Nature Parks And Sanctuaries Of Melbourne, Victoria

Victoria is home to thriving wildlife. Among many species, it is a natural habitat of koalas, kangaroos, wallabies and wombats. Surrounded by rugged coasts and the Southern Ocean tourists can explore the diverse marine life of this region. In winter, you can spot Southern right whales in these waters.

If you can&rsquot wait to discover the Australian untamed wild, book a budget-friendly Scoot flight from India to Melbourne, Victoria. With Scoot's promo starting at just INR 13,999 you can now fly to Melbourne and get your adventure started.   

&nbspPhillip Island Nature Parks

 

Phillip Island is home to one of the largest colonies of Little Penguins in the world. As the sun sets on Phillip Island, these flightless birds waddle across the sand to meet and greet with fellow members of their species. This phenomenon is known as the Penguin Parade. In this nature park, this famous parade is quite an event. Ranger-guided tours of this parade are often booked out in advance. Apart from penguins, you can also spot swamp wallabies, eastern barred bandicoots, Cape Barren geese, and short-tailed shearwaters.

Koala Conservation Reserve is another attraction. Here, visitors can experience the thrill of watching koalas up close in their natural habitat from tree-top boardwalks. The woodlands are home to abundant birdlife, wallabies and echidnas, providing a rich and diverse ecosystem to explore. The Reserve also features a free-to-access Nature Play area where children can engage with nature and wildlife-inspired installations and create their own adventures. With a focus on conservation and education, the Koala Conservation Reserve is an ideal destination for families, school groups, and tourists looking to learn more about Australia's unique and fascinating wildlife.

https://www.visitmelbourne.com/regions/phillip-island/see-and-do/nature-and-wildlife/sanctuaries-zoos-and-farms/phillip-island-penguin-parade  

 
Healesville Sanctuary

 

 

This sanctuary offers an intimate ranger tour around the great Australian icon, where you go behind the rope, the ranger tells you some facts, and everyone gets a few minutes close up with a kangaroo. The tour is open daily at 10.25 am, 10.40 am, 2.55 pm and 3.10 pm. Apart from kangaroos, you can spot kookaburras, emus, wombats and brush-tailed rock wallabies around the lush woodlands of the sanctuary. While you wander, watch for hidden canopies and high branches. Wedge-tailed eagles, Black-breasted buzzards and barking owls are among a large group of bird varieties in this sanctuary's Flight arena.

The sanctuary also organizes a tour around the nocturnal platypus on Fridays and Saturdays. On this tour, one can work with a platypus expert to offer a sprinkle of food in the water to see if the platypus chooses to forage and explore around you.

https://www.zoo.org.au/healesville/whats-on/animal-encounters/kangaroo-close-up/

 

Ballarat Wildlife Park

"Cuddle a koala" at Ballarat Wildlife Park. For a nominal fee, this wildlife park offers a close encounter with animals such as tree-kangaroo, wombat, cassowary, koala, meerkat, giant tortoise and tawny frogmouth. In fact, on Twilight Fridays, which is like a celebratory laidback event at the Park, one can get a chance to walk around the Park and feed the free-roaming kangaroos openly. Also, this wildlife park was home to Patrick, the oldest bare-nosed wombat in the world. He was a celebrity in the region and had over 74,000 Facebook fans.

Ballarat Wildlife Park  

 

Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park 
 

 
Be spellbound by the beauty and diversity of the Grampians' national and state parks, forests and reserves, renowned for their rugged mountain ranges, abundant wildlife and spectacular wildflower displays.  

Home to 970 native plant species, 200 species of birds and abundant native animals, the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park is the fourth largest national park in Victoria. The park is made up of four precipitous and spectacular ranges formed millions of years ago when the sandy sediments lifted and tilted to form the distinctive landscape seen today.

National parks and reserves, Grampians, Victoria, Australia (visitmelbourne.com)  

 

MacKenzie Falls

 

See the Grampians&rsquo iconic MacKenzie Falls, one of the largest and most spectacular waterfalls in Victoria. Flowing year round, the falls sees water cascade over huge cliffs into a deep pool, sending fine sprays of rainbow mist high into the air above a stunning gorge.

To see the falls, take the easy, one-kilometre path to the viewing platform at the Bluff (wheelchair accessible), or the steep trail to the base of the falls (30 minutes one way).

MacKenzie Falls car park is a forty-minute drive from Halls Gap on the Mount Victory Road.

MacKenzie Falls, Attraction, Grampians, Victoria, Australia (visitmelbourne.com)  


&nbspMelbourne Zoo  

 

 
Journey through a world of wildlife in the heart of Melbourne. Over 320 species from around the world call Melbourne Zoo home. Stroll through the lush rainforests, where tigers roam and monkeys swing from tree to tree. Come eye-to-eye with orang-utans in their special elevated home and walk the Trail of Elephants.

Spot unique Australian wildlife including koalas and kangaroos set against stunning native flora, and head into an underwater world showcasing playful Victorian Little Penguins and fur seals.

Melbourne Zoo, Attraction, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (visitmelbourne.com)  

 
Port Campbell National Park 

Port Campbell National Park is world famous for its extraordinary collection of wave-sculpted rock formations and the Twelve Apostles.
 
Loch Ard Gorge, site of a 19th century shipwreck 'Loch Ard', as well as the Island Archway and London Bridge are other highlights. The Island Archway collapsed in 2009, highlighting the fragile and ever-changing nature of Victoria's coastline.
 
Discover the heritage of the Shipwreck Coast on short walks such as the Port Campbell Discovery Walk. Take a scenic drive along the Great Ocean Road, stopping at points of interest.

Port Campbell National Park  
 
The call of the wild is difficult to ignore. Say yes and plan an easy trip with Scoot. The one-way starts from INR 13,999 from India to Melbourne, taxes inclusive, terms and travel periods apply. Click here to find out more.