WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS
Australian Wildlife Journeys
Some of Australia’s leading wildlife tourism experiences have united to form AUSTRALIAN WILDLIFE JOURNEYS (australianwildlifejourneys.com). The collection of tour companies represents a wide array of landscapes from coral reefs, rainforests and wetlands to the Red Centre and includes Arkaba Wild Bush Luxury, Echidna Walkabout Nature Tours, Exceptional Kangaroo Island, Exmouth Dive & Whalesharks Ningaloo, Lords Kakadu & Arnhemland Safaris, The Maria Island Walk, Premier Travel Tasmania and Wildlife Coast Cruises. Find out the best times of year to see Australia’s spectacular wildlife by visiting their website.
Zoo Encounters
There are plenty of zoos and wildlife parks where you can get up close to Australia’s animals, many of which have hands-on programs and even accommodation options.
TARONGA ZOO SYDNEY (taronga. org.au), one of Australia’s oldest and certainly most well-known zoos, is also one of the world’s most scenic, with sweeping views of Sydney Harbour. It has a range of wildlife encounters including getting up close to a koala; you will go into the koala exhibit for a private talk by one of the knowledgeable zookeepers and finish by having your photo taken.
Only an hour’s drive north of Sydney, the AUSTRALIAN REPTILE PARK (reptilepark.com.au) has a great selection of hands-on experiences, and not just with reptiles; there are wombats, wallabies, dingoes and Tassie devils. But it’s the hands-on informative keeper talks that make this wildlife park special. There are opportunities to wrap a python around your neck and even cuddle a dingo pup.
An hour’s drive south of Sydney, SYMBIO WILDLIFE PARK (symbiozoo. com.au) is a social media superstar. Its Facebook videos of cute koalas Imogen and Willow have been shared globally and people are flocking to take a photo with these gorgeous girls.
AUSTRALIA ZOO (australiazoo.com.au) on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast has over 23 hands-on animal encounters, everything from cuddling koalas to feeding kangaroos. There are some big critters there too, including its famous saltwater crocodiles. The vision of the Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin, and his family, the zoo is also home to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, one of the world’s largest and busiest purposebuilt wildlife hospitals.