See Australian native animals in their natural habitat. Victoria has a large and thriving population of koalas. Koalas spend most of the day sleeping up high in the tall trees, nestled against a branch or tucked securely in a fork. The best time of day to see them is dawn or dusk when they’re most active. Remember to look up! Kangaroos, wallabies and wombats can also be seen across the state in larger, bushland parks. Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve is the perfect spot for seeing a variety of local wildlife including emus, echidnas, turtles and possums.

 

The tall forests of Dandenong Ranges National Park are home to abundant native birdlife, including crimson rosellas, kookaburras and Superb Lyrebird. Wake up early or head to Lake Elizabeth hidden deep in Great Otway National Park at dusk to catch a glimpse of the elusive platypus that can be found in the waters of the lake.

 

Marine mammals can be spotted from the coastline of marine national parks and coastal reserves. These marine mammals, which include whales, dolphins and seals, feed and breed in open waters off Victoria’s coastline year round. Cape Nelson Lighthouse Reserve on the Great South West walk provides a perfect vantage point for whale watching. Watch Southern Right Whales in the winter months, the enormous Blue Whales in the summer months, and Humpback Whales can be seen between April and October each year as they make the long journey from their summer Antarctic feeding grounds to their winter breeding grounds in warmer waters. Bottlenose Dolphins are seen in groups or pods, along the whole of the coastline, including within Port Phillip Bay, Western Port and Gippsland Lakes. Discovery Bay Coastal Park looks out over rocks and down to a colony of Australian fur seals, which is the largest seal colony on the Australian mainland.