Where to see wildlife in Australia?

April 21st, 2008 by Tim Uden

I meet a lot of backpackers travelling around Australia who tell me that they have been travelling for several months and still haven’t seen a live kangaroo in the wild. Dead ones don’t count – since they’re everywhere – and going to a wildlife park is cheating. So what’s the secret to seeing a kangaroo in the wild?

Well there are several spots where you’re virtually guaranteed to see a kangaroo in the wild. Here’s a short list of the top places to see wildlife in Australia:

• Pebbly Beach in Murramarang National Park, NSW. Not many backpackers make it to this national park on the NSW south coast between Bateman’s Bay and Ulladulla, but it is one of the best places to see kangaroos on the beach. There is no public transport so you’ll need a car (although most rental cars aren’t allowed on the unsealed roads in the park).
• Grampians National Park, VIC. Most kangaroos in the Grampians can be found around the Zumstein picnic area, but you’ll see them elsewhere in the park as well. The small village of Halls Gap is one of the few places where the locals aren’t telling porkies when they tell you that kangaroos are hopping down the main street of town.
• Barrier Highway, NSW. The drive from Dubbo to Broken Hill would be one of the world’s most boring stretches of road if it were not for the kangaroos hopping in front of your car. If you leave Dubbo around midday it will get dark shortly before you arrive in Broken Hill increasing your chances of seeing kangaroos. Take it easy and if you’re driving a rental car make sure your travel insurance reduces your excess since there is a high chance that you may hit a kangaroo.

As for other native animals, you’ve got a good chance of seeing emus in the Flinders Ranges, SA; you’re sure to see a few quokkas if you go to Rottnest Island, WA and if you’re lucky you could spot a rare cassowary around Mission Beach, QLD.

Posted in Australia | View Comments

the backpackers' ultimate guide