Experience these top 8 animal encounters on your Queensland road trip
No doubt one of the top reasons for doing a campervan trip in Australia is to encounter the unique animals that call this beautiful country home. From koalas and kangaroos to dolphins and crocodiles, the Land Down Under has them all. The Sunshine State is home to some regions rich in biodiversity, including World Heritage Listed rainforests, reefs and islands.
We let you in on eight of the best animal encounters Queensland has to offer motorhome travellers.
1. Feed humpback dolphins at Barnacles Dolphin Centre
A few hours’ drive north of Brisbane lies Tin Can Bay, a small town of 2,000 people and a few other friendly residents. Tin Can Bay is home to the Australian Humpback Dolphin, an inhabitant of rivers and estuaries that lives on a diet of fish, squid and crustaceans. Visitors to the bay have the opportunity to interact with these beautiful creatures accompanied by local volunteers at the Barnacles Dolphin Centre. While the dolphins have been given affectionate nicknames by the locals, they’re totally wild - so this is a rare opportunity to get up close to them in their natural habitat.
2. Wander through the Daintree Rainforest at night
Rent a campervan in Cairns and head north through one of Australia’s unique natural habitats. The Daintree National Park is a World Heritage listed area and one of the oldest living rainforests in the world. For a truly unique encounter with the rainforest’s most exciting wildlife, take a guided night walk. Tours run by Jungle Adventures take you through the nocturnal world, giving you the opportunity to glimpse possums, bats, rainforest dragons and creepy crawlies.
3. Snorkel with the fishes at the Great Barrier Reef
Once you’ve explored the Daintree, don’t miss your opportunity to explore another World Heritage listed site right next door. The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system and one of the world’s seven natural wonders. Beneath the sparkling blue waters lie myriad marine animals just waiting to reveal themselves. Cruises departing from Cairns and Port Douglas give you several ways to encounter the reef’s colourful creatures, offering snorkelling, scuba diving, fish feeding, and semi-submersible vessels for those who’d rather not get their feet wet.
4. Feed kangaroos at Australia Zoo
No animal lover’s Australian campervan trip would be complete without a stop at Australia Zoo. Made world-famous by the Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin and his family, this is a place where you can encounter some of Australia’s best-loved animals, from koalas to crocs. Travelling as a family? The kids can hand-feed kangaroos or have a ball petting baby animals at the Kids’ Zoo. Australia Zoo also offers an array of animal encounters with wild creatures from mischievous meerkats to rhinos and Komodo dragons.
5. Hop on a crocodile safari in the Whitsundays
In addition to its furry and cuddly creatures, Australia is also home to many dangerous animals, including crocodiles. If you’ve been wanting to see one for yourself in the wild, you might just get the chance on a Whitsunday Crocodile Safari. Get picked up from your accommodation in Airlie Beach, Cannonvale or Proserpine and go for a cruise along the Proserpine River. Exploring the estuaries and wetlands, you might encounter one of the estuarine crocodiles that call the region home - from a safe distance, of course!
6. Spot dingoes and dolphins on Fraser Island
Image: Newretreads (own work), (CC BY 4.0) via Wikimedia Commons
Yet another World Heritage Listed destination, Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world. Its 184,000 hectares of verdant forest, sandy beaches and surrounding azure waters offer encounters with rare frog species, humpback whales, dugongs, dolphins, Sand Monitors, Sugar Gliders and more. However, this island is most famous for its dingoes. Take a Sunrover 4WD tour along the 75-mile surf beach to catch a glimpse of these adorable animals in the wild. Make Fraser Island a stop on your way north from Noosa as you head north and drive towards Townsville in your motorhome hire.
7. Watch turtles hatching at Mon Repos Turtle Centre
Mon Repos Turtle Centre, just a fifteen-minute drive from Bundaberg on the Queensland coast, offers visitors a magical experience with endangered loggerhead turtles. These wild marine animals nest on the beach at Mon Repos, and motorhome travellers passing through between November and March can join a guided tour at night where you can witness them nesting, hatching, and making the dangerous journey back to sea.
8. Meet a bilby at the Charleville Bilby Experience
Southwestern Queensland offers one of the cutest wildlife encounters: The Charleville Bilby Experience. The bilby is a desert-dwelling marsupial native to Australia and is the Aussie alternative to the Easter bunny, delivering eggs at Easter time. As it’s nocturnal, spotting these rare creatures in the wild can be difficult, but the Charleville Bilby Experience gives you the opportunity to see one up close. The informative guides will teach you all about the bilby and give you a tour through the nocturnal house where you can see them for yourself.
Enjoy the magic of seeing some of Australia’s most iconic wildlife right up close as you journey along Queensland’s coast. Don’t forget to take plenty of snaps to commemorate the experience!
Outside Queensland are other popular options. Book RV rentals from Darwin in NT, from Sydney in NSW, and even nationwide, with the help of Motorhome Republic.
Written By: Kristof Haines
It’s funny how motorhome memories stick with you. I can still recall a motorhome vacation my family took when I was five years old and how awesome I thought I was, tucked away in a loft bed above the cab. From revealing unique destinations to providing tips and tricks, it’s my mission to help others build great motorhome memories too.
It’s funny how motorhome memories stick with you. I can still recall a motorhome vacation my family took when I was five years old and how awesome I thought I was, tucked away in a loft bed above the cab. From revealing unique destinations to providing tips and tricks, it’s my mission to help others build great motorhome memories too.
