Top Spots to Witness Wildlife in Queensland, Australia: From Koalas to Humpback Whales

The hum of cicadas, a court of hopping kangaroos, smiling koalas climbing trees, the cassowaries’ strong walk and the peek-a-boo of reef fish—Queensland, Australia’s unique wildlife is a buffet of delights for your senses. If you’re planning to hop, swim and slide your way through Queensland’s stunning wild side, here are the top places you must visit!

Great Barrier Reef

Snorkel with Green and Loggerhead turtles (Australia’s unofficial marine mascot), at Heron Island—a UNESCO World Heritage Site that offers award-winning eco-friendly exploration options. If you want to watch turtle hatchings, make your way towards Mon Repos where the young ones waddle their way to the ocean to begin their life. Watch manta rays cruising around Lady Elliot Island and spot the clownfish and giant clams near Bundaberg.

Gold Coast

If hanging out with the humpbacks is in your bucket list, head to the Gold Coast for an iconic experience! With a 100% guarantee of catching these gentle giants on their migration journey, the Gold Coast offers tours from the Main Beach, Surfers Paradise Runaway Bay and Coolangatta> You can also take a chartered yacht for an intimate experience. When it comes to whale watching, while the Gold Coast is an absolute delight—you can also go for similar tours in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.

Gondwana Rainforests

An ancient stretch towards southern Queensland, this wetland is home to around 4000 wildlife species. Meet the resident birds of O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, dine with friendly alpacas at Canungra Valley Vineyards, spot the red-necked pademelon at the Binna Burra Lodge and sparkle up your experience by visiting the glow worms of Springbrook National Park. Oh! And do not miss the shy platypus near the Platypus Pools and Stairway Falls at the Lamington National Park.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

No Aussie experience is complete without a ‘koala cuddle’ being ticked off. Head to the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary on the Gold Coast for a meet ‘n greet not only with these cutesy animals, but also kangaroos, eagles, dingoes and more.
Cuddle a koala in the eucalyptus enclosure and have breakfast with these beauties on fixed days of the week. Feed kangaroos at the Main Station area, learn about snakes at the Big Fang Theory House and enjoy a free flight bird show at Wild Skies.

Australia Zoo

Enjoy the animal planet experience live at this iconic getaway—home to 1000 mammals, birds and reptiles. Meet the famous crocodiles of this zoo at the Crocoseum, board the Africa Safari Shuttle to spot giraffes, zebras and rhinos and head to the Tiger Temple for a walk with the striped cats. Visit the Koala Walkthrough to see the marsupials in their natural habitat—tree-huggers in a eucalyptus forest!

Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures

Located 40 minutes north of Cairns and 25 minutes south of Port Douglas, this famous attraction started as a tea house in 1934. While working towards crocodile conservation, Hartley’s was also the first place in Australia to breed crocodiles in captivity.
While the shows that run at regular intervals are absolutely marvellous, you can also explore the 2500 metres of boardwalks and pathways winding through Melaleuca Wetlands, Eucalypt Woodland and Riverine rainforest, enjoying a wide variety of native and exotic animals.

Excited to meet the Aussie locals with scales, fur and feathers? Explore our holiday packages and book your trip now.