Western Australia's big five
A guide to when, where and how to see Western Australia's most incredible wildlife
With its uncrowded, unspoiled spaces, spinach-green forests, white sand beaches lapped by the clearest of waters and the world's largest fringing reef, it's little wonder so much of the world’s wildlife want to make Western Australia their home. In fact, some 75% of all native Australian mammals can be seen in this incredible part of the country, including 25 unique species. Whenever and wherever you go in Western Australia, you’re bound to have a wildlife experience like no other. Here are just five of the many species you will find here, and where, how and when to see them…
1. Whale sharks
When: March to July
Where: Ningaloo Marine Park
Don a snorkel mask and float across the surface of the clear, blue waters of the UNESCO-listed Ningaloo Reef Marine Park between March and July, and you’ll have the life-affirming experiencing of swimming alongside the largest fish in the world, whale sharks. Despite their colossal size (an average of four to six metres in Ningaloo, although they can grow up to an incredible 12 metres in total), these gentle giants are harmless, and surprisingly graceful.
Over 400 whale sharks congregate in the Ningaloo Reef each year, meaning you’re almost guaranteed to see one, with an impressive 97% success rate in sightings. Ningaloo’s operators run the world’s most eco-friendly interactions, with strict rules on how the gentle giants are approached, part of the tour fees are put towards conservation efforts and guests and crew alike encouraged to submit photographs and information to conservation projects. Head to Exmouth, the gateway to the reef, where tours run daily from late March through to July and cater for all levels.
Make your dreams of swimming with whale sharks a reality with Trailfinders Western Shores & Whale Sharks tour.
Whale shark fact file
A whale shark's mouth can stretch to over one metre wide, but they still find eating hard. This is because their teeth are so tiny they can only eat small fish and plankton.
Their spots are like fingerprints. Each whale shark has a unique pattern of spots, which means they can be catalogued.
Small fish are often seen swimming around whale sharks as they feast on their parasites and leftover food.
Whale sharks can weigh up to a whopping 60 tons.
2. Humpback whales
When : May to December
Where: whole coastline of Western Australia
Also a fan of the Ningaloo Reef are the humpback whales which congregate in their thousands in the pristine waters here from August to October, escaping the cold waters of the Antarctic to mate and calve. Head out on a boat with Exmouth Dive & Whalesharks Ningaloo with no more than 24 other passengers to spot the humpbacks in small groups, under the watchful eye of an expert tour leader. The knowledgable guides on board not only know the best times and places to spot them, but will have the answers to any questions you may have about these marine creatures. Those who want a closer look can jump in the water to swim alongside the whales. But if you don’t want to get wet, you will still have an incredible experience on board, with the humpbacks coming in easy viewing distance.
Ningaloo Reef is just one of the many places in Western Australia where you can see humpback whales. In fact, Western Australia has one of the world’s longest whale watching seasons, with some 45,000 of the marine giants migrating along the coastline from May to December.
Those visiting from May to August should head to Augusta on the south west coast. Whale Watch Western Australia offer boat trips twice daily from the Augusta Boat Harbour. On board, not only are you likely to see the cetaceans breaching, but will also learn about the species from experts on board and see how the research team catalogue their numbers.
Albany on Western Australia’s southern coastline is another exceptional base for whale watching. A former whaling port, the city acknowledges its past with an interactive museum while tours take visitors to a respecful distance from the growing population of humpbacks often spotted in King George Sound, as well as Southern Right Whales.
With the whales swimming so close to land, visitors can often witness fin slapping and breaching in the flirting grounds, calf teaching and resting nurseries found all along WA’s coastline from Albany to Broome, but join a eco-tour and you’ll have a marine biologist onboard sharing information on whale migration paths, the astounding numbers, their astonishing behaviours and the diversity of ocean species in Western Australia.
Watch some incredible footage of how a Humpback Mother defends her calf using a tour boat in Western Australia as a protection barrier and the help of some heroic Dolphins.
Whatever time of year you decide to go, why not hire a motorhome to follow the humpbacks on part of their journey? Trailfinders can help you to plan your ultimate road trip adventure, and on the Western Wonders – Motorhome Holiday you can choose from two carefully selected motorhome partners to explore the incredible coastline of Western Australia at your own pace.
More whales to look out for in Western Australia
Pilot whales
Pilot whales
Blue whale
Blue whale
Southern right whale
Southern right whale
Orca
Orca
3. Orcas
When: January to April
Where: Bremer Bay
Situated on the far southern coast of Western Australia at the mouth of the Bremer River, Bremer Bay is a quiet village at the edge of the Fitzgerald River National Park, a UNESCO biosphere reserve, and is understandably a popular holiday spot. But it’s not just people who are attracted to the area. Each January, some 200 orcas (or killer whales) make their way here to feast in the nutrient rich waters of Bremer Canyon, a 3.5km deep gorge, which supports an astonishing aggregation of marine life.
Watching the orcas hunt their prey is a sight full of suspense and drama. To experience it for yourself, book a tour with Naturaliste Charters, a local family-owned business and founders of expeditions here, for a full day out on the water. As Bremer offers the best guaranteed sightings of orca in the world, chances are you won’t be disappointed and it’s very likely you’ll have a close encounter with these predators, as well as the chance to observe other animals, from sperm or pilot whales to dolphins and birdlife.
With Trailfinders, you can pair orca sightings with wine tastings in the Margaret River region and a wild experience in the outback on their Scenic South West tour.
More marine life to look out for in Bremer Bay
Bottlenose dolphins
Bottlenose dolphins
Pilot whales
Pilot whales
Blue whales
Blue whales
Sea lions
Sea lions
4. Quokkas
When: year-round
Where: Rottnest island
Smiley, friendly and undeniably cute, quokkas are understandably most people's favourite residents in Western Australia, the only place in the whole world where you can see them.
To see the curious creatures, hop on a ferry from Fremantle, Perth’s Barrack Street Jetty or Hilary's Marina to cruise to Rottnest Island. On this car-free outcrop, quokkas roam freely, meaning you can observe them in their natural environment. You won’t have to search hard to see the mini marsupials as they wander all over the island, especially in the mid-afternoon. For a more informative experience, join one of the free walking tours which will lead you through the quokka's natural habitats and teach you some interesting facts about them.
The entire island is a Class A Reserve, with huge efforts being made to protect the natural beauty, diverse flora and fauna and unique wildlife species. As well as quokkas, look out for New Zealand fur seals, wild birds such as banded stilts, crested terns and red-capped plovers, as well as nocturnal creatures including white-striped freetail bats and a variety of frogs.
Rottnest’s underwater world is just as thriving as its one on land, so be sure to spend some time snorkelling to see a rainbow spectrum of some 135 species of tropical fish as well as green turtles and stingrays.
Why not combine a visit to Rottnest Island with Perth, the Margaret River Region and wider Australia on Trailfinders’ Wonders of the Coast from West to East tour?
Instagram stars
The quokkas have been made famous by the likes of Chris Hemsworth, Kylie Minogue, Rafael Nadal and Margot Robbie who all couldn’t resist a cheesy grin contest with the cheeky creatures.
Just remember to wait for the quokkas to come to you rather than approaching them, never touch the quokkas, don’t try and lure them over with food or water and use a selfie stick to maintain a respectful distance.
5. Kangaroos
When: Year-round
Where: Lucky Bay is a hot spot they but they can be seen all across the region
Kangaroos are the icon of Australia and one of the best place to see them is at Lucky Bay. Situated along the coast of Cape Le Grand National Park near Esperance, the pristine bay offers some of the whitest sands in all of Australia. Just when you think the view of the five kilometre stretch of beach, lapped by turquoise waters, couldn’t be more spectacular, a kangaroo bounces quickly across your eye-line, kicking up clouds of sand in its wake, appearing almost as a mirage.
Further east, you can spot the roos in leafy Pemberton. Go for a walk in the forests to catch glimpses of the kangaroos bouncing between the karri trees. Just north of Pemberton is the Margaret River Region where you can combine a vineyard tour and wine tastings with kangaroo watching. In the early mornings and just before dark, the marsupials emerge to graze on the vineyards.
Chances are you will see kangaroos while making your way from place-to-place in Western Australia. When driving, keep an eye out for the hungry animals grazing on the roadside grasses.
As well as kangaroos, head to Cape Range National Park to spot euros (a type of wallaby) and rare black footed wallabies. Combine the park with other top wildlife hot spots including Ningaloo Reef Marine Park on Trailfinders’ Western Shores & Whale Sharks tour.
Kanagaroo fact file
Kangaroos are the largest marsupials in the world
They can hop up to an incredible seven metres high
A group of kangaroos is called a ‘mob’, ‘troop’ or ‘court’.
Male kangaroos flex their arm muscles to impress the ladies.
Joeys stay in their mother’s pouches for at least six months.
Turn waiting into planning with Trailfinders, the UK's number one tour operator to Australia
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