It seems the Monkey Mia dolphins that come to say g’day to tourists at Shark Bay on the Western Australian coast, around 850 kilometres north of Perth, took a short holiday. According to the Sydney Morning Herald the cute marine mammals uncharacteristically failed to appear for six days straight.
Australia has an incredible array of land and marine animals that as travellers, we have the opportunity to observe in their natural environment. At quickbeds, we think that zoos are cool and have their place but seriously who wouldn’t get a kick out of having wild dolphins swimming around their legs?
Here are some other options to observe Australia’s unique fauna in their natural habitat. But always remember to enjoy watching from a safe distance because our beautiful animals are wild and also they should never be fed.
Tangalooma Dolphins
In a similar fashion to the dolphins at Monkey Mia, the Tangalooma Island Resort on Moreton Island, a short boat trip from Brisbane also boasts dolphins which visit the island with incredible punctuality every evening. The resort offers visitors the opportunity to feed the dolphins as they frolic and play to the delight of on-lookers.
Wilsons Prom Wombats
Situated on an outcrop from the Victorian coastline around 200 kilometres south of Melbourne, Wilsons Promontory is home to many of our native wildlife but particularly common are the loveable wombats that regularly roam through the National Park. Camping is an option or take a drive from Victoria’s capital.
Hervey Bay Whales
As humpback whales make the journey every winter from the chilly Antarctic to warmer waters in the north, they seem to linger a little longer around Hervey Bay between August, September and October. As such, many tour companies offer the opportunity for whale watching tours, which take you up close to these magnificent creatures.
Kakadu Quoll
The Kakadu National Park, around 200 kilometres east of Darwin, is home to a vast array of Australian animals but it’s the northern quoll which is relatively common throughout the park. The quoll is readily identified by its white spots and twitching nose.
Broken River Platypus
Around 50 kilometres inland from Mackay, a couple of very playful platypus glide through the water of Broken River. There are several viewing platforms to observe these usually very shy monotremes. While in the area, also enjoy the great hiking opportunities through the lush rainforests and take in the views of the valley.
Lake St Clair Echidnas
Whilst hiking around the beautiful Lake St Clair in Tasmania, make sure you keep an eye out for the echidnas that frequent the area. The cute montreme will most likely completely ignore you as they seem to be more interested in searching for lunch.
Mon Repos Turtles
Between November and March the beach at Mon Repos near Bundaberg becomes home to the largest concentration of nesting turtles in Australia. The turtles are being studied by marine scientists to gain a greater understanding of their life cycle. But as an added bonus, the scientists allow visitors the opportunity of watching the turtles lay their eggs and then several months later, the babies hatching.
Rottnest Quokka
Rottnest Island off the coast from Fremantle was misnamed by the Dutch, who thought the local quokka population were large rats. Today, the interesting marsupials remain to the delight of visitors to the island.
Daintree Crocs
Take a boat trip on the Daintree River, around halfway between Port Douglas and Cape Tribulation, to spot crocodiles as they sunbake in their natural environment. This activity is best observed from a far and interaction is not really advisable.
Phillip Island Penguins
Every evening at sunset, cute little penguins emerge from the water and parade across the beach at Phillip Island to the nearby sand dunes. Enjoy these adorable creatures as a day trip from Victoria’s capital and stay in one of the numerous Melbourne hotels on offer.
Great Barrier Reef Clown Fish
We realise that the Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef in the world and as such has a huge variety of marine life, but our favourite will always be the clown fish. Have fun finding Nemo from the dozens of snorkelling or dive sites along the Queensland coast.
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