Australia is a land like no other. The world’s smallest continent and largest island, it’s a vast place that guarantees its visitors hot sun, magnificent sandy beaches, vibrant cities and beautiful diverse landscapes.
Another interesting thing about Australia is its location, deep in the earth’s Southern Hemisphere. Australia is so geographically isolated that it’s evolved distinctly from everywhere else on Earth, making it a truly exotic, otherworldly place to explore. And nowhere is this uniqueness more evident and captivating than in Australia’s wildlife.
From the duck-billed platypus to the dingo, over 80% of the flora and fauna native to Australia can’t be found anywhere else on Earth. That makes a wildlife encounter here extra special – something you’ll never experience anywhere except on this great island continent.
Here are eight of the best of those Ozzy encounters to inspire an Australian holiday.
1. Witness the Christmas Island red crab migration
This incredible exodus happens between October and January each year, at the first big rainfall of the wet season. It’s not an encounter you can set your watch to; the crabs spawn before dawn, during the receding tide and last quarter of the moon.
If you’d like to be one of the few, lucky people to witness what Attenborough described as one of his greatest TV moments, be aware that it happens at short notice. You need to be on or near Christmas Island at the right time – and remain flexible.
Public notice boards and local radio keep locals and visitors up to speed on the movement of the crabs. Once you have an idea of where they’ll be and when, you can make your way to one of the purpose-built crab bridges to catch the tide of crustaceans as they scuttle towards the coast. Many of us remember David Attenborough narrating this spectacular phenomenon on BBC many years ago, but did you know you can go and witness it for yourself? A teeming sea of red crabs – millions of them – make their way en masse from the forest to the shores of Christmas Island (1500km from the Australian mainland) where they mate and reproduce.
There are several beaches from which you can observe them meet and mate, too, though it’s important to keep your distance and not interrupt the delicate dating ritual. With a little planning, you can be in the right place at the right time, and be witness to this unique process.
2. Visit a devil sanctuary in Tasmania
Of all Australia’s myriad marsupials, the most endangered is the Tasmanian devil. Having gone extinct on the Australian mainland some 3,500 years ago, it can now only be found wild in the Australian island state of Tasmania. The devil is a fascinating little creature, known for its fearsome attitude, sturdy neck and head, huge bite-force, and demonic shriek. Some of the earliest monikers given to them by the 19th-century explorers who first encountered them were ‘bear devil’, ‘Beelzebub’s pup’, and ‘satanic flesh lover’.
Perhaps not as inviting a prospect as snuggling a baby koala, an encounter with the Tasmanian devil is special nonetheless. They’re fascinating animals, true survivors, and a rarity that deserves to be understood beyond their hostile screech and intimidating demeanour. The reality is that they’re timid, solitary fellows whose reputation for aggression is undeserved.
The Cradle Mountain National Park in Tasmania is home to a devil sanctuary where you can view the little critters and learn all about them, their behaviour, and why their existence is now threatened. Whether you view them from the visitor centre or would like an up close and personal encounter with a tour, a trip to the sanctuary will give you an unmatched insight into these misunderstood marsupials, and their fight for survival.
3. Swim with giant Australian cuttlefish
The giant Australian cuttlefish is an incredible creature. These are marine chameleons, capable of camouflaging themselves in a flash and blending seamlessly into the seaweed, rocks, and coral behind or beneath them. They’re also extremely intelligent creatures, who, each year, flock to the South Australian city of Whyalla in their tens of thousands to mate.
What makes the cuttlefish migration here particularly interesting is the male-female imbalance. It sets the males in fierce competition, making for a subaqua spectacle.
Witness it and you’ll see a magnificent neon light show: a multicoloured display, complete with intricate poses and deliberate, elaborate movements designed to enchant females. Some males even engage in subterfuge, posing as females. This, the cuttlefish’s ultimate camouflage, is an attempt by smaller males to trick the larger, more dominant males so they can sneak off with a female, unchallenged.
You don’t have to be a diver to experience this incredible event. Snorkelers and swimmers can enjoy it, too, just make sure you plan and book your encounter with a reputable local guide, and always keep your distance. You can visit the official Whyalla website to book your spot for the light show.
4. Koala spotting on the Great Ocean Road
Koala’s are one of Australia’s most iconic marsupials. Not actually a ‘bear’ as they tend to be described, the Koala is a herbivore that lives in the eucalyptus forests of southern Australia. Koalas can eat up to and over a pound of eucalyptus leaves daily so the forests are essential for survival.
Their limited diet explains their reputation for laziness. They get such scant nutrition from their single food source that they need to sleep up to 22 hours a day and move as little as possible. Where once their biggest challenge was fur hunting, today, habitat loss is their biggest foe. With each koala needing around 100 trees to thrive, the rapid degradation of their forests is a mortal threat.
You can spot koalas in the wild on the Great Ocean Road, between Lorne and Apollo Bay. And, to support their conservation, you can visit one of the many sanctuaries along Australia’s coast. It’s here that you’ll have the opportunity to get up close and personal with them – though attempting a cuddle with a wild bear isn’t recommended!
5. See the kangaroos of Kangaroo Island
Countless zoos in Australia offer tourists the chance to get close to the kangaroo, and those zoos operate tirelessly to preserve and protect these fascinating creatures. That said, seeing them in the wild is always the best way to observe their behaviour and admire their strength and size. There are several stunning areas in Australia where you can watch wild Kangaroos in their natural environment. One of the best is, unsurprisingly, Kangaroo Island.
Kangaroo Island – off the coast of South Australia, is the country’s third largest island and, as its name suggests, home to a large population of kangaroos. Book a tour with a local operator and you’ll find yourself trekking through the bush to see not only kangaroos but lots of other Australian wildlife, too. Dingoes, Tammat wallabies, reptiles, koalas, and much more await you at this fabulous park.
6. Watch out for wombats
Arguably the cutest of the marsupials, wombats are certainly adorable. Wombats are placid, shy herbivores and the Koala’s closest living relative. They waddle, dig, are sturdy in build, and appear almost clumsy at a glance. But they’re also strong and fast, capable of reaching speeds of up to 40 kilometres per hour when they have to.
Another creature that you won’t find anywhere outside of Australia, wombats are under serious threat due to loss of habitat, human interference, and mange. There are sanctuaries across Australia putting great effort into rescuing, saving, and helping these creatures, and a visit to one of these helps to support their work.
Depending on where you visit, you should get a chance to meet a wombat (such as here at the Moonlit Sanctuary) and give it a pet. Its keeper can also answer any questions you might have about these lovely animals.
7. See marine life of the Great Barrier Reef
Whether you’re snorkelling, scuba, or free diving, or staying high and dry in a glass-bottomed boat, the Great Barrier Reef offers an underwater experience like no other.
This vast coral reef just off the coast of Queensland is one of the seven wonders of the natural world. It boasts 2,300km of magnificent reef and marine life – a cacophony of colour and life, and a worldwide diving and snorkelling mecca. And just as the Serengeti has its Big Five, the reef has its Great Eight, so why not grab your mask and fins and see how many iconic inhabitants of the reef you can spot?
Whales, clownfish, manta rays, turtles, Maori wrasse, giant clams, potato cod, and sharks are the Great Eight, and with a bit of time spent snorkelling, diving, or boating here, you should easily see each. But a visit to the reef will show you so much more than that: pipefish, seahorses, sea snakes, sting rays, scorpion fish, beautiful butterfly fish, batfish to name a few.
The trick to getting the best from your trip to the Great Barrier Reef is to go at the right time. June to November is the high season, and while it’s busiest at this time (so you’ll need to book ahead), the sea is at its warmest and clearest.
8. Get a glimpse of the duck-billed platypus
One of the most elusive and, therefore, sought-after animals in Australia is the weird and wonderful duck-billed platypus. These semi-aquatic creatures are rare among mammals in that they lay eggs rather than live young. With the bill of a duck, the tail of a beaver and the feet of an otter, they’re something of an evolutionary marvel…a creature that’s unlike anything you could imagine. And yet, here they are, in Australia.
Duck-billed platypuses are notoriously shy so if you’d like to encounter one, it takes some necessary dedication (as it should, they’re not creatures that could withstand the onslaught of mass tourism).
There are plenty of ethical wildlife tours – such as this one offered by Vision Walks – that include the chance to observe the platypus in its natural environment, from Queensland to the Southern Highlands.
Final thoughts...
Australia’s delicate and unique ecosystem is famous, and much of what makes it so special and rare is now under threat due to habitat loss, human interference, and other environmental issues.
The rarity and fragility of Australia’s wildlife is an ongoing concern, but the efforts being made to preserve and protect it are undeniable. As visitors, we have the responsibility to help protect it, but also an opportunity. One of the most effective ways we can protect indigenous wildlife is to be interested in it and find responsible and sustainable ways to interact with and support it.
Whether you want to meet all the marvellous creatures that call Australia home or just add a couple of wildlife encounters to your trip, we’re truly spoiled for choice with the superb sanctuaries, safaris, and wildlife parks across Australia.
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Have you had an encounter with any of these antipodean animals? Or do you think we’ve missed any that should have made our list? Let us know in the comments below – we always love to hear from you.