Where To See Wildlife, Port Douglas & Cairns

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Most overseas visitors to Australia want to check out the local wildlife. This post covers where you can see koalas, crocodiles, platypus, sugar gliders, cassowaries and more. This site focuses on Port Douglas, Cairns, and surrounds, but we’ll also mention a few stand-our places to see Australian wildlife in Queensland.

Wildlife Cairns Port Douglas — Where to see Wildlife in Cairns and Port Douglas? Find out in this guide.

Where To See Koalas

As far as I know, there are no wild koalas in the Cairns and Port Douglas region. But go a little further south and there are some. Magnetic Island, just off Townsville (6 hours south) is famous for wild koalas, although I’ve never spotted one in all the times we’ve stayed there!

Your best bet for seeing koalas is at a wildlife attraction, and there are many.

The Wildlife Habitat in Port Douglas is a great place to see, and get a photo with one of many koalas. You can also book Breakfast with The Birds.

Kuranda (visit by Skyrail Cablecar up, Scenic Train Down, book this full-day excursion here, with time to visit the nature parks.) has The Koala Gardens. The Kuranda Koala Gardens website is here, they do advertise “Cuddle a Koala.” They have a great collection of animals and birds.

The photo above is from “Breakfast With The Koalas” at Harley’s Crocodile Adventures. This activity allows you early access to the park and seated dining next to the crocodile lake, plus special guests. Hartley’s is a great day out with fun crocodile shows. Book Breakfast With The Koalas here.

If you just want a photo with a koala, Cairns Koalas is at The Pier.

Where To See Platypus

platypus near Cairns — The platypus pond at Tarzali Lakes

You can see wild platypus quite easily close to Cairns and Port Douglas. The Tablelands, the hinterlands of the Far North Queensland coast, are a great place to see wild platypus. They are elusive creatures, but we’ve seen several in random creeks when we’ve been walking.

The Australian Platypus Park, at Tarzali Lakes, is a favourite of ours. We have camped here and saw plenty of Platypus. They don’t seem to have a website but their Facebook page, with opening times etc. is here. You do have to keep very still and quiet. Tarzali Lakes is at Malanda at Millaa Milla Rd. There is also a dairy museum at Malanda.

Yungaburra, a cute town on The Tablelands, has a place famous for Platypus. See our post on visiting The Atherton Tablelands.

There is a place called Platypus Park in Atherton. We go there regularly for Parkrun, we’ve never seen a platypus there.

Where To See Cassowaries

Cassowaries Cairns Port Douglas — There are plenty of places to see cassowaries in captivity in and near Cairns and Port Douglas. If you’re lucky you may see a wild one too!

There are cassowaries in the rainforests over quite a large range in Far North Queensland. The Daintree Rainforest, north of The Daintree River, is famous for cassowaries but we’ve also seen a few on the roads around Kuranda. If you don’t have your own vehicle book a Daintree tour, they’ll do their best to find you a cassowarrie. This tour is probably the best as it has pick-up points in Cairns, Palm Cove, Port Douglas etc. It combines Mossman Gorge and The Daintree.

Most Australian wildlife parks and reserves will have a cassowary or two. These giant birds reside at The Wildlife Habitat in Port Douglas, Kuranda Koala Gardens, and at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures. This place is between Cairns and Port Douglas, at Palm Cove.

“The Cassowary Coast” is further south, covering Innisfail, Tully, Mission Beach and Cardwell. You stand a good chance of spotting one down there too.

Where To See Crocodiles

Saltwater crocodiles can be in any body of water in Far North Queensland. You stand a good chance of seeing a wild one if you look. Look safely of course! Stay well away from the water’s edge, be “Crocsmart.” (QLD Govt)

There is a crocodile viewing platform and footbridge on The Mowbray River just south of Port Douglas on the main coastal highway (The Captain Cook Highway. There is car parking here.It’s common to see them here. I’ve seen a crocodile from The Esplanade in Cairns once, in almost 20 years.

You can also take a crocodile spotting tour. Choose from the Lady Douglas in Port Douglas or one of several tours on the Daintree River. See our post on Lady Douglas vs Daintree Cruises.

The last time we visited Cairns Aquarium they had baby saltwater crocodiles in tanks.

The main focus of Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures is crocs. This place is a crocodile farm and attraction with croc feeding and croc shows. You can easily spend a full day here if you catch the shows. The snake and reptile show is also particularly good. Hartley’s also has representation from most of the more fluffy marsupials.

If you want the ultimate Australian crocodile show, go to Australia Zoo, the home of The Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin. We were lucky enough to catch his son, Robert, presenting the show recently. Brisbane is about a 24 hr drive south of Cairns / Port Douglas. It’s best to fly.

We have a very detailed post on Port Douglas Crocodile Attractions here. You can even swim with a croc!

Where To See Wombats

I’ve never seen a wild wombat up here, but there are some, so I’m told. I know they usually have wombats at the Koala Gardens in Kuranda and at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures.

Where To See Echidnas

I’ve seen 1 wild echidna on The Tablelands, in Julatten. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one in any wildlife attraction. Let me know if you find one!

Where To See Dugongs

Dugongs are Australia’s sea cows. They’re similar to manatees. I’ve never seen one in the wild although Cow Bay, in The Daintree, is supposedly named after them.

I know there have been sightings from Thala Beach Nature Reserve.

There is a captive dugong (2024 was my last visit) in the Sydney Aquarium, a rescue that cannot be returned to the wild. It’s the only one I’ve ever seen!

Where To See Kangaroos and Wallabies

It’s hard to not see kangaroos and wallabies in Australia. You’re very likely to see wild ones, even close to towns. You’re also very likely to see them as road kill.

If you want to pet a kangaroo, most large wildlife attractions, including Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures and The Rainforest Habitat. You can usually buy a bag of food.

If you’re driving, be very careful around sunset/ sundown and after dark. You really don’t want to hit a kangaroo. You are very likey to encounter them in daylight too.

Where To See Sugar Gliders

Sugar gliders are extremely cute nocturnal animals and I have one hot tip for you. Stay at Chambers Wildlife Rainforest Lodge (click through to take a look) on The Tablelands. Here you can make after-dark forays to see the gliders.

They also may have gliders at the nocturnal house at The Wildlife Habitat, Port Douglas.

Where To See Bats

There are numerous species of bats in the region but most visitors will be interested in our giant fruit bats, the spectacled flying fox. You will see them in flight at dawn and dusk as they fly between their home roosts and whatever fruit trees are in season. There are colonies in Port Douglas and Cairns.

If you’re super keen on bats there is a bat hospital at Tolga, near Atherton (on the Tablelands). It’s actually the largest bat rehabilitation and ecotourism facility in Australia. Visit their website here, visits are by booking only. You can also apply to volunteer with the animals here.

Marine Wildlife

Just about every visitor to Cairns or Port Douglas will take at least one trip to The Great Barrier Reef. You will see an incredible array of fish and hopefully sea turtles and sharks. In season there are minke whales and humpback whales and sometimes dolphins.

If you don’t want to go to the reef, Cairns Aquarium has you covered.

Our post on how and when to see whales is here.

Other Local Wildlife

Wildlife Frogs Port Douglas Cairns — Giant Tree Frog – More Local Wildlife!

You’re very likely to see huge green tree frogs, incredible butterflies and moths and a huge variety of bird life. We do have snakes. You’re unlikely to see them in built-up areas. As we now live in the country we see snakes a lot. Mostly pythons and tree snakes, which are considered pretty harmless, but venomous snakes like brown snakes and taipans do live nearby. There are golden orb spiders, tarantulas and huntsmen spiders, we don’t see them often. There are Emus at The Wildlife Habitat. Camels are quite common in Australia and you can find some on The Tablelands. Wild pigs and dingos are also present, watch out for those on some walking trails. Did I miss anything? If there’s an animal you wanted to see, let me know, I’ll probably know where you can find it.

Wildlife Attractions Cairns and Port Douglas

The following wildlife attractions are in and near Cairns and Port Douglas, Queensland, Australia.

The Wildlife Habitat, Port Douglas

The Wildlife Habitat has a great collection of animals. You can enjoy “Breakfast With The Birds” or even swim with a crocodile. You probably only need half a day to visit The Habitat, but try to time your visit to catch the shows and tours. Book Breakfast With The Birds Here.

Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures, Palm Cove

You can easily spend a full day at Hartley’s. The croc and reptile shows are great and you can take a crocodile cruise. They also have a good collection of other Australian wildlife. We recommend you book Breakfast with The Koalas here!