A wide variety of thrilling wildlife in Australia can captivate your attention in a way no other place in the world could do. If you visit this destination, you would find unique species of innumerable creatures you would have never witnessed before. Many zoos, parks and conservation facilities provide a natural habitat to a wide variety of resident and migratory birds, as well as various other land and aquatic animals. You could have some wonderful experiences with these creatures at various places in Australia. Check out what all is in store for you.
Watch nesting turtles
On the south Queensland coast during the months of November to February, you may usually find turtles nesting and hatchlings rushing around the coast. You may get luckier to find these nesting turtles at sites, such as Lady Elliot and Heron islands. Another site where a good population of loggerhead turtles can be observed is Mon Repos Conservation Park. All these places have guides assigned to orient you on a careful observation of endangered species of nesting turtles. You might also like to check out the Western Australia’s Eco Beach for flat back turtles.
See or swim with whale sharks
It is a joyful experience to get to see whales traveling along the coastline. This usually happens at Australian coastline when southern right or humpback whales migrate from Antarctica to the north side. Sydney Harbor can offer you an amazing view of these whales. If you are traveling to Australia between May and October, you may find southern right whales at the Encounter Bay in South Australia. On the other hand, humpback whales can be seen at Queensland’s Hervey Bay between August and November. If you are somewhere around Victor Harbor, do not forget the tour of the South Australian Whale Center. In case you are interested in a real adventure with whale sharks, there are safe swim tours organized by operators between March and July. These are done at Coral and Exmouth Bay.
Find a platypus
An Australian native species, platypus is one of this world’s only two such mammals that lay eggs. Getting a glimpse of it is a real tough task unless you are at a suitable location where the chances of finding it are the highest. One such location where you can spot a platypus is the Eungella National Park in Queensland where you can wait for a platypus to take a dive to make ripples on the water. You may spot a platypus at this location preferably during dawn and dusk, while you are standing on the viewing platform of the Broken River.
See wombats
A wombat is the largest burrowing herbivorous mammal in the world. This adorable marsupial’s three endangered species are found in Australia, namely common wombats, and northern and southern hairy-nosed wombats. Thus, it is a good chance to watch them here in Victoria, southeast South Australia, southern Queensland and New South Wales. Even though it is a nocturnal mammal, you might find them stumbling upon grasses in the cold weather.
Witnessing little fairy penguins
There are 17 penguin species and fairy penguins are the smallest of them. You would usually find them waddling along the southern coast from Fremantle to Sydney. Offshore islands serve as happening locations for fairy penguins and offer guided tours organized by various tour operators to check out penguins. Some of these islands include the Granite Island, Montague Island, Kangaroo Island and Philip Island.
Dive and snorkel with sea turtles and manta rays
Manta rays and sea turtles can be observed quite closely while you enjoy diving or snorkeling at the Ningaloo Reef or Great Barrier Reef. Many tourists specially come to these places to witness some species that can be found all year round.
Walk through quokkas
Located close to Perth, the Rottnest Island has the highest population of this sweet marsupial called quokka. There are up to 17,000 quokkas surviving on this island at a given time. These can mostly be spotted around the settlement of Thomson Bay. This place offers free guided tours for you to walk through quokkas. To explore the wildlife at this island, you should go well prepared after hiring a snorkel, mask and bike.
Visit Dreamland Amusement Park
You may also visit the Dreamland Amusement Park in Queensland that is full of wildlife experiences. About 800 animal species are kept here in natural habitats, and guests can watch them closely and take pictures too. You can also check out a wide range of animal exhibits here. A show takes place in the park that displays critically endangered species of some animals. In its Dreamland Woolshed, there is an interactive show held to give the guests the pleasure of an Australian sheep farm where sheep shearing is done. There are various other activities for visitors in this wildlife park. Thus, it offers you a full package of enjoyment while watching Australian wildlife.