Australian animals - what you might encounter at your ports of call

Australia’s animals evolved in geographic isolation and then adapted to environments that range from dry inland regions to eucalyptus forests, tropical rainforests and freshwater rivers. Those conditions help explain some of the unusual traits guests may notice in the animals they encounter ashore. After all, more than 80% of Australia’s plants, mammals, reptiles and frogs are found nowhere else in the world, a level of endemism shaped in part by millions of years of geographic isolation.

Take the koala. Eucalyptus leaves are abundant in its forest habitat, but they provide relatively little usable energy. Koalas compensate by spending much of the day resting or sleeping, conserving energy for feeding and moving between trees. Wombats have adapted to life closer to the ground. Their powerful legs and claws are built for digging burrows, which provide shelter from temperature extremes. Even the wombat’s backward-facing pouch serves a purpose: it helps keep soil away from a joey while its mother digs.

Australia’s wildlife may be unusual, but their distinctive traits are closely connected to the food available to them and the ways they have adapted to find food, travel and seek shelter.

Koalas and kangaroos tend to get top billing in Australia, but they’re part of a much bigger marsupial family. Wombats, wallabies and Tasmanian devils are in the mix too, and a day ashore gives you the chance to see several of them in one place.

On cruises to Sydney, the Taronga Zoo Experience brings native Australian animals straight to the city itself. The zoo sits above Sydney Harbour, overlooking the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

Brisbane cruises give you a couple of ways to get closer. Best Of Brisbane: CRIKEY! Its Australia Zoo includes time with koalas, wombats and kangaroos, while Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is centered on koalas, with the chance to hand-feed kangaroos as well.

Cruises to Hobart, Tasmania also have controlled wildlife encounters, too. At Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, guests can see Tasmanian devils alongside wombats, wallabies and kangaroos, including Forester kangaroos that can be hand-fed. It’s a chance to meet some of Australia’s best-known animals, plus a few that don’t make it onto nearly as many postcards.

Crocodiles have been part of Australia’s wildlife story for millions of years and give you a glimpse into the continent’s deep evolutionary history. In tropical North Queensland, Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures connects the animals visitors see today with the continent’s origins in Gondwana, the ancient supercontinent that began breaking apart roughly 180 million years ago.

On Hartley's Crocodile Adventure, on cruises to Cairns, eco boats travel across Hartley’s Lagoon for close views of saltwater crocodiles. Because crocodiles can’t sweat, they regulate their body temperature in other ways, including moving between land and water and resting with their jaws open to release heat. That open-mouthed pose has a practical purpose. Back on land, the Gondwana Gateway exhibit traces the evolution of Australia’s distinctive wildlife, while a snake presentation introduces visitors to some of the country’s venomous species.

You can also look for crocodiles in their natural habitat on the Wet Tropic Wildlife and Crocodile Cruise on a cruise to Port Douglas. The excursion cruises the Daintree River in search of crocodiles along its banks and waterways if you’re looking for a wild encounter.

In tropical North Queensland, wildlife encounters take you into the rainforest. The Rainforestation Army Duck and Wildlife excursion travels through the rainforest aboard an amphibious Army Duck before visiting the Koala and Wildlife Refuge. Here, guests can see wombats, crocodiles and koalas, then hand-feed kangaroos.

Cassowaries show off another distinctly Australian species. Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures is home to one of these large, flightless rainforest birds, though their size doesn’t make them slow. Southern cassowaries can reach speeds of up to 50 km/h through dense forest. They’re also strong swimmers and can cross wide rivers and even swim in the sea. Lunch with the Lorikeets includes a cassowary at the Rainforest Habitat and all kinds of other feathered friends. Rainbow lorikeets, cockatoos, parrots, curlews and herons roam freely around the habitat, adding plenty of movement and color. In the Grassland Habitat, guests can also hand-feed kangaroos and wallabies.

Seeing Australia’s native animals is one part of the experience — understanding the work being done on their behalf is even more meaningful to visitors. At Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, the team works to rehabilitate injured and orphaned wildlife with the goal of returning healthy animals to the wild. They do this while building community awareness around native species and their conservation.

The southern cassowary shows why habitat conservation matters beyond sanctuary walls. In Queensland’s Wet Tropics, protecting rainforest habitat and maintaining connections between forest areas help cassowaries move, feed and breed. Efforts also include wildlife crossings and community education aimed at reducing threats where cassowaries and people share the same landscape.

Port Stephens has a resident population of around 165 bottlenose dolphins. The Port Stephens Dolphin Watching Cruise takes guests out onto the harbor, where 360-degree observation decks provide plenty of room to watch the water for dolphins. The excursion is available on cruises to Newcastle, one of several ports where Australia’s wildlife can be experienced beyond a sanctuary or zoo.

Off Tasmania, the scenery changes dramatically. The Tasman Island Wildlife Cruise follows a coastline marked by some of Australia’s highest sea cliffs. Dolphins and seabirds are among the wildlife to watch for along the way.

The Great Barrier Reef puts the smallest animals in this section in the spotlight. Reef and Rainforest Awakens visits the reef early in the morning, as coral polyps extend their tentacles and tropical fish become more active. The early start offers a chance to observe the reef as its inhabitants emerge and activity builds beneath the surface.

Australia’s wildlife is one of the many reasons to spend more time exploring its ports. Aboard Princess, your itinerary can bring wildlife encounters within reach of a day ashore, from established sanctuaries to wild rainforest habitats and coastal waters. Choose an Australia cruise and start planning the animals, places and experiences you want to see for yourself.