Kangaroo, Koala, Platypus and Other Australian Animals

Albom Adventures

Our recent trip nearly circumnavigating Australia (Melbourne to Perth over the top) was our fifth visit to this diverse island nation. Living in New Zealand, it’s only a 3-hour flight from Auckland to Sydney. While I typically share photos of the dramatic landscape, seascapes, and architecture, today’s post is about the Australian animals that we have seen.

This shot was worth the wait. We heard there might be platypus in the stream about an hour south of Cairns. We just stayed quietly in the bush, and after a while, we got our reward.

Iguana at the Chinese Garden of Friendship in Sydney.

We spotted this koala high up in a eucalyptus tree in a park in Noosa on the Sunshine Coast of Australia

We spotted this koala in a eucalyptus tree in Noosa on the Sunshine Coast.

Scorpion at the Australian Venom Museum in Kuranda

Thankfully, this is the only scorpion we have seen, and it was at the Australian Venom Museum in Kuranda.

Sulphur Crested Cockatoos in Brambuk Cultural Center, Halls Gap, Australia

This is one of many wild Sulphur Crested Cockatoos we saw in Victoria.

Two of the over 400 different species of butterflies in Australia.

Two of the over 400 different species of moths and butterflies in Australia.

Little blue penguin seen in St. Kilda in Melbourne, Australia

We saw several little blue penguins under the pier in St. Kilda in Melbourne.

Kangaroo and joey seen on the Sunshine coast in Queensland. They sure look like adorable Australian animals.

Kangaroos are a common site in Australia. However, this is the only one we spotted with a joey.

Bats flying at Paronella Park in Queensland. Not my favourite Australia Animals

Honestly, I am not a fan of bats, so this was the best photo I could get before I ran away. Shot at Paronella Park in tropical Queensland.

Bobtail Skink seen in Victoria, Australia

Hubby spotted this Bobtail Skink on a side road as we were meandering our way from the Grampians back to Melbourne in Victoria.

Sharing the road with some cattle in Queensland.

I was glad to be on a boat when this crocodile was spotted.

So colourful, I love Rainbow Lorikeets. We have seen them in multiple spots including Darwin and this one in Sydney.

Kookaburra plus two other birds I don’t know seen in different parts of the country.

This is only a sample of the wildlife we have seen and a tiny portion of the over 450 species of mammals, 300 species of lizards, 110,000 species of insects, and 800 species of birds that call Australia home. Australian Wildlife: Wildlife Explorer offers 200 pages to give a more comprehensive look at Australian animals.