Whether it’s a cuddly koala, a bouncy kangaroo, or a venomous snake, the concept of Australian animals conjures up unusual images for everyone. We have travelled to Australia several times and circumnavigated the country, partly via car but mostly on a ship.
This is only a sample of the wildlife we have seen. It represents a tiny portion of the 386 species of mammals, over 900 species of reptiles, 110,000 species of insects, and 800 species of birds that call Australia home.
Australian animals that we have seen
- Platypus
- Echidna
- Kangaroo
- Wallaby
- Quokka
- Koala
- Water dragon
- Bobtail Skink
- Scorpion
- Brown Snake
- Bats
- Crocodile
- Rainbow Lorikeets
- Sulphur Crested Cockatoo
- Kookaburra
- Little blue penguin
Unique Australian animals
Platypus
Conservation status: Near Threatened
Endemic: Yes
Platypus is one of two mammals that lay eggs, the other being the echidna. Only found in mainland Australia and Tasmania, it is often called a duck-billed platypus. Its tail resembles a beaver’s, while it has a webbed foot similar to an otter.
The secrets to spotting them are to know where they might be and to remain still and quiet. They tend to be most active at dawn and dusk, but we were lucky. Our patience paid off, and we spotted this one in the late afternoon.
We spotted a platypus in Queensland and have looked for them in Victoria (Kangaroo Island), and have been told they have also been seen near Jindabyne in NSW.
Echidna
Conservation status: Least Concern
Endemic: Yes
Echidnas are also egg-laying mammals and are often mentioned in conversations about weird Australian animals. We saw one crossing the road on Kangaroo Island. Unfortunately, by the time we stopped and I got out of the car, it was already foraging for food. Watching him use his long snout to sniff out insects and other small creatures to eat was amazing.
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Australian marsupials
Marsupials are mostly found in Australia and nearby islands and include kangaroos, wallabies, and koalas.
Unlike most animals, marsupials give birth to babies that are not fully developed yet. These babies grow inside their mother’s pouch, getting food and warmth until they are ready to come out and live independently.
Kangaroo
Conservation status: Least Concern
Endemic: Yes
Kangaroos are probably the first Australian animals to come to mind for most people. Did you know that they are the largest marsupials in the world and can jump up to three times their own height in one bound?
Honestly, what really surprised me was just how prevalent they are. I think the first time we saw them out in the wild was at a field behind a school. It was a surreal experience to see these iconic animals hopping across the fields.
After that, we saw them everywhere! Yes, that is an exaggeration, but they did show up fairly often.
The Red Kangaroo is the national animal of Australia. It’s found on the Australian Coat of Arms along with the Emu, the national bird.
Wallaby
Conservation status: Least Concern
Endemic: No
Wallabies are from the same family but are smaller than kangaroos and are found in a wider range of habitats, including forests and scrublands. They are native to both Australia and New Guinea. We saw Tammar Wallaby roaming free where we stayed on Kangaroo Island. They are amongst the smaller wallabies.
Quokka (the cutest of the Australian animals)
Conservation status: Vulnerable
Endemic: Yes (found only on Rottnest Island and a few small islands off the coast of Western Australia)
Quokka is a small kangaroo-like animal that lives in Western Australia, predominantly on Rottnest Island, but they are also found occasionally on the mainland and Bald Island (near Albany).
They have been nicknamed the happiest animal in the world, mostly because they look like they are smiling when they hold their head up.
We had the opportunity to visit Rottnest Island and see quokkas up close. It was amazing to see how unafraid they were of humans and how they would approach us to investigate. However, taking quokka selfies was a challenge for me.
Koala (or is this the cutest of the Australian animals?)
Conservation status: endangered in Queensland, NSW, and Canberra
Endemic: Yes
Yes, koalas are marsupials, not mammals; therefore, they are not a bear. Like quokkas, koalas are another of the adorable Australian animals. Interestingly, koalas are among the few animals that can survive on a diet of eucalyptus leaves, which are toxic to most other animals.
Our girls had the opportunity to hold a koala at the Australia Zoo. It was a memorable experience for them to feel the soft fur of this iconic Australian animal, but they were surprised at how badly it smelled. Even worse, the smell lingered on their clothing.
We also saw them in the wild at Cape Otway as a stop while driving the Great Ocean Road. When I first spotted one in a tree, we only half pulled off the road and stopped to get out and look. Let’s just say – don’t do this. Be sure to pull off the road fully!
Australian desert animals
Australian animals include over 700 species of lizards and snakes, including both gentle creatures and venomous ones.
Water dragon
Conservation status: Least Concern
Endemic: No
When I first saw the water dragon, I thought it was the most beautiful iguana I had ever seen. However, iguanas are not found in Australia. Did you know that water dragons can hold their breath for up to an hour (some sources say even longer) and swim underwater for long distances?
Even more interesting, they can lift up and run on just their back legs, but only if threatened, so we never saw this (as we always keep our distance and never disturb animals in the wild).
Bobtail lizard
Conservation status: Least Concern
Endemic: Yes
I am unsure how he did it, but Jeff spotted this bobtail lizard on a side road as we were meandering our way from the Grampians back to Melbourne in Victoria. Interestingly, bobtail lizards (also known as the shingleback skink) are one of the few reptiles that give birth to live young.
Dangerous or venomous animals in Australia
One of the many things that quickly distinguished Australia from New Zealand (where I live) is Australia’s vast number of poisonous animals. New Zealand has only one venomous spider, and it’s only in the north.
Scorpions
Conservation status: Not rated
Endemic: No
Thankfully, this is the only scorpion we have seen, and it was at the Australian Venom Museum in Kuranda. It’s on the hand of the museum guide, as I wasn’t really interested in holding it.
Brown snake
Conservation status: Least Concern
Endemic: No
Having limited exposure to snakes, I thought this one looked pretty cool when I saw it on the footpath we were walking on. Little did I know, this native to Australia, Eastern Brown Snake, is one of the most venomous snakes in the world. In fact, The snake’s venom is highly toxic and can cause paralysis and other serious symptoms in humans if not treated quickly.
I didn’t need to hear much more than, “You’ll know if it bites you, but you will have time to get to the hospital.” I snapped my photo and moved on.
Bats
Conservation status: Varies by species
Endemic: No
Australia has more than 90 species of bats, and I have no idea what type were flying around in this cave. I know these bats aren’t venomous, but they still make me uncomfortable. Therefore, I took this shot from the entrance rather than walking into the cave at Paronella Park in tropical Queensland.
Crocodile
Conservation status: Varies by species
Endemic: Yes (found only in northern Australia)
Mostly found in Northern Australia, I was glad to be on a boat the one time we spotted a crocodile in the wild. I have also seen them at a park in Queensland.
Note that crocodiles have longer and more V-shaped snouts than American alligators, which have shorter and more U-shaped snouts.
Australian birds
Birdlife is abundant in Australia, with over 800 species of birds that call Australia home. Some are Australian native birds, and others came in with the convicts and explorers. We have seen interesting birds everywhere, the three photoed here are: :
- So colourful, I love rainbow lorikeets. We have seen them in multiple spots, including Darwin and this one in Sydney.
- This is one of many wild sulphur-crested cockatoos we saw in Victoria. In fact, one stared at us one morning from our deck in the Grampians.
- Many years ago, we saw a colony of little blue penguins under the pier in St. Kilda in Melbourne. However, we have been told that only a few still remain.
Why did the cow cross the road?
Farming is an important industry, and cows or sheep are often seen when driving alongside the fields.
More about Australian wildlife
- When driving in areas with wildlife at night, stay focused and be prepared for kangaroos in the road. We saw far too many dead ones along the sides of the road.
- Echidna are pretty unusual. Check out some of the fun facts about them on Wired.
- This looks like a handy guide to have around: Australia’s Dangerous Animals: A Folding Pocket Guide to Potentially Harmful Species.
Save on your Australia trip with these resources
These are our go-to companies when we travel. We believe this list to be the best in each category. You can’t go wrong using them on your trip too.
- Flights: we use Expedia for the best and cheapest flight options.
- Accommodations: we use Booking.com (hotels), VRBO (self-contained), or Hostelworld (budget).
- Cars (gas or electric): we use RentalCars to search for deals and dealer ratings.
- Motorcycles: we have heard good things about BikesBooking.
- Campervans or Motorhomes: we use Campstar where Albom Adventures readers get a 3% discount.
- Activity discounts: we check Bookme.com for discounts of up to 70% on activities.
- Private guides: we often find the best option is to hire a private guide.
- Travel Insurance: while not required, we always opt for travel insurance and start at InsureMyTrip to compare coverage plans.
Check out our travel resources page for more companies that we use when you travel.
Save for later
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What are your favourite Australian animals?
If you enjoyed this, you might like to see some of the unique animals of nearby New Zealand.
Nancy
I would so love to visit Australia, but I think it would take a full lifetime to appreciate all it has to offer.
Faye | Travel Visa Australia
Awesome creature, I hope to see it personally because I really love a different kind of animals.
Bob R
Love the snap of the Lorikeet! 🙂
Anda
Australia has such an interesting fauna. Since I’ve never been there I haven’t seen any of these animals in their own habitat. However, kangaroos and koalas I’ve seen in zoos before, but I never saw a platypus. For some reason I find this animal very repulsive. I don’t think I’d like to meet one while swimming (LOL!)
Rhonda Albom
I wouldn’t want to meet one either, as I don’t image platypus to be very nice. However, standing on the shore, hidden in the bushes they were very cool to see.
Janice
Wow! Those are so cool! I can’t believe you captured that platypus! I want to see one in real life one day. Also, that bobtail kink is cute!
Rhonda Albom
We waited quite a while for the platypus, but it was worth it. They are so fascinating. The skink, in the other hand, I found a bit creepy.
Lyn aka The Travelling Lindfields
I suppose you don’t need to be told how lucky you are to have spotted a platypus. They are very shy and elusive.
Rhonda Albom
I do know. I also know that you are in the club too. Everyone else still thinks they are made up.
Klara S
Koala is my favourite australian animal :):):)
Mariposa
Wow! Beautiful photos you have here! Thank you for sharing these wonders xx
June
Fabulous post, Rhonda! My mom visited Australia several years ago and still talks about her adventures! She didn’t see a platypus though, what a treat!
Rhonda Albom
Australia is close for us, only a 3-4 hour flight to the eastern cities.
Trekking with Becky
The only animals that come to mind when I think of Australia are kangaroos and koalas. What a lovely little collection. 🙂
The vibrant colours always intrigue me. The birds remind me of a lot of the ones I saw in Kuala Lumpur at the incredible bird sanctuary. 🙂
Lolo
Boy, you’ve certainly been pretty lucky to spot all of these animals! I never see when I travel! Although when I lived in Montana I had a moose in my yard who got scared when I opened my garage and then it ran inside my garage. #wkendtravelsinpiration
Rhonda Albom
The trick is to be patient and wait.
kelleyn rothaermel
I am amazed at how much you travel. Incredible! Australian does have a unique set of animals. Have a great week!
Travelera
You have captured them beautifully, I love specially the Kangaroo with the baby, how cute is that!!
Have a lovely day!
Travelera
What a beautiful pictures!!! I love specially the one with the Kangaroo and the baby, so cute! 🙂
Have a lovely day xxx
Beata
They looks amazing !!!
Mandy
Great shots of the animals! I’m not sure I would have been anywhere near that scorpion, though! 🙂
Rhonda Albom
LOL – it was at the Venomous Zoo, so it should have been safe if they were letting people hold that one.
Anne@GritandGiggles
Love your shots! Even living here I always enjoy seeing our native animals. I haven’t seen a wild platypus before and living so close to where you saw yours I should go looking one day. The red and green parrot is King Parrot, some live around my Mum’s place. The owl, I’m not sure what type.
Rhonda Albom
Thanks for identifying the King Parrot and good luck finding a platypus. The secret is patience and quiet.
Lisa Ross
I’ve never seen platypus but love all their colourful birds and the koala though after we went to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and let Amelia hold a koala, we learned that they hate it. 🙁 I also love bats! but perhaps wouldn’t if they were flying around my head. I can do without snakes and large spiders!
Rhonda Albom
Both our girls got to hold a koala at the Australia Zoo. I didn’t know they hated it.
Handmade in Israel
Wow, wonderful photos! I love the one of the Iguana. Not so sure about the scorpion though… we get enough of them here, thank you very much 😉
Rhonda Albom
Glad there are no scorpions in New Zealand.
Kim Marie Ostrowski
OMG they had a couple JOey on Outback adventure with Tim Faulkner this weekend. I forget the name of the part in OZ that he works at but if you ever go I would LOVE a picture! Though I doubt you’ll find him! But who knows!
I love the Kukoburra bird!!! and let’s put it this way… be greatful of the bats you have there as a lot of ours are getting that white nose thing.
That red bird in the middle where the Kuko is… not sure but it looks like a parakeet but bigger. And the one next to it is some sort of Owl.
felicia
the joey’s are adorable. the skink is quite interesting too.
clairejustine
Oh wow, you got some beautiful pictures. Love all the close up shots 🙂
jesh StG
Beautiful captures, Rhonda. My favorite are probably the kangaroo (since they don’t live anywhere else), and the lorikeets – such beautiful and colorful birds. For the past months have seen your comments “everywhere” but couldn’t get to your blog via your comments, so I finally saw your link here At WATW :):) Am inviting you back to ALL SEASONS (link is open Sunday through Wednesday evening 7pm, Pacific USA time) Hope to see you there this, or next week! Have a happy week!
Rhonda Albom
Thanks for the heads up. Glad you enjoyed the photos. Seeing the joey was a special treat, as was the platypus and the skink.
JM Illinois U.S.A.
Those cows were really in your face. When cows escape their farmland here, they do stop traffic. I remember one time a truckload of cows going to market overturned on the expressway. Policeman had double duty that day not only were they suppose to help the truck driver with their injuries they needed to round up cows who walked into beauty salons and stores in Old Orchard Shopping Mall. Amazing how one image can trigger a memory, eh?
Rhonda Albom
I know I am missing the point, but I am honing in on Old Orchard shopping mall. This is one small world. I grew up in Skokie and went to Niles North High School, which I think is across the street from that mall. I have been gone for a long time, but wow. Your comment sure brought back memories.
indah nuria
I love platypus as well Rhonda..I found them cute 🙂
Betty Crow
This is a wonderful post. Loved seeing all the birds and animals. They are so different than what I see here in middle-of-nowhere Illinois.
L. Diane Wolfe
Beautiful photos. I love the bat one. I would’ve ducked, but I would’ve kept snapping photos.
Joyce Lansky
I don’t think I’ve seen these in my neighborhood, lately.
Bill
Great photo’s, always wondered what a platypus looked like for real, cute little critter
Sharon
The platypus is real! I’ve never seen one. This just amazes me!
Deborah/Mom2Michael
Fantastic photos! How lucky to see the platypus!
Lovelygishi
Wow, a beautiful photo collection of colorful animals. Your story is very interesting! This is awesome!
Lovelygishi
Wow, simply beautiful and colorful photos, and a great collection of animal pictures. This is awesome!
Handmade Jewelry Haven
I would say my favorite would be the Kangaroo, especially when they carry their babies. Bella (my baby) is here with me and her favorite is the Koala.
Thanks for sharing and please come visit my blog too!
– Lisa
Jill M.
Wow very gorgeous photos! Funny on the bats!
stephanie jefferson
Oh the platypus! Love! I showed my boys your photos and they thoroughly enjoyed seeing all the animals!
Eli
Good to be back at your blog, Rhonda – and what a great post- the pics are amazing. Have never seen these animals live – must be awesome:-)
Alex J. Cavanaugh
Amazing shots. Who was brave enough to hold the scorpion?
Rhonda Albom
We went to Kuranda several years ago, and I really don’t remember if it was hubby’s hand or the guy who worked there. I just know it wasn’t mine and it is too big to belong to either of my girls.
Comedy Plus
Koala’s are my favorite of all. We have a Koala stuffed toy as our boat mascot.
Have a fabulous day, Rhonda. 🙂
Teresa Kindred
Those birds are gorgeous! The other critters I could do without!
Patrick Weseman
What amazing photos. Very stunning.
I am fond of all animals that live Down Under.
Rhonda Albom
I am fond of most of them, although I could do without some of the dangerous ones.
carol mckenna
Love koala and kangaroo ~ your photography of all the animals is wonderful! thanks,
Wishing you a peaceful weekend ~ ^_^
Carol
Beautiful collection, love all of them
stevebethere
These are fab shots Rhonda loved the Scorpion on the hand and I knew you would see cows somewhere or udder…sorry couldn’t resist that 🙂
Have a udderlytastic week 🙂
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Hi Rhonda – love the platypus, and that Lorikeet … and in fact all the animals – the bobtail skink, while the cows look as though they could be in the UK on a wet day! Looks like a wonderful trip … cheers Hilary
Barbara Radisavljevic
I’ve never seen any of these animals outside of a zoo. I guess we all get treated to seeing different varieties of wildlife, depending upon where we live. I love the colorful birds.
Rhonda Albom
True. The interesting wildlife is one of the things I love about Australia, although some of the more dangerous ones I hope I don’t see.
Shere
My favourite animal is the koala, they are sooooo cute!! Well when we saw them for real, we realised they don’t move so much 😂
Amila
Wonderful collection of animals.I love the scene of cattle across the road because we have such experiences in Sri Lanka too.The place with bats look little bit haunting,but great way to view these species!
Rhonda Albom
LOL – I have been stopped in the road by sheep in New Zealand, but I would imagine the cow situation happens here too. As for the bats, I don’t think it was set up for tourist, but rather the bats chose this spot.