Wildlife Wonders of Queensland: Where to See Kangaroos, Koalas, Whales + More

This week host Tracy Collins is joined by Queensland expert Melissa, who shares her insider knowledge of where and when to experience Australia’s most iconic wildlife.

Together they uncover the magic of seeing animals in their natural habitats - from kangaroos hopping along the beach at Cape Hillsborough to whales breaching off Hervey Bay, turtles nesting on the Great Barrier Reef islands, and cassowaries striding through the Daintree.

You’ll learn:
 • How to match your Queensland itinerary with the wildlife you most want to see
 • The best seasons and times of day for spotting whales, turtles, kangaroos and more
 • Where to find koalas, cassowaries, platypuses and other rare species in the wild
 • How to plan safe and ethical wildlife experiences that support conservation
 • Tips for getting around Queensland, from self-drive routes to guided tours

Whether you’re dreaming of sunrise with kangaroos, swimming beside turtles, or catching sight of an elusive platypus, this episode is your go-to guide for planning unforgettable and responsible wildlife encounters in Queensland.

⭐️ Guest - Melissa Delaware from "The Queensland Travel Guide"
📝 Show Notes -Episode 83

🎧 Listen to next

• Episode #18: Queensland Travel Tips: Beaches, Outback Adventures, and Hidden Gems
• Episode #32: Brisbane Day Trips: Islands, Wildlife, and Hidden Gems
• Episode #75 – The Ultimate Whitsundays Travel Guide: Best Islands, Whitehaven Beach + Insider Tips

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Chapters

• 0:00 Why Queensland For Wildlife
• 1:49 Meet Melissa And Her Expertise
• 3:20 How To Plan By Species And Season
• 5:08 Dawn With Kangaroos At Cape Hillsborough
• 12:31 Whale Watching Hotspots And Timing
• 17:40 Finding The Elusive Platypus
• 22:00 Cassowary Encounters In The Daintree
• 25:13 Crocodile Safety And Best Viewing
• 30:15 Where To See Koalas In The Wild
• 34:25 Dingoes On K’gari And Safety
• 37:10 Tree Kangaroos And FNQ Highlights
• 39:35 Dugongs And Reef Sightings
• 41:25 Turtle Nesting, Hatching, And Islands
• 47:35 Ethics, Gear, And Guided Tours
• 51:25 Favourite Encounters And Final Tips

Transcript

SPEAKER_02: 0:00

From kangaroos on the beach at sunrise to whales breaching just offshore, today we're sharing where and when to see Australia's most iconic wildlife in Queensland.

SPEAKER_00: 0:09

Welcome to the Global Travel Planning Podcast. Your host is founder of the Global Travel Planning website, Tracy Collins. Each week, Tracy is joined by expert guests as she takes you on a journey to destinations around the world, sharing travel inspiration, itinerary ideas, and practical tips to help you plan your next adventure. Join us as we explore everywhere from bustling cities to remote landscapes, uncover cultural treasures, and discover the best ways to make your travel dreams a reality.

SPEAKER_02: 0:42

Hi and welcome to this week's episode of the Global Travel Planner Podcast. Now, as you know, I spend a lot of my time in Australia. Australia is our home, and it's also home to some of the most unique and fascinating wildlife on the planet. And seeing it in the wild is one of the highlights of any visit to Australia. But location and timing are everything. So in this episode, I'm joined by Lady Who Travels, Melissa, to talk about where and when to spot some of the country's most famous creatures in Queensland. From kangaroos at Cape Hillsborough and Castlewarries in far north Queensland to whales, koala, dingos, and even the elusive platypus. We'll share tips, seasonal advice, and Melissa's own memorable encounters to help you plan your wildlife experiences. Whether you're dreaming of swimming alongside turtles, spotting a dugong, or catching a glimpse of a bilby, this episode is packed with inspiration for your Australian adventure. So once again, I am joined by my fellow lady who travels, Melissa, to chat about um we're going to talk about Australian wildlife, but specific to Queensland today. But would you like to introduce yourself, Melissa, and uh just tell us a little bit about what you do, please? That'd be great.

SPEAKER_01: 1:48

Sure. Thanks, Tracy. Thanks for having me on again. Um, like Tracy said, I help co-host Ladies Who Travel with Tracy. Um, and I also have websites, uh, Queensland Travel Guide website and the Brisbane Travel Guide website to help you plan your trips to Brisbane or Queensland. Um, I'm also a travel planner, so if you need extra help um with your trip to Queensland or Australia, I can help book and plan and make sure you have a fantastic time coming to our beautiful country.

SPEAKER_02: 2:22

You can. And you were born and brought up in Queensland as well.

SPEAKER_01: 2:25

So you're born, bred, and I've actually lived in Brisbane my entire life, so I do know it pretty well.

SPEAKER_02: 2:32

Exactly. So if you've got any questions about Brisbane or visiting Queensland, Melissa is your go-to. So um I was desperate to do this episode about wildlife because it was one of those things that when we moved to Australia, I was so excited about seeing the animals here, and it doesn't disappoint. It's every day, even looking out on my balcony, it's just you know the cockatoos, and it is a fabulous destination to come and see wildlife and Queensland in particular. So we're gonna focus on Queensland for this episode. Um, now Australia is obviously famous for so much because we have so many things nobody else has here. Um, now if they're gonna visit Queensland and they have an interest, so if you're listening at the minute thinking, I'm gonna go to Queensland, I particularly want to see some of these Australian animals, uh, where should they start?

SPEAKER_01: 3:15

Um, yeah, well, I when you when I saw this question, I was having a think about that. Um, the good thing about Queensland is um, you know, a lot, we're also famous for the Australia Zoo, Steve O and Australia Zoo, and a lot of people, I think that's where they're thinking of starting. And look, um, Australia Zoo is fantastic, don't get me wrong, and I I think it's a great zoo, and definitely put it on your list if you're coming to um Queensland, but um you don't have to go to a zoo in Queensland to see um our wildlife, um, and that's what I think is so awesome. Um, but obviously there are, you know, Queensland's a very, very geographically a very big place, um, and you're not gonna see all the Australian wildlife in one place. So, what I would do is perhaps um make a list of what animals you'd really like to see, um, and then also maybe make a list of the destinations that you want to see. Um, and as we go through this podcast, we're gonna talk about um the the different animals and where you can see them. Um, and so then you can see where there's a crossover of um where the animals are and the destinations and plan your trip to Queensland that way. Um, but if there are is an animal that you really, really, really want to see, then perhaps you know you put that destination on your on your itinerary.

SPEAKER_02: 4:30

Yeah, that's a good point. That's a good point because um I think there are, I know a lot of people want to see turtles, a lot of people want to go and see Cassawari, a lot of people want to go and um, you know, everybody wants to see a kangaroo, everybody wants to see a koala. Um, and as a uh you know, my mum came last year and and kangaroo was top of her list with koala, and um so she saw lots of kangaroos out in the wild uh because we went out to Stanthorpe and have had a lovely time there, but uh we took her to Australia Zoo as well, which she absolutely loved, and of course they she saw lots of koala, which was she she was just made up by that. But um, how important is it for uh if you plan a visit to think about timing when it comes to spotting different species?

SPEAKER_01: 5:08

Uh yeah, so timing, there's a couple of things in timing, like there's time of time of year and time of day. Um now in there are certain animals that you you'll only see at certain times of year, but that's that it's only a few animals. So luckily for for generally, luckily for animals in Queensland, you can see all the animals at all the times of the year. That the only animal that probably is really um uh seasonal would be the whales. Um, so generally our whale season is May to November, so it's quite long, so you know there's a good chance that you're going to see them. The other things is um um turtles, you can see turtles year round, but a really cool thing in Queensland is to see the turtles um laying their eggs and also um the little turtles hatching. Um, so they're only at certain times of year as well, which is November um to dec to sorry, November to March. Um but probably what's more important is a time of day. So a lot of the animals will tend to come out um either really early in the morning or um really late in the day, so dawn or dusk. Um and the other thing in relation to timing um is seeing the crocodiles, which is my favourite. No one ever says I want to see a crocodile, I don't know why, but I think they're amazing. Um, so it seeing crocodiles, it's best to see them at low tide. So there that's pretty much the three things to consider. Um, you know, um time of year, time of day, and also tide tides. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 6:40

Perfect. So, yeah, crocodiles, sort of on bodies, but I uh I lived in Africa for a while, so I saw quite a lot of big Nile crocodiles. So um, but I I I do enjoy seeing them when I do go up to Farnworth Queensland, don't get me wrong. But let's talk about some of the animals and the experiences you can have. Now I'm gonna I'm gonna start up with actually my favourite because this was the one of the first things that we did when we arrived here because we didn't live very far from a place called Cape Hillsborough, which is just north of Mc Mackay, which is where Doug and I first uh lived when we first moved to Australia. And you can go and see the kangaroos at dawn on the beach, which is incredible. So, is that something that you've have you done that, Melissa?

SPEAKER_01: 7:19

I have. I have I have seen the kangaroos at Cape Hillsborough. Um, it is a question I see in different Facebook groups um that I'm in about, and they'll say, Oh, where can we see the kangaroos at the beach in Australia? Um, and in readiness for this podcast, I did some research, and I'm not sure if there's anywhere in Australia you can see them on the beach at sunrise, except for Cape Hillsborough. Um, so that's pretty special. So, like Tracy said, just north of Mackay, um, so that's where you'd need to go to see them. Um, you have to get up super early. I saw them in summertime. I've only been there once, and I saw them in summertime, so I think we had to be on the beach by like four o'clock in the morning. Um, if it was winter, it would be a bit later. Um, and you've got to get there just before um the sun rises, and then the kangaroos come out, and um, you know, then they're nibbling on the seeds that get washed up on the um beach each morning. Um there's ranges out there to make sure everyone's you know keeping their distance, um, but it's just lovely. You just sit there and watch, um, yeah, and it's very peaceful. And then, you know, as the sun rises, they all sort of slowly disappear, and um, yeah, then you can get on with your day.

SPEAKER_02: 8:31

That's true, and it's you get some. I have some stunning, some of my favourite photographs I've ever taken, uh, were taken on Cape Pillsburn. And Doug and I have done it twice and we've stayed in the park itself, um, which is easier because I think we did it once from Mackay, but you we had to leave quite early, and you need to get there before the sun comes up. So, obviously, there's also the risk at that time if you're driving around too much of kangaroos on the roads, and we we did have a few times where we had the kangaroos near misses the car, so you have to be very careful driving at that time. Yes, you definitely do.

SPEAKER_01: 9:03

So, that's one thing that people will always tell you do not drive um outside but you know, outside in dawn and dusk because kangaroos that's when they are very, very active. Um, but like Tracy said, there is um one resort at Cates Hillsborough, and being just one resort, it gets booked out. So it was booked out when I went, and I have looked at booking other clients, and it's been booked out then as well. So you have to stay the nearest town is um Seaforth, which is about 15-20 minute drive, so you have to factor that in, like you said, you're getting up early. So if you do want to do this, um book that accommodation as early as possible.

SPEAKER_02: 11:48

Absolutely. And I actually have got an article on Global Travel Planning um all about how to see the kangaroo's at Cape Hillsburg. It was one of the first articles I wrote when I first came to um Queensland, and it's actually one of my most popular articles, so do check that one out as well. Um, because it's got all my photos, and I haven't done it for a few years actually, but it it's just a wonderful experience to do. And if you're doing that drive, which I know we're gonna do a podcast about driving from the options, driving from Brisbane to to up to Cairns, up that direction, you you do have an option of of including that in your itinerary, and I would. I really, really would do that. So the next thing we're gonna talk about are whales. Now, we we not long ago, actually, I'm gonna say not long ago, but it's actually gonna be over a year ago, but didn't it feel like it? We we've been out with uh Brisbane Whale Watching to see the whales themselves. So um tell me about the blessed places to see them, what time of year to see them. Um I I I I love the fact you you do get fairly close on on these boats to see the breaching. I mean, it it's a wonderful experience. But um, yeah, full us in on about whales.

SPEAKER_01: 12:50

Yeah, I mean, so the whales, um, you can pretty much see them like all along the east coast. Um, but the most popular place, or I don't know if I say it's the most popular, but we call it the whale watching capital of Australia, and that is Harvey Bay, um, you know, which is about a four-hour drive north of Brisbane. Um, and so the reason why Harvey Bay is so popular is because um the whales um for some reason like to hang around and socialise apparently in the waters off Harvey Bay. Um, so I think that the waters there are just um populated a bit more with whales, whereas everywhere else the whales are more so passing by. Um, I have gone whale watching in Harvey Bay and it was incredible, um, yeah, really amazing. But um you can also see the whales um off Brisbane, um, which Tracy and I have done a couple of times, um the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast. Um, so I've also done it from the Gold Coast, and all the times I've been out whale watching, I've always seen plenty of whales, um, you know, breaching, all different amazing behaviors. Um, yeah, it's never disappointed, it's just fabulous. Uh the the times of year, um it's about sort of June to November, and obviously, um sort of that um in those months sort of like um July and August, you'll see more of them than on the outskirts of those times. But um, yeah, it's it's it's fabulous and well well worth it.

SPEAKER_02: 14:30

It's brilliant. And later on with when they come back down with the babies as well, because you shouldn't say that's that's what they're coming from Antarctica to to come and give birth in the warmer waters off of Queensland, so they head up the coast. Apparently, a lot of them will give birth around that Harvey Bay region as well. Um and they they come the the the pregnant whale will come with another whale who kind of will escort her, and then um she gives birth and then they head back down to Antarctica, which they do, it's an annual thing, it's amazing. I I go out every year to go and see the whales because they're they're just there, they're so close, and it's such a privilege. And I I actually live within a walking distance of getting the Brisbane whale watching boat from Morton Bay, and so that's something that we we just do that every year. I'm actually trying to talk Doug into it because he doesn't like boats. So um you know it it can get a little bit choppy once you get to the other side of Morton Bay.

SPEAKER_01: 15:20

Um I find, I find, don't you find Tracy that you don't even think about the choppiness, you're just like, oh my god, it's a whale, and you're just running over and not even worried about the conditions.

SPEAKER_02: 15:30

No, and they come so close to the boat as well, it's incredible. They come to the boat because they they and they it's when it the the whale comes up and you can see this massive eye and it's it's watching you, you're watching it, it's watching you, and it's kind of it's it's a magical experience. So definitely, definitely if you're in Queensland that time of year, you really, really, really should do um. If you're based in Brisbane, just just take one of the take come out to Morton Bay, go out on the take a take a tour out on the boat, and and just honestly, you will not regret it. It's such an amazing experience. Um now on the next fit I'm gonna talk about is one that's quite elusive, and and quite a lot of people, even that live in Queensland, haven't seen is the Platypus. Now, where I and I I've seen Platypus a couple of times in a couple of different places in Queensland. Um, but I was wondering about have you have you had a chance to see any platypus?

SPEAKER_01: 16:19

I have, I've only seen them once. I mean, I've been to different places where they're supposed to be, but I wasn't lucky enough to spot them. But the one place I have seen them is in Uginella. Is that how you pronounce it, Tracy? Do you know? I think it's Ungala. Unganella, Ungala.

SPEAKER_02: 16:36

I think it's Ungala. Yeah, because I used to live beside Macai, so we used to go to Ungala National Park quite a lot because it's a fairly easy drive from Mackay, like 40 minutes or so, I think. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01: 16:45

Um, so there's um Broken River there. Um, so that's you know, we were talking about Kate's Hillsborough seeing the kangaroo. So um it's a re this is a really good thing you can do to get, you can go and see both um in that trip. Um, and yeah, so the you can go up there and see the uh platypus. Um we did um I recommend going um with a guide because they're really hard to spot. So um and they again they only come up out at dusk and dawn, and because you know the colour of platypus, and you know, they're sort of in murky waters, they're super hard to spot. So if you're with a guide, they know what to look for. Um, yeah, I've got this picture, and maybe we could put it up, and and and you just have to use your imagination to know that there's a platypus there because they're really hard to spot. So my my experience is probably not a great one. I don't know how your experience was seeing them, Tracy.

SPEAKER_02: 17:37

Well, I've been very, very lucky actually in that um been at Dongola quite a few times and have seen I've got really good video, I've got really good photos. I think a lot of the a lot of what you need to kind of be aware of if you're trying to spot platypus is to be very, very quiet and just sit and wait. Like I have sat, we've sat for an hour before, uh waiting for the platypus to come out. I've actually took Dominique. When actually Dominique um first came out to Australia, we took her and we sat there for hours, nothing. We didn't see anything. Um, so she hadn't seen one. So we'd been out to Ungoland numerous times and seen the platypus. Um, and actually in in this kind of early afternoon, we'd we'd seen them as well, and we were very lucky. And then far north Queensland is another place. Now there is just outside, and oh, it's gone out the oh Youngerborough. Youngerborough is the place that you can see platypus. We've never seen platypus there, and we have been numerous times, but there is another place, and it's gone out of my head now on the Atherton Tablelands where you can see platypus, and I took Dominique when Dominique and I were last up there, and I will find the name of it and put in the show notes because it's gone out of my head. Um, but there's a place there you can go and pay it to see the platypus, and Dominique and I saw platypus that time as well. Um, so but they are a very elusive species. It's very interesting, the platypus, because the first time a platypus was taken back to the UK in the in the 1800s, nobody believed it was real, they all believed it was a fake because it is the most bizarre looking, and it is the most bizarre looking um animal that you're gonna see. Honestly, it is, I think anywhere because it is it is, but they are amazing to see. So I have got video and I have got photos, so I'll put those in the podcast. Um, I'm gonna turn to one of the most uh uh dangerous birds in the world, and kind of well known as being one of the most dangerous birds in the world, um, that I've I've again been very lucky to see, and that is the cassawari. Um, yeah, so where would you recommend to see a cassawary in Queensland?

SPEAKER_01: 19:34

I haven't seen a cassawary in the wild, so there you go. But yeah, far north Queensland is the only place you can see them, not just Queensland, but in Australia. Um so a few places Mission Beach, Eddie Bay, um, and the Dane Tree um area. Um, but like Tracy said, they are considered extremely dangerous birds. So if you do see someone in the wild, it see one in the wild, do not approach it. Like most animals in the wild anyway, you don't approach it, you give it a lot of space. Um, but um I haven't seen one in the wild. I have seen one in a zoo, but uh maybe Tracy, you need to tell us about your experience.

SPEAKER_02: 20:10

Well, we've been really, really lucky up in the Dane Tree in that we stayed in it we stayed in a cottage in the middle of the Dane Tree and we're having breakfast, and they're regul they're they're I can't remember his name now, someone like Freddie. Freddie, their Casawari just wandered into camp. Um, so we just had breakfast kind of watching this Cassari going around trying to forage for some food. We've also been driving in the Dane tree and and had a castori up by the side of the road. Um, and also we've been to Eti Bay. Eti Bay is an excellent place. You'll see them wandering around, and there's like campsites and everything, and you've got the the Casa Ware kind of wandering around there. Again, you just have to be careful, be aware of about them. Um, but my favourite experience was last year I actually took my parents up to um to stay on Farnorth Queensland. We actually went into the Daintry for the day and we did this boardwalk uh walk beside um uh Cape Tribulation. Anyway, I had kind of gone ahead from the group and I was looking through my car. I was actually doing a video at the time, and I was looking through a video, and the next thing I'm literally looking through the video, and there's a casserole in front of me. I nearly had a heart attack. I literally, there was just me and this casserole, and I was like, You are kidding, you are kidding. So I literally just backed up very, very, very quietly and got back. They were probably about two minutes behind me and got to the rest of the group and went, You need to be really quiet. There's quite a few people on the boardwalk at this time. You need to be really, really quiet because there's a cassarori, literally about a minute ahead of us. Um, so everybody then walked really quietly. It was actually a juvenile, um, and we took video and walked past very, very quietly. They've obviously very respect kept the distance. We were on the boardwalk, the castor was just off the boardwalk. Um, but we've been incredibly lucky. This is the only place in the world that you can see them. Apart from if you do in the wild anyway, but if um if if you don't, if you're not going up to Far of Queensland, you can see them at um Australia Zoo.

SPEAKER_01: 22:05

Yes, and that's probably where I can't remember, it's probably where I've seen them.

SPEAKER_02: 22:09

Right, shall we turn to crocodiles? Uh you know, you you're a particular fan of crocodiles. So where's the where's the safest place to see crocodiles in the wild in Queensland?

SPEAKER_01: 22:18

Um generally from a boat is the safest place. You don't want to be seeing them while you're on foot. Um no. Um I I just love seeing crocodiles. I was like, I just think that they're just they're so terrifying and scary looking. Um so yeah, I just I just love seeing them. Um, but yeah, so far north Queensland um is is a great place to see them in the wild. Um the Dane tree in particular, I always recommend clients. Like, I'm like, go to the Dane tree, get on um a boat, and you're gonna you're almost guaranteed to see the crocodiles um there. And that's when we're talking about the tides earlier. Someone um gave me this tip um a while back and said to check the tide. So because obviously um if if it's high tide, then the crocodiles are more likely to be in the water and harder to see, but if it's low tide, then they're more likely to be on the bank, so easier to see. So I always recommend that to people to check the tides when deciding when to go. Because in the Dane Tree, the the boat tours there run almost like every hour for the whole day, so you can easily choose um when to go. Um, so that's um really easy place to see them. I've also seen them in um Weeper, um, that they take out people on boat tours out there. Um, yeah, so that that they're they're the times I've seen them just on boat tours. I've never seen one while I'm just driving past or anything like that, even though I've been looking, um, I've definitely been looking. Um, but on that note, if you are anywhere where there's crocodiles in the water, stay away because you probably won't know that there's a crocodile in the water, but the crocodile will know that you're there. They say um to keep about five metres away from the edge of the shore. Um, because a good thing about crocodiles is once they're once they're out of the water, they can't move very fast, but in the water they can move very fast, and they, you know, have this um, you know, they sort of jump out at you. So if you're five metres away, then you're pretty safe. Um, but they're just magnificent. I think they're amazing.

SPEAKER_02: 24:24

Yeah, you've got to be very, very careful in far north Queensland. I mean, all the beaches will s will have the signs about crocodiles, the potential, the rivers. I have seen crocodiles actually driving into Cairns. There's a bridge you can stop at, and you sometimes you can see the crocodiles there on you know, uh it sitting in the line in the sun. Um we always as well take the Lady Douglas boat when we go to Port Douglas, and you can go on the inlet and see crocodiles, uh the crocodiles there. And even sometimes if you're crossing over to the Dane Tree on the ferry, you know, you can see the crocodile occasionally there as well. There's just so many of them that that they're uh they're not my favourite. And I remember actually when I was taking my first boat trip and the Dane tree to go and see crocodiles, and uh, when I bought the tickets, the guy's saying, Oh, just be really careful when you walk through the boardwalk if the tides in, because sometimes the crocs can come right into there. Yeah, I was like, Oh no, okay, that's a bit scary. Um so yeah, you just have to be really croc aware. And even last time we were visiting, we we there was a we were watching safely, um, and there was a family on the other side who kind of walked through, and there's a big crocodile, particularly near this uh beside this park, uh caravan park, and the the little boy was very close to the edge looking in, and we were like, you know what, you the croc could be in there, and it's you know, uh so you've got to be really, really careful. So that's what freaks me out. It's like you don't quite know where they're gonna go.

SPEAKER_01: 25:42

No, you don't, and it it's you just have to remember, like I I've um, you know, traveled all the way to the the the tip of Queensland and um seen some stunning beaches, and I just love beaches, and you know, they're so enticing, and you're like, gosh, it's gorgeous, I want to get in there, but you just can't, and you mustn't. Uh just look from a distance and enjoy because um I've seen um um some footage online and it's um of a dog um right on the like walking up and down really close to the water, and you can't you can't see from that angle that there's a crocodile there, but then there's like a drone footage, and you can see this crocodile just following this little dog up and down, up and down. So even if you can't see a crocodile does not mean there's not one there. So just I just think the best thing is to assume there's crocodiles there all the time.

SPEAKER_02: 26:30

Yeah, I think that's I absolutely think that's the right idea. So we're gonna we're gonna turn our attention from probably the least cute to the most cute. Everybody wants to come and see koala, and Queensland is one of the only states you can see koala in Australia. So, where can you see them outside of the zoos? And do you have a favourite spot?

SPEAKER_01: 26:48

Um, probably so just recently, actually, I went to Magnetic Island with my daughter, which is an island just off um the coast of Townsville in far north Queensland as well. Um so Magnetic Island is very famous for um seeing koalas, and um, we were on this hike, and within um a few minutes we saw a koala, um which was you know about eye level on a tree, just sleeping. It was the only one we saw, um, but it's still incredible. Even as a Queenslander, like I said, my whole life lived in Queensland. Um it's not very common to see koalas in the wild, unfortunately. The numbers are pretty low. So yeah, they're not the easiest animals to see in the wild. So even as a local, when I see a koala, I get pretty excited. In in the wild, I see them all the time. It doesn't really phase me, but seeing them in the wild, it's really special. Um so the other place I've seen them is actually in the Noosa National Park. Um, I think it's probably less likely you're gonna see them there than Magnetic Island, but it's still very, very possible. You just have to be really patient, maybe have binoculars. Um, and uh I'm not patient and I don't carry binoculars, so I'm probably not the best person to spot them, but um I have seen one, but I was with somebody else who was both patient and had binoculars. Um yeah, so they're the main places um that um I'm aware of in Queensland that you can see them in the wild. Um I mean it's not like impossible to see them in other places if you're out somewhere in you know in bushland or country, it's possible. Actually, sorry, there is one other place I've seen them, and that's on Stradbroke Island. Um yeah, actually, uh we stayed in this um campsite a few times in Amity Point, and there's apparently a resident koala that lives there. And um, yeah, I actually saw the koala running across the campsite on the ground, which was um a bit interesting. So, yeah, um Stradbroke Island, yeah, is another good place to see koalas as well. What about you, Tracy? Have you seen them in the wild in Australia? Uh in Queensland?

SPEAKER_02: 28:55

You know what? I've seen them I have seen them in the wild in in Victoria, but not in Queensland. Actually, what's really interesting though is apparently we have them on the peninsula though, because I've got a friend who um she took a video when she was picking her kids up from school because there were some in the tree. Um, and she was like, look, we have this is why I go pick the kids up on the s koala. And unfortunately, very, very sadly, um, I think a couple of years ago, um on one of the main roads beside us, uh, koala was was killed on the road, unfortunately, because people and they have the signs up saying, you know, go slow. Um, and I think people just don't take any notice. So unfortunately, um, you know, that that happens. Um, but I have not and I've been to Noosa National Park trying to spot and haven't. I think I'm I need to add that to my list of things that I need to go and go and do again, try again. I've obviously seen them in the zoo a number of times, but um no, I I haven't. So not in Queensland, but I would I would very much like to.

SPEAKER_01: 29:49

I think for people visiting, um, if you want to see a koala, you're probably best to go to Australia Zoo or Lone Pine in Brisbane, um, Carumban down on the Gold Coast. They are not the easiest animal to see in the wild. Um actually, one of the great places to see them in Queensland is at Daisy Hill, um, which is south of Brisbane. They have like this koala sanctuary there. Um, yeah, and that's not a bad spot to see them as well.

SPEAKER_02: 30:18

Well, I have to say, last year I took my mum to Australia Zoo to see them, and we I think we we are we there's at least we have got a choice of a few places that we can take them to see them, um, which is which is really good because everybody wants to see a koala, don't they? Absolutely. Now, the other animal that I have not seen in the world yet um is dingo. Ah, okay. Now I know, I know Dominique has seen uh dingo because she's been on on uh Gari Island, is that how you pronounce it?

SPEAKER_01: 30:45

I think so, yeah. Um gari, um, you know, formerly known as Fraser Island for some people, it's now gone back to its indigenous name, um, which is why Tracy and I like, is it gari? I that's how I say it, gari. I I I think that's correct. Um I was gonna say um if you go to Gari, then there's a very, very good chance you'll see a dingo. I I've seen them there every time I've been to Gari. Um so yeah, there is a good chance if you go to Gari, you'll see at least one or two um dingos. They're not they're not shy animals, um, and they're definitely um they know that where there's humans, there's generally food. So they do tend to come out where there's humans, which unfortunately does make it a little bit dangerous. Um there has been a lot of attacks, even some people have been killed from dingos on Kari, but you know, um I think generally if you again like we're talking about crocodiles, you stay away from them, you don't go near them, um, you know, you you keep any rubbish secure, food secure. Um, so because that's obviously what encourages them. But you know, uh if you see them in the distance, they're lovely to watch them. Um they usually hang out in packs, so not where there's one, there's normally a couple of other dingos. Um yeah, but um I don't know, they don't excite me that much, they're just like a dog, a wild dog. But Yeah, I have seen dingos in Kari. I'm not sure where if there's anywhere else in Queensland. Probably in the far west, you could probably see them in deserts as well, but I haven't seen them there.

SPEAKER_02: 32:19

Okay, cool. And then the next one is actually quite an unusual one that I didn't even know about until I came to um Australia, and that is tree kangaroos, which um I've been lucky to see a number of times um in far north Queensland, but again, they're very, very uh unusual, I guess, uh for everybody to get the opportunity to see them. Um is it have you managed to to see tree kangaroos on the screen?

SPEAKER_01: 32:43

I think so. I saw this question, I was trying to think. I I I I don't think I've seen a tree kangaroo. Um so you know, I did a bit of research just to find out exactly where they are, and it says that they're only in North Queensland again and not the Afferton Tablands and the Dane Tree. Um but um yeah, I I certainly haven't I haven't seen them, so I I'm I'm not sure apart from the zoo. Um but yeah, North Queensland again, apparently. I think hopefully you're getting the the the the um understanding that if you go to North Queensland you're gonna see a lot of our wildlife.

SPEAKER_02: 33:17

Yeah, and you've got you actually have an article on your website as well about uh about all these animals and where to see them. And um so you can have a look at that and check out where they are. Um so I guess it's one of those, if you're gonna go to up to north north Queensland, you can start looking at which animals you can you can start figuring out how you can see them. Um and another one, I we're going back to the water this time, is I guess something that we do have beside us on Morton Bay is dogongs. Now, I still have not seen a dogong either. But apparently, um not long ago from the pier in Redcliffe, um, there was a a dogong and her baby uh swimming along, and I would love to have seen that. Um but yeah, I think they're they're not easy to see, but I've known when we've taken the boat out to Morton Island, they've said that you know, keep an eye out, you may be able to see them. But um, and I I think the they're there's a equivalent of a dugong in Florida as well. I don't know if it's called a Dugong, but um that sort of kind of animal.

SPEAKER_01: 34:12

So like a matin a manatee, yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 34:16

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01: 34:18

And I haven't seen them either, but like you said, they're um they're meant to be in Morton Bay, which is just you know, like where Tracy lives, not far from where I live. Um, but also in the Great Barrier Reef as well, they kept talking about when we were on that catamaran um tour in the Wit Sundays, they kept saying, Oh, look out for dugongs. Yeah, never saw them either, but I would really, really love to.

SPEAKER_02: 34:39

Well, hopefully, if you do come to Queensland and you see one, let us know and send us a photo. Now, turtles, obviously, we've got to talk about turtles. So um, I have not yet had the privilege of seeing the um egg laying or the hatching, uh, because I know you have to book that well ahead, and we tend to not be in the country the time necessary. But um, talk about turtles.

SPEAKER_01: 35:00

Oh, turtles are amazing. You know, everyone wants to see a turtle, I think, and I love seeing them, and I've seen many, many, many, many, many turtles in the wild, like probably hundreds of turtles in the wild, and it uh it still doesn't disappoint me when I see them. Um, so the good news is if you come into Queensland, it's very easy to see turtles in in the in the ocean. Um, you'll good chance you'll get to swim with them because they're not shy, they're very slow, and they're easy to see. Um, but what's even more special, like what Tracy was just saying, is seeing them nest, they're seeing them lay turtles and then seeing the little um babies hatching. I've never seen the babies hatching, but I've seen the turtles laying their eggs, and it's just amazing, it's so magical. Um, so a couple of places you can see that. Probably the most popular is um Monrepos. I don't even know how if that's how you pronounce it, do you know, Tracy? I think it's yeah, Monrepot.

SPEAKER_02: 35:58

I've actually walked, I have I have walked along the Monro the beach at uh Monrepot beach, but um not at the time that we were uh lady, but yeah.

SPEAKER_01: 36:07

So you can see them there in Bundaberg, that's about four hours drive north of Brisbane, so pretty easy um if you're coming to Brisbane to do that. Um so the season is November to March. So earlier in the season, of course, is when the turtles come to lay their eggs, and then later in the season is when they they hatch. Um, so to see them there, you do have to book a guided tour, and they book out really, really fast. Um, it's super popular. So if you do want to do that and you're gonna come, then book early, I believe. I've just been looking out now for some clients, and I think they go on sale in September. So I'd recommend writing it down and booking straight away. Um, but some other great places you can see them is in the southern Great Barrier Reef on islands like Heron Island, Wilson Island, Lady Mush Gray Island, Lady Elliott Island. Um, I was recently on Lady Elliott Island um at the end of the season. I didn't see any turtles. Um, um, sorry, I did see turtles in the water, but I didn't see any turtles um on the beach or anything. Um but I have been lucky enough to stay at Wilson Island um in December, and the island was absolutely jam-packed full of turtles laying. There were so many that you just walked down the beach and you wouldn't even take notice anymore because they were just everywhere laying their eggs. It was just such a magical experience. Only early in the morning, so like as the sun comes up, um, you know, they all return to the water. But you get up early in the morning and you just see these turtles everywhere laying their eggs. Just an incredible experience to see. Um, highly recommend it. I really, really, really do.

SPEAKER_02: 37:53

You know, I just thought now you've mentioned Wilson Island, we should honestly do an episode about the different islands of Queensland because they're all some fabulous islands. Now, just uh just a quick one. How did you get to Wilson Island? Was that and whereabouts is it? Because even I don't know. I was kind of like, I'm not sure where that is.

SPEAKER_01: 38:07

Okay, so um to get to Wilson Island, so it's off the coast of Gladstone, which a lot of people probably haven't heard of Gladstone because it's really just an industrial town, so it's not somewhere where you go for a holiday, but off Gladstone Island is Heron Island, which is a fairly popular island. Um, and so you go to Heron Island, and then from Heron Island you go to Wilson Island. Um, so Wilson Island is just amazing, and we could talk about that some other time, but um, yeah, Heron Island is also a fabulous place to go and see the turtles. Um, but I had already been to Wilson Island and I wasn't getting up early anymore to see turtles, so um I'd seen plenty over at Wilson. But um as to for swimming in for seeing turtles in the water, I've seen them in Wilson Island, Heron Island, Lady Mushgrave, Lady Elliot, Magnetic, Hamilton, Fitzroy. Um I've seen them so many places. They really are easy to see turtles. Um, but I've still loved seeing them, and every time I've seen them, I've got super excited. So if you're coming to Queensland, we can arrange for you most likely to swim with turtles.

SPEAKER_02: 39:17

Yeah, which is an amazing experience. I'd highly recommend that. It when you see your first turtle, it's great. And if you've got a GoPro that you can use under the water, even better, you can get um I you know, I was I I think I was I would have my GoPro just hoping a turtle would come by and I could get a get a shot of it. Um I'm gonna we're gonna kind of finish off talking about the animals with with one of my personal favourites and one that I've been very, very lucky to see. Um and I and there are there were a couple of other animals I was thinking we could have included, but we haven't um because they're a little bit more unusual. But I have to talk about a bilbi. Um because bilbies are so cute, but they are basically, I would say, impossible to see in the wild. They're they're uh endangered. Um, so I've been really lucky to see a bilby um when I've been out at um Charleville. Um and uh so I I don't know how it describes a bilby, it's probably there. I I don't know, have you seen a Bilby?

SPEAKER_01: 40:09

Melissa, is it I I I've not in the wild, seen them, you know, in in again in in zoos. I haven't seen them. Unfortunately, when I was at Charleville, um it the the the Bilby place that you go to was was closed for renovation or something at the time. So I haven't seen them even there. But I don't know, how do you they're to me they're like a a really, really, really tiny rabbit?

SPEAKER_02: 40:32

Well, they've got a funny nose, they've got like a long nose, they're like a bit between a rabbit and a I don't I don't know. I think that they're a massu bill as far as I'm aware. They come out at night, so when you go to see them at the um Bilby experience in Charleville, and and I highly recommend just going to Charlotte anyway, because there's loads to do there. It's one of my favourite places to go on that bat, but um so they have it so that they have day and night switched round so that the bulbies are active during the day, but they think it's night. Uh so you can go in and see them. Now I went before COVID, and at that point, um, they were bringing a bulby out so you could see it. Um they don't, as far as I'm aware, post-COVID, they don't allow that anymore because I think they'll realize that that the um it just was stressing the bulby out, obviously, and so they don't allow that anymore. Um, but I have got photos of bulbies, they're just so cute. And what I love in Australia as well is like if you think of Easter with the Easter bunny, you have Easter bilbies.

SPEAKER_01: 41:28

That's what I was thinking.

SPEAKER_02: 41:29

I was like, I I I know I've eaten lots of bilbies, like chocolate bilbies. But there are there are unfortunately another species in Queensland that has been impacted so much by um what British people brought over um in the in the 18th, 1700 and 1800s when they were bringing rabbits over and they're bringing foxes over for fox hunting and and all these invasive species, rats, all these things that came over that weren't native to Australia. Um, they have and cats are another one, wild cats have gone out, and and they're having a massive impact on a lot of the species um in Austral in Australia and Queensland. So it's uh is devastating. And um, I would highly recommend though, if you go Natchal, they'll definitely um go have been there a couple of times, go and support their work because again, this is an animal that is a significant uh threat um of being wiped out, which would be being incredibly sad. We want these animals to be still out there in the wild living. That's where they should be, that's where they should be. Um, so I guess that kind of leads us on to kind of thinking about practical advice. So, what would be the etiquette to wildlife encounters to keep both humans and animals safe?

SPEAKER_01: 42:36

Yeah, I mean, I I think all of this is common sense, but sadly, when I've seen animals in the wild and the way other humans react, it it doesn't seem to be common sense, but I mean, give the animal heaps and heaps of space, um, or or let the animals come to you. The one thing I talked about, like um seeing turtles in the wild, um, you know, I've seen a lot of people just crowd them, and I just yeah, I it really upsets me. Just give them space. The animals will animals like turtles or whales, like we mentioned before, they will come to you. Like a lot of these animals will come to you. So just give them the space to do what they want to do. Um yeah, and um just use your common sense, um, keep food um and rubbish um secure when you're out in the wild. Um because this is where the problem is with, you know, the dingos on kari, like you know, that they're if if the animals hurt somebody, then the animal gets killed, unfortunately. So we need to be as a humans, I think we need to be um thinking ahead and um making sure these animals are safe and we're safe. Um because that being a wild animal, they're their their behavior we it can be not be um predicted sometimes. So yeah, just keep the distance and stuff. That's to me what's most important is keeping your distance from them.

SPEAKER_02: 43:58

And I know you mentioned that you know, use your zoom and not your feet. So is there any gear apps? Yeah, any gear or apps that you would recommend that would help with you know that people should pack.

SPEAKER_01: 44:07

Just like if you're you like binoculars, um, you know, if you're wanting to take photos, make sure you've got good zoom on your camera or or you know, things like that. So you don't have to get closer to the animal. So you can get really good photos from from it from a distance. Um, you know, if you're into bird watching or whatever, um I don't know much about bird watching or anything, but I'm sure there's lots of apps where you can identify animals. I know like a lot of places I go to, like you go to the resort or whatever, and they might give you a card or something of the different fish you could see or animals you can see. So they're a good way of being able to identify um what you're looking at, or um uh apps in relation to tide, so you can look at find out what the tides are going to be like for to be able to spot crocodiles and and and things like that. But yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 44:58

Yeah, that's perfect. Now I know we we mentioned about, for example, Whale Watching. It's you obviously, you know, if you don't own a boat and live in Queensland, your best bet is to go out with someone like you know, um, Queensland Whale Watching, and you go out on an organised tour. So, are there any churs and guides that you recommend for getting the most at the experiences? And I am gonna be give a big shout out to Queensland Whale Watching because that's the company that I go out with every time. Um, I've been a guest with them a couple of times, and they are fantastic and knowledgeable, so you will learn about the whales as well as seeing the whales. And I think that that is that's fantastic. And that's I guess what you're gonna say about you know, that's advantage, isn't it, when you go out with a guide on a team?

SPEAKER_01: 45:36

They just know like a lot of these places, like on the islands that I talked about, you can easily just go out and see the turtles yourself, or you know, look at the bird wife. But I'm um I'm a bit of a um uh a sucker or not a sucker, I'm a nerd. I love learning about the animals. So I'll always, when I go to these places and you can sign up for a tour with a guide, I'm always there and I'm always out the front asking questions, but I just love learning about the animals. Um it gives you a better appreciation for the animals, what you can do as you know, a good human being to protect wildlife, and sometimes you might not realize how our behaviors are impacting, negatively impacting the animals. Um, so it's important for me anyway to learn how I can be a better human and lead the world in a better place for our wildlife. So I always think um, yeah, signing up for a either a paid or an unpaid tour with a guide is the best way to see to see the animals, and it it helps you um more more more likely to guarantee that you'll spot them because they know the behaviours to look out for or footprints or yeah, yeah, these these people are just experts in their field, so I like to see animals in the wild with a guide where possible.

SPEAKER_02: 46:55

Yeah, absolutely agree. I mean, I I grew up in Africa and I know going out on a game drive is far better if you go out with a jeep with somebody who knows what they're looking for, because you can drive. I mean, even we were in India last year, and and we you know we wouldn't have spners spotted that tiger, but yeah, but they know what they're looking for.

SPEAKER_01: 47:13

Exactly. So you would drive right past there could be animals there, and no doubt on my own, I've walked past many, many animals and had no idea. So yeah, going with a guide's much better.

SPEAKER_02: 47:23

So, what about your um favourite wildlife encounter in Queensland?

SPEAKER_01: 47:27

I I slightly touched on it earlier. The turtles on Wilson Island um was incredible. Like I said, they were all over the beach, but one of my most fav the favourite time was so on Wilson Island, you stay like in these glamping tents and they're they're they're on these wooden sort of platforms. In the middle of the night, we woke up to this kind of banging that was coming from underneath. And um we went out and it turned out and it was a turtle had she'd she'd um come under the sand, under our um tent, and you know, the the flippers that they you know, there and and her shell was kind of hitting underneath, so it was we hardly got any sleep because this mama turtle was under their um nesting and in the morning she was still there. Um so we was we were watching her um as she was kind of coming back out and making her way down the the beach. It was just it felt so intimate and so incredible to to have that experience, and it was just us and her and uh yeah, I highly were I highly recommend Wilson Island for a really truly intimate sort of experience with turtles. Um yeah, amazing.

SPEAKER_02: 48:38

Yeah, definitely on my uh to-do list for sure. Uh 100%. We've got so many amazing, amazing experiences and and animals to see. But if there's any just one tip you could give someone visiting Queensland and hoping to see wildlife, what would it be?

SPEAKER_01: 48:52

Well, firstly, come to Queensland. You know, you're coming to if you're coming to Australia and you want to see wildlife, come to Queensland. Hopefully, this podcast has shown you that we have so many amazing wildlife experiences. Um, you don't just you know, Australia Zoo might be on your bucket list and definitely go, but you don't have to see the animals just in the zoo. You can actually see them in their natural habitat, which to me is so much better. Um, and Queensland just gives you so many wonderful experiences to see the Australian wildlife.

SPEAKER_02: 49:22

Absolutely. And like I said, I'm gonna I'm gonna link to your article as well, which which is all about where to see them and a bit more uh information. So if you're planning the trip, and also contact Melissa, you know, she've got you've got your Queensland travel guide, so uh we'll link to that. So if you're planning a trip, you want to see some of these animals, you don't know how to start, what to Melissa's the person to talk to.

SPEAKER_01: 49:43

Yeah, I'd love to help you plan a trip to Queensland and see all our amazing um wildlife.

SPEAKER_02: 49:48

Absolutely. Well, again, as always, it's great to chat with you on the podcast. Uh we it's just great. We just have such a good time chatting about Queensland and about our travels for the ladies who travel. Um, so you'll find everything that we talked about in this episode in terms of links to Melissa's website and the photos that we've both taken during our time seeing some of this wildlife in Queensland at globaltravelplanning.com forward slash episode 83. Um, I just want to say before I sign off, and we have our usual kind of tagline at the end, I just want to say, please, if you if you've seen any of these animals in Queensland or you want to come and see any of these animals in Queensland, leave us a message via Speak Pipe because Melissa and I want to hear from you guys so we can get back to you and and uh we want to know what what is the animal that you really really want to see when you come. Um and if you have already seen um any of these animals in the wild because you've been over to Queensland, uh, what was your favourite encounter? Have you got any interesting stories to set uh to share? Because we'd love to hear from you. Um, so from Melissa and I until next week, happy global travel planning! Thanks again. Bye. Bye. Thank you for joining us on this episode of the Global Travel Planning Podcast. For more details and links to everything we discussed today, check out the show notes at globaltravelplanning.com. Remember if you enjoyed the show, please consider leaving us a review on your favourite podcast app because your feedback helps us reach more travel enthusiasts just like you. Anyway, that leaves me to say, as always, happy global travel planning.