5 quintessential big Australian animal experiences
Go beneath the surface and get up close to our most incredible big creatures.
1. Snorkel with whale sharks, Ningaloo Reef
Don’t let the word ‘shark’ worry you – these enormous animals are perfectly harmless. Whale sharks are the largest fish in the world and can reach around 12 metres in length, about the same size as a Sydney bus. The season at Ningaloo Reef runs from April to July as the whale sharks pass through on their annual migration and tour boats will search for the fish and drop you in the water right beside them.
2. Eyeball a giant croc, Darwin
Hop into the water and come face to face with Chopper, an 800-kilogram 5.5-metre long saltwater crocodile. He’s the most famous resident at Crocosaurus Cove and the third largest crocodile in captivity. Thankfully, you’ll be safely encased in a spherical glass cage (amusingly called the Cage of Death) that’s lowered into the water, giving you 360-degree views of Chopper as he feeds. Just four centimetres of glass separates you from his massive jaws. Yikes.
3. Swim with sea lions, Baird Bay
A sea lion pup might just be the cutest thing you’ll ever see. Part seal, part puppy, these big-eyed babies will make you fall in love at first sight. Off the coast of the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia you can snorkel among these delightful creatures as they perform aquatic acrobatics. There are only around 15,000 Australian sea lions left in the wild, so it’s a privilege to get so close to one of the country’s most endangered animals.
4. Dive with manta rays, Stradbroke Island
With a wingspan of up to 3.5 metres, manta rays are one of the graceful giants of the sea. Manta Bommie, 10 minutes from Stradbroke Island, is used as a manta ray cleaning station and you can dive among several of them as they hover in the clear water and small fish remove parasites from their body. The rays will glide gently around you as though performing an underwater ballet.
5. Cage dive with great white sharks, Port Lincoln
No other animal strikes fear into the hearts of swimmers quite like the great white shark. The Neptune Islands Marine Park off the coast of South Australia is one of the few places in the world where you can get in the water just inches from these deadly giants, albeit inside the safety of a tough metal cage. Tour operators will attract the great whites with chum to ensure that you won’t miss a sighting. Keep your hands well inside the bars and out of the way of those 7.5-centimetre razor sharp teeth.
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