Hello, friends! As an animal-loving traveller, I have always been fascinated by Australia’s unique wildlife. Finally, I set off on a magical journey to Melbourne, embarking on a wonderful adventure in search of kangaroos, koalas and other cute animals. Along the way, I experienced countless surprises and moments of inspiration – and now I can’t wait to share this amazing journey with you!
I couldn’t contain my excitement when I arrived in Melbourne – I couldn’t wait to see the cute kangaroos! Fortunately, there are many places in Melbourne where you can have a magical encounter with them.
Woodland Historical Park (Greenville)
I was thrilled when a local friend told me that Woodland Historical Park was a great place to observe kangaroos. Early in the morning, I checked the Victoria Park website and couldn’t wait to go there.
Sure enough, there was a large group of kangaroos hopping around in the grass near Sumbury Road! Some were frolicking and chasing each other, while others were quietly grazing. I approached them carefully, not wanting to disturb them, because the morning sun was casting a golden glow over the scene – it was beautiful.
Sugarloaf Reservoir Park (Mount Christmas)
One day, a fellow traveller and I decided to check out Sugar Loaf Reservoir Park. We walked quietly along the reservoir, only the rustling of the leaves in the wind to be heard.
Just when I thought we might not see any kangaroos, my sharp-eyed friend suddenly whispered, ‘Look, over there!’ Sure enough, a lone kangaroo stood in the distance. It glanced at us and then hopped away – a fleeting but unforgettable sight.
Cardinia Reservoir Park (East of Narre Warren
I had an unforgettable experience at Cardinia Reservoir Park. It was a sunny day and as I was strolling through the park, I suddenly heard a rustling sound.
I looked into the bushes and found a few kangaroos grazing. They held onto the grass with their little paws and nibbled away contentedly. I hid nearby and took some lovely photos.
Lesterfield Lake Park (North Narawallee)
On the day I visited Lesterfield Lake Park, the sun was shining and reflecting beautifully on the water. As I strolled along the lakeshore, I was delighted to spot a group of wallabies lounging in the grass.
Some were sunbathing while others were practising their jumping skills. I sat quietly nearby, enjoying my peaceful connection with nature.
Churchill National Park (Rowville)
I also joined a guided walking tour of Churchill National Park. Our guide told us lots of interesting facts about the park and mentioned that kangaroos could often be seen.
Sure enough, during the walk, we spotted a group of kangaroos near the tree line. They hopped around, stopping every now and then to look at us as we excitedly took photos.
Plenty Gorge Park (South Morang)
When I visited the Plenty Gorge Park alone, I was captivated by the magnificent scenery. When I reached a grassy area at the bottom of the gorge, I found a kangaroo standing motionless. The sun shone on its fur, which glistened, and its ears twitched from time to time, as if listening to the sounds around it.
I slowly approached it, and surprisingly, it did not run away. For a moment, our gazes met – a silent exchange between man and wild animal.
Moonlight Sanctuary
The Moonlight Sanctuary is a great place to see kangaroos and wallabies. Upon arrival, I headed straight for the wallaby walkabout area and bought a box of animal feed at the entrance. Soon, I spotted a group of kangaroos and wallabies frolicking in the grass.
I knelt down to feed them, and a curious joey cautiously approached and nibbled my hand gently. My heart melted – there are no words to describe the joy of feeding these cute animals with your hands.
Where to find koalas: the ultimate guide to koala spotting in Melbourne
If you want to see Melbourne’s cute koalas, these places are worth a visit.
Maru Koala and Animal Park (Gippsland)
At Maru Koala and Animal Park, I finally got to see koalas up close. As soon as I entered the park, I couldn’t wait to look around – and there they were! Several koalas were clinging to tree branches, some asleep, some wide-eyed and curious about the world below.
I walked up to them, admired their fluffy ears and chubby little bodies, and resisted the urge to cuddle them.
Moonlight Sanctuary Wildlife Reserve (Mornington Peninsula)
At the Moonlight Sanctuary on the Mornington Peninsula, I joined a guided tour. Our guide told us interesting facts about koalas and then took us to their habitat.
The koalas here are not afraid of tourists and they continued to do their own thing – one of them even lazily moved from tree to tree, its clumsy movements attracting bursts of laughter and camera shutters from the tourists.
Wildlife Wonders (Great Ocean Road)
At the Great Ocean Road Wildlife Encounter, conservationists lead us through the bush in search of wild koalas. It feels like an exciting adventure – my heart races as we tiptoe through the undergrowth, keeping a wary eye on the treetops.
Suddenly, my guide whispers, ‘Look, there’s one!’ Sure enough, a koala is hiding among the leaves – if not for my guide’s keen eyesight, I might have missed it.
Melbourne Zoo’s koala sanctuary
At Melbourne Zoo, I head straight for the koala enclosure. Here, the koalas live in a well-maintained habitat and are looked after by dedicated keepers.
One koala is sitting comfortably in a tree branch, chewing on eucalyptus leaves and holding a few green leaves in its mouth. It’s so cute, I could watch it for hours.
Melbourne Zoo: a paradise for wildlife
I signed up for a VIP day tour of Melbourne Zoo, which was definitely the highlight of the trip.
Arriving at dawn, I met my guide and ventured into the Australian bush trails. It was full of wildlife, mystery and unique creatures – kangaroos, koalas, wombats and countless exotic birds.
We started at the kangaroo enclosure, where a few kangaroos were jumping around. The ranger told us that kangaroos are most active at sunrise. Next, we visited the koalas, kari and wallaby, who were still asleep. We tiptoed around them, not wanting to disturb them, until one of them finally opened its eyes, and its sleepy appearance melted everyone’s heart.
In the Australian wildlife area, we also found the South Australian koala, the short-tailed pygmy kangaroo, the wallaby, the emu, the wallaby, the wombat, as well as native birds such as the red-tailed black cockatoo and the honeyeater – some singing in the treetops, some strolling across the grassland, as if to welcome our arrival.
The best time to see kangaroos
Dawn and dusk are the best times to spot kangaroos. I had the best luck at sunrise at Woodlands Historic Park, where I stumbled upon a large group grazing in an open area.
However, during the day, especially in hot weather, they will hide in the shade of the woodlands. Once, I went there at noon and only later realised that they were all napping in the cool undergrowth!
Koala activity patterns
Koalas are mainly active at night, but you may also see them moving around at dawn or dusk. At the Moonlight Sanctuary, I saw several koalas waking up from their daytime sleep – some climbing trees, others grooming.
This means they may move around during the day if they feel too hot, too cold, or just want a change of scenery. At Melbourne Zoo, I once saw a koala go into the shade at midday.
More Australian wildlife hotspots
Wombat sightings
With a bit of luck, you might see wombats at Cape Wilson, Barmoors National Park or Tarawera Mountain Wildlife Reserve. I visited Cape Wilson and didn’t see any wombats that day, but some other tourists had seen them before and said their clumsy gait was very cute.
To increase your chances of spotting a wombat, you can join a guided night tour, such as a ranger-led hike in Broken Hill National Park, Wombat State Forest or the Yarra Ranges National Park. One friend who went on a night tour said that seeing a wombat in the dark was an unforgettable and exciting experience.
Kangaroo Centre
The red kangaroo is the largest marsupial on the planet and thrives in the arid outback. A friend told me during a rural trip in New South Wales that the plains were full of kangaroos, which were jumping in all directions.
Where can I cuddle a koala
There are a few special places in Australia where you can get up close and personal with koalas:
- Australia Zoo (Sunshine Coast) – watch koalas munch on leaves and even get up close and personal with them.
- Kumera Park (Kumera) – a koala paradise full of eucalyptus trees.
- Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary (Gold Coast) – famous for its cute koalas (look at all the cute tourist photos!).
- Dreamworld (Gold Coast) – experience koalas with expert guidance.
- Kuranda Koala Gardens (Kuranda) – a tranquil environment where koalas thrive.
- Paradise Country (Gold Coast) – includes keeper talks and hands-on activities.
- Rainforest Nature Park (Kuranda) – see koalas in their natural habitat.
- Cleland Wildlife Park (Adelaide Hills) – koalas’ paradise, where you can get up close and personal with them.
Kangaroos on the beach? Yes!
Lucky Bay in Western Australia is famous for its kangaroos lazily sunbathing on the pristine white sand beach. Friends have uploaded photos of kangaroos basking leisurely by the turquoise water – breathtakingly beautiful. Imagine sunbathing next to a kangaroo!
Kangaroo trivia
In the wild, you can see them everywhere. The red kangaroo is the king of the kangaroos, with a tail that can be up to a metre long! At the zoo, I was amazed by their huge size – their tail is like a third leg and is used for balance.
They roam the arid central region of Australia, eating grass and breeding year-round. Wallabies emerge from their pouches at around eight months old – I almost screamed when I saw their little faces poking out!
Be especially careful at dawn and dusk, as kangaroos are most active during these times. Once, I was driving at dusk and saw several kangaroos crossing the road. Due to the low visibility and the large number of kangaroos, the likelihood of a collision was very high (not good for the car, and the kangaroos).
Roger Lipford Kangaroo
Australia once had a celebrity kangaroo named Roger (also known as ‘Ripping Roger’ or ‘Jack Roger’). When the celebrity kangaroo died at the age of 12, singer Natalie Imbruglia also paid tribute to him, calling him a ‘true icon’. His pictures of muscular development have been widely circulated, and he has become a legend of pride and strength.
Kangaroo Island: a paradise for wildlife
Kangaroo Island is a wildlife paradise. Flinders Chase National Park is the best place to spot wild kangaroos and koalas, while Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park guarantees you will see them. It is now at the top of my bucket list!