Where to See Native Animals in the Yarra Valley & Dandenong Ranges

Discover the best places to see Australian native animals and bird life in the Yarra Valley & Dandenong Ranges.

Where am I guaranteed to see animals and birdlife?

Guaranteed sightings of almost all your favourite animals can be enjoyed at Healesville Sanctuary. Wander tranquil tracks and see iconic Australian animals including koalas, kangaroos, platypus, dingoes, wombats, emus and more. Discover majestic birds of prey and magnificent parrots in the spectacular Spirits of The Sky bird show.

Where can I find beautiful rarities and endangered species?

These natives are a little bit shy and rely on us to keep the environment healthy for them. Check out some of these places:

• Leadbeater possum – Yellingbo Conservation Reserve - restricted access, but keep an eye out for special events.
• Powerful owls – trees in quiet places in Mt Evelyn, at dusk and into nighttime and Birdsland Reserve.
• Platypus - Yarra River in Warburton or Warrandyte State Park.

Where can I find native animals and bird life in their natural habitat?

Out and about anywhere in the Yarra Valley & Dandenong Ranges, there’s always a chance of spotting a kangaroo, a lyrebird or a wombat. Drive carefully and keep your eyes open (and don’t forget to look up too – that’s where the koalas will be). Here's some places we suggest:

• Sugarloaf Reservoir
• Sherbrooke Forest drive
• Up Mt Donna Buang Rd to the summit

Kangaroos in the Vineyard and on the Golf Course:

Kangaroos and wallabies love the wide open spaces of golf courses. The grass is literally greener and there is plenty of space for long hops with friends. Dusk is the best time to spot these marsupials who also love to hop in a vineyard just for fun.

• Heritage Golf & Country Club (open to club members)
• Yarra Valley Restaurant
• Yarrambat Golf Course
• Yering Gorge Cottages (open to guests only)
  
• The Eastern Golf Club (open only to club members and their guests)
  
• RACV Healesville Country Club and Resort
• All the vineyards

Where can I find birds?

Birds love these cool climate-sheltered areas, and many species will share common space. Tiptoe and look for tell-tale signs of activity on the forest floor any time of day.

• Rainforest Gallery, Warburton – natives including finches, kookaburras, lyrebirds and more
• Cardinia Reservoir Park- all types
• Murrindindi Scenic Reserve – all types
• Olinda Creek, Lilydale – all types
• Maroondah Reservoir Park - all types
• Native ducks and friends love to gather at the Yarra River behind Warburton, at Emerald Park Lake and other moving waterways.
• Kookaburras can typically be found just about everywhere, even at the pub!
  
• Look up on any walking track in the Dandenong Ranges and you're sure to spot beautiful birds. You'll probably hear them before you see them!

Where can I see koalas?

Often elusive and difficult to spot in the wild, koalas can sometimes be spotted asleep in their gum trees during the day but will be more active during the night.

• The Kinglake area is best for koala spotting, as many have been released to find new homes in this area in recent years
• Warrandyte near the Yarra River – take a walk along the riverbank and listen for their characteristic growling sound
• Bunyip State Park - sometimes spotted very high up in a eucalyptus canopy, perfectly camouflaged and remaining completely still during the day.

Available now: Feather & Forest: Wildlife of the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges

Blending wildlife photography with practical information and rich storytelling, the 128-page guide introduces readers to the native animals, birds and habitats found across the region. It also explores wildlife rehabilitation, conservation programs, ethical birdwatching, responsible wildlife spotting and ways the community can help protect local species. It features some of Victoria's most treasured species, including the critically endangered Helmeted Honeyeater and Leadbeater's Possum, along with the Eltham Copper Butterfly and a broad catalogue of birds, mammals, reptiles and other wildlife visitors may encounter.

It highlights the region's conservation and rehabilitation work, from threatened-species recovery programs to the Australian Wildlife Health Centre and specialist rehabilitation facilities at Healesville Sanctuary.

The book includes a regional map highlighting 25 parks, reserves and natural areas, including Bunyip State Park, Sherbrooke Forest, Dandenong Ranges National Park, Yarra Ranges National Park, Cardinia Creek and Liwik Barring Yellingbo State Wildlife Reserve.

It also explains how residents, visitors, and landholders can get involved in conservation through native planting, nest-box programs, Landcare and 'Friends of' groups, citizen-science projects, and wildlife monitoring.

PURCHASE YOUR COPY HERE