There’s something about viewing kangaroos in the wild that is truly captivating. Whether it’s their awkward stances, their inquisitive looks, or the way in which they appear to effortlessly yet gracefully bound through the air, kangaroos are a constant source of fascination.
These native animals can be spotted at abundant locations throughout Australia, but what happens if your four-year-old – or an international guest – exclaims ‘I want to see a kangaroo’. Do you know where you would take them?
Don’t fear – we have the answer. Whatever state or territory your travels take you, here are the top locations for kangaroo spotting. Please note: the best times to view kangaroos are either at dawn or dusk.
The Great Ocean Road region is our top pick for kangaroo spotting in Victoria. Most notably, two destinations at opposite ends of this famous road warrant most attention. Along the eastern section is the town of Anglesea, which is well-known for its hefty eastern grey kangaroo population. The local golf course is a popular hangout and the club even runs kangaroo-watching tours on weekdays. But you’ll also find ‘roos hovering on the grounds of BIG4 Anglesea Holiday Park. At the western end of the Great Ocean Road, Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve, easily accessed from Warrnambool or Port Fairy, attracts its fair share of ‘roos as well as other wildlife.
Elsewhere, Grampians National Park is another reliable area for kanga watching, or simply spy these native animals from the grounds of NRMA Halls Gap Holiday Park, Breeze Holiday Parks - Halls Gap or Breeze Holiday Parks - Grampians.
If in New South Wales, try Murramarang National Park, just north of Batemans Bay in the beautiful South Coast region. Here, the eastern greys congregate near the beach.
On the North Coast, the area in and around Coffs Harbour presents ample opportunity to view a roo. And by now we can conclude with absolute certainty that eastern greys appreciate a great coastal outlook and are impartial to a game of golf: prime viewing spots include Safety Beach Golf Course near Woolgoolga and Look At Me Now Headland at Emerald Beach.
Western Australia reaffirms the theory that our hop-happy friends love beaches and bunkers. The always glorious Cape Le Grand National Park, near Esperance in the South West WA region, is home to possibly the most famous location in the country for beach-going western greys: Lucky Bay.
In the Swan Valley, a renowned food and wine region that makes a great daytrip from Perth, kangas congregate at The Vines Resort’s two golf courses. They also roam the fairways of Wanneroo Golf Club, an easy drive north of Perth.
For something different, head to Francois Peron National Park in the World Heritage-listed Shark Bay area – and the wider Coral Coast WA region – to spot bilbies. Or take a peek at black-footed rock-wallabies in Cape Range National Park, near Exmouth.
Much like elsewhere around the country, spotting kangaroos in Queensland will draw you to the coast. At Cape Hillsborough National Park, easily accessed from Mackay, you’ll find eastern greys chilling on the sand.
Alternatively, jump on board a ferry from Townsville to nearby Magnetic Island to encounter adorable allied rock-wallabies. Crows Nest National Park is also ideal for spying brush-tailed rock-wallabies and swamp wallabies when day tripping from Toowoomba.
It’s harder to pin down ‘roo hotspots than it is wallaby hangouts, so with that in mind we’ll concentrate on the latter. Head to Alice Springs and spot one of Australia’s largest populations of black-footed rock-wallabies from several locations near the town centre or throughout the MacDonnell Ranges. The Alice Springs Telegraph Station Historical Reserve is a good bet.
Elsewhere, Litchfield National Park makes for an essential daytrip from Darwin and has plenty of agile wallabies to gaze at.
The top spot in Tassie for viewing kangaroos is Narawntapu National Park, accessible from Launceston or the Tamar Valley. Within this wildlife haven, Forester kangaroos bound around freely.
Or head to glorious Freycinet National Park to spot Bennett’s wallabies. The park is just a hop, skip, and a jump from Coles Bay.
No, it’s not a misnomer – one of the most reliable areas to see kangaroos in South Australia is in fact on Kangaroo Island. Head to Flinders Chase National Park to spot what is known as the Kangaroo Island kangaroo (crazy, huh?) and plenty of other wildlife. Australia’s third-biggest island can be reached via ferry from Adelaide.
Back on the mainland, Belair National Park in Adelaide provides you with a good chance of spotting western grey kangaroos and makes for an adventurous day out whether you see a ‘roo or not.
Heading inland, Canberra is one of the best places in Australia to see wild kangaroos. Myriad eastern greys roam the landscape and there are several hotspots to glimpse them. Among the most-trusted locations to see kangaroos in Canberra are treasure-packed Namadgi National Park and the popular viewing platform of Mount Ainslie.
