3 must-have Aussie wildlife experiences
With so many beautiful creatures in our country it would be a shame not to get up close and personal with them (in their natural habitat, of course.) These are some of the best Aussie wildlife experiences that you should put on your bucket list – that is if you haven’t already!
Whale watching
Given that humpback and southern whales travel along much of our coastline during their annual migration, there are many locations you can observe these majestic animals. Whether you’re scanning the surf on a headland or on a tour boat it’s an awe-inspiring sight that everyone has to witness in their life. Sydney harbour, South Australia’s Encounter Bay and Queensland’s Hervey Bay are all popular destinations for migrating whales.
Fairy penguin encounters
Anyone who has witnessed the adorable moment a parade of little penguins – standing at only about 30cms tall – waddles along the shore will tell you it’s an experience not to be missed. As the smallest of the world’s 17 penguin species, little or fairy penguins are a sight to behold and can be found in their natural habitats along the southern cost from Freemantle in Western Australia to Port Stephens in New South Wales. But most colonies live in offshore islands where they are protected from feral predators and human disturbance, such as in Kangaroo Island (South Australia), Granite Island (South Australia), Philip Island (Victoria), Montague Island (New South Wales) and in Bicheno (Tasmania). The best time to go is during breeding season, but this varies according to location.
Turtle nesting and hatching
It’s not only an amazing sight to see a huge turtle heaving its way onto a beach to lay her eggs, sometimes numbering 100 per clutch, but to return two months later to witness the scores of tiny hatchlings emerge from their nest and race – and it is quite a race – to the sea. Your best bet to observe turtle nesting and hatching is to go between November and March, and follow a guided tour at Visit Heron Island, Lady Elliot Island and Mon Repos Conservation Park in Queensland or Cape Range National Park in Western Australia.
Related links:
5 things you need to do in Australia
The must-visit spring 2015 events around Australia
The best tree-top walks in Australia