#8: Seeing Australian wildlife in the wild
Forget the Sydney Opera House. Does Australia get any more iconic than kangaroos on the beach?
One of the items on my Australia bucket list was to spot some kangaroos and koala bears–in other words, get up close and personal with Australian wildlife. Contrary to popular belief, there aren’t many kangaroos hopping around Australia’s major cities. But then I headed out into the outback with the Nullarbor Traveller trek from Adelaide to Perth; suddenly, I was surrounded by all sorts of Aussie animals.
Kangaroos in the bush: Our first night of camping was at Warren Gorge, and we were immediately sent out on a hunt for yellow-footed rock wallabies, a rare breed that flourishes in the rocky gorge. While I was lucky enough to spot one, I wasn’t quick enough with my camera. However, our camp site was surrounded by adorable kangaroo moms and joeys: their springy step never stops being cute!
Kangaroos on the beach: It’s beyond awesome to be sunbathing on Australia’s whitest sand beaches (I reckon they could be the whitest in the world!), only to look up from your book to spot kangaroo families hopping past.
Sea lions in the water: The most incredible optional experience with Nullarbor Traveller (meaning it costs extra because they pay an outside provider) is swimming with sea lions and dolphins in Baird Bay. The sea lions are super playful, twisting and turning just inches away from your face–and some will even play fetch with you!
Dolphins in the water: Swimming next to dolphins in their natural habitat is SO much cooler than just seeing them perform in a show or having trained ones kiss you on the face. I’ve never been too keen on animal shows, and after having the chance to interact with dolphins in their natural environment, I don’t think I ever will be. It was brilliant to swim under and over them, and watch them leaping just meters from the boat. They’re such gorgeous and joyful animals!
Stumpy lizards: These lizards have a short, wide stumpy tail that resembles its head to confuse predators: they’re common in South and Western Australia. Easy to spot and chilled out enough to let you pick them up, they’re probably the only reptile that I actually don’t mind.
Pelicans: These enormous, regal birds were soaking up the sunshine at Baird Bay.
Locusts: They’re actually not just a plague in the Bible. They’re a common, awful pest in Western Australia and we got absolutely slammed with them on one stretch of road. The late spell of rain gave them plenty of time to breed, and our guide said he’d never seen them this bad. The awful thunking sound of locusts hitting the windshield continues to haunt me.
Koalas: While I wasn’t able to spot any koalas in the wild, I did play with a few at Featherdale Wildlife Park and Taronga Zoo in Sydney.
What’s your favorite place to spot wildlife in Australia?
