Great Ocean Road Wildlife You'll Spot Australia Travel

Victoria’s Australia’s southernmost state is cooler and wetter than most other Australian’s territories, which gives way to a diverse range of landscapes from rugged cliffs to verdant forests and even rolling deserts. Between Geelong and Nelson, the the Great Ocean Road lingers for more than 400km through National Parks and Volcanic landscapes.

No trip through the Great Ocean Road is complete without spotting a koala in the wild, so take your binoculars along to Kennett River where you are pretty much guaranteed to spot koalas in the gum trees. 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.

The duck billed platypus is the world’s most unique mammal, and you can spot it for yourself at the Cape Otway National Park. This unique animal is indigenous to the territory of Victoria 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.

The next place on your Australia travel
adventure should be the spectacular Tower Hill State Game Reserve inside an extinct volcano. 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.

Also known as the Southern Right Whale Nursery, Warnambool is the place where whales return to calve most years between June and November. You can view this amazing phenomenon from a specially constructed platform in the sand dunes, or on the beach. Meanwhile, the nearby area of Portland is a popular area to spot Blue whales who migrate to the waters 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. For a closer look, helicopter trips can be arranged though many Australia travel operators.

1,000 Australian and New Zealand cape fur seals can be seen on the rocks between Portland and Cape Bridgwater. 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.