If the thought of a good nature hike or a wildlife safari gets your heart pumping excitedly, you should seriously look at visiting Australia. The country consists of one colossal mainland, Tasmania Island and smaller islands – each with countless, breathtaking wilderness havens that are waiting to be explored!
So if you’re looking for the best places to go on a safari in Australia, keep on reading!
Discover Daintree National Park!
This world heritage listed national park homes the largest unit of tropical rainforests in Australia. Located in North Queensland, 1,757 km northwest of Brisbane, Daintree National Park consists of cascading waterfalls, soaring hills, deep gorges and more.
Embark on unique wildlife safari tours through the dense rainforest, and cruise the Daintree River to spot the incredible saltwater crocodile. Spot the legendary boyd’s forest dragon, ulysses butterfly and the striking flying fox!
Make a stop at Mossman Falls. You’ll witness many exotic and native butterflies, birdlife, wildlife and plants! Go on night tours to witness a whole other world after dark!
Best time to visit: May – September
Redefine Wildlife Tours at Kangaroo Island
It’s one of the most celebrated safari regions in Australia. Here’s why. Immerse in its unique features and wildlife. Situated off the mainland, south of Australia, it takes approx. 45 minutes to reach Kangaroo Island by ferry.
Visit the famous Stokes Bay and Flinders Chase National Park on Kangaroo Island. Explore the panoramic landscapes of Seal bay while witnessing adorable sea lions. Visitors will also get the chance to spot koalas, tammar wallabies, endangered glossy black cockatoos, short-beaked echidnas and obviously, kangaroos.
Best time to visit: Spring (June, July and August – to avoid masses)
Visit Flinders Ranges, South Australia
Get ready to surround yourself with breathtaking gorges, incredible wildlife and culture and art of the aborigines. You can explore the wild all the way to the outback regions. From Mount Remarkable National Park and Clare Valley to Crystal Brook, there’s much to see.
Experience unforgettable safaris through the terrains on a 4WD. You’ll be able to spot red kangaroos, wallabies, grey kangaroos, wedge-tailed eagles and reptiles like bearded dragon lizards, skinks, geckos and much more!
Best time to visit: April – October
Swim Alongside Whale Sharks at Ningaloo Marine Park
Here’s another stunning world heritage site located northwest of Western Australia, nearly 1200 km from Perth. If you love underwater safari tours, visit the Ningaloo Reef. It homes more than 500 marine species including whale sharks, dugongs, manta rays, humpback whales and orcas.
March to August is best for snorkelling with these gracious whale sharks. June to November is the best time to go humpback whale watching. This marine park is also famous for recreational fishing (in separated zones).
It’s a destination that must be included in your list of places to go on a safari in Australia.
Witness the Wildlife and Wilderness of Tasmania Island
It’s every wildlife and nature photographer’s paradise. Surrounded by smaller islands like Bruny Island, you’ve entered the home of the Tasmanian Devil and the adorable Orange-Bellied Parrot. Explore Wineglass Bay on foot (cars not allowed), which takes a couple of hours. Enjoy some panoramic views of the island and visit Cradle Mountain where you can spot platypuses in Latrobe.
Go on a drive along the east coast of Tasmania Freycinet Peninsula – ideal for photography. Explore the Tasman Penninsula coastline, get up close with New Zealand Fur Seals and so much more!
Best time to visit: December – February
Witness Otherworldly Beauty at Uluru!
Journey into the Outback. Uluru is a colossal sandstone monolith at the heart of the Red Centre in the Northern Territory. The nearest large town is Alice Springs (450 km). Take a desert safari through these stunning red landscapes. Visit the Kata Tjuta National Park – another incredible world heritage site with many unique wildlife tour opportunities, and the King Canyon and more.
Witness the glowing beauty of the Uluru sunrise and sunset. Travel with a guide to explore the sacred aboriginal landmarks – the concealing caves, rock arts and more. The hot desert homes mesmerising wildlife like the shy thorny devil, the wild desert dingo, feathery emus, and the pink-eared and grey bilby!
Best time to visit: May – September
Visit Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Another gem of the outback region of Australia. Located between Darwin and Adelaide – it’s the ideal place to experience dreamlike safaris and camping tours. Engage in unforgettable cultural walks through the sacred landmarks and spend a night over the star-filled skies of Alice Springs.
But that’s not all. Get up close with incredible wildlife. Observe echidnas, malas, barking spiders, the curl snake and more! The cool thing is, you can go on day and nighttime tours to explore these breathtaking landscapes and all Alice Springs has to offer.
Best time to visit: April – June
Explore Life Beneath the Waves at Moreton Bay Marine Park
Explore the waters and off-shore reefs of Moreton Bay. Situated north of Brisbane – stretching 12 km from Caloundra to the Gold Coast of Australia, these wetlands, seagrass meadows, saltmarshes and white sandy beaches are home to thousands of aquatic life. This includes endangered sea turtle species, dolphins, dugongs, manta rays and sharks.
The marine park plays a vital role as a roosting and feeding grounds for migratory and resident birds. It’s the only place on earth you can still find dugongs and sea turtles near a major metropolitan region. And it’s absolutely breathtaking.
Best time to visit: April – June
Enjoy the Koalas and Kangaroos at Byron Bay
The wildlife of Byron Bay provides the ideal grounds for a perfect safari day tour. It’s a beautiful coastal town situated in New South Wales Australia. Explore over 3 different habitats. The eucalyptus forest, rainforest and grassland. Discover adorable koalas, kangaroos, flying foxes, pademelons, echidnas, a variety of bird species and more!
Trek by foot or a luxury eight-seater. Do an Eco-tour. Observe different birdlife. Have a lovely lunch (vegan options available!). The coast offers one of the best places to go whale watching and sea kayaking with dolphins.
Best time to visit: May – November (September – for dolphins)
Visit the Stunning Watarrka National Park
Put on your sunscreen and boots and get ready. It’s nearly 3 hours from Uluru. The Watarrka National Park offers insanely picturesque sceneries of the outback. Kings Canyon is on top. It is a stunning place with sandstone walls 100 meters high with a palm-filled area, stretching across the desert.
The 6 km Kings Canyon Rim Walk is a must – explore the Garden of Eden and the Rockhole, home to rare plants. Witness the panoramic views of sand dunes. Explore the beaten domes of ‘The Lost City’. Engage in bushwalks, ranger-guided activities and wildlife spotting – which includes breathtaking species like the spinifex pigeon.
Best time to visit: May – October
Immerse in the Coastal Beauty of Cape Le Grand National Park
Located in Western Australia, just 45 minutes from Esperance, towards southeast Perth, this coastal national park has much to offer. Explore the rocky headlands and the white sandy stretches. Visit Hellfire Bay and Frenchman Peak – approx. 5-minutes away. Drive past the Dunn Rocks.
Ideal for native and migratory bird watching. Spot the charming Australian Raven, the western wattlebird, the New Holland Honeyeater, bandicoots, possums to the sooty oystercatcher and more! With over 5 beaches in the safari park, it’s a coastal wildlife paradise!
Best time to visit: Summer Season
Explore the Beautiful David Fleay Wildlife Park, Gold Coast
The Gold Coast hosts some of the most incredible wildlife parks and sanctuaries that’ll make nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts cry with joy. Let’s start with David Fleay Wildlife Park in the Burleigh Heads area. Meet up with some of Australia’s most iconic wildlife, like fuzzy koalas, giant crocodiles, brolgas, dingoes, dunnarts, and kangaroos. Observe them in their homely habitat.
Talk to the park rangers and learn about conservation and more! For more Australian wildlife on the Gold Coast, visit the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.
Best time to visit: All year
Enjoy a Safari at Kakadu National Park
Kakadu is located 171 km southeast of Darwin, in the Northern territory. The Kakadu National Park is the largest national park in Australia and a World Heritage Site. Go on safaris and explore its biodiversity. Immerse in the picturesque wetlands, sandstone landscapes, monsoon forests, tidal mudflats, savannah woodlands, and so much more.
You’ll get to see saltwater crocodiles and flatback turtles – Kakadu homes over 75 threatened species with about one-fifth of Australia’s mammals. Do river cruises or scenic flights over the stunning Kakadu landscape and make this safari destination an unforgettable experience.
Best time to visit: June – August
Visit Otways Bushlands, The Great Ocean Road
The Great Ocean Road is a 243 km stretch – located on the southeast coast of Australia between Allansford and Torquay. Explore the Great Ocean Road trails that zigzag through hills with a stunning beachy background to enjoy unforgettable hiking and wildlife tours.
Take a guided walk through the Otways Bushlands and spot some incredible furry, feathered and scaly friends like the feathertail glider, the common blue-tongued lizard, the long-nosed potoroo, and the more known ones! And yes, you definitely can go humpback whale watching!
Best time to visit: Late Summer
Explore the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system in the world, made of over 2900 individual reefs and 900 islands. Experience an ocean safari unlike any you’ve experienced before.
The Great Barrier Reef is home to over 1500 marine species, 411 types of hard corals and one-third of the world’s soft corals. This includes endangered turtle species, inshore dolphins, whales, dugongs, sawfish, sea snakes, and sharks.
Best time to visit: June – October
Have a Unique Wildlife Experience in Arnhem Land
Capture the true spirit of wilderness in this stunningly vast landscape in the northeast part of the Northern territory. The traditional landowners are the Yolngu People. Enter one of the world’s most bio-diverse places. Enjoy observing some of Australia’s rarest endemic mammals like the black wallaroo and the short-eared rock wallaby. You can enjoy some incredible camping tours across these verdant lands.
Best time to visit: April – September
Explore the Pristine Water Sanctuary of Eyre Peninsula
Welcome to Australia’s ultimate aquatic playground. Located in South Australia, bordered by the Spencer Gulf, the Great Australian Bight, and the Gawler Ranges. The blue waters are a sanctuary for unique marine life like southern right whales, leafy sea dragons, great white sharks, giant cuttlefish and more!
Yes, you can interact with the marine life – including the great whites in a cage. Venture inland to explore the cool rock formations and other geological features. Ideal for unforgettable bird tours.
Best time to visit: March-April
Witness Penguins of Phillip Island, Melbourne
Located along the southern coast, penguins are probably the last feathered species you would expect to see on an island, on a summer beach 90-minutes from Melbourne. But that’s what you get on Phillip Island.
Take a 45 minute ferry to go observe these adorable penguins coming back to their burrows at sunset. You can even observe koalas up close in their homely habitat and even witness one of Australia‘s largest fur seal colonies.
Best time to visit: November – March