There are many fantastic reasons why you should be booking a flight to Australia. But one reason which has not received nearly as much attention as it should have, is all of the weird and whacky animals that Australia has to offer. So, to bring attention to this worthy cause, here are some reasons why seeing Australia’s wildlife up close an personal should be on your bucket list.
Why Are Aussie Animals So Unique?
Millions of years ago, Australia was a part of a supercontinent called Gondwana. When this supercontinent started to break apart 165 million years ago, Australia drifted off with its buddy: Antarctica. However, Australia decided it wasn’t going to work out with Antarctica about 40 million years ago, so it drifted on again to be on its lonesome (how emo).
This long duration of isolation, combined with Australia’s diverse climate has resulted in many of the cute (and deadly) critters that we see today.
Why Should You Come To Australia To See The animals?
Great question!
Australia has an estimated 200,000-300,000 species of animal, most of which are unique to Australia.
87% of our mammals, 93% of our reptiles, 94% of frogs, and 45% of our birds cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Which we think is pretty cool…
Another good reason to come down under, is that Australia offers a unique experience where you can interact with so many of our beloved animals either in the wild, or up close. It is not uncommon to see kangaroos, koalas, wombats or lizards zipping about while you are travelling in Australia- I almost stepped on a Blue Tongue Lizard on a walk 2 days ago!
If you prefer seeing animals in a more systematic fashion, we also have some fantastic zoos and wildlife parks in Australia which will scratch your itch. Most of which also give you the opportunity to feed a kangaroo or a wallaby, a great brag for your friends back home.
So Where are Australia’s Best Wildlife Adventures?
There are so many places in Australia where you can have some magical experiences with animals.
The Best Zoos in Australia
If you are a fan of a zoo, we would recommend Melbourne Zoo (Melbourne), Taronga Western Plains Zoo (Dubbo), Billabong Zoo (Port Macquarie) or Australia Zoo (Beerwah) as they are our favourite. There are a few other smaller wildlife parks that we have been that are also a great place to stop. Including the Reptile Park (Gosford), Oakvale Wildlife Park (Port Stephens) and Blackbutt Reserve (Newcastle).
Kangaroo Island (South Australia)
If you have the chance, Kangaroo Island off the coast of South Australia is a great place to visit. Over one-third of the island is wildlife protected, meaning it has some great opportunities to see animals in their natural habitat. Here, you can see kangaroos (obviously), sea lions at the famous seal bay, koalas, various bird species and much more.
Rottnest Island (Western Australia)
Rottnest Island is another famous spot here in Australia to interact with the animals. This island is located off the shore of Perth in Western Australia, and is famous for the quokkas that live there. Anybody that goes here grabs a smiling selfie with a quokka, but never fear if you are on the east coast, we got our quokka selfie at the Oakvale Wildlife Park!
Phillip Island (Victoria)
Philip Island is located only 90 minutes from Melbourne and is home to the largest Little Penguin colony in the world. Here you can catch a parade of Little Penguins every night of the year, making their way from the ocean to their burrows on the land. I am not sure about you, but I can’t think of anything cuter…
The Great Barrier Reef (Queensland)
If aquatic animals are more of your thing, than look no further than the Great Barrier Reef. This natural wonder of the world is the largest reef system on Earth, spanning over 344,400 square kilometers. Making it the perfect place to spot some creatures from the deep blue sea.
Hopefully we have convinced you that the wildlife here in Australia is worth paying a visit on your travels. Even though we live in Australia, we still get excited every time we see one of these beautiful animals out and about. If you would like to know more, or want a more detailed review on each of these zoos or wildlife parks, let us know below.
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