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9 Iconic Australian Animals and Where to See Them in the Wild (Exact Locations)

Want to travel to Australia to discover its incredible wildlife?

Australia is known, among many other things, for its wonderfully diverse wildlife. Think of Australia, and you probably picture kangaroos hopping around and koalas clinging to the trees. But this country is home to so many more incredible animals worth discovering. So, here’s a detailed guide to where to see Australian wildlife in the wild!

I’ll tell you which animals you can see and, most importantly, where and how to spot them in the wild.

AUSTRALIA

WHERE TO SEE AUSTRALIAN ANIMALS IN THE WILD

1. WHERE TO SEE KOALAS IN THE WILD IN AUSTRALIA

One of the best places to see koalas in the wild is around Koala Café, near Kenneth River in Victoria. Located about 2.5 hours from Melbourne, you’ll pass through the area if you’re doing a Great Ocean Road road trip. Leave your car in the parking area, follow the track that heads south and… look up!

If you’re in Queensland, there are two places where you have a very good chance of spotting koalas. The first is Coombabah, on the Gold Coast, where you’ll also see plenty of kangaroos. Another incredible place to look for them is Magnetic Island, for example while doing the Forts Walk in the northeast of the island.

Koalas are easier to spot along Australia’s East Coast, but if you’re in Perth, there’s also a place where you can see them in a semi-wild environment. It’s the Koala Boardwalk at Yanchep, a beautiful spot for a day trip just 40 minutes north of the city.

>> Tip for finding koalas: stop and look wherever you see a group of people staring up into the trees. They can be surprisingly hard to spot by yourself!

Did you know koalas can sleep 22 hours a day?

To find koalas in Australia, search Google Maps for:

📍Café Koala, Victoria

📍Coombabah Lakes Conservation Park, Queensland

📍The Forts, Magnetic Island, Queensland

📍Koala Boardwalk, Henry White Oval Campground, Western Australia

2. WHERE TO SEE WOMBATS IN AUSTRALIA

The place where you’re almost guaranteed to see wombats in Australia is Wilsons Promontory, one of Victoria’s national parks. Using Tidal River Campground as your base, you can enjoy plenty of walks around the area. I recommend the Prom Wildlife Walk if you want to see wombats, emus, kangaroos and other wildlife, although you can also spot wombats right at the campground around dusk. Such a fun experience!

To see wombats in Australia, search Google Maps for:

📍Tidal River Campground, Victoria

Be careful with wombats when driving at night...

3. WHERE TO SEE WILD PLATYPUSES

Seeing a platypus in the wild is a truly special experience. They don’t live in many parts of Australia, so you may have to go a little out of your way if you want to spot one. I was lucky enough to see them in Eungella National Park, about two hours south of Airlie Beach in Queensland. There are several viewing platforms where you can look out for these incredible animals, as long as they’re active at the time, of course. I remember being completely mesmerised, watching them for hours. It’s one of those experiences you never forget.

Another place where platypuses are said to be possible to spot is Tasmania, specifically in the river that runs through Warrawee Forest Reserve.

Platypuses are smaller than I thought!

To see platypuses in Australia, search Google Maps for:

📍Broken River Visitor Information Centre, Eungella

📍Warrawee Forest Reserve, Tasmania

4. THE IMPRESSIVE CASSOWARY OF THE RAINFOREST

Cassowaries are large birds that live in the tropical rainforests of northern Australia and New Guinea. They are big, flightless and can be aggressive, so it’s important to keep your distance and avoid disturbing them.

They can be found throughout Far North Queensland, although one of the most popular places to spot them is Etty Bay Beach.

To see cassowaries in Australia, search Google Maps for:

📍Etty Bay Beach, Queensland

The young cassowary hasn’t developed its distinctive colours yet.

5. WHERE TO SEE KANGAROOS ON THE BEACH AT SUNRISE

I’m not going to lie, wherever you go in Australia, you’re likely to see kangaroos. They’re everywhere! So instead, I’m going to recommend a slightly more special experience: seeing kangaroos on the beach.

There are two main places to do this. The first is Lucky Bay in Western Australia. It’s a beautiful beach with white sand and turquoise water, and you can even drive onto the beach if you feel like it. Just watch out for the kangaroos!

The second is Cape Hillsborough in Queensland, famous on Instagram for its idyllic photos of kangaroos on the beach at sunrise. It is beautiful, although there’s something you should know: the reason kangaroos are always there is that they are fed every morning. I’m telling you this so you don’t end up disappointed when you visit.

To see kangaroos on the beach in Australia, search Google Maps for:

📍Lucky Bay, Western Australia

📍Cape Hillsborough Beach, Queensland

Kangaroo on Cape Hillsborough beach at sunrise

6. THE SALTWATER CROCODILE IN AUSTRALIA

Yes, Australia has saltwater crocodiles! They can be found across northern Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. If you’re travelling along the east coast, a good place to see them is the Daintree, where you can join one of the many river cruises. In the Northern Territory, you can also look for them along the South Alligator River in Kakadu National Park without having to join a tour.

That said, be very careful around these animals! Saltwater crocodiles pose a real danger to humans, so you should always take precautions when you’re near the water in these areas. They can be found in rivers, waterholes, beaches and even deep pools.

If you want to learn more about these animals, check out my post on Australia’s most dangerous animals.

What could be lurking in the water in northern Australia

To see crocodiles in Australia, search Google Maps for:

📍Daintree River, Queensland

📍South Alligator River, Northern Territory

7. THE QUOKKA, THE “HAPPIEST ANIMAL IN THE WORLD”

These adorable marsupials are found only in a few parts of Western Australia. Without a doubt, the best place to see quokkas is Rottnest Island, a small island just off the coast of Perth. Rent a bike and go looking for them around the island!

Although, just a heads-up, spoiler: you’ll probably spot them in town, near wherever there’s food.

To see quokkas in Australia, search Google Maps for:

📍Rottnest Island, Western Australia

The “happiest animal” nickname comes from their almost permanent smile

8. THE TASMANIAN DEVIL IS MORE THAN JUST A CARTOON CHARACTER

Would you be surprised if I told you that the Tasmanian devil can only be found in the wild in… Tasmania? They’re not easy to spot, but one of the best places to look for them is Cradle Mountain National Park, right in the middle of the wilderness. You can also find wombats, wallabies and echidnas there!

To see the Tasmanian devil, search Google Maps for:

📍Cradle Mountain National Park, Tasmania

The Tasmanian devil really does look like a little devil!

9. WHERE TO SEE EMUS IN AUSTRALIA

The emu is Australia’s largest bird, and you’ll mainly find them in the country’s desert regions. You’ll probably have plenty of opportunities to see them in the wild, especially on a road trip through Western Australia, but here are a few specific places to look.

If you’ve travelled along the Great Ocean Road to see koalas, keep going a little further and you’ll reach Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve, where you can also spot some of Australia’s other iconic animals.

Another place to look for emus is Erldunda Roadhouse, a service station at the junction towards Uluru if you’re doing a road trip through the Australian outback.

Emus won a war against the Australians. No, seriously!

To see emus in Australia, search Google Maps for:

📍Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve, Victoria

📍Erldunda Roadhouse, Northern Territory

📍Monkey Mia, Western Australia

And that brings us to the end of our list of where to see Australia’s iconic animals in the wild! Did I miss any?

If you're looking for a bit more action during your trip, have a look at my favourite experiences with Australian wildlife! Swimming with the whale sharks has to be my all-time favourite.

Post written by Mar Sart in Australia. Last updated in September 2026.

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