Wilderness in Western Australia: Adventure through Aboriginal Territory

The nature in Australia, the sovereign country of Oceania, is one of the most beautiful and mysterious in the world. In it you can find the prehistory of man alive. This is attested to by the aborigines who mostly reside in the north of the country.

If Australia is known for something, it is for its wonderful landscapes, superior to those in Steven Spielberg's films, and for its flora and fauna, which, while fascinating, can be dangerous.

Despite being one of the driest continents, it has abundant and unique biodiversity. Due to the introduction of exotic species and the existence of humans, many of the country's endemic species are in danger of extinction. Therefore, approximately 8% of the Australian continent has a protected surface.

With more than 12 natural spaces classified as World Heritage, Australia is a country that is necessary to visit if you are a nature lover. activities in the nature and the most bizarre landscapes on earth.

Next, I show you three areas of Australia in which you will discover, framed by wonderful landscapes, the most unusual fauna:

1. Western Australia, Kimberley and Rottnest Island

Western Australia, the largest state in the country, has a large number of National Parks and two deserts, the Gibson and the Victoria, which also extend across South Australia.

Despite having large proportions of arid territory, the National Parks and their rocky landscapes, such as those you can see in Kalbarri or Namburg, make it a place that must be visited.

If what you are passionate about is fauna, you cannot miss the opportunity to look for one of the numerous rarities of the nature in Australia: the numbats, which are in danger of extinction. This unique species of ant-eating marsupials is at risk from habitat destruction. For this reason, it is difficult to see them in the wild, although there are isolated areas to the southwest where, with some luck, you may spot them.

The curious numbat

Within the state of Western Australia there are two places that you should not miss:

Kimberly

In the southwestern corner of the state is the Kimberley region, an area with habitats of important biodiversity, which also has a high rate of endemic species.

Beautiful landscapes of the Kimberley region (nature in Australia)

The landscape is made up of steep canyons, reddish rocks and lush vegetation. A unique characteristic of this area is that it has fewer inhabitants per square meter than almost any other place on the planet. What is abundant is fauna.

There you can see, for example, the Australian purple-crowned mouse, which despite the name is a bird. It is an endemic species from the north of the country, with a curious appearance due to the intense purple color on the crown of the head. It is a beautiful and striking bird, which thanks to its color can be easily distinguished.

Australian purple-crowned mouse

Another endemic bird is the Gouldian diamondback, whose plumage mixes a palette of intense colors. There are three variations: black-headed, red-headed, and orange-headed Gouldian diamonds. Currently there are programs for the recovery of the species.

There are many ways to visit the Kimberley region. You can do off-road routes or even ride a camel.

The red-headed Gouldian diamond

If you are a lover of ornithology, don't miss this bird watching activity in the Janda lagoon, in Tarifa.

Rottnest Island

Rottnest Island is known for its inland pink salt lakes, fabulous beaches and its great spiritual importance to Aboriginal Australians.

Located near the city of Perth, this small island contains an amazing network of marine, terrestrial and plant biodiversity.

Coastline of Rottnest Island (nature in Australia)

One of the most curious animals on the island are the Cuocas or quokkas, small marsupials that may remind you of the Ewoks from Star Wars. Unfortunately they are also in danger of extinction, and this island only has about 10,000 specimens.

Cuocas are very docile animals that do not usually fear humans. Their characteristic smile has given them the reputation of being the cutest animals on earth, so it is becoming more and more fashionable to take pictures with them. However, touching them is prohibited and the fines can be very significant. Don't take this as a joke!

The friendly cuoca

The easiest way to get to Rottnest is to take a ferry from Perth. To get around the island, it is best to rent a bicycle or even explore it on foot. It is only 11 kilometers long and cannot be traveled by car.

2. Northern Territory

After touring Western Australia, you can head to the Northern Territory.

This area is characterized by the number of declared National Parks, such as Darwin or Kakadu, and by a set of sacred places for the aboriginals, such as Uluru or Kata Tjuta.

Although the beliefs of the Australian aborigines are not known, it cannot be denied that, when observing the landscapes of this part of Australia, you feel that there is something beyond that your eyes cannot see.

There are 2 large protected spaces in this state that you will fall in love with for different reasons:

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

This National Park, considered a World Heritage Site, stands out for the colossal monolith of Uluru and the rocky chain of Kata Tjuta. The geological formations that rise above the sandy plain of this part of Australia make it a place that impresses the eye.

Uluru is one of the emblems of the nature in Australia. Located in the center of the Park, its scenic beauty lies in the contrast between this gigantic rock formation and the desert landscape. The colors seen in its rocks vary depending on the time of day, from a dark red to an almost purple pink.

Uluru monolith, the sacred mountain (nature in Australia)

You can enjoy this unique place in the company of an Aboriginal guide while you learn about the fascinating stories of their ancestors.

Do you want to learn about the stories of our people? Sign up for this activity to follow the footprints of our ancestors in Ciudad Real.

The fauna that can be seen in the surroundings varies between kangaroos, wallabies, emus or dingoes. The latter are a species of wild dog with reddish or yellowish fur and, although they can be found throughout Australia, in the deserts of the Northern Territory they are very easy to see.

You may see them while walking one of the trails that cross Kata Tjuta. There are different distances and difficulties. The longest will take you to the Karu and Karingana viewpoints and can be covered in about 4 hours. Try not to get too close to the dingoes because, although the Australian aborigines tried to domesticate them, you should not forget that they are wild animals.

A dingo in the desert

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is located 400 kilometers southwest of Alice Springs, about 5 hours by car from this location. Please note that in summer (December to February) temperatures reach 40°C, so some trails are closed.

Kakadu National Park

Also considered a World Heritage Site, the Kakadu National Park, the jewel in the crown of the nature in Australia, is located a 3-hour drive from the Northern Territory capital, Darwin.

It is the largest National Park in Australia (with an area similar to Slovenia) and here you will find landscapes with lush tropical jungles and vestiges of rock art more than 50,000 years old.

Kakadu National Park: wild beauty

However, its greatest attraction is the floodplains, habitat of marine crocodiles. Its pools and sandbanks are even more beautiful thanks to the trees that bury their roots in the water. The natural exuberance of this swampy area is such that it served as inspiration and filming for the film Crocodile Dundee.

Marine crocodiles, called salties by the natives, were on the verge of extinction due to the value of their skins. In 1971 they began to protect themselves and, since then, their population has not stopped growing, finding Kakadu one of their favorite habitats.

The fearsome marine crocodile

A good option to see them safely is to book a boat tour on the Yellow Water River. These giants can measure up to 6 meters long and weigh more than a ton, so taking a bath is absolutely prohibited.

Between April and October the rainy season takes place and it is not possible to access many areas of the Park. Therefore, it is best to visit during the dry season, from May to September.

3. South Australia and Kangaroo Island

Under the state of the Northern Territory, South Australia is located. Its landscapes are mainly long stretches of arid land with low mountains, giving the territory an almost lunar appearance.

A good example of this is the Simpson Desert, in the northwest of the state, a place where nature in Australia He appears implacable. Its sand dunes are the longest in the world, immovable due to the vegetation that holds them. The most famous is the Big Red dune, which reaches 40 meters high.

Although there are no roads that cross the desert, there are 3 trails called the French Line, the Rig Road and the QAA Line, which you can travel if you have a well-equipped off-road vehicle.

Endless view in the Simpson desert © winchandunwind

But it's not all sand in this state. Life emerges, above all, on the coasts. Between the months of May and November, you can spot different types of whales if you visit Cabo Bight, in Puerto Víctor.

A little closer to our peninsula, you will also have the possibility of seeing whales with this whale watching activity in the Azores islands.

Returning to Australia, its marine life is fascinating, but so is its terrestrial life. And there is no better place to observe it than Kangaroo Island.

Kangaroo Island

If you are in South Australia you have to visit Kangaroo Island, the third largest island in the country. You can get there by plane or, by sea, by ferry from Cape Jervis.

The incredible Kangaroo Island

If you are the most adventurous, you can rent a car to explore the entire island on your own; although you must be careful since the animals roam freely around the island and sometimes cross the roads without warning. Don't be scared!

From the moment you set foot on Kangaroo Island, the probability of seeing calm koalas in their habitat is very high. You can usually find them hugging the branches of a eucalyptus tree or sitting quietly sunbathing. Like true sleeping beauties, they nap for 20 hours a day.

Koala mother and baby (nature in Australia)

Of course, as the name of the island indicates, you will soon see smaller kangaroos and wallabies, which will win your heart when you see them feeding their young.

If you drive towards Cape Gantheaume, in the south of the island, you have the option of visiting the Seal Bay Conservation Park. A colony of sea lions lives on its beaches. If you want to get closer to them you need to be accompanied by a specialized guide.

Group of sea lions

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Australia is the jar of homemade jam located on the highest shelf of the shelf. It's worth eating, but it's not easy. Since neither the jam nor Australia are to blame for being where they are, it is good that the child reaches the boat and that the walker visits Australia, a country as distant as it is amazing. After all, the kisses that are liked are the ones that cost.

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