Australia’s abundant, unique (and adorable) wildlife is an incredible highlight of studying here. However, with the current regulations in place country-wide, heading to your local wildlife reserve or zoo is unfortunately not a viable option.
Luckily, there are plenty of virtual tours around Australia. Organisations across the country are coming up with clever ways you can enjoy a day amongst the animals – they’re even using the hashtag #AnimalsAtHome. Let’s run through the best options to get you up-close and personal with all creatures big and small – virtually!
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
The Queensland-based Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary has 18 dedicated live-cams, with a total of 8 covering just koalas! Viewers can enjoy a range of daily koala cuddles such as the ‘Classic Spoon’, the ‘Koala Sandwich’, or the original ‘Cuddle Train’.
In addition, the Sanctuary has live-cams for dingos (including puppies), platypuses and a whole range of Australian reptiles. Check them all out here.
Zoos Victoria
Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Open Range Zoo have set up a range of live webcams across their parks. Highlights include the Penguin Cam (there’s a dedicated feeding time, so make sure to catch that) and the various snow leopard cub cams. In addition, the Zoos are raising money for Australia’s bushfire-affected wildlife. If you enjoy the work that they do, the not-for-profit organisation kindly asks for donations to the Bushfire Emergency Wildlife Fund.
Monarto Safari Park
The largest open-range zoo in the world, Monarto Safari Park in Adelaide, is home to over 500 animals. They are hosting Facebook Live video streams and Q&A sessions with keepers on a range of different animals, including the elusive bilby, and ‘Keeper Cam’ – a collection of photos and videos taken by the Park’s dedicated keepers so you can get closer than ever to your favourite animals while staying safe at home. Stay updated on upcoming Q&A videos via their Facebook.
Port Phillip Bay
Reef Cam is Australia’s first-ever attempt at rocky-reef, live-feed, combined under and above water webcams. Run by The Nature Conservancy Australia, the above-water live stream of Port Phillip Bay will let you spot seals and gannets, while the underwater cam covers all the flora and fauna of the reef.
Taronga Zoo
Taronga TV is Taronga Zoo’s dedicated video service, with 24-hour live streams of a range of different animals. They even provide handy hints on when it’s best to spot some of the more elusive creatures (for example, check out Tiger Cam around 9.30am and 2.15pm for feeding time). Watching Asian Elephant calf, Jai Dee, is another highlight.
Australian Reptile Park
For all things slithery and scaley, you can check out the Australian Reptile Park online. At 10am every day, they host educational videos (think funnel web spider milking or feeding saltwater crocodiles) on the Australian Reptile Park’s YouTube Channel, and live streams at 2pm can be found on the Australian Reptile Park’s Facebook and Instagram. The program of upcoming videos is available on their Facebook.
Chook Cam
Finally, for something a little different, Eco Eggs, a free-range chicken farm in New South Wales have set up Chook Cam. According to the website, during the day you can “watch our hens roam in and out of the barn, scratch around, dust bath, flap their wings and generally take care of important chicken business.”
For more virtual tours around Australia, make sure to check out our COVID-19 resource hub.
