From eucalyptus-munching koalas to bouncy kangaroos, Australia has an eclectic cast of animals you can only find there. But of all the wildlife roaming this island continent, there are a few species that stand above the rest. By analysing UK Google Search data, we’ve determined the most popular endemic wildlife that you can experience in Australia.
Ranging from tiny marsupials to enormous birds and truly one-of-a-kind mammals, a wide variety of wildlife made the list of top Australian animals. Read on to see the entire list and learn more about each.
1. Quokka
While kangaroos and koalas might be some of the most emblematic of Australian wildlife, new data has shown the quokka to be the most-searched for Australian animal. This petite marsupial stands out for its charisma, inquisitive nature, and smile-like facial expressions — it’s as if they were born to be in front of a camera. However, we encourage you to avoid using food to lure them closer as this upsets their natural habitat.
A fun fact about quokkas: They’re related to kangaroos — much like their bouncing brethren, quokkas carry babies, also called joeys, in their pouches.
The best place to see quokkas: Australia specialist Tom recommends Rottnest Island, off the coast of Perth, as one of the best places to see them. “You’ll see them in their natural habitat here, playing or snoozing in the shade — while quokkas are nocturnal by nature, a lack of predators on Rottnest Island means they’re out and about more in the daytime.”
2. Koala
With fluffy ears and doe eyes, there’s something instantly charming about the koala. In their natural habitat, they hook long claws into trees to nibble on eucalyptus. Though they’re often called ‘koala bears’, koalas are actually marsupials and closely related to kangaroos, possums, and bandicoots.
Koalas have an excellent sense of smell, which they need so they can discern the least-toxic eucalyptus to devour. While eucalyptus is dangerous for most animals to digest, koalas have developed gut bacteria and liver enzymes that allow them to safely digest the quick-growing plant.
A fun fact about koalas: They can actually out-sleep sloths, slumbering for up to 18 to 20 hours daily. Their diet of eucalyptus doesn’t provide enough energy for much more excitement than that.
The best place to see koalas: We recommend Kangaroo Island, in South Australia. “I can pair you with an expert naturalist guide who’ll take you to the best spots for seeing them in their natural habitat,” says Tom. “We advise against any experiences that involve hugging koalas, which can be detrimental to their welfare.”
3. Wombat
Rounding out the top three most-searched for Australian animals is another marsupial, the wombat. With stocky bodies and short legs, you might not expect wombats to be swift on their feet, but they’re surprisingly fast, able to run at a clip that would put them at the heels of Usain Bolt. A nocturnal animal, wombats are most active at night, which means the best time to see them is in the early morning, when they’re sleepily stumbling back for some rest after their night out.
A fun fact about wombats: Skilled diggers, wombats can quickly dig tunnels and underground dens. Unlike other marsupials that have their baby-hugging pouch opening towards their heads, a wombat’s pouch faces towards her rear so that it doesn’t fill with dirt when the mother digs.
The best place to see wombats: The island state of Tasmania is one of the best places to see wombats in the wild in Australia. “Stay at Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge in Tasmania and you might get a chance to see one wandering the trails at the crack of dawn while you head down for breakfast,” says Tom.
4. Platypus
With enormous beaks and flat paddle-like tails, this waterborne mammal certainly has a distinct look. So distinct, in fact, that when the naturalist George Shaw, a curator at London’s Natural History Museum, first saw a platypus in the 1790s, he thought he was being pranked.
The unusual attributes of a platypus don’t end with its appearance: they also glow under a black light, the adults don’t have any teeth, and the males of the species are venomous. And, despite being a mammal that secretes milk for its young, platypuses lay eggs. Only found in Australia, this ever-elusive animal can be hard to spot, which makes them all the more sought after.
A fun fact about platypus: In addition to its other one-of-a-kind charms listed above, platypuses can also detect electrical fields through tens of thousands of electrical sensors in their beaks.
The best place to see platypus: The Atherton Tablelands, set in the rainforest of Queensland, is one of the prime places to see these unusual mammals. “I can connect you with a naturalist guide who knows all the secret spots to boost your chances of actually getting to see a platypus,” says Tom.
5. Kangaroo
One of the most instantly familiar of Australia’s endemic wildlife, the kangaroo was, perhaps surprisingly, only the fifth most popular on the list. They’re the fourth marsupial to join this list — in fact, they’re the largest of all marsupials. These strong-legged animals are known for their lively bounce and devastating kicks. They use their muscular tails as an extra leg to help them flee or fight. These springy herbivores dine mostly on grass, fungi, and moss.
A fun fact about kangaroos: While kangaroos might be known to knock out adversaries with a high kick, their other mode of evading predators is by water. Surprisingly good swimmers, kangaroos often take to the water to escape.
The best place to see kangaroos: The name gives it away, but one of the best places to see kangaroos in the wild in Australia is, indeed, on Kangaroo Island. “Besides kangaroos, you might also spot many of the other top Australian animals on this list, including koalas, echidnas, and even platypuses,” says Tom.
6. Tasmanian devil
The best-known creatures inhabiting Tasmania, the Tasmanian devil made the top 10 Australian wildlife list. Unlike the other marsupials on this list, Tasmanian devils are carnivores. This fact is hinted at by their sharp fang-like teeth, and they have an extremely forceful bite. Despite this, and their sometimes-ferocious appearance when they bare their teeth, they’re not at all dangerous to humans.
A fun fact about Tasmanian devils: Tassies, as they’re called locally, can give birth to 20 to 40 babies at a time, which are as small as a grain of rice when they’re born. Like other marsupials, their young, also called joeys, are carried in a pouch.
The best place to see Tasmanian devils: Tom says, “Cradle Mountain is a great place to see Tasmanian devils. We’ll arrange a visit to a conservation sanctuary where you can get up close to these fiesty little marsupials.”
7. Emu
The enormous emu is the second-largest bird in the world, coming in only behind the ostrich. They’re also slightly slower than the swiftly running ostrich, but only just — emus can still reach a staggering speed of 49.8 km (31 m) per hour. A good way to tell the two behemoth birds apart is by their wings. Ostriches have large wings, while emus have small, barely perceptible wings. However, both birds are completely flightless.
A fun fact about emus: The males take care of their offspring for the first year and a half of a chick’s life. So, if you see an adult emu with a group of fluffy little chicks, it’s likely the dad that you’re seeing.
The best place to see emus: In the red-tinged hills of the Flinders Ranges. “You might spot them in the wild, perhaps drinking at a watering hole with their young,” says Tom.
8. Cassowary
Another large, flightless bird to see in Australia is the cassowary, which is the third-largest bird in the world after the ostrich and emu. Besides their notable size, cassowaries are also known for their distinctive blue plumage, red wattles on their necks, and horn-like crowns (called casques) atop their heads. While cassowaries are interesting to look at, they should be admired from a distance as they may attack when threatened, using their long, sharp talons.
A fun fact about cassowary: While all birds are descended from dinosaurs, the cassowary has a connection stronger than most. Like a lot of their prehistoric ancestors, they also have sharp claws and helmet-like casques.
The best place to see cassowary: Queensland is the best region to see a cassowary, particularly in the Daintree Rainforest. “Or you can head to Rose Gums Wilderness Retreat in the Atherton Tablelands, where they have resident cassowaries on the property,” says Tom.
9. Echidna
Covered in spiky quills, echidnas are sometimes confused with porcupines or hedgehogs. However, porcupines are rodents and hedgehogs are mammals, while echidnas belong to the rare classification of monotremes — like platypuses, they’re one of the rare mammals to lay eggs.
Echidnas also stand out with their long beaks and toothless mouths. They also have slow metabolisms and a unique thermoregulatory system with a low body temperature that contributes to their long lifespan — an echidna can live 40 years or more.
A fun fact about echidnas: Often called ‘spiny anteaters’, echidnas have sticky tongues that they use to bring termites, worms, and ants into their tiny mouths.
The best place to see echidnas: “They’re another animal to look out for on Kangaroo Island,” says Tom. “You can often find them hiding out in the leafy woodlands or coastal paths on the island.”
10. Wallaby
The sixth marsupial to make the top 10 most-searched Australian animals, wallabies are smaller than a kangaroo. In fact, they can be as small as a rabbit. Their tiny size may make them appear less intimidating than a kangaroo, but they are also known to kick or scratch if they feel threatened or are hungry. Not quite as fast as a large kangaroo, what wallabies lack in speed they more than make up for in agility and are able to kick like a pro Muay Thai champion.
A fun fact about wallabies: Their ability to hop high and at speed can be attributed to the fact that they store energy in their tendons after each jump. This genius trick allows them to use less oxygen and save energy while bounding along.
The best place to see wallabies: “Out on the shores of Western Australia, in Cape Range National Park, you might see wallabies wandering over walking trails,” says Tom. Emus have also been spotted here.