Thinking about going to Australia? Whether it’s for vacation or to study, you’ll be looking to experience a little of the enormous biodiversity for which this country is known, alongside the best entertainment – right? If so, first, you need to know that this country has a lot to offer, not only in terms of wildlife but also fun of all kinds for young and old – water parks, nature reserves, surfing and surf leagues, chair lifts, crocodile cruises, and casinos.
And what else? Well, did you know that Australia is one of the 17 most megadiverse countries in the world? Before we tell you some of the places where you might find this biodiversity, we’re going to check out just what contributes to this great natural wealth.
A small tour through the Australian fauna
If we talk about terrestrial animals, the entire Australian territory is home to 378 species of mammals, 828 birds, 300 lizards, 140 snakes, and 2 kinds of crocodiles. Marine life is also particularly rich, with 4,000 species of fish, 1,700 species of corals, and 50 types of mammals. Wow, there’s a lot going on across this landmass!
There are no very large predators in Australia. The dingo is about as big as they get. Of course, even those who’ve never set foot here will know about the most famous animals – the friendly marsupials – kangaroos, koalas, wombats, numbats, and Tasmanian devils, as well as the monotremes (egg-laying mammals): platypuses and echidnas. Talk about a dream for an animal lover.
Although those mentioned are the ones people generally recognize, there are 140 species of marsupials in Australia, including 55 different species of kangaroos and wallabies! It’s thought that the kangaroo population in Australia exceeds 30 million… which is an awful lot!
What about plants?
Botany lover? You’re not getting left out on this continent – guess how many plant species there are? An estimated 27,700! First up, the eucalyptus trees: there are about 2,800 species (some of which are important for the leaf-munching koalas), which represent 80% of the Australian forests. The remaining 20% goes between acacias, melaleucas, casuarinas, callitris, mangroves, and rainforests.
The Daintree Rainforest, in north Queensland, is the oldest tropical rainforest on the planet. It is estimated to have originated 135 million years ago.
In the Valley of the Giants, in the southwest of Western Australia, the largest trees in the country can be found. Some of them are up to 500 years old. During the season, you get colourful carpets of wildflowers, which turn arid savannah areas into works of art. In the state of Western Australia, there are more than 12,000 species of wildflowers, which you can see blooming between June and September. This is the largest collection of wildflowers in the world and 60% of them are found nowhere else on the planet!
Where should you go to contemplate such beauty?
Australian cities are blessed with the presence of large and very well-preserved parks that serve as gateways to the wild wealth of the country. If you want to go a little further in exploration, but still stay within the city, there are other options, such as botanical gardens. You can find them in every city.
We particularly recommend the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney. These stand on Sydney Harbour and adjacent to the Sydney Opera House. They are easy to access and best of all, offer free admission! They have 30 hectares of land and, although there are cultivated plants from all over the world, at least 20% corresponds to exclusively Australian species. It’s not just plants: there are also animals galore!
We know that not everyone likes to see animals in captivity, but when they offer a good place for the species, and fulfil preservation tasks, we believe it is worth giving them a chance, as they make available to the public the highlights of the Australian fauna, while welcoming impressive animals from other parts of the world.
And it’s not just the Botanics – there are lots of other options too. One of the most highly recommended for its central location in the city, and affordable admission cost, is Melbourne Zoo.
Outside the cities, of course, you will find larger zoos and nature reserves. There are very good options all over Australia:
- Taronga Zoo (Sydney): this was inaugurated in 1916 and Alberta has more than 4,000 specimens belonging to 340 species.
- Wildlife Habitat (Port Douglas): an award-winning wildlife reserve in the north of the state of Queensland, in the Australian torrid zone.
- Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary (Brisbane): the largest and oldest koala reserve in the world.
- Healesville Sanctuary (Outside Melbourne): a sanctuary dedicated to the preservation of Australia’s native species. It is one of the only places where a platypus has been bred in captivity.
- Cleland Wildlife Park (Outside Adelaide): a conservation park that allows visitors to interact with koalas and kangaroos or observe wombats.
- Australia Zoo (around Brisbane): a zoo specializing in reptiles. It became internationally famous as the place where the Crocodile Hunter carried out his adventures. Currently, his widow, Terri Irwin, is the owner.
Adventure and Entertainment
While Australia’s natural beauty and biodiversity are certainly highlights, the country also offers a variety of entertainment options for those seeking excitement beyond nature. Lately, this amazing country has become especially well-known for… if you guessed its top-notch casino scene, you get a prize! Fan of blackjack, poker, baccarat, or something else? There’s a smorgasbord of options, with world-class gaming experiences at the live casino in Australia. Australian casinos offer something for every type of gambler, whether you’re going in person, decked out to the nines, or sitting at home in your PJs with the games on your phone. It’s one of the best places in the world to combine your love of nature with some fun at the casino!
Conclusion
Let’s be realistic. A single blog article would be incapable of collecting all there is to see and know in Australia in terms of natural and ecological beauty! The country-continent has the largest number of national parks, in total 685. So you can be sure to have one nearby, whichever city in Australia you travel to! Have you already decided where you’ll go first?
