Wildlife encounters worth travelling for
From bush to reef, Australia’s backyard is packed with incredible wildlife events all year round. Want to see baby turtles hatch or giant cuttlefish have technicoloured dance-offs? Here’s our month-by-month wrap of the best wildlife encounters to journey across the country for.
Orcas in Bremer Bay (January to March)
As the new year breaks, pods of orcas gather off the southern coast of Western Australia to hunt for squid and beaked whales. The Bremer Bay Canyon sees daily displays of hunting prowess, as these apex predators work in packs to chase down their prey. You can jump aboard a locally-run Bremer Bay tour to catch these intelligent marine mammals at work—or playing in the boat’s wake. It’s also a great time of year to spot sperm whales and long-finned pilot whales.
Orcas in Bremer Bay Credit: Lourens Lee
Wombats on Maria Island (March to May)
The extra adorable brand of wombats on Tasmania’s Maria Island are so plentiful they’ve been described as a ‘tripping hazard’. One particularly unfazed wisdom of wombats forages near the ferry terminal at Darlington, but remember, these are wild animals – as tempting as it may be, patting and selfies are discouraged. It’s possible to spot these furry residents year-round, although wombats prefer the cooler weather, and autumn might bring a lucky (late) sighting of a growing joey.
Wombat in Maria Island. Credit: Viktor Posov
Thousands of mutton birds on the Great Ocean Road (April)
Every September, millions of mutton birds—or short-tailed shearwaters as they’re also known—make the enormous three-week journey from Alaska to Victoria to breed and nest. Come April, after the parents have fled the nest back north, attention turns to the fledglings. It’s now their turn to launch from the cliffs and navigate north to Alaska. You can spy this incredible phenomenon from the Great Ocean Road, with Griffith Island and Mutton Bird Island both boasting busy colonies.
Mutton Bird. Credit: Naomi Rahim
Whale sharks on Ningaloo Reef (April to June)
Once the coral spawn on Ningaloo Reef and the plankton and krill swarm to feed, the mighty whale sharks surface. These gentle ocean giants feed in the shallower waters near the reef between April and June, providing the dreamiest of snorkelling experiences. Most tours operate out of Exmouth; opt for one with a biologist onboard to learn more about the world’s largest fish and its marine habitat.
Whale sharks in Ningaloo Reef. Credit: Jason Edwards
Technicoloured cuttlefish in the Eyre Peninsula (May to August)
In the rocky shallows off the coast of the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia, a technicoloured mating frenzy takes place between May and August. Thousands of giant cuttlefish come to town to breed, and the extroverted males fight for female favour with neon skin displays and brutal battles of bravado. Despite the frosty winter waters, this intense spectacle offers an incredible diving experience.
Cuttlefish in the Eyre Peninsula. Credit: Michael Valos
Platypus in the Southern Highlands (September)
It often feels more probable to win the lottery than catch a glimpse of a platypus in the wild. Yet, the bashful population in NSW’s Southern Highlands breaks habit every September for mating season. At this time you’ll have a good chance of catching platypus as they splash for attention, roll through their romance, and nest on the banks of the Wingecarribee River in Berrima. Several companies run specialised off-track wildlife tours departing from Sydney.
Playtpus in Wingecarribee River in Berrima. Credit: Goddard Photography
Water birds in Kakadu National Park (September to October)
Late in the dry season, the prevailing billabongs and waterways of Kakadu National Park become bustling metropoles of birdlife. This is when the twitchers congregate to spot magpie geese, brolgas, jabirus, plumed whistling-ducks and egrets. Also top of the tick list are white-bellied sea eagles, blue-winged kookaburras and red-tailed black cockatoos. Yellow Water Billabong and the Mamukala Wetlands walk offer some of the best birdwatching vantage points.
Jabiru in the Kakadu National Park. Credit: Jason Edwards
Red crab migration on Christmas Island (November to January)
A red sea of marching crabs takes over Christmas Island each year as the land-dwelling crustaceans move en masse from their forest home and head to the beach to mate. The migration is usually set into motion after the arrival of the first heavy rain, which can occur anytime between November and January. Ethel Beach, Greta Beach, Drumsite and Flying Fish Cove are all accessible points to watch this wild phenomenon.
Red Crab in Christmas Island. Credit: Zinni-Online
Baby turtles hatching near Bundaberg (November to March)
First comes the grand turtle dames, heaving their 80kg-plus frames onto the beach to lay eggs from November. Then six to eight weeks later emerges a flurry of tiny hatchlings, scurrying down the beach to embark on their big swim out to deeper seas. Mon Repos, just outside of Bundaberg, hosts the largest nesting population of loggerhead turtles in the South Pacific region. During hatching season you can book a night tour guided by park rangers and stay at the NRMA’s Turtle Sands resort.
Loggerhead turtles hatching. Credit: Samuel J Coe
