Australia's Wildlife

Our unique fauna, from Antechinus to Wallaby, will surprise and impress you

Since breaking away from the Gondwanan southern landmass many millions of years ago, the Australian continent has drifted northwards in isolation towards Asia.  This isolation and the continent’s tectonic stability have allowed a uniquely specialised collection of plant and wildlife to develop unhindered by the cataclysmic environmental upheavals that have affected most other places on earth. 

Australia is a country of incredible diversity, from the vast expanses of the central desert,  to the tropical rainforests of north Queensland, the snowcapped peaks of the Snowy Mountains, the high altitude country of Tasmania, the coral and marine spectacle of the coastal reefs and a remarkable array of islands and coastal scenery on the fringes of the landmass.

Australia’s diverse environment harbours some extraordinary animals, including koalas, kangaroos, wombats, possums, all classified as marsupials, and the only egg laying mammals, the Platypus and Echidna.   There are 756 bird species, 1,049 species of reptiles and amphibians, while over 36,000 kms of coastline, fringed by golden beaches, sheer cliffs, mangroves, coral reefs, meet with oceans teeming with life.  The Great Barrier Reef (off Queensland) and the Ningaloo Reef off Western Australia’s coast are arguably the two most important reef systems in the world.

Some of Australia’s mammals, such as the Eastern Grey Kangaroo, are relatively easy to see in large numbers while others require more luck or the services of a local wildlife expert.  Much of the wildlife is nocturnal and, aside from using a spotlight at night, the best times for viewing is in the early morning or late afternoon when animals are feeding.  During the middle of the day most animals have the sense to lie low in the shade and sit out the heat of day.

The following are some good places for viewing wildlife:

Blue Mountains

The wilderness on Sydney’s doorstep provides excellent wildlife viewing and it is possible to see large numbers of Eastern Grey Kangaroos in the Blue Mountains, just to the west of the city.  The rivers of the coastal ranges are prime habitat for Platypus while semi-open country provides the chance of spotting wombats, particularly in late afternoon when they emerge from their burrows to feed.

Tasmania

The island state has escaped many of the ravages visited on the mainland by introduced species.  The state is still free of foxes and, as a result, retains large populations of small marsupials such as Bettongs, Pademelons and Quolls. 

Narrawntapu National Park on the north coast provides an unusual opportunity to see wallabies and wombats in large numbers in the coastal heath in daylight hours.  For sheer variety, the heart of the Central Plateau is prolific in wildlife, with Bennett’s Wallabies, Red-necked Wallabies, Spotted Quolls, Brushtail Possums, Wombats and Tasmanian Devils all regular sightings. 

Bruny Island has great wildlife viewing opportunities with Quolls, Bennetts Wallabies, Brushtail Possums and Brown Bandicoots readily seen in the evening. 

Tasmania’s coastal waters also provide opportunities to see Humpback Whales, Fur Seals, Dolphins and colonies of Fairy Penguins.

Kangaroo Island

This island has remained something of a Noah’s Ark.  Many of species that are extinct or highly vulnerable on the mainland are found here in good numbers.  Kangaroo Island is one of the best places to see Koalas, Tammar Wallabies and Western Grey Kangaroos.  Its coastline provides good viewing of Australian and New Zealand Fur Seals as well as a couple of colonies of rare Australian Sea lions.

The Gawler Ranges

This is one of the few places in Australia where you can expect to see the three largest macropods - the Red and Grey Kangaroos and the Euro (Common Wallaroo).  The grasslands amongst the mallee scrub also provide regular sightings of Emus and in certain places, Southern Hairy-nosed Wombats and the rare but beautiful Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby can be seen. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nullarbor Coast

One of the most spectacular whale viewing platforms in the world is perched on the edge of the cliffs on the Great Australian Bight where the Nullarbor Plains drops into the Southern Ocean.  The shallow sandy sea floors provide the perfect environment for whales to calve and every year, Southern Right Whales return to breed here immediately below the cliffs.

The Daintree

The rainforests of tropical north Queensland although small in area are the oldest in the world and harbour the greatest biodiversity in Australia.  Local mammals include Forest Pademelons, Musky Rat Kangaroos, Tree Kangaroos, Ringtail Possums, bandicoots and the Thornton’s Peak Medlomys.  Reptile life includes a variety of pythons, lizards and the perfectly camouflaged Boyd’s Forest Dragon.  The coastal rivers are home to Australia’s most enduring and prehistoric predator, the Estuarine Crocodile.

Mary River

The coastal floodplains of the Top End of the Northern Territory provide an extraordinary wildlife spectacle, with huge numbers of Agile Wallabies, Crocodiles and Goannas as well as introduced species such as Banteng, Timorese Ponies and buffalo.  In the rivers and billabongs, Long-necked Turtles, Water Pythons and File Snakes are occasional sighted, and there are colonies of fruit bats in the vegetation overhanging river edges. 

Central Desert

The ranges and plains of central Australia have a huge, if sometimes elusive, variety of wildlife:  from small species of frogs that appear only when the rains come to tall Perenties, big Red Kangaroos, Black-footed Rock Wallabies and even camels, left to run wild when the Afghan camel trains were replaced by the rail and truck.

Tips

Much of Australia’s wildlife is hard to find unless you are in the company of a local guide who knows the habits and habitats of the species you are looking for.  It is also nocturnal so the best chance of seeing many species is with a spotlight at night.