Queensland's Australian animals encyclopedia: how to meet native wildlife on your visit to the Sunshine State
Guide
By Sarah Mattsson
From the cute and the cuddly to the slippery and scaly, not to mention all those animals with a bit more bite, Queensland has loads of animal encounters for those of you with a bit of a wild side.
While some visitors are lucky enough to see our native wildlife in the wild, we've put together a complete list of all the places in Queensland where you're guaranteed to see iconic Australian animals. No matter your final destination, you can cuddle a koala, hand-feed a kangaroo, meet a crocodile or take a walk with wombat at just about any of these local zoos and sanctuaries.
Brisbane
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
Rated as one of the top ten zoos around the globe, the world’s first and largest koala sanctuary has been welcoming visitors for 90 years to learn about these fascinating creatures (here's a few facts to get you started). Not only one of the best spots to cuddle a koala, there's an onsite hospital that works to rehabilitate injured animals.
Koalas are not the only native Australian animals hanging out at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. With nearly 70 other species calling this sanctuary home, you can also spot kangaroos, platypuses, Tasmanian Devils, echidnas and more.
Queens Park Nature Centre
Queens Park has everything for a great family day out. With a playground for the little ones (featuring a liberty swing for children with disabilities), an Environmental Education Centre and Japanese-themed Nerima Gardens, you can easily spend a whole day here.
Also within the grounds is the Ipswich Nature Centre. The free zoo features a boardwalk that navigates around the animal enclosures so they're accessible for prams and wheelchairs. Watch wallabies, quolls and emus go about their daily routine; pet farm animals in the barn and view some feathered friends in the rainforest aviary.
Walkabout Creek Discovery Centre
Based at the edge of the enchanting D’Aguilar National Park, Walkabout Creek Discovery Centre is home to the South East Queensland Wildlife Centre. Uncover the secret life of a platypus, watch the wombats and if you've still got an itch for more, grab your binoculars and head out on a bush-walking track for bird spotting.
A few more places to visit around Brisbane:
- Daisy Hill Koala Centre
- Lyell Deer Sanctuary
Gold Coast
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
Watch and learn at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. From daily animal feeding and encounters to interactive shows, you'll be sure to walk away with more than just a photo.
The Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary was founded in the spirit of conservation, dedicated to the care and rehabilitation of Australian animals not just in the sanctuary, but within the community as well. Visitors can get a bird's-eye view of the vets and volunteers in action at the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital, based within the grounds.
David Fleay Wildlife Park
A wildlife park with a difference; explore unique and endangered Australian animals in specially recreated naturalistic habitats ranging from cool rainforest, wetlands and open eucalypt forest. You can explore the David Fleay Wildlife Park on your own or join the rangers in one of their daily wildlife shows.
The park plays an important role in demonstrating the conservation initiatives of David Fleay, who established the property in 1951. They continue his work of research, breeding and education; offering the chance to see many different threatened native animals in the one location.
Dreamworld
Not just for thrill seekers, Dreamworld also boasts one of the largest native wildlife parks in South East Queensland - Dreamworld Corroboree. With hundreds of native and iconic Australian animals, you can get cuddly with a dingo pup or wombat, feed a croc or go on a sunset safari.
Or head to Dreamworld's Tiger Island. Here you can watch the big cats play with their handlers or experience these majestic animals for yourself – take a morning walk, feed them and grab a photo or two.
A few more places to check out in the Gold Coast:
Sunshine Coast
Australia Zoo
Go wild with over 1,200 native Australian and exotic animals at Australia Zoo. Ride a camel, get up close and personal with a cheeky cheetah and say hello to a white rhino. You can even hire a caddie for the day and enjoy being chauffeured in a private buggy, getting the inside knowledge on all there is to know about the zoo AND exclusive reserved seating in the Crocoseum Stadium for the Wildlife Warriors Show.
It can be a challenge trying to fit everything in, so check out this guide to help you make the most of your day at Australia Zoo, and meet animals from Australia and abroad.
Sea Life Sunshine Coast
Uncover the secret world of Australian marine life at Sea Life Sunshine Coast. Find out what sea cucumbers feel like in the Tidal Touch Pools, swim with the resident seals, or take a behind-the-scenes tour to learn how it operates and help feed some fishy friends. Much more than an aquarium, Sea Life collaborates with Queensland universities in conservation research, assists in the rescue, rehabilitation and release of marine turtles and runs regular beach clean ups (that you can volunteer for too!).
A few more places to check out on the Sunshine Coast:
- Maleny Botanic Gardens and Bird World
- Wildlife HQ
Cairns and Great Barrier Reef
Cairns Aquarium
From the ancient rainforest to the world's largest reef, travel through 10 unique north Queensland ecosystems at Cairns Aquarium. Over 70 different exhibits showcase endangered and rare species like freshwater sawfish, grey reef sharks and humphead Maori Wrasse. Attend one of the daily talks, get hands-on in the terrestrial touch tanks and watch the lively animal feeding sessions.
Australian Butterfly Sanctuary
For a quieter, more peaceful approach to nature, visit the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary. Home to over 1,500 magnificent tropical butterflies, these elusive insects come together in a beautiful chaos of colour. Guided aviary tours detail the life cycle and behaviour of a butterfly while the beautiful creatures flutter around you.
Tip: Be sure to wear bright clothing (we recommend red, white or hot pink) so they land on you.
A few more places to check out around Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef:
- Wildlife Habitat
- Hartleys Crocodile Adventures
- Rainforestation Nature Park
- Birdworld Kuranda
- Kuranda Koala Gardens
- Carrowong Fauna Sanctuary
Bundaberg
Mon Repos Conservation Park
Turtle season comes to life at Mon Repos Conservation Park, one of the best spots on the Southern Great Barrier Reef to see loggerhead turtles in their native environment. From November each year, this world famous beach welcomes the largest concentration of nesting marine turtles on the eastern mainland of Australia. Six to eight weeks later, from January to March, you can then witness the hatchlings emerge and make the dash to the sea to start their 100-year journey.
Here's the complete guide on where to see turtles across Queensland.
Capricorn Region
Photo by @cooberriepark
Cooberrie Park Wildlife Sanctuary
Cooberrie Park Wildlife Sanctuary is a 25-acre haven for over 350 animals. Kangaroos, wallabies, emus and peacocks roam freely and happily welcome visitors to their home. Interact with some cheeky monkeys, hold a dragon (a central netted dragon that is) and be sure to catch the daily interactive show at 1pm.
A few more places to check out in the Capricorn Region:
- The Rockhampton Zoo (free entry!)
- Koorana Crocodile Farm
Fraser Coast
Fraser Coast Wildlife Sanctuary
Ever met a dingo up close? The answer's probably no, even if you've seen them from afar on Fraser Island. Not-for-profit Fraser Coast Wildlife Sanctuary is the first sanctuary in Queensland to breed dingoes in captivity, and you'll be able to say hello when you visit. While you're there don't forget to pat the kangaroos, meet Winston the wedge-tail eagle, and hold a python.
Southern Queensland Country
Darling Downs Zoo
Go around the world with wildlife from Australia, Africa, South-East Asia and South America at Darling Downs Zoo. Navigate through the four regions and encounter the animals in their natural habitats. The zoo features monkeys, giant tortoises, a herd of zebras, and the only white lions in Queensland – that you have the opportunity to feed in the Big Cat Encounter.
Townsville North Queensland
Photo by @reefhqaquarium
Reef HQ Aquarium
Discover what lurks in the depths of the Great Barrier Reef while you stay completely dry at the largest living coral reef aquarium in the world. The 2.5-million-litre exhibition at the Reef HQ Aquarium is home to 120 species of fish and 130 species of coral. See eye-to-eye with a turtle, or catch the underbelly of a shark as it swims overhead surrounded by schools of fish, as you walk through the 20-metre underwater tunnel. Don't forget to catch one of their daily shark feeding or predator dive shows.
Other places to see in Townsville:
The Whitsundays
The Living Reef on Daydream Island
If hand-feeding a shark is on your bucket list, look no further than The Living Reef on Daydream Island. This man-made living coral reef lagoon is one of the world's largest, and is home to Bruce the sicklefin lemon shark and more than 140 species of marine fish and 83 species of coral. Entry is free and so are the twice-daily educational feeding sessions.
Book in for the Stingray Splash experience to walk knee-deep into the living reef and hand-feed the stingrays for 45 minutes.
Outback Queensland
Charleville Bilby Experience
Bilbies are slowly becoming an endangered species, and in Charleville you can join the fight to save this loveable marsupial. When you visit the Charleville Bilby Experience. Charleville Bilby Experience, you'll be helping conservation efforts set up to protect these burrowing creatures. Come for the tour and you'll not only learn all about bilbies, but will also be escorted in a small group through their breeding areas.
Texas Longhorn Tours
Want a wildlife experience, outback style? Then this is for you. Located just outside of Charters Towers, the Texas Longhorn Tours will take you on a traditional horse-drawn wagon tour back in time as you mosey through the bush and spot kangaroos, water buffalo, cattle and other native Aussie wildlife.
