3 hours from Melbourne by car
Head towards the Cape Otway lighthouse and point your noggins up to the sky to spy koala bums among the native gum trees.
It might come as a huge shock – and I am probably breaking several unspoken Aussie rules revealing this to you – but it’s not as that easy to find native Australian wildlife in metropolitan Melbourne. You actually have to head outside the city to find these adorable marsupials in the wild, whether it’s kangaroos up in Woodlands Historical Park or platypus out in the Otway Ranges. If you are looking for furry koalas, there are plenty of places to see them up close – you’ve just got to know where to look!
Three things to note before you go out koala spotting:
1. The best time to spot them is at dawn or dusk, as koalas are nocturnal.
2. Remember to look up! You’ll spot these marsupials either tucked in the fork of a tree or nestled against a big branch.
3. Please be respectful, and never attempt to touch koalas or get close to them. These creatures have been known to get aggressive.
Want to go green? Here are 10 incredible national parks within driving distance from Melbourne. Or make it an overnighter with these great campsites around Victoria.
