline along the Great Australian Bight, where Southern right whales can be best seen from the cliffs on their migratory path to warmer waters.

Kangaroo Island is world-renowned for its abundant and easily viewed wildlife. It offers abundant populations of kangaroos, koalas, little (fairy) penguins, Australian sea lions and New Zealand fur seals, sea eagles and ospreys.

More than 80% of South Australia is spectacular arid ‘Outback’ – The Simpson Desert, the Nullarbor Plain and Lake Eyre, one of the world’s largest salt lakes which fills with wildflower blooms and attracts thousands of wetland birds each year.

Flinders Ranges features striking and ancient rugged mountain scenery, from soaring red cliffs and deep gorges to abundant wildlife such as the beautiful Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby. Great white shark enthusiasts flock to the cool, dark waters off the South Australian coast to see this magnificent king of the ocean.

Underground, the beautifully decorated Naracoorte Caves is renowned for its world-class and innovative Bat Cave Video Centre, where you can view the resident bat population via the unique infra-red camera system that monitors the bats form inside the caves.

Tasmania is home to many species of wildlife that are found nowhere else in Australia, and many of them are in great abundance.

Being isolated from the mainland, Tasmania is free from predators such as foxes and dingoes that hunt native Australian wildlife.

Along the wild rivers and in the deep forests and mountain ranges you may find the Tasmanian devil, pademelons, spotted-tailed quolls, eastern quolls, the Forester kangaroo (Tasmania’s only kangaroo), Bennett’s wallabies, possums, wombats and platypus.

Along the coast you may encounter migratory shorebirds from as far afield as Siberia, such as plovers, oystercatchers, black swans, egrets, cormorants, pelicans, terns, shearwaters and birds of prey. The coastline is also home to numerous marine mammals including dolphins, Australian fur seals, Southern right whales, Humpback whales and Little (fairy) penguins.

One of the most accessible places to see a wild Peregrine falcon in Australia is right in the heart of Hobart, Tasmania’s capital city.

One species you are not likely to see is the Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger). This dog-like animal with black stripes on its back and rump died out in 1936, although in recent years there have been reported sightings of this mythical beast in the north of the state! Tasmania is also a little known but fantastic site for diving enthusiasts.

Just south of Melbourne, is Victoria’s most famous wildlife watching attraction, the Phillip Island Penguin Parade. Visitors can see the little (fairy) penguins come ashore each night and waddle up the dunes to their burrows and nesting boxes. Nearby, Seal Rocks is home to almost 9000 Australian fur seals and many sea and shore birds such as pelicans, ibis, royal spoonbills, swans, gulls, terns and shearwaters.

In Melbourne itself, do not be surprised to see ringtail and brushtail possums that have adapted to living in an urban area and the wetland bird sanctuary underneath the gigantic Westgate Bridge.

The best place to see whales close to shore in Victoria is near Warrnambool, where the Southern right whales pass by every winter.

In the west, the Grampians and the Mallee, are a great place to see gliders, owls, the Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby, the Eastern Grey Kangaroo, possums, echidnas, emus, wedge-tailed eagles, the endangered regent parrot and koalas.

If you’re keen to meet Fatso, the fat-arsed wombat in the flesh, then head to the Victorian highlands. Mount Buffalo is a prime location to see the Common Wombat and the Bogong High Plains are home to the Bogong Moth, seen swarming in the thousands to the bright lights of the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

Victoria’s high country (part of the ‘Australian Alps’) is an important habitat for many species such as the endangered Baw Baw frog, the rare Mountain Pygmy Possum (only sub-alpine marsupial in the world), the endangered Leadbeater’s Possum, wallabies, kangaroos, wombats, gliders, platypus, snakes, lizards, cockatoos, galahs, crimson rosellas, kookaburras, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos and lyrebirds.

The fern valleys and sandy beaches of Wilsons Promontory make up part of the ‘Wildlife Coast’ (Victoria’s south-east coast), where wildlife is abundant and easily observed. The dense forests and coastal inlets of eastern Victoria provide a great chance to see large goannas, dingos, dolphins, Glossy-black Cockatoos, kangaroos, echidnas, wallabies, possums, potoroos, king parrots, terns, lyrebirds and the rare smoky mouse and ground parrot.

Western Australia covers approximately one-third of the Australian continent, yet contains less than one-tenth of the country’s population.

It is a vast land of rugged outback, clear blue tropical waters and wildflowers that bloom in brilliant colours every spring.

In the far north, you will find ancient boab trees in the Kimberley region and one of Australia’s greatest natural wonders, the Bungle Bungles large beehive-shaped rock formations. Ningaloo Reef is the second largest coral reef in Australia and offers the unique opportunity to swim the biggest fish in the sea – the whale shark.

The Ningaloo coast is also a great spot to see Humpback whales, large schools of manta rays, emus, galahs, ibis, herons, ospreys, euros and Black-footed Rock-wallabies. Shark Bay is not only famous for its friendly wild bottlenose dolphins at Monkey Mia, but also turtles, manta rays, dugongs and school sharks.

On Rottnest Island, a daytrip from the capital city of Perth lives the small marsupial, the Quokka. The Quokka is found nowhere else in Australia or in the world, apart from on this island, and they will let you walk right up to them!

The southern corner of the state is known as the garden of Western Australia and is a perfect birdwatching destination to see honeyeaters, the Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, whistlers, stints and nearly 30 types of parrots.

Southern right whales can be seen from the Albany coast in the winter months and Western Grey Kangaroos, echidnas, euros, bilbies, potoroos, bandicoots, Woylies (Brush-tailed Bettong), Boodies (Burrowing Bettong) and the numbat, which is only found in Western Australia, can be seen in the national parks close to the city.

Department of Agriculture

Wildlife health in the spotlight on World Wildlife Day

  • Media release
  • Agriculture

Australia is celebrating World Wildlife Day on March 3 by highlighting a climate change impact guidance tool for wildlife, being developed through the One Health Surveillance Initiative, to assist decision makers in anticipating the role climate change may play in the health and disease in wildlife species.

The World Wildlife Day 2024 theme Connecting People and Planet, celebrates healthy ecosystems and rich biodiversity through showcasing how vital they are for the survival and connection of humans, animals, and plants.

Australian Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Beth Cookson, said a healthy environment is the foundation for the health of all living things.

“Wildlife health is important and adopting a true ‘One Health’ approach recognises the link between human, animal, and environmental health, which is essential to preventing future pandemics,” said Dr Cookson.

As part of the One Health Surveillance Initiative supported by the department, Wildlife Health Australia (WHA) is running a One Health Investigation Fund, to boost support for collaborative field, laboratory, and epidemiological investigations into health issues involving wildlife in Australia.

The tool guides the user through the exposure pathways for climate-associated disease in wildlife, promoting a comprehensive evaluation of climate change impacts, thereby improving Australia’s early warning capabilities.

“The climate change impact guidance tool aids decision-makers in understanding the complexities of the threat of climate change to wildlife and their environments,” said Dr Cookson.

“Currently being finalised by WHA, the climate change impact guidance tool will be made available to veterinarians, biologists, public health scientists, ecologists and professionals exploring the impacts of climate change on ecosystems and wildlife.”

More information about the impacts of climate change on Australian wildlife can be found in this WHA Fact Sheet: https://wildlifehealthaustralia.com.au/Portals/0/ResourceCentre/FactSheets/General/Impacts_of_climate_change_on_Australian_wildlife.pdf .

In 2018, an IPBES 2020 Workshop Report on Biodiversity and Pandemics estimated there are approximately 1.7 million undiscovered viruses in animal hosts. Many exist in wildlife and feral species and are evolving, posing a growing level of risk which this One Health approach seeks to address.

More information can be found here: Official website of UN World Wildlife Day .

  • March 3 is the United Nations World Wildlife Day, which celebrates and raises awareness of the world’s animals and plants.
  • This date was chosen as it is the birthday of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) signed in 1973.
  • Wildlife Health Australia (WHA) is the independent coordinating body for wildlife health in Australia and leads national action to respond to emerging health issues affecting Australia’s wildlife.
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Sunken buildings on Batteria, an island in the Po delta, seen from the air

‘If the sea rises we’ll have to leave’: plans to restart gas drilling threaten Italy’s sinking delta

Sixty years after fatal floods and subsidence halted gas extraction in the Po delta region, politicians are once again eyeing methane reserves. But at what cost to one of the Mediterranean’s largest wetlands and the people who live there?

T o a visitor driving through Polesine in north-east Italy on a winter morning, the area might seem blessed with an abundance of wildlife. The biodiversity is among the richest in Italy, with 400 species of bird , lagoons, marshes and reed beds that have created a true natural labyrinth. Yet, it soon becomes obvious that something is not right: houses and fields are all lower than the road, visibly sunken, protected by embankments about four metres high. The reason? Without those barriers, they would be under water.

The entire area of Polesine, a strip of land between the Po delta and the Adriatic Sea, has long suffered the consequences of subsidence, but it was aggravated by gas extraction, which is why the practice was banned by the government in 1961.

Before it did so, there was Batteria – an island that no longer exists . Covering almost 300 hectares (740 acres) in the Po delta, Batteria was home to a few houses, a farm, warehouses, rice fields and lagoons for cultivating fish. But then, in 1976, a storm came in off the Adriatic Sea and Batteria was gone.

Natale Bergamin, a fisher from Pila, Porto Tolle, on the Po delta

“If you want to see Batteria it’s down here, three metres under water,” says Natale Mantovan, a fisher, as he stops his boat near some semi-submerged buildings. “Twenty of us lived on the island and 1,500 worked there. Today, I pass only a few other fishermen in search of eels and mullet.”

Over the centuries, Batteria had been affected by subsidence . It is not uncommon in sedimentary soils but in Batteria’s case the process was accelerated by the extraction of methane gas, experts say.

One of the hundreds of wells used to extract methane gas in Polesine.

Now, the region is under threat once again. The Italian government has reversed the ban, announcing that gas extraction will be allowed to restart. The plan is to drill new wells in the upper Adriatic, off the Polesine coast, an announcement that sparked fury and protests from residents last December.

Polesine, part of the Veneto region, is rich in methane: “We have always known that this is an area rich in gas, you just need to make a hole in a ditch and the brackish water comes out,” says Vanni Destro, a retired railway worker and member of the Polesine No Drills Committee, a group that opposes new gas extraction.

The first wells were built in 1935 and, by 1959, there were 1,424 . The extraction process draws gas and salt water from the subsoil and then separates the two. The problem with taking large amounts of water from underneath the soil is that it makes the ground – that already has a tendency to sink – even more unstable, causing it to sink much faster.

Giorgio Crepaldi beside one of the hundreds of methane wells in Polesine.

In the 1950s the area experienced serious floods, including one in November 1951 that left 84 people dead and displaced almost 200,000. The Red Cross estimated at the time that 100,000 hectares (almost 250,000 acres) of land, a surface area larger than Lake Geneva, were submerged. That decade witnessed an exodus of 150,000 people from Polesine. In 1957, the seismologist Pietro Caloi, commissioned by the government to assess the causes, determined that gas extraction was to blame for “almost the entire collapse of the terrain observed in the delta”. Caloi urged the authorities to close the wells.

The government followed the advice, but it wasn’t the end of the story. The rate of subsidence simply slowed down. “It’s not enough to turn everything off, there’s a huge driving force that goes on for 30 to 40 years,” says Giancarlo Mantovani, an engineer heading the Consorzio di Bonifica , a public body that manages reclamation works in the Po delta. “Since they closed the wells we have dropped by a further two-and-a-half metres.”

Aerial shot of the Po delta.

If the area is still suffering from the effects of past gas extraction, it raises the question why Italy’s government has decided to resume the practice after 60 years.

The war in Ukraine has played a part. Italy used to rely on Russian gas and is trying to boost its domestic production in an effort to increase its energy security. In her 2022 inauguration speech, Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni said : “Our seas have gas deposits that we have a duty to exploit.”

The proposed new wells in Polesine will be built in the sea (previously they were on land), but they are close to the coast. Offshore wells so near the coast have been demonstrated to affect subsidence in adjacent land, according to Mantovani. “A drilling station in front of Lido di Dante, near Ravenna [further south], caused the ground to sink by one-and-a-half metres,” he says.

A methane gas extraction plant in Polesine.

Environmental groups strongly oppose the project. They argue that authorities are risking the environment for a minimal amount of gas . “We are talking about a total of almost 7bn cubic metres of gas – at the rate of one-and-a-half billion per year,” says Giorgio Crepaldi, another member of the No Drills Committee. It’s a fraction of Italy’s annual consumption of 70bn cubic metres. “The government just wants to show they are doing something about the rise in energy costs, but with no regard for the local populations.”

Local politicians also oppose it, including Veneto governor Luca Zaia , a key member of the rightwing League party, the main political ally of Meloni’s Brothers of Italy. Moreno Gasparini, the mayor of the small town of Loreo and president of the Veneto regional park of the Po delta, also a conservative, is another of the project’s staunch opponents. “It would be detrimental to the territory,” he says. “The whole delta is below sea level. Thanks to the barriers we can live here but if the sea rises we’ll have to leave.” Gasparini is ready to fight, he says. “Should the drilling start, we’ll block the roads.”

In 2022, the Veneto region convened a panel of experts to study the situation. They issued a report stating that there was not enough information to determine the impact the drilling would have on nearby areas and concluded that “out of caution, the activity cannot be allowed”.

One of the experts, urban planner Francesco Musco , says that subsidence is not the only risk. The Po delta, he says, is one of the largest wetland areas in the Mediterranean: “Do we want to extract or do we want to preserve?” Then, there are economic considerations: “This could jeopardise fishing and tourism, which matter a lot. Are we sure it’s the best choice?”

Yet, despite the opposition and the negative report, Italy’s central government, which has the final say, seems determined to go ahead with the extraction.

Sunken building near Batteria Island, Polesine, Italy.

Crepaldi thinks the government should learn from history. “I grew up here and one of my earliest memories is from when I was three, when soldiers were driving around telling people to leave their homes because they were expecting a flood,” he says. “Haven’t episodes like that taught us anything?”

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