Great Ocean Road Guide: Animals To See On Australia Travels

Animal lovers will do no better than booking a trip along the Great Ocean Road . The 160 mile route around some of Australia’s most spectacular coastline is an exciting and diverse drive, featuring scenery where verdant forests intersperse with rolling deserts and National Parks mingle with bustling surf beaches. One of the highlights of the route is the abundance of wildlife, with many fauna indigenous to south-western Australia.

A game reserve which sits inside an extinct volcano might sound like a particularly unusual Australia travel adventure, however if you love animals the Tower Hill State Game Reserve is a must visit destination. The crater-bound eco system is home to over 200 koalas and kangaroos, whilst animals like echidna, water birds and emu are also in abundance. Visitors can also opt to take a bush survival walk with an experienced guide who’ll provide an Aboriginal perspective on the flora and fauna inside the reserve.

Over 1,000 Australian and New Zealand cape fur seals litter the rocks surrounding Cape Bridgwater and a cruise of the area is the best way to see them. The area is home to one of Australia’s largest seal populations and if you visit the area during the main breeding season of October to November you’ll see this number rise. One of the highlights of this 45-minute trip is the chance to watch seals in their natural habitat, but more often than not the roles are reversed and the playful seals approach the boat to take a closer look at you.

No trip along the Great Ocean Road or indeed Australia, would be complete without spotting a koala in the wild, so take your binoculars and head to Kennet River where the experience is pretty much guaranteed. Although the koalas are fairly dozy in the morning, you’ll find that by late afternoon the population is far more active, and you’ll be able to watch them grooming and nibbling on eucalyptus. Spring is the best time to visit and during this season you’ll spot many mothers with young joeys in their pouches.
One of the strangest creatures that you’ll spot on your travels is the unusual duck-billed platypus. This unique animal is indigenous to the territory of Victoria and is the only mammal in the world to lay eggs. Its feet, complete with spurs that are poisonous to humans, are also guaranteed to pique your curiosity. As you kayak alongside these critters, a knowledgeable tour guide will be on hand to answer your questions and give you an insight into their natural habitat.

Victoria isn’t just home to the world’s most unique mammal, it’s also home to the largest. From November through to May, Blue Whales migrate to the waters of Portland to feed off the large krill population. Although Blue Whales rarely approach land closely, their blows and backs can often be seen from prominent headlands, such as Cape Nelson and Cape Bridgwater. However, for a closer look, helicopter trips can be arranged though many Australia travel operators.