[Infographic] Discover Famous Animals in Australia

One of the most famous stars of Australian wildlife is the kangaroo, which has earned its place on the Australian coat of arms. Kangaroos are often seen as Australia’s national animal, partly due to their iconic status. The kangaroo is the most popular, making it a common sight when looking out for animals native to Australia. In fact, more kangaroos call Australia home than people, and they can be found in most rural areas country-wide. When looking for fun local activities in Australia, simply head out of the city and it won't be long until you can start spotting kangaroos.

Popular and Famous Animals in Australia

Kangaroos

Kangaroos are the world's largest marsupial (an animal that carries its young in a pouch) and they can hop at an incredible 37 miles per hour. They're most active between dusk and dawn when they go searching for food. If you spot a kangaroo in the wild, it's best to admire them from afar. They may look cuddly, but the kangaroo's large feet deliver one of the most powerful kicks on the planet.

Emu

The other magnificent Australian animal on the country's coat of arms is the emu. It's the world's second-largest bird, following the ostrich (a distant but similar-looking relative). You'll find wild emus everywhere in Australia except Tasmania. They prefer a woodland or tropical rainforest habitat and can be spotted from Western Australia to the New South Wales Snowy Mountains.

Koala

One of the most common, yet famous, Australian animals abroad is undoubtedly the koala. Some would say they have an enviable existence, spending their lives eating eucalyptus leaves and sleeping for up to 20 hours per day. However, they are a vulnerable species and are exclusively found in select East Coast destinations. Koalas are great Australian animals for kids to have an up-close encounter with — these are relatively cuddly and harmless. To see a wild koala, head to Phillip Island, the Great Ocean Road, Raymond Island or Magnetic Island. If you’re in Brisbane, check out the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary for reliable animal encounters.

Wombat

The koala's closest relation is the wombat, an expert burrower with short yet powerful legs. Watching these golden-retriever-sized balls of fur waddle across the Australian wilderness is an unforgettable sight for anyone seeking animals in the Australian outback. When searching for the nocturnal wombat on your vacation, you’ll primarily find them in southeastern Australia and Tasmania in places like Wilsons Promontory National Park, Kangaroo Valley and Maria Island.

Echidna

Another unique animal, the echidna, will most likely appear slowly waddling its way across the rural roads as you travel on your Australian vacation. This spiky critter is the country's most widespread native mammal and one of the world's only egg-laying mammals, along with the platypus. Keep an eye out for echidnas in all landscapes, including deserts, rainforests and mountains. These small creatures are also a popular attraction at the zoo in Sydney. They're referred to as a “spiny anteater” thanks to their insect-heavy diet, which is a great fact to tell curious kids learning about what animals live in Australia.

Dingoes

You can't talk about Australia’s wildlife without mentioning the dingo. This wild Australian dog species is listed as vulnerable to extinction. While they can be found across mainland Australia in desert, grassland and rainforest, a large population calls K'gari (Fraser Island) home. It's important to note that dingoes are Australia's largest terrestrial carnivore, so don't approach them.

Saltwater Crocodiles

If you're looking for more to add to your animals in Australia bucket list, consider the saltwater crocodiles that dwell primarily in northern Australia. These fearsome reptiles, sometimes called “salties,” are known to inhabit coastal areas, rivers and marshes. They’re a fascinating example of dangerous animals native to Australia. You might even spot a few sunning themselves near Airlie Beach in Queensland if you head out on a wildlife tour.

Saltwater Crocodiles

If you're looking for more to add to your animals in Australia bucket list, consider the saltwater crocodiles that dwell primarily in northern Australia. These fearsome reptiles, sometimes called “salties,” are known to inhabit coastal areas, rivers and marshes. They’re a fascinating example of dangerous animals native to Australia. You might even spot a few sunning themselves near Airlie Beach in Queensland if you head out on a wildlife tour.

Saltwater Crocodiles

If you're looking for more to add to your animals in Australia bucket list, consider the saltwater crocodiles that dwell primarily in northern Australia. These fearsome reptiles, sometimes called “salties,” are known to inhabit coastal areas, rivers and marshes. They’re a fascinating example of dangerous animals native to Australia. You might even spot a few sunning themselves near Airlie Beach in Queensland if you head out on a wildlife tour.

Great White Shark

Enter the Jaws theme song. Australia is home to some of the world’s largest great white sharks, prowling the temperate waters off the southern coastline. While their reputation as the ocean’s apex predator precedes them, sightings are relatively rare — although South Australia’s Neptune Islands is one of the best places in the world for cage diving — if you’re brave enough. Fun fact: Great whites can weigh over 2,000 kilograms and detect a single drop of blood in 100 litres of water. Terrifying? Yes — but also intriguing. 

If you want to meet some other marine animals in Australian waters (without encountering a Great White), you can explore snorkeling and diving in the Great Barrier Reef during your cruise.

Wallaby

Think of a wallaby as a kangaroo’s adorable little cousin with a better Instagram aesthetic. These compact marsupials are found all over Australia, from the dense rainforests of Queensland to the dry bushlands of New South Wales. Like their roo relatives, wallabies carry their babies (called joeys) in pouches and move by hopping, although they’re a little more agile in tight spaces. Wallabies are shyer than kangaroos, so catching a glimpse of one bouncing across a remote hiking trail feels like finding a hidden gem in the wild.

Cassowary

If you venture to the Far North rainforest region in Queensland, you might spot a southern cassowary, which is essentially a modern-day dinosaur with deadly claws. It's no wonder it's described as the world's most dangerous bird. While you may not want to be approached by this flightless blue-faced bird in the wild, the species is critical to the survival of rainforests thanks to its role in transporting seeds.

Platypus

If Australia had a category called "Animals That Don’t Make Sense But We Love Them Anyway," the platypus would win. One of only two egg-laying mammals in the world (the other is the echidna), the platypus looks like a duck, swims like an otter and hunts like a snake. Males are venomous with spurs on their hind legs that can deliver a nasty sting. This elusive creature prefers freshwater rivers and streams on Australia’s eastern side, particularly around the Melbourne area. While spotting one in the wild is a badge of honour for Aussie adventurers, you can also see them at wildlife sanctuaries if you’re short on time.

Tasmanian Devils

There's nothing devilish about Tasmanian devils. This endangered species with a spotted coat is only found in Tasmania and has a vital role in the state's ecosystem. These small but voracious predators have helped to control introduced animals that eat native wildlife, and they've increased the survival rates of other native animals. The presence of Tasmanian devils is often highlighted in guides for Australian animals for kids, as they’re a unique marsupial worth protecting.

Thorny Devil

Another devil indigenous to Australia is the thorny devil. These spiky lizards are full of surprises. First, they have a fake second head on the back of their necks to repel predators — and they can change their appearance to camouflage with their surroundings. They drink water by rubbing their spikes against dew-covered grass, sending the water along the ridges directly into their mouths. One of the most fascinating Australian wildlife facts is that their diet is also exclusively black ants — up to 1,000 at every meal!

Kookaburra

When in the woodlands of eastern Australia searching for native wildlife, don't forget to look up — though you may hear the laughing kookaburra — one of the most unique Australian animals — before you see it. These large brown birds with a light blue patch on their wings are impressive looking, but it's their call that will make a lasting impression. The laughing kookaburra's cackle is often mistaken for a monkey, as the bird elicits a symphony of belly laughs, chuckles and hoots in a variety of pitch and volume.

Quokka

Finally, amid all Australia's dangerous and flashy animals, there's the quokka. The only place to encounter these sleepy, furry critters is on Rottnest Island, off the coast of Perth. They are part of the kangaroo and wallaby family (but smaller), and around 10,000 quokkas reside on the island today. The herbivores are mostly active at night, so if you want to get a selfie with one on your Australian vacation, the best time is around dusk or dawn. Be patient, let the quokka approach you and do not feed or touch the cuddly creatures, no matter how cute they are.

Unique Facts About Animals In Australia As You Travel On Vacation

1. 1.  Male platypuses have venomous spurs on their ankles — and the sting is so painful it can leave you incapacitated for days.
   


2. 2.  The cassowary is dubbed ‘the world’s most dangerous bird’ because of its dagger-like claws capable of delivering fatal kicks.
   


3. 3.  Thorny devils drink by collecting water on their skin — it channels through grooves between their spines right into their mouths.


4. 4.  Australia is home to more venomous snake species than any other country — over 100, with the inland taipan being the deadliest.


5. 5.  Quokkas can literally smile — and they’ve become famous for photobombing selfies on Rottnest Island.


6. 6.  Saltwater crocodiles can live for over 70 years and are known to leap vertically out of the water to snatch birds from low-hanging branches.


7. 7.  Koalas aren’t actually bears — they’re marsupials and their fingerprints are eerily similar to humans’.


8. 8.  The laughing kookaburra’s call sounds like hysterical human laughter — you’ll swear someone’s cackling from the treetops.


9. 9.  Wombats have cube-shaped poop — and they use it to mark their territory. Scientists are still working out how and why.


10. 10. The echidna, like the platypus, lays eggs but produces milk through its skin — because animals in Australia love to hit the “surprise me” option.

From The Ocean To The Outback: Discover The Animals In Australia

1. There's a unique animal experience waiting for you in magnificent Australia, from spotting a cassowary near Cairns to witnessing a wombat wobble across the Tasmanian wilderness. Whether you’re searching for animals in the Australian outback or just curious about what animals live in Australia, the diversity here is sure to amaze.
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3. Explore our Australian cruises to ports in Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne, and make the most of your opportunity to see lots of Australian wildlife on land and at sea.

Frequently Asked Questions

What animals are only found in Australia?

Over 80% of Australia’s wildlife is found nowhere else on planet Earth. This includes iconic species like kangaroos, koalas, wombats, platypuses, echidnas and the elusive quokka.

What are the top 10 animals in Australia?

1. 1.  Kangaroo


2. 2.  Koala 


3. 3.  Emu


4. 4.  Wombat.


5. 5.  Echidna


6. 6.  Platypus.


7. 7.  Dingo.


8. 8.  Cassowary


9. 9.  Saltwater crocodile.


10. 10.  Quokka.

What animal wildlife is in Australi?

Australia boasts everything from cuddly koalas to lethal taipans, venomous octopuses, massive great white sharks and prehistoric-looking cassowaries. It’s a land of extremes — adorable or deadly, sometimes both.

What are the rarest animals in Australia?

The night parrot holds the title for Australia’s rarest critter. It was presumed extinct for over a century until a few were rediscovered in 2013. As for mammals, the leadbeater’s possum is critically endangered and notoriously difficult to spot.