The cutest animals in Australia and where to find them

Seeking to get a close-up take a look at the cutest animals in Australia? From quokkas to koalas, the Nice Southern Land gives a delightfully various vary of wildlife encounters past its famously scary spiders, sharks and snakes. Learn on for our choose of the perfect and most unusual Australian animal encounters in every Aussie state.

Stare upon koalas lazing within the eucalyptus bushes at Kennett River, Victoria

When folks consider cute Australian animals, koalas inevitably prime the checklist. Round Australia, there are nonetheless a number of locations the place you’re allowed to cuddle a koala, however animal welfare consultants advise towards it for a number of causes; it’s greatest to look however don’t contact.  

On a highway journey southwest from Melbourne alongside Victoria’s famed Great Ocean Road you’ll be able to cease in on lush tracts of forest behind Australia’s well-known southern surf seashores. Right here you’ll discover the Kennett River Koala Walk and one of many densest populations of koalas within the nation.

An hour’s meander alongside Gray River Street ought to ship a number of sightings of those tufty-eared marsupials, often curled within the criminal of a gum tree munching on leaves or having fun with a 20-hour sleeping session.

Feed kangaroos on Kangaroo Island, South Australia

One half of Australia’s nationwide coat of arms, the kangaroo has been thrilling and confounding new guests to Australia ever since Captain Cook dinner first encountered one in 1770. It’s unlikely you’ll miss seeing kangaroos someplace, whether or not it is on a bush stroll, on a golf course, or bounding throughout a rustic highway at nightfall.

For a extra up-close and private expertise with these iconic macropods recover from to South Australia’s  Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park. Luggage of kangaroo-friendly meals are offered right here for A$3 a pop, making it simple for guests to ingratiate themselves with the resident ‘roos, a novel subspecies named – funnily sufficient – the Kangaroo Island kangaroo.

The remainder of Kangaroo Island – generally known as Karta Pintingga to its Indigenous custodians  – abounds with different Australian native species, roaming throughout 4405 sq km (1701 sq miles). Dolphins, sea lions and seals could be seen off the dramatic shoreline, whereas goannas, southern brown bandicoots, tammar wallabies and short-beaked echidnas (one other tremendous cute animal you’ll immediately fall in love with) could also be noticed on one of many many wildlife expeditions run by native operators.

Snap a selfie with a quokka on Rottnest Island, Western Australia

With distinctive options that very a lot seem like they’re smiling, the diminutive Australian marsupial generally known as the quokka is likely one of the most adorable of Australia’s many native species. There are a lot of good causes to go to Rottnest Island, a 30-minute ferry journey from Fremantle, however seeing quokkas within the wild usually tops the checklist. “Rotto” is nearly the one place you’ll be able to see quokkas of their pure habitat as they had been protected against the launched predators that decimated them on the mainland.

The Rottnest Voluntary Guides Association (RVGA) runs “Meet the Quokkas” strolling excursions every day at 9:30am and a couple of:30pm. All you’ll want is solar safety, water, respectable footwear and a digital camera or smartphone to snap a selfie with the candy little issues should you should (Chris Hemsworth famously did!). Naturally, it’s greatest to not intrude with these mini marsupials in any means that may misery them; ask your guides for the perfect method.

Camp with wombats on the Bay of Fires, Tasmania

Wombats could be seen in lots of locations throughout mainland Australia, nevertheless it’s onerous to beat Tasmania’s gasp-inducing Bay of Fires for dependable encounters. A 50km (31-mile) sweep of pristine sands, rangy eucalyptus bushes, and fire-red granite boulders operating from Binalong Bay to Eddystone Level, the Bay gives browsing, swimming, boating, fishing and lots of different diversions, however assembly its wombat inhabitants is probably the preferred exercise.

A number of wild tenting websites are dotted alongside the 70km (43.5 miles) of tracks that run by way of this protected space. When out strolling, preserve your eyes peeled for the distinctive sq. ‘scat’ (feces) of the native wombats, and your ears primed for any rustling within the undergrowth. For sure, should you’re fortunate sufficient to come across one among these strong however cute marsupials, keep nonetheless and quietly watch it shuffle on its means. For those who draw consideration to your self, the wombats will womble away with out hesitation.

Spot the elusive platypus in Eungella Nationwide Park, Queensland

Eungella National Park, one of many largest swathes of protected subtropical forest in Australia, can also be Queensland’s foremost platypus-spotting website. Particular viewing platforms have been subtly built-in into the forest round Damaged River, one among this elusive monotreme’s favourite habitats.

Platypuses are notoriously shy, so the perfect time to identify this distinctive duck-billed, egg-laying mammal is at dawn or sundown. Persistence is the important thing – set your self up quietly and comfortably and search for telltale trails of bubbles on the river floor. Chances are high the bubbles will probably be adopted by a surfacing platypus. Nevertheless, don’t startle them – they’ll dive underneath within the short while, and can take refuge of their riverside burrows in the event that they sense hazard.

For those who fail to notice a platypus, you will not be alone. This author has seen one solely as soon as, regardless of a long time of hopeful quests alongside Australia’s japanese rivers. Aside from admiring their illustration on Australia’s 20c coin,  you may get near platypuses in enclosures on the Gold Coast’s David Fleay Wildlife Park, Sydney’s Taronga Zoo, and Melbourne Zoo to be taught extra about these slick-furred creatures. 

Spot bandicoots by moonlight at Tjuwaliyn (Douglas) Scorching Springs Park, Northern Territory

Trying uncannily just like the long-nosed lovechild of a wallaby and a mouse, the bandicoot could be present in a number of elements of Australia. Within the Northern Territory, you’ll be able to see the northern brown bandicoot at Tjuwaliyn (Douglas) Hot Springs Park, which sits on the normal lands of the Wagiman folks and is house to many sacred websites.

The river and thermal swimming pools entice many wildlife species: Migratory birdlife, bandicoots, and even the elusive quoll — a noticed, carnivorous and notoriously shy marsupial. Bandicoots are nocturnal so your greatest probability of sighting them is to camp in a single day then look out for his or her gleaming eyes on an evening stroll.

Cruise by black-footed rock wallabies at Yardie Creek, Western Australia

In case you are drawn to West Australia’s Coral Coast by the prospect to observe migrating humpback whales, snorkel amongst colourful corals at Ningaloo reef or swim with whale sharks, additionally take a day trip to discover inland. At Yardie Creek, an open-air river cruise winds by way of pink and gold cliffs the place the very uncommon black-footed rock wallaby lives.

These cute animals will not be a lot larger than a small canine, averaging round 4kg in weight, and so they have lengthy tails, which allow them to maneuver nimbly alongside the gorge partitions. The rock wallabies are nearly invisible, sitting camouflaged on this dry terrain, till one of many river cruise guides factors them out. For those who’re fortunate you might also spot birds corresponding to egrets, ospreys and Western bowerbirds.

Swim with bottlenose dolphins at Port Stephens, New South Wales

Dolphins will not be distinctive to Australia, however Port Stephens (2½ hours north of Sydney) is one spot the place you’ll be able to swim responsibly with these pleasant cetaceans. Greater than 140 bottlenose dolphins dwell right here, greeting guests with infamous curiosity and playfulness. Though they reside within the harbor, bear in mind that they’re nonetheless wild creatures – there are strict guidelines laid out by NSW Parks & Wildlife on the way to work together with the dolphins should you do resolve to get within the water.

Eco-certified Dolphin Swim Australia is the one operator in New South Wales that’s permitted to let guests swim with wild dolphins. They’re going to present every part you’ll want for a four-hour open-ocean swimming journey, together with a radical briefing, wetsuits and a masks and snorkel. Relying on the time of yr, you might also spot migrating humpback whales whilst you’re right here.