Whether you are on land or at sea, there’s plenty of places to go wild with wildlife spotting along the Great Barrier Reef.
Check out these top spots in which to get up close and personal with birds, turtles, whales, rays, platypus, sharks, fish, crocodiles, koalas and even a kangaroo or two.
Whales
Each year the Great Barrier Reef is home to the majestic Humpback Whales as they migrate from the Antarctic, to the warmer waters of off Queensland where they birth their calves before returning South.
During winter, Hervey Bay is considered the best place on the planet in which to view humpback whales, with a number of whale watching tours operating between July - November.
Head to Tropical North Queensland between June and August and out on the Great Barrier Reef with a Cairns or Port Douglas tour with a strict permit for a chance to view Dwarf Minke Whales and even Swim with the Minke Whales, which migrate there every year to the warmer waters.
Recently in March 2024, The Whitsundays have now be officially designated as a Whale Heritage Area by the World Cetacean Alliance, making it along with Hervey Bay and 9 other world wide locations on the list. To behold these magnificent creatures in the Whitsundays, you might catch sight of humpback whales leaping gracefully from a safe distance while exploring Whitehaven Beach, embarking on a sailing cruise, or even soaring above the reef on a scenic flight.
Rays
Lady Elliot Island is considered a prime spot in which to swim with Manta Rays who are attracted to this particular part of Queensland’s giant ecosystem all year round, with the peak season May - August. These gentle giants can grow as large as four metres wide and the chance to swim with them is unforgettable. Rays are also commonly seen at Mantra Ray Bay on the Whitsundays, Lady Musgrave Island and Orpheus Island.
On Daydream Island in the Whitsundays, partake in Stingray Splash, an experience where you can feed the baby stingrays at the Living Reef.
Turtles
The Southern Great Barrier Reef is synonymous with turtle spotting and Bundaberg’s Mon Repos beach between November and January offers your best chance to witness loggerhead, green, leatherback and flatback turtles laying their eggs. From January to March, experience the wonder as the hatchlings make the precarious journey towards the ocean.
The best way to witness these 'miracles on Mon Repos' is through a guided turtle encounter night tour run by the Mon Repos Turtle Centre.
For a chance to swim with turtles in their natural habitat, the waters around Lady Musgrave, Lady Elliot, Heron and Wilson islands and the tropical Islands of North Queensland and north to Lizard Island are full of turtles.
Fish
So many fantastic fish, so little time. To swim with the handsome potato cod, head to the Cod Hole on Ribbon Reef on the Outer Great Barrier Reef in Tropical North Queensland. You’ll find plenty of Parrot Fish off of Green Island, in Tropical North Queensland, Maori Wrasse off of Hayman Island and Reefworld in the Whitsundays, and that lovable clown Nemo anywhere along the Great Barrier Reef.
Sharks
To dive with sharks, head to Double Island Point’s Wolf Rock off of the Fraser Coast which is home to grey nurses, or head to Neptune's Reef World at Hervey Bay to snorkel with sharks. Further north, join a 3 - 7 night tour offering shark diving off the northern ribbon reefs in Tropical North Queensland. There’s plenty of harmless reef sharks along the Great Barrier Reef.
Coral Spawning
Witness thousands of tiny sperm and egg bundles released in the spectacular display that is known as coral spawning. But be quick, as it only happens once a year, for four to six days from the full moon each November. Tours out of Cairns offer overnight reef trips with night-time snorkel and dive trips during this period.
Birds
Queensland boasts a proliferation of places along which to view some of the most colourful bird species on the planet. But one of the best known is Heron Island which attracts so many feathered friends that it is closed for one month each year due to the large population. During the other 11 months, enjoy this breeding and nesting sanctuary for Black Noddy Terns and Wedgetail Shearwaters.
Further islands of the Great Barrier Reef, such as Lady Musgrave, Lady Elliot Island, and north to Michaelmas Cay off the coast from Cairns.
Platypus
For a rare chance to view Australia’s iconic, yet shy, mammal in the wild, head to Eungella National Park in the Mackay Hinterland. There are dedicated viewing platforms here for platypus which like to appear around dusk to show off their superior swimming skills.
Unique platypus experiences at Finch Hatton Gorge in the Mackay Hinterland
Take a one-of-a-kind scuba dive tour in the clear rainforest waters of Finch Hatton Gorge where platypus live and play. Or you can learn insider secrets to spotting platypus while enjoying a unique dining experience in the rainforest.
The Cairns Atherton Tablelands is also home to the quiet platypus where they can be found in the freshwater holes of North Queensland.
Crocodiles
Never smile at a crocodile unless, of course, you are in a safe environment. Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures in Cairns is arguably one of the best places in which to witness and learn about these incredible reptiles in north Queensland. There are also a number of tours in the Whitsundays and Tropical North Queensland that take croc spotting boats out in the wild like on the Daintree River. You can even swim with a crocodile in Port Douglas - if you dare!
Koalas
If breakfast with a koala is your thing, there are some great places in Queensland where you can experience these marvelous marsupials. Head to Bungalow Bay Koala Village on Magnetic Island off of Townsville, or Wild Life Koala Café on Hamilton Island to cuddle these cuties.
Further north in Cairns you can visit the rainforest village of Kuranda by the iconic Skyrail & Scenic Train where there is Koala Gardens along with Rainforestation Nature Park.
Kangaroos and wallabies
For a truly iconic experience of seeing kangaroos and wallabies in the wild and on an Australian beach, Cape Hillsborough National Park, near Mackay, is the best place to do this. Early morning and late afternoon offer your best chances for this truly breathtaking experience.
For further wildlife experiences travelling further north you are bound to see the iconic Kangaroo and Rock Wallabies in the their natural environment.
Keep your eyes out for the Cassowary which calls Tropical North Queensland home too!
Whatsapp
Facebook
Instagram