Australia · WILDLIFE

15 Wildlife Trips in Australia to Build a Day Around

95 tours  ·  from $17

This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 15 wildlife trips worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.

From Melbourne: Great Ocean Road, 12 Apostles, Wildlife Tour - Melbourne pickup and the long ride south
Great Ocean Road Tours, Melbourne Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Wildlife, Wildlife & Zoo Experiences, Wildlife & Zoo Experiences in Melbourne

From Melbourne: Great Ocean Road, 12 Apostles, Wildlife Tour

1.Great Ocean Road, 12 Apostles, Wildlife Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 6,020 reviews · 13h 30m · from $94Our pick

This full-day trip follows the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne in an air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking guide such as Warren or Theo. You’ll see wild koalas and parrots, walk through tall forest, stop at Torquay, Apollo Bay, Gibson Steps, the 12 Apostles, and Loch Ard Gorge.

“Warren was such an amazing guide he really made the experience and I’m so glad that he was the one to show us the great ocean road! He was so funny yet so informative. Such a brilliant day out!”

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Penguin Parade, & Wildlife Encounters Eco Tour from Melbourne - The late morning pickup and ride from Melbourne
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Penguin Parade, & Wildlife Encounters Eco Tour from Melbourne

2.Penguin Parade, & Wildlife Encounters Eco Tour from Melbourne

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,774 reviews · from $118Top rated

Spend about 12 hours with Go West Tours exploring Brighton Beach, Moonlit Sanctuary, Cape Woolamai, Cowes, the Nobbies, and Phillip Island’s Penguin Parade. Guides such as Cloe, Jools, Sherif, and Bob are known for lively wildlife commentary. Bring warm layers, snacks, and patience for the late finish.

“We had a great time! We didn't want to drive ourselves, but were worried the experience would be too touristy or dull, happily, it was quite the opposite! Cloe was wonderful! She entertained us with lots of interesting history and wildlife tidbits, talked just the right amount and was very relaxed, even when we came up to the wire on time. Highly recommend this tour and if you can manage one with Cloe as your guide, do it!”

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Melbourne Great Ocean Rd Reverse Tour London Bridge Wildlife - London Bridge: a useful extra stop
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Melbourne Great Ocean Rd Reverse Tour London Bridge Wildlife

3.Melbourne Great Ocean Rd Reverse Tour London Bridge Wildlife

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 2,252 reviews · 12 - 13 hours · from $46

Spend 12 to 13 hours exploring the Great Ocean Road by coach, mid-size bus, or Mercedes-Benz van. The reverse route reaches London Bridge, Loch Ard Gorge, and the Twelve Apostles before the crowds, with chances to see koalas, kangaroos, and parrots. Guides such as David Hsu, Philip, William, and Daniel add local stories and practical help.

“what an absolutely amazing day. my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. David Hsu, our tour guide, is such a genuinely nice guy. He kept everyone entertained throughout the day with his very interesting talks about the history of Australia and the sights you will see on the journey. He made sure everyone new the pick-up times and ensure everyone's safety throughout. David Hsu uses headsets for his tour which are fantastic. Very clear, easy to use and, should you need a bit if quite on the coach ride, can be turned off and you will not be disturbed. We saw some amazing sights and would we couldn't recommend this…”

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Solar Whisper Daintree River Crocodile and Wildlife Cruise - One hour on the Daintree River
Cairns Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Daintree Rainforest Tours, Daintree Rainforest Tours in Cairns, Tour Reviews, Wildlife, Wildlife & Zoo Experiences, Wildlife & Zoo Experiences in Cairns

Solar Whisper Daintree River Crocodile and Wildlife Cruise

4.Solar Whisper Daintree River Crocodile and Wildlife Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,663 reviews · from $25Best value

Cruise the Daintree River near the ferry on Solar Whisper, a quiet solar-electric boat carrying up to 24 people. Your guide, often Mark or Dave, points out named crocodiles, birds, frogs, snakes, crabs, and fish, with tea and coffee included.

“Made a last minute booking for family to spend an afternoon in Port Douglas. The trip was just as described, perfect relaxing ride around the Daintree River. Even though it was in warm November and we were warned that the crocs may bRead more”

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Blue Mountains: Three Sisters, Scenic World and Wildlife park - The Three Sisters and the big Blue Mountains view
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Blue Mountains: Three Sisters, Scenic World and Wildlife park

5.Three Sisters, Scenic World and Wildlife park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,481 reviews · from $182

Spend about 9.5 hours escaping Sydney for the Blue Mountains, with Scenic World’s three rides, rainforest walks, the Three Sisters, lunch, and a wildlife park. Small-group transport carries up to 21 people, with guides such as Sean, Ella, Luke, and Mick leading the day.

“This was an amazing not to miss experience. Stunning views and great tour guide. Definitely recommend it!”

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Exclusive Blue Mountains Wildlife and Bushwalk Tour From Sydney - Featherdale Wildlife Park: the most reliable animal encounter
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Exclusive Blue Mountains Wildlife and Bushwalk Tour From Sydney

6.Exclusive Blue Mountains Wildlife and Bushwalk Tour From Sydney

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,087 reviews · from $135

Spend about 10 hours exploring the Blue Mountains from Sydney with pickup at select CBD hotels, Featherdale Wildlife Park entry, a guided bushwalk, and stops at the Three Sisters, Wentworth Falls, Echo Point, and mountain villages. Guides such as Jason, Ben, Stuart, and Tony add local stories and Aboriginal cultural context.

“The tour itself was good, featherdale was amazing and we stopped at three lovely places. However, we didn't have nearly enough time at any stop. It would've been better to cut one out or shorten lunch and have more time at each place. But I won't have good memories of this trip because of the Sunday guide. He spoke non-stop for the entire 8ish hour trip. I don't think he paused for more than a minute. Half of this was knowledge and informative about the locations, history, plants and animals and aboriginal traditions. However the other half was aggravating! Family life in great details, insulting the British or Queensland, screenplays…”

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1-Hour Daintree River wildlife cruise - Crocodiles are the headline, but not the whole show
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1-Hour Daintree River wildlife cruise

7.1-Hour Daintree River wildlife cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 947 reviews · from $25

Spend one hour on the Daintree River with guides such as Bruce, Ray, Brad, or Griff, watching for crocodiles, tree snakes, kingfishers, and other wildlife. Choose a morning, lunch, or afternoon departure, then walk 200 to 250 metres along a gravel path to the boat.

“We enjoyed the experience of seeing crocodiles in their natural habitat and listening to Brad's knowlege and story telling , very informative.”

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Small Group Blue Mountains, Wildlife & Scenic World Day Tour - Leura gives you a short lunch break
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Small Group Blue Mountains, Wildlife & Scenic World Day Tour

8.Small Group Blue Mountains, Wildlife & Scenic World Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 932 reviews · 11 hours · from $147

Join Brighton Coach & Tours for an 11-hour Blue Mountains trip with Sydney Zoo, a koala photo, Leura, Three Sisters, and unlimited Scenic World rides. Guides such as Alfie, Tom, Stephen, and Max add useful local facts and good humor, while the busy schedule covers a lot in one day.

“It was an excellent trip, our guide Tom and our driver Bruno did very well as we had quite a large group (42).We could have had more time at Sydney Zoo as once we had fed the kangaroos and had photos with the Koalas it didn’t leave much time for the rest of the zoo. We had a nice stop for lunch at Leura and then on to Blue mountains and scenic park, a full but enjoyable day, well done”

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Blue Mountains Sunset Waterfalls Wildlife Tour From Sydney - Leaving Sydney for Glenbrook
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Blue Mountains Sunset Waterfalls Wildlife Tour From Sydney

9.Blue Mountains Sunset Waterfalls Wildlife Tour From Sydney

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 897 reviews · 10h 30m · from $102

Leave Sydney after the morning rush for a guided Blue Mountains day out with bushwalks, Wentworth Falls, the Three Sisters, wildlife viewing, and sunset at Lincoln’s Rock. English-speaking guides such as Greg, Smokey, Derek, and Mitch have led the tour, with audio support in nine other languages.

“wonderful - greg the guide from autopia was fnatastic - good fund and knowledgeable & hte programme was just right thought the day was long it did not feel so”

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From Brisbane: North Stradbroke Island Wildlife Adventure - Brown Lake: an unusual first stop
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From Brisbane: North Stradbroke Island Wildlife Adventure

10.North Stradbroke Island Wildlife Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 869 reviews · 10 hours · from $105

Spend 10 hours exploring North Stradbroke Island with an English-speaking guide and a maximum of 11 people. Swim at Brown Lake, walk the Gorge Walk, watch for whales and dolphins, relax at Cylinder Beach, and search for wild koalas and kangaroos at Amity Point.

“Rio is an amazing tour guide, he really made sure that we were able to spot some Koalas and Kangaroos as he knows a few places where they often like to hang out. I enjoyed that the tour wasn't rushed, that we actually were given time at each stop to spend a bit of time and take in the scenery insted of stopping for 10 minutes taking pictures and leaving again. For anyone who would like to learn a bit about the island's history and obviously see some of its wildlife I can really recommend this tour.”

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Phillip Island Penguins & Wildlife Day Tour from Melbourne - Moonlit Sanctuary gives you close Australian wildlife encounters
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Phillip Island Penguins & Wildlife Day Tour from Melbourne

11.Phillip Island Penguins & Wildlife Day Tour from Melbourne

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 867 reviews · from $111

Spend 12 to 14 hours exploring Victoria’s wildlife with Bunyip Tours. Visit Moonlit Sanctuary, see koalas and kangaroos, stop at Cape Woolamai and the Nobbies, then watch little penguins return from the sea. Guides such as Michael, David, Bluey, and Reuben have earned praise for clear local commentary.

“Absolutely 5-star experience. Tour guide Chris H. is informative and had given clear and concise account of South Australia nature and native history and best tips to watch penguins. He is very friendly and helpful and sometimes humorous. Enjoyed the tour very much.”

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Sydney: Blue Mountains Wildlife & Bushwalk Small-Group Tour - The first Blue Mountains stops and the value of a local guide
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Sydney: Blue Mountains Wildlife & Bushwalk Small-Group Tour

12.Blue Mountains Wildlife & Bushwalk Small-Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 822 reviews · 11 hours · from $133

Spend 11 hours with a local English-speaking guide such as Ben, Nigel, Scotty, or Tony, combining Featherdale Wildlife Park, short Blue Mountains bushwalks, Wentworth Falls, Three Sisters viewpoints, and lunch time in Leura or Katoomba. Expect a flexible day in a van with up to 23 people.

“Ben, our guide, provided a plan for the day that was tailored to the group. He demonstrated a deep knowledge of the history of key points of interest along the way, while maintaining a great pace throughout the day.”

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Day Tour in Mt. Field, Mt. Wellington, Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary and Richmond - Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary and Tasmania’s native animals
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Day Tour in Mt. Field, Mt. Wellington, Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary and Richmond

13.Day Tour in Mt. Field, Mt. Wellington, Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary and Richmond

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 735 reviews · from $128

See rainforest and Russell Falls at Mt Field, meet Tasmanian devils and wombats at Bonorong, explore Richmond, and drive to kunanyi/Mt Wellington. A local guide such as Brett, Jarrod, Hans, or Gary leads this small-group trip from Hobart, with entry fees and selected hotel pickup included.

“Thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful scenery Tasmania has to offer. Our tour guide was brilliant. I was a little disappointed in Bonorong Park and was very much hoping to see a Tassie Devil and the baby wombats, but didn't see either. I understand it was daylight hours but the park does advertise they have them to see.”

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Luxury Hunter Valley Wildlife & Wine Tasting Tour from Sydney - The 7:30 a.m. start and the minibus ride
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Luxury Hunter Valley Wildlife & Wine Tasting Tour from Sydney

14.Luxury Hunter Valley Wildlife & Wine Tasting Tour from Sydney

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 652 reviews · from $89

Travel from Sydney in a small luxury minibus with guide Sam or another Kangarrific Tours host. Meet koalas and kangaroos at a wildlife sanctuary, taste cheese and chocolate, visit two boutique wineries, and stop for lunch in the Hunter Valley. Expect a long day, extra tasting fees, and a small group of up to 11.

“Nice tour, the wildlife park is really nice and obvious animals well looked after, I personally would prefer lunch at a winery rather than a resort, the first winery I didn’t rate - Allandale, just wasn’t great at all. Second winery was beautiful and really good - Bon Villa, and would be nice to have a bit livelier music on way home. With a change of lunch venue and changing out first winery would be 5 star. Sam was a really good guide and knowledgable.”

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From Melbourne: Puffing Billy Steam Train & Wildlife Tour - The Melbourne pickup and coach ride
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From Melbourne: Puffing Billy Steam Train & Wildlife Tour

15.Puffing Billy Steam Train & Wildlife Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 640 reviews · 8 hours · from $140

Leave Melbourne by coach for a one-hour Puffing Billy ride from Belgrave to Lakeside, with open-sided carriages, rainforest views, and the famous leg-dangling tradition. Then spend two hours at Healesville Sanctuary seeing koalas, kangaroos, and birdlife with an English-speaking guide.

“I had a wonderful time. As a solo traveller, I didn't feel left out even for a second, thanks to the amazing guide, Gary. Highly recommended him. Truly enjoyed the experience!”

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New in Wildlife

★ 4.5Kakadu National Park Wildlife & Ubirr Rock Art Tour from DarwinFrom $168101 reviews
★ 5.0Waterfalls, Wilderness & Wildlife – Active Day TourFrom $13222 reviews
★ 5.0Mt. Field, Mt Wellington & Wildlife – Active Day TourFrom $132112 reviews
★ 5.0Maria Island National Park – Nature & Wildlife AdventureFrom $15436 reviews
★ 4.5Bonorong Wildlife Park and Richmond Afternoon Tour from HobartFrom $89113 reviews
★ 5.0Walk with Wildlife: Guided Tour in Great Ocean RoadFrom $42148 reviews
★ 5.0TreeTop Challenge Currumbin Wildlife ParkFrom $5021 reviews
★ 5.0Ningaloo Reef Snorkel and Wildlife AdventureFrom $197132 reviews
★ 5.0Litchfield National Park Waterfalls & Wildlife Adventure TourFrom $11530 reviews
★ 4.5Kakadu Wildlife Escape Fogg Dam or Crocodile Cruise from DarwinFrom $155295 reviews
★ 5.0LookAbout Darwin, Wetlands & Wildlife Premium Tour – Max 6 GuestsFrom $114111 reviews
★ 5.0Wildlife Night Spotting at Cradle MountainFrom $8984 reviews
★ 4.0Kuranda Highlights including Rainforestation Aboriginal Culture and Wildlife R1BFrom $8937 reviews
★ 5.0Byron Bay Wildlife SafariFrom $13581 reviews
★ 5.0Margaret River Coastal and Wildlife Eco Trip from Busselton or DunsboroughFrom $133107 reviews

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