Categories > Guides and Tips
Best Wildlife Encounters in Perth
Looking forward to your best wildlife experience in Perth? We’ve got you covered!
We compiled our favourite places where you can find many lovely animals. If you want to prepare in advance, then check out some of our travel tips below.
Penguin Island
| ADDRESS | Penguin Island, Perth WA 6168, Australia |
| WEBSITE | https://www.penguinisland.com.au/ |
| CONTACT INFO | Phone: (+618) 9591 1333 Email: [email protected] |
| SOCIAL MEDIA | Facebook: perthwildlifeencounters Instagram: perthwildlifeencounters |
| OPENING HOURS | Monday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM |
| Did you know that there are penguins in Perth? Fun fact: Apart from the chilly Antarctic, these quirky, tiny birds may also be seen on the sunny coastlines of Australia. |
The Shoalwater Island Marine Reserve, a protected area made up of tiny limestone islands, is home to Perth’s penguins. The largest is known as Penguin Island.
You may visit the reserve and swim at Penguin Island too! If you’re a parent, we think you’d love bringing your kids along!
Still, it’s best to make sure your little ones are healthy enough for physically demanding outdoor activities. We advise you to check with your doctor or your child’s paediatrician first.
Also, note that going there on a whim isn’t advised. You’ll need to schedule a day there to really enjoy the fantastic sun, sea, and wildlife the island has to offer.
We also think it’s good to listen to dermatologists (dermatologist Perth) when they recommend using sunscreen to prevent sunburn.
| Travel reminder: Penguin Island is closed during the winter months, while they’re open from September through June. But even in the summer, bad weather might still cause the reserve to close. |
But if you want to have a picnic, there are picnic tables available. Yet, it would be best to bring your own since food isn’t sold on the island. If you suffer from any gastroenterological conditions, make sure to bring something light.
We suggest bringing binoculars to find whales and dolphins, which usually appear from September to December. Even wild seabirds, like pelicans, can be seen nesting and caring for their young during this time.
Rottnest Island: Quokkas
| ADDRESS | 33 km from Perth’s city centre |
| WEBSITE | https://www.rottnestisland.com/ |
| CONTACT INFO | Phone: (+61 8) 9432 9300 Email: [email protected] |
| SOCIAL MEDIA | Facebook: Rottnest Instagram: rottnestislandwa |
| OPENING HOURS | Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM (Visitor Centre) |
Rottnest Island is a vacation paradise with beautiful beaches, turquoise bays, bike paths, and walking trails. But did you know it’s also home to quokkas – the happiest animals on earth?
There are always opportunities to see quokkas on the island because it has plenty of natural resources and no natural predators. So we think it doesn’t matter what day it is – you can see a quokka when you want to!
Quokkas are nocturnal by nature. Also, they spend most of the day sleeping and resting under dense vegetation.
However, they’re frequently spotted lounging around the island. Most quokkas are active throughout the early morning and late afternoon hours in various locations.
Not only that, but you may also enjoy the innocent delight of observing young joeys sticking their heads out of their kangaroo mothers’ pouches in August.
| Travel tip: Take one of the free guided quokka tours to see them up close and learn some fascinating information. |
The quokkas in the colony are kind and trusting, and they’ll approach you out of curiosity if they feel safe. However, you must keep in mind that these are still wild creatures, so it’s smart to keep at least a 2-metre distance from them.
It’s advisable to wait close by and allow them to come to you rather than moving too rapidly in case you scare them. Despite how cute they may seem, experts say you shouldn’t push your luck and touch or feed a quokka.
Yanchep National Park
| ADDRESS | Yanchep Beach Rd &, Indian Ocean Dr, Yanchep WA 6035, Australia |
| WEBSITE | https://exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au/park/yanchep |
| CONTACT INFO | Phone: (08) 9303 7759 |
| SOCIAL MEDIA | Facebook: exploreparkswa Instagram: exploreparkswa Twitter: @ExploreParksWA |
| OPENING HOURS | Open 24 hours |
Want to sneak in some exercise on your trip? The Ghost House Walk Trail in Yanchep National Park lets you discover the wondrous history of the area – and also, hooray for koalas!
Of course, you should pack plenty of water, a packed lunch, and snacks because it will take you most of the day to complete this 12.4-kilometre trek.
This site is also accessible from the boardwalk Wetlands Route, which surrounds North Lake and takes you through a wetlands area teeming with birdlife.
This trail offers a lot of interesting things to look at – it passes through tuart forests, banksia forests, and coastal heath.
We believe this is ideal for people who spend their days glued to their devices. Even computers require occasional downtime or maintenance – taking a visual and mental break won’t hurt either.
Yanchep’s major commercial sector is a short distance away from Cabaret Cave, where your trip here comes to an end. We recommend having lunch here or coming in for a nice drink or cup of coffee.
Of course, one of Yanchep’s attractions is the Koala Boardwalk. Just note that koalas are particular about what eucalyptus leaves they want, so don’t be surprised if they won’t easily eat in front of you.
| Travel tip: Though this is seasonal, you might also want to consider hiring a boat to row across the lake. This gives you time to relax or meditate. |
Also, we suggest taking a tour guide to view the caves or having a barbeque in the park after your stroll when you get hungry.
Caversham Wildlife Park
| ADDRESS | 233B Drumpellier Dr, Whiteman WA 6068, Australia |
| WEBSITE | https://www.cavershamwildlife.com.au/ |
| CONTACT INFO | Phone: +61 8 9248 1984 Email: [email protected] |
| SOCIAL MEDIA | Facebook: Caversham-Wildlife-Park-Whiteman-Park Instagram: cavershamwildlifepark |
| OPENING HOURS | Monday – Sunday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
When visiting Swan, we believe the Caversham Wildlife Park is a great place to stop by. This is especially true if you want the whole family to get an authentic Australian meet-and-greet experience.
Here, visitors may interact closely with Australia’s unique wildlife and feed the kangaroos.
You can try to be like a professional photographer and capture some koalas, wombats, possums, snakes, and lizards, among other species!
Flash and video are welcome there, though there might be a few situations when they aren’t – it’s still best to confirm with their staff.
| Travel tip: Stay for about 3 hours to have enough time to see everything. You’re welcome to stay the entire day and fully enjoy your visit, though. |
Just remember to arrive early because you might not be able to see some attractions if you wait until after 2 pm.
And if you’re cutting it close, make sure to enter the park before 3:30 pm because that’s an hour before their closing time.
Armadale Reptile & Wildlife Centre
| ADDRESS | 304-308 S Western Hwy, Wungong WA 6112, Australia |
| WEBSITE | http://www.armadalereptilecentre.com.au/ |
| CONTACT INFO | Phone: +61 8 9399 6927 Email: [email protected] |
| SOCIAL MEDIA | Facebook: Armadale Reptile Centre Instagram: armadalereptilecentre |
| OPENING HOURS | Monday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
Want to take a break from the furry animals and check out some slimy creatures?
If so, you might be drawn to check out the Armadale Reptile & Wildlife Centre. Here, there are more than 70 different varieties of native Australian reptiles and other animals on display.
Despite being famous for their reptiles, they house more than 400 different species overall! We believe visitors can safely observe an endless number of animals in their natural biological habitats.
The staff would also help you learn about the animals’ appearance, behaviour, and routine. Identifying venomous and non-venomous snakes, for instance, will help you avoid harming innocent creatures.
| Travel tip: You can try petting some of the animals here! Visitors will be able to get close to some of the more docile species, such as snakes and lizards, during the day. |
Nevertheless, though this would be a well-supported workshop, some people would still need to muster the courage to participate.
It might be beneficial for you to face some of your fears. For us, it’s best to start in a secure setting like this – a tad similar to getting exposure therapy for phobias from a psychologist.
Cohunu Koala Park
| ADDRESS | 68 Nettleton Rd, Byford WA 6122, Australia |
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| WEBSITE | https://cohunu.com.au/ |
| CONTACT INFO | Phone: +61 (08) 9526 2966 Email: [email protected] |
| SOCIAL MEDIA | Facebook: Cohunu-Koala-Park Instagram: cohunu_koala_park |
| OPENING HOURS | Monday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
Love to see more koalas? No problem! Any day of the week, you can go to the Cohunu Koala Park for some warm koala hugs.
However, keep in mind that you might only be able to hold these furry animals for no longer than 2 minutes. Koalas are typically lively and calm too.
But apart from the koalas, the park is also home to dingos, kangaroos, emus, and deer. Try conversing with more than 30 parrots too – we think you won’t get bored!
Many of the wild creatures can be fed by hand as well, but we feel it’s better to proceed slowly and carefully.
| Travel tip; You may also ride the Cohunu Park Railway for $6. On most weekends, school days, and holidays (depending on the weather), this circuits the park, so you won’t need to walk too much. |
But note that Perth is 40 minutes away from this park. In our opinion, it’s better to be well-prepared for an earlier drive so you won’t encounter any delays.
Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary
| ADDRESS | Bayswater WA 6053, Australia |
| WEBSITE | https://www.bayswater.wa.gov.au/ |
| CONTACT INFO | Phone: 9272 0622 (City of Bayswater Civic Centre) Email: [email protected] |
| OPENING HOURS | Open 24 hours |
Do you find bird-watching through a pair of binoculars fascinating? Well, this next location may be a perfect match!
The Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary, a man-made urban wetland in Bayswater, is another accessible haven for bird enthusiasts.
If you want to explore a large, natural area, we think the sanctuary is a terrific location to start. For a peaceful experience, we recommend going to the lake and taking a leisurely stroll around it.
For us, this is also good for beginners because you’ll learn a lot about how to distinguish different species. The site is home to hawks, swallows, honeyeaters, reed buntings, pelicans, and white-faced herons.
But don’t worry if you get sick of birds here at some point.
You can also hear frogs croaking and kookaburras laughing loudly around sunset. And when you go in the spring, we think it’s a joy to see some cute ducklings!
This location is also, in our opinion, a welcoming place for families. The grassy parts of Riverside Gardens are lined with shady gazebos, BBQs, and several picnic tables – all of which make excellent picnic amenities!
| Friendly tip: We urge you to wear comfortable shoes because the sanctuary may be a rough walk for some people. Otherwise, you run the risk of later having to see a podiatrist for your foot problems. |
And there you go! We hope you find the top places to get your best wildlife experience in Perth. May you have a fulfilling day with the lovely animals!
