5 Unique Australian Wildlife Experiences

It’s 2022 and we can’t wait to get back to travelling. Our schedule for 2022 escapes is starting to fill up so keep checking the holidays page to see what we have planned. As always, we expect some of our most popular adventures to include catching up with many of the curious critters that call Australia home.

From cuteness and cuddles to staring into the jaws of an ancient monster, here are five awesome bucket list encounters with native Australian creatures.

1. The Happiest Animal on Earth, Rottnest Island WA

Known for its cuddly appearance, wide toothy grin and willingness to pose for a tourist’s selfie, it’s no wonder that the Quokka has a reputation as the “happiest animal on Earth.”

These adorable little marsupials are found only in a handful of bushy areas in the south west corner of the country including on some islands off the coast. By far the most accessible of these islands is Rottnest, located just a 25-minute ferry ride from Fremantle.

These mostly nocturnal creatures have adapted to island life and with no natural predators on Rottnest Island, can now be seen throughout the day.

Trusted Travel hope to run a holiday to Perth that includes a trip to Rottnest Island later in 2022. Watch this space!

Quokka looking at camera on beaches of Rottnest Island, WA

2. A REAL Dinosaur Encounter, Darwin NT

Warning! Not for the faint-hearted!

Ever wanted to meet a dinosaur? Well Australia’s fearsome saltwater crocodile is a real relic from prehistory. Crocodiles have existed for about 220 million years!

At Crocosaurus Cove, in the heart of Darwin, you can get up close and personal with these ancient beasts. Some may say TOO close and personal! For an additional fee on top of your entry, strip down to your swimmers, snorkel up and jump in the “Cage of Death”. You will bear witness to the awesome bite force of the “salties” as they are fed right before your very eyes.

Crocodile jumping out of water to be fed by zookeeper

3. Our Cuddly Icon, Various Locations

It’s on the “must-do list” for every international tourist that finds themselves in Australia, yet how many of us born and bred here have actually held one of our adorable, tree-dwelling friends? We think that holding a Koala is a beautiful experience that shouldn’t just be enjoyed by our visiting mates from America, Japan or Germany.

There are any number of wildlife parks across the country that offer the opportunity to have a cuddle and snap a photo with this national icon. So find an experience close to home or jump on board a trip to Australia Zoo with Trusted Travel to get your fix of black-nosed, fluffy-eared cuteness.

Full trip details here.

(Cuddly Koala Experience at participant’s expense)

Koala being held by person in blue shirt

4. Parade of the Penguins, Phillip Island VIC

The aptly named little penguins, also known as fairy penguins, are the smallest of the 18 penguin species found throughout the world. Aside from being cute and fluffy, they are the only species that breeds in Australia making them an odd and unique little piece of Australiana.

You can see little penguins at a number of locations across the mainland, Tasmania and small offshore islands. By far the most iconic location, and the one with the most populated penguin colony, is found at Phillip Island in Victoria. Watching hundreds of penguins march across the sand each evening is one of the most surreal wildlife experiences in Australia.

Autumn and spring are the best time to visit the Phillip Island penguins and that’s when we plan to be there.

View Trusted Travel’s upcoming Phillip Island trip itinerary here.

5. Cheeky Little Devils, Various Locations TAS

Relative to their size, Tassie devils have one of the strongest bite forces in the animal kingdom. This makes feeding time at a Tassie devil sanctuary a wildlife experience not to be missed. These curious creatures from the farthest flung reaches of the world are renowned for their ferocity. The deep, guttural sounds that come from the deceptive little tornadoes of fur are enough to make the hairs on your neck stand on end.

Viewings of feeding times happen at any number of wildlife parks across the Apple Isle including Bonorong Wildlife Park near Hobart, The Tassie Devil Unzoo near Port Arthur and East Coast Natureworld in Bicheno.

Trusted Travel have seen the Tassie Devils feed on a number of occasions.

Read our most recent Tassie travel diary here.

If you have any questions about a listed or desired experience.

Trusted Travel acknowledges the traditional custodians of the Country on which we provide services. We recognise the strength and intergenerational resilience of Elders and honour the culture and knowledge of community leader’s past, present and emerging.

NDIS Provider number: 4050001881

Terms and Conditions

Orders

Please read these Terms carefully before placing an order for any products.

By placing an order for Products you agree to these Terms.

We will be deemed to have formally accepted your offer of purchase when the merchandise order form has been received.

Each order accepted by us will be a separate and binding agreement between you and Trusted Travel for the supply of the relevant Products in accordance with these Terms. You must provide accurate and current information when ordering your Products. You are responsible for checking the size, options, colours, materials and other relevant information that you submit with your order. By submitting an order, you represent that all Products, sizes, quantities and component variables listed in the order are correct.

Your legal rights

Your purchase of Products will be subject to certain laws including, without limitation, the Australian Consumer Law contained in the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) (ACL).

Our goods come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the ACL. You are entitled to a replacement or refund for a major failure and for compensation for any other reasonably foreseeable loss or damage. You are also entitled to have the goods repaired or replaced if the goods fail to be of acceptable quality and the failure does not amount to a major failure.

Nothing in these Terms is to be read or applied so as to exclude, restrict or modify any guarantee or other right or remedy in the ACL or other law which cannot by law be excluded, restricted or modified.

Pricing and taxes

Prices are as shown on this website.

Trusted Travel reserves the right to change the prices of Products at any time without notice to you. The price displayed at the time that you place your order will continue to apply to you even if the price changes before your order is accepted by us.

Prices will be displayed in Australian dollars.

Cancellation

If you change your mind on your order, you should let Trusted Travel know as soon as possible. If not, you may be liable to pay for the order. Trusted Travel will assess each order cancellation individually and will contact you with a decision.

Except to the extent required by the ACL or other applicable law, we will not be liable to you, or any other person, for any loss, damage, cost or expense suffered or incurred due to order information being incomplete or inaccurate.

Payment methods and terms

The Disability Trust will use the information you supply in the Trusted Travel merchandise order form to create a debtor ID. The Disability Trust accepts the following payment methods: BPAY, EFT. Cheque, money order, credit card, cash and direct debit. All invoices are payable as per the terms stated on the invoice received. Please contact the accounts department on 02 4255 8000 or email ar@disabilitytrust.org.au for invoice or statement enquiries.

As part of agreeing to these terms and conditions, you agree to have understood the application process for a credit account to be opened with The Disability Trust. You also confirm that the information provided in the Trusted Travel Booking Form is true and correct.

You understand that if there is any default by the Participant and/or Organisation in making payment to The Disability Trust, the information collected in this Agreement together with the information as to the amounts claimed by The Disability Trust to be owing and any related information may be accessed by The Disability Trust and their employees.

You acknowledge that full payment of any debt must be made within the terms as set out above.

You understand that the supply of goods and/or service/s to the Participant may be refused if any particulars requested by The Disability Trust are not provided by the Participant and/or Organisation or if these terms are not agreed to by the Participant and/or Organisation.

You acknowledge that The Disability Trust has requested the Participant and/or Organisation to let The Disability Trust know immediately in writing of any change to the account information. The Participant and/or Organisation acknowledges having been advised by The Disability Trust that Participant and/or Organisation is entitled to access the account information from time to time and require The Disability Trust to take all reasonable steps to ensure that all such information is accurate, complete and up to date.

Gift cards can be used to pay toward your Disability Trust account, Trusted Travel holiday or Trusted Travel merchandise. Gift card only valid for payment to Disability Trust if paid in full by purchaser. If gift card is unpaid, value attached to gift card will not be honoured.

Returns and refunds

You should check your Products as soon as you receive them and ensure that the order has been filled correctly and the Products are not damaged or faulty.

If Products supplied to you are damaged or faulty or are not the Products you ordered, you must contact and inform us as soon as possible. Gift cards cannot be refunded. The amount purchased on the gift card will be applied to your account with The Disability Trust and cannot be exchanged for cash.

We will refund Products that were damaged or faulty at the time of supply to you.

Please return the product/s to us in the original condition within 10 days of receipt, and we will assess your return request, and if appropriate, replace or refund your purchase.

All returns should be sent with supporting documentation in original or appropriate packaging to:

Trusted Travel
Level 1, 5 Edney Lane
Coniston, NSW 2500, Australia

General

We reserve the right to amend these Terms at any time. Any amendment will take effect from the time that it appears on this website.