Feature by Fleur Bainger
Western Australia’s wildlife is all around, but you’ve got to know where – and crucially, when – to look. WA is home to 70 per cent of Australia’s mammals and 25 species are only found in the west. The Aussie Big Five includes smiling quokkas, endangered whale sharks, playful humpbacks, surging orcas and iconic kangaroos. Here’s how to find our must-see creatures.
Whale Sharks
Huge, artfully patterned, krill-eating whale sharks converge on Australia’s most accessible fringing reef from March to July each year. Fiercely protected while in WA’s waters, UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Marine Park has got to be the most ecologically respectful place on Earth to swim alongside a whale shark. Eco-certified tour boat operators allow only 10 people to interact with each gentle giant, giving the fish a respectful no-touch berth of 10-13 feet. Visitors are also taught how to engage in citizen science by sharing photos and observations with conservationists.
Usually, wildlife offers no guarantee, but there’s an astonishing 97 per cent success rate in whale shark sightings in Western Australia, through the clean visibility of Ningaloo’s waters.
Did you know? Whale sharks can live for up to 100 years and reach 65 feet in length, though most seen at Ningaloo measure 6.5-39ft.
Whale shark swimming in the Ningaloo Marine Park
Humpback Whales
There are more humpback whales in Western Australia’s waters than anywhere else in the world. An estimated 45,000 of these acrobatic beings migrate along the coastline from May to December, in what’s one of the longest whale watching seasons on the planet. Leaving the feeding grounds of Antarctica, they journey for more than 3728mi to reach a protected ‘maternity ward’ in the Kimberley, before returning south.
From May to August, they pause in the flirting grounds of Augusta, where they can be seen breaching and slapping the water. The former whaling station of Albany offers whale watching from late May to early October. Kalbarri sees whales from June to August, while from July to September, they can be spotted in Broome.
From August to October, they visit Ningaloo Reef, where tours allow you to swim 30m from them. From September to November, whale watching tours depart the capital city of Perth as well as Busselton, 2.5 hours’ drive south. Neighbouring Dunsborough’s season runs September to mid-December.
Did you know? The high-pressure exhales made by humpback whales can reach up to 13 feet high.
Humpback Whales, Dunsborough
Orcas
No where else in the Southern Hemisphere do more orcas come to churn the seas, than Bremer Bay. Here on the far southern edge of Western Australia there is a deep, underwater canyon filled with diverse marine life - a reliable food source that’s believed to draw hundreds of killer whales.
Full day expeditions depart from the remote harbour during the January to April observation season, and one operator also offers same-day transfers from the nearby town of Albany. Marine biologists are on board every trip, sharing recent findings and the latest conservation efforts. The ride there is often rough, but the thrill of watching a pod of apex predators prowl the ocean for prey makes it all worth it.
Did you know? Bottlenose dolphins, pilot whales, blue whales and sea lions are also on the sightseeing list in Bremer Bay.
See pods of orcas at Bremer Bay, by @aeroture_au on social media
Quokkas
You can’t see a quokka anywhere on Earth, other than Western Australia. The world’s happiest animals have taken the world by storm with their cheeky grins. Even selfies-snapping celebrities such as Rafael Nadal, Kylie Minogue and Chris Hemsworth fade into the background against the furry creature’s megawatt smiles.
Quokkas roam freely on Rottnest Island, a car-free holiday isle facing the metropolis of Perth. The solar and wind powered, EarthCheck Certified Sustainable Destination protects and conserves the state’s biggest quokka population, where you’re guaranteed to see not one, but many.
Did you know? Quokkas rarely drink water, instead sourcing it from the leaves and grasses they nibble on.
Meet this mini marsupial with a megawatt smile on Rottnest
Kangaroos
Kangaroos cover the entire state, but the key is knowing where - and when - to look for them. They tend to emerge from the bush at dawn and dusk, choosing to lie low during the heat of the day. Many feast on roadside grasses and they love a golf course grass buffet, but there are also more picturesque places to spot them.
In the Margaret River region, roos graze between the famous vineyards; further south, they bound through the tall tree forests surrounding Pemberton and, at the bottom of the state, they sunbathe on the white, sandy beach of Lucky Bay, east of Esperance.
Did you know? Kangaroos dig water holes in paprika-red sand dunes at World Heritage-listed Shark Bay. Find their traces on tour with an Aboriginal guide.
Spot kangaroos from your hotel room at RAC Karri Valley Resort
Published September 2021.