There are plenty of opportunities to observe Australia’s unique native wildlife in their natural habitat.
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Nothing beats observing an animal in its natural habitat, and there are plenty of places where you can spot these Australian native animals in the wild.
Kangaroos
Heaps of Eastern Grey Kangaroos call the areas around Melbourne home and they are the easiest animals to find in the wild. They love anywhere with grass, so fields, paddocks and golf courses are the best places to observe Skippy nibbling on a bit of fresh pasture. Kangaroos are most active at dusk and dawn, so going for a bushwalk around this time is a good chance to spot them (but be careful if you are driving). Some good places to find kangaroos in the wild include the Grampians, the Great Ocean Road and Woodlands Historic Park.
Koalas
Koalas are fussy eaters, only dining on the leaves of a few species of eucalypt trees, so you will only find them where these trees are present. Some of the best places to spot koalas in the wild are along the Great Ocean Road including Kennett River, Wye River and Tower Hill. Since they spend so much time sleeping in trees, it can be hard to spot them without the movement catching your eye. Look up at the forks of the trees where they like wedge themselves in for a snooze.
Wombats
Wombats are shy animals that are most active at night, so they can be a bit harder to spot in the wild than kangaroos and koalas. Spending a night camping at Wilsons Promontory is your best bet for the chance to observe the stumpy mammals as they forage for food. Despite their cute cuddly appearance, wombats have sharp claws for digging. Keep your food secure in your car if you don’t want a wombat to tear through your tent looking for a midnight snack.
Platypus
Notoriously shy and easy to scare, platypuses are hard to spot in the wild. But if you know where to look and are patient and quiet, you can hope to observe one in the water as it comes up for air on its search for food. You best chance of spotting these unique animals in the wild is at Lake Elizabeth in the Great Otway National Park, near the Great Ocean Road.
Echidnas
Like its monotreme cousin the platypus, the echidna is shy and hard to spot in the wild. They can be found in many areas around Melbourne including the Great Ocean Road, You Yangs, Phillip Island and Grampians. Echidnas eat ant and termites, so with a bit of luck you can see one as it snuffles around on the ground in search of a meal.
Little Penguins
The best place to see Little Penguins in the wild is as they come ashore after a day of feeding and head to their burrows in the sand dunes on Phillip Island. The Penguin Parade on Phillip Island is the perfect opportunity to observe the birds as they waddle their way home with a tummy full of fish.
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About the Author
Violet Cowells is an Australian blogger with a love for all things new! Violet is the owner at Violet’s Voyage.
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