We’re lucky to live in a country with an abundance of fascinating wildlife and magnificent creatures.
Sure, overseas folks might joke that ‘everything in Australia can kill you’, but we know the real story. From sleepy koalas clutching eucalyptus trees to prickly echidnas peeking out of bushes, there’s something magical about coming across Straya’s native animals in their natural habitat.
Wildlife watching is a super-duper family holiday addition. Not only will it amuse your young explorers, but it’s also a great way to teach them how to respectfully engage with nature and the animal kingdom. We’ve listed our top tips for your family’s next wildlife encounter when you stay with G’day Parks, so that you can safely and responsibly explore animal habitats in the wild.
Go regional.
It’s a lot easier to find Aussie wildlife in national parks, wetlands, nature reserves, and state forest—which means you’re better off packing the family into the car and heading out of the city.
Deep dive on your destination.
Research what animals are native to the region and any key information for both your safety and theirs. Keep seasonal migration in mind—for example, to go whale watching in Margaret River, you need to travel from June to early December.
Book a wildlife encounter or animal experience.
Where available, this is the best way to see nature up close, learn from wildlife experts, and stay safe—especially when it comes to dangerous or endangered creatures, like going shark cage diving or swimming with sea lions in Port Lincoln.
Dawn and sunset are often the best times for wildlife spotting.
While the kids may not love an early wake up call, they’ll be quickly won over by the animals—plus, it’s a chance to show them how they have different behaviours and sleeping habits to animals. Nighttime is also an opportunity to see nocturnal creatures by torchlight, whether on a guided tour or simply gazing up at the park trees.
Robert Irwin's got a Holiday Hack to Avoid This Unwanted Wildlife Encounter...
Wear the right gear on your wildlife adventures.
We’re talking insect repellent, sunscreen, and appropriate clothing. Comfy sneakers and neutral shades are the way to go, as bright colours might alarm or discourage animals.
Speak softly and keep still.
If you don’t want to startle animals, opt for small group tours over travelling in crowds, make yourself smaller and less threatening, and don’t get too close. The old rule of thumb is true—look, but don’t touch.
Keep a respectful distance.
Don’t try to take selfies or get your family into a photograph with the animals if it means encroaching on their space. The one exception might be the friendly, selfie-loving quokkas on Rottnest Island, but even then, you should never chase or follow. Let them come to you.
Leave no trace.
All litter is dangerous to wildlife. If there are no bins around, hold onto food packaging and rubbish to dispose of it back at the park.
With these tips in your toolbelt, soon you’ll be watching wombats waddling, kangaroos bounding, and turtles gliding. If we’ve got you thinking about buying binoculars, read on to learn about the most popular wildlife holidays in your state with G’day Parks. Many of these parks even have their own regular animal visitors (and no drop bears in sight!).
SA Wildlife Holidays
The Flinders Ranges are a wildlife watching hotspot, and Spear Creek Holiday Park is the destination to start your journey. Located on a working sheep station, you’ll see more than just woolly creatures—watch wedge-tail eagles and peregrine falcons swoop through the sky, and kangaroos and echidnas also frequent this area.
Say ‘g’day’ to emus, kangaroos, and galahs at Discovery Parks - Coffin Bay on the Eyre Peninsula, while the bushland setting of Discovery Parks - Kangaroo Island is ideal for travellers to meet koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, and birdlife.
VIC Wildlife Holidays
Why not take the family on a road trip down the Great Ocean Road? Keep your eyes peeled on the trees along the Kennett River Koala Walk, and don’t be surprised if your nature walk is accompanied by birdsong or the rustle of wallabies hopping through the bush. After a blissful beachside stay at Kennett River Family Caravan Park, follow the road to Port Fairy Holiday Park. Nearby, you'll find Tower Hill Reserve (nestled inside a dormant volcano), home to emus, kangaroos, koalas, swans, ducks, and blue wrens.
Alternately, head to the Grampians! Halls Gap Lakeside Tourist Park has kangaroos that roam freely around its grounds, plus cockatoos, parrots, blue wrens, emus, and deer. On a wildlife trip, it’s only fitting to book one of their safari tents to truly get back to nature.
QLD Wildlife Holidays
K’gari is home to hundreds of dingoes – you might even spot puppies in spring – plus sea turtles, whales (July to October), stingrays, dugongs, and sharks in the Great Sandy Strait. Catch a ferry from the mainland, where we recommend a stay at Fraser Coast Holiday Park.
For a farm stay where you can enjoy hands-on experiences (like candling eggs and damper making) and meet farm animals as well as native Aussie fauna, wildlife lovers can spot wallabies, platypuses, and more than 150 species of birdlife at Splitters Farm.
Discovery Parks - Airlie Beach is another top pick for wildlife watching, with its vivid rainbow lorikeets, on the precipice of the Conway National Park rainforest.
WA Wildlife Holidays
The bottlenose dolphins of Monkey Mia are waiting to welcome you to the World Heritage-listed Shark Bay, near Tasman Holiday Parks - Denham Seaside. Join a dolphin experience to meet these friendly ocean creatures, and whale watching cruises run from July to October.
Kimberleyland Waterfront Tourist Park have their own toothless freshwater crocodile called ‘Gummy’, plus the Kununurra is a paradise of aquatic creatures, wallabies, and many species of bird (especially in the dry season).
Last but not least, did we mention the quokkas that scamper around Discovery Resorts - Rottnest Island?
Our Resident Wildlife Expert, Robert Irwin, has another Holiday Hack For You!
TAS Wildlife Holidays
Low Head is one of the only places in Australia where you can go on an adorable penguin-watching tour at nightfall. Book your wildlife trip to Beauty Point Tourist Park, where you can see nearby birdlife and animals at surrounding national parks, including right next door at Redbill Point Conservation Area.
Meanwhile, Discovery Resorts - Cradle Mountain is on the doorstep of Cradle Mountain National Park, where you can spot wallabies, wombats, possums, pademelons, and – of course – Tasmanian devils.
NSW Wildlife Holidays
Head to Batemans Bay and stay at Pleasurelea Tourist Resort and Caravan Park as you explore the creatures of the sea. Snorkelling and scuba diving with fur seals at Barunguba Island (Montague Island) is a year-round highlight, while spring heralds Eurobodalla’s whale watching season.
Discovery Parks – Byron Bay is another launchpad for experiences—both on land and in the water. Go on a Dolphin Kayaking tour, wander through Nightcap National Park, and tell the kids to keep an eye out for Nemo at Cape Byron Marine Park.
Combine the beachfront with animal encounters at Discovery Parks - Pambula Beach, where kangaroos will hop into the park most evenings.
NT Wildlife Holidays
Australia's world-famous Kakadu National Park is a wild wonder, from saltwater crocodiles (guided tour only!) to abundant birdlife and mammals. With its resort-style swimming pool and wide range of accommodation, Discovery Parks - Katherine is a great fit for your Kakadu wildlife trip.
Head south on the Stuart Highway to Larrimah Wayside Inn, who have a resident saltwater croc named ‘Sam’, or go west for bird and turtle watching at Dundee Beach Holiday Park.
Nature is calling your name!
Book your next family trip on the G’day Parks app or online. Then, start clearing space in your camera roll for all the photographs you’re bound to snap of your wildlife experiences and adventures.
