Top 5 locations for family-friendly wildlife encounters

To help you be an animal-friendly traveller, we’ve pulled together a list of places you are likely to see Australian animals in the wild.

1. Kangaroos at Murramarang National Park, NSW

Kangaroos are fairly common to see. But if you want to see a large population in a picturesque location, Pebbly Beach on the south coast of New South Wales is the place to go. The eastern grey kangaroos who live here are quite happy to be admired and photographed from a distance.

2. Sea turtles on the Great Barrier Reef, QLD

The Great Barrier Reef is home to six of the seven species of sea turtles. Check out Monkey Beach on Great Keppel Island for flatback turtles, Heron Island for green and loggerhead varieties, and Lady Musgrave Island – where alongside the turtles you’ll also find fish, manta rays and stunning coral in the giant lagoon. Fifteen minutes out of Bundaberg is Mon Repos, where more than half of all the nesting loggerheads in the southern hemisphere come to lay their eggs. Visit between November and January to see them laying.

Keep reading:

• The best animal attractions in Australia
• Here’s where to get up close to your favourite animals

3. Emus at Exmouth, WA

Exmouth is the gateway to Ningaloo Reef and known for its friendly emu population. The birds can be seen wandering the streets and walking through the Exmouth town centre, as well as along the road between Exmouth and Coral Bay. Look out for them when driving and give them right of way.

4. Penguins at Phillip Island, VIC

The daily parade of little penguins at Phillip Island is one of Australia’s most popular wildlife attractions. Little penguins are the smallest type of penguins, and are native to Australia. Each night at sunset they return ashore after a day spent fishing, and visitors throng to watch them waddle up the beach from the viewing stands and boardwalks.

5. Tasmanian Devils at The Tarkine, TAS

Tasmanian devils are not easy to spot in the wild. An aggressive cancer has sadly killed many of them, so they are growing rarer and rarer. The Tarkine is a huge reserve in northwest Tasmania with an incredibly diverse landscape of rainforest, sand dunes and coastal heathland. It is home to a huge range of wildlife, so even if you’re not lucky enough to see the nocturnal carnivores, you could spot platypuses, echidnas, wombats, bandicoots, possums, gliders and quolls.

Do’s and Don’ts for encountering wild animals

Jarryd and Alesha of NOMADasaurus have put together their tips for seeing animals in the wild, and keeping them safe in the process.

Do’s

• When you spot an animal in the wild, make sure you and your children keep your distance. Even the cutest animal can be dangerous if it feels scared or threatened, or it might leave its environment and young ones if you get too close.
• When you approach any animal in a controlled environment where it is allowed to do so like at a reputable sanctuary, walk up to it very slowly and in a calm way. Don’t make any sudden movements or noises, or you may spook it.
• Do spend a few minutes to watch the animal going about its life. Take note of the way it moves, its behaviour, how it plays or interacts with other creatures and the way it eats. Every animal is special, and by simply observing carefully, you and your kids will have a newfound appreciation for them.
• Find out as much information as you can about each animal, and share that knowledge with your kids. Talk about the importance of conservation so that your children can enjoy these creatures for many years to come.
• Do seek out ethical wildlife activities in the wild rather than in zoos.

Don’ts

• Don’t feed any wild animals. Different animals may have very strict diets, and even something that is completely harmless to us can make a creature very sick.
• Don’t sign up for any activities or attractions that have you or your kids interact with wildlife in an unnatural environment. Some examples of that are feeding and swimming with dolphins, elephant riding, big cat petting or visiting crocodile farms.
• Don’t touch any wild animals, particularly in the sea. Many marine animals have protective membranes over their skin that protects them from bacteria, and the natural oils in our hands can remove this, leaving them open to infection.

This article was produced with content supplied by World Animal Protection and is a Holidays with Kids digital exclusive. Be the first to see more exclusive online content by subscribing to the enewsletter here.