Australia is home to incredible wildlife, many of which are found nowhere else in the world and some who have been brought here to help with worldwide conservation efforts. If you’re an animal lover, you probably try to include something animal related with every holiday. From swimming with Sea Turtles to feeding Zebras, here are eight of our favourite incredible Aussie animal experiences:
1. Swimming with dolphins – Glenelg, South Australia
If you dreamt of swimming with dolphins as a child, here’s your chance to make it a reality. Get up close and personal with these curious creatures on board a dolphin watching cruise and swimming experience in Glenelg, the beautiful beachside suburb of Adelaide.
2. Sunrise camel ride at Uluru – Uluru, Northern Territory
Head out to the Red Centre to experience a magical sunrise while riding on the back of a camel. This memorable experience will take you on a ride through the desert, over dunes to watch the sunrise over Uluru and Kata Tjuta all while learning about the area’s Aboriginal history. What a magical way to start your day! Hot tip: Make sure to make friends with your camel, unless you want to get spit on!
3. Swim with Whale sharks – Exmouth, Western Australia
Swim alongside the biggest fish in the world – the whale shark. This experience will take you to Ningaloo Marine Park in Western Australia, home to 260km of reef full of colourful coral, 500 species of fish and the majestic whale shark. This is a wildlife experience of a lifetime and should be added to every adrenaline junkies bucket list.
4. Wildlife feeding at Australia Zoo – Beerwah, Queensland
The legacy of the incredible Steve Irwin lives on at the biggest and best wildlife conservation facility in the world. Imagine feeding cute wombats, holding an eagle, getting a photo with a cheetah or feeding giraffes and zebras – all in one visit! The kids will love going here – you can get a two day pass if one day isn’t enough.
5. Snorkel with Sea Turtles – Byron Bay, New South Wales
Head to this popular NSW coastal surf town, and jump in the clear waters to snorkel alongside sea turtles in their natural habitat. You’ll learn all about their endangerment and conservation efforts all while, getting the opportunity to get up close and personal with these amazing animals. You’ll also get to see rays, friendly wobbegong sharks and lots of corals and fish species.
6. Off-road safari at Werribee Open Range Zoo – Werribee, Victoria
If African wildlife is more your theme, book a trip to Werribee and check out the Werribee Open Range Zoo. You’ll experience an up-close encounter with the wildlife of the African savannah on a guided off-road tour. There’s no need to leave Australia to see hippos, giraffes, zebras, lions, gorillas, meerkats or even buffalos when just 30 minutes from Melbourne you can experience it all.
7. Swim with Crocodiles – Darwin, Northern Territory
Here’s one for all the adrenaline junkies out there – swimming with salt water crocodiles! Personally, not for me but hey…it could be right up your ally! It’s perfectly safe, you’ll be in a transparent cage with photo proof that you actually did it for all the skeptics out there. After your swim, be sure to check out the reptile display and wildlife shows.
8. Penguin Parade – Phillip Island, Victoria
These cute little penguins march up the beach every night to their nesting areas, all while you can sit right by them and watch them waddle by. This is an experience that you wouldn’t expect to see in Australia but let me tell you, it’s so worth it! You may be tempted to pat them and take one home but these little guys are protected so unfortunately, no penguin pats allowed. You can however adopt a penguin to help with vital conservation and research efforts.
