![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-www-wotif-com\/2020\/09\/764c523a-aussie-animal-spots-quokka.jpg\")
<\/p>\nFrom the cotton-ball ears of a lazy koala to the cheeky grin of a quokka, Australia has some pretty adorable animals to admire. If you\u2019re building a bucket-list of creatures to get up close and personal with, start here. These are the best places around Australia to see your favourite animals in their natural habitat.<\/p>\n
These fluffy Furby-like wallabies almost always have a smile on their dials, making them perfect for photo opps. But keep a respectful distance, they are wild animals, after all. These cuties are native to Rottnest Island, a protected nature reserve just a half an hour ferry trip from Perth, which is abundant with rocky coves of calm, glittering waters and white sand.<\/p>\n
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Their stout stature and totally tweakable noses make the burrow-bound wombat a total favourite amongst animal lovers. On Tasmania\u2019s Maria Island (pronounced \u2018mah-rye-ah\u2019), a half-hour ferry from the mainland\u2019s east coast, wombats are so common they\u2019ve been likened to a \u2018tripping hazard\u2019. Even though visitors can often get within cuddling distance, it\u2019s best not to: not least because they have some pretty sharp claws!<\/p>\n
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What is it about the wayward waddle of a penguin that turns us into a human heart emoji? \ud83d\udc9a Victoria\u2019s Phillip Island, a spot in the inlet of Melbourne\u2019s Western Port Bay, is home to the world\u2019s largest colony of little penguins \u2013 many of whom shuffle up the shore in an adorable parade at sunset every evening. Can\u2019t make it there in person? You can watch the whole thing via live stream<\/a> \ud83d\ude0d<\/p>\n Few can resist the lazy charm of a fluffy koala, Australia\u2019s unofficial animal ambassador. These cuddly cuties love hanging out in the gums near Cape Otway along Victoria\u2019s Great Ocean Road. Although they can be a little tricky to spot in their bundles on eucalypt branches, don\u2019t worry \u2013 they don\u2019t move very quickly!<\/p>\n Almost the definition of small but mighty, the leafy sea dragon is so mighty, in fact, that Sir David Attenborough made a pilgrimage down south to get a closer look. Off the South Australian coast near Rapid Bay, you can watch these little wonders float their fancy, leaf-like limbs around, mimicking their seaweed surrounds.<\/p>\n Known to some as the \u2018dogs of the sea\u2019, the playful sea lion is a joy to watch in its natural habitat. At the edge of Kangaroo Island\u2019s Seal Bay Conservation Park, you\u2019ll spot a sizeable seal colony lark around both in and out of the water, with many of them catching some sun on rocks excitingly close to viewing pathways.<\/p>\n The aptly named \u2018home of the platypus\u2019 of Mackay is your best bet for sighting these shy little swimmers, who make their homes at the edge of freshwater creeks. Broken River in Eungella National Park, an hour west of Mackay, is perfect for platypus spotting, with walking trails and viewing decks perfectly positioned near their riverside setups.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s get one thing straight: whale sharks aren\u2019t sharks at all. They\u2019re still incredibly impressive though, and the best place to get close to them is Western Australia\u2019s pristine Ningaloo Reef. You won\u2019t just view these gentle giants from afar, however \u2013 visitors to this World Heritage area can also dive and swim alongside them. Fish or not, this dive isn\u2019t for the faint-hearted: whale sharks can reach up to 12m in length!<\/p>\n Roo spotters, rejoice! When you\u2019ve found one eastern grey kangaroo, you\u2019ve likely found a few. Typically bounding about the place in groups of ten or more, these shade-seeking macropods love hopping up to the shores of Pebbly Beach on New South Wales\u2019 south coast and grazing on the surrounding grasses.<\/p>\n The clue is in the name for this idyllic isle in Tropical North Queensland, where the green turtle is known for its regular stop-ins. Between January and March, green turtle visits become even more frequent as it\u2019s hatching season and female green turtles visit the shores at night to help incubate their eggs.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-www-wotif-com\/2020\/09\/57a21d92-aussie-animal-spots-penguin.jpg\")
<\/p>\n4. Koalas in Cape Otway, Victoria<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-www-wotif-com\/2020\/09\/c309c9aa-aussie-animal-spots-koala.jpg\")
<\/p>\n5. Leafy sea dragons in South Australia<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-www-wotif-com\/2020\/09\/aac13164-aussie-animal-spots-sea-dragon.jpg\")
<\/p>\n6. Sea lions on Kangaroo Island, South Australia<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-www-wotif-com\/2020\/09\/29f1714f-aussie-animal-spots-sea-lion.jpg\")
<\/p>\n7. Platypuses in Mackay, Queensland<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-www-wotif-com\/2020\/09\/24105c5d-aussie-animal-spots-platypus.jpg\")
<\/p>\n8. Whale sharks on Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-www-wotif-com\/2020\/09\/8ad53860-aussie-animal-spots-whale-shark.jpg\")
<\/p>\n9. Eastern grey kangaroos on Pebbly Beach, New South Wales<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-www-wotif-com\/2020\/09\/0d0e23bc-aussie-animal-spots-kangaroo.jpg\")
<\/p>\n10. Green and loggerhead turtles on Green Island, Queensland<\/h2>\n
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