*GeoEx’s Sabrina Middleton enjoyed a three-week exploratory trip through Australia. Among the many highlights of her journey were Australian animal encounters with the surprising spectrum of wildlife Down Under. Learn what animals are in Australia and about Sabrina’s favorite experiences. *

1. Koalas

Visitors often want to know where to see koalas in Australia. One great option is the Lone Pine Sanctuary, located outside of Brisbane, which offers a personal experience. Here I am at the sanctuary holding Cordelia the koala. I was amazed by how soft she was, and holding her, I was overcome with a beautiful, peaceful feeling. Koalas sleep 20 hours a day; maybe that’s why her calm was so contagious.

2. Pademelons

This pademelon was one of the cutest animal sights on the trip. To give a sense of its size, pademelons are smaller than wallabies, which are smaller than kangaroos. My pademelon encounter took place on Maria Island, a pristine UNESCO World Heritage-listed national park off the eastern coast of Tasmania where cars are not allowed.

3. Wombats

Wombats remind me of the Ewoks in Star Wars. These endearing furballs roam all over Maria Island, stand very still when you look at them, and aren’t afraid of people.

4. Great Eastern Brown Snake

I found this Great Eastern Brown Snake when I was hiking the breathtaking Scenic Rim Trail in Queensland. This snake is highly venomous, so meeting it was breathtaking as well. If you encounter this snake, the best advice is: Just keep calm and walk—warily—by!

5. Giant Neon Clams

My adventures went into the ocean as well, highlighted by snorkeling and diving on the Great Barrier Reef during a dreamy stay at the isolated, spectacularly situated Lizard Island resort. Among the most mesmerizing denizens of Australia’s underwater world were these giant neon clams.

6. Anteaters

I gingerly encountered this Echidna spiny anteater on the Maria Island Walk, an exhilarating guided four-day hike along the beaches and forests of Maria Island.

7. Kookaburras

The cute little kookaburra is famous for its laugh, which followed me from tree to tree as I walked in forests throughout Australia.

My time with the unique animals in Australia reminded me that nothing opens one’s eyes as wide as travel in a new land. I can’t wait to go back. There’s so much to see and do in Australia. Each Australia visit can feel like an adventure into an entirely new world.

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GeoEx’s Sabrina Middleton, Director of Client Services, has waddled with penguins in Antarctica, traveled across Siberia by railway on the Golden Eagle train, hiked to Machu Picchu, gone swimming with sea lions in the Galápagos Islands, and much more during her many years with GeoEx.

To find out more about the custom options for exploring Australia, call us at 888-570-7108.