![Kangaroo in grassland on Kangaroo Island © South Australian Tourism Commission Kangaroo in grassland on Kangaroo Island © South Australian Tourism Commission](https://www.australia.com/content/australia/en_nz/things-to-do/wildlife/where-to-see-wild-kangaroos/_jcr_content/hero/mobile.adapt.768.high.jpg)
Middle River, Kangaroo Island, South Australia © South Australian Tourism Commission
Where to spot kangaroos in the wild
With these tips, you’ll be hanging out with one of Australia's most iconic animals in no time.
By Fleur Bainger
With around 50 million of them across the country – twice the number of residents – kangaroos are one of Australia’s most easily spotted native animals. Affectionately referred to as "roos", these bouncing herbivores are social creatures who typically lay low in the heat of the day and emerge at dawn and dusk to graze. Time your search right and you’re bound to see plenty. Here’s where to look.
Roos on the beach
Humans aren’t the only creatures who like to feel the sand between their toes; kangaroos regularly sun themselves at a handful of Australian beaches. Arguably the most photogenic is Lucky Bay, in Western Australia’s Cape Le Grand National Park. More easily accessible is Pebbly Beach, located south of Sydney, or at the beach adjacent to Diamond Head Campground in Crowdy Bay National Park, on the Barrington Coast north of Sydney. In Queensland, wallabies – cute, smaller relatives of the kangaroo – cluster on the beach at Cape Hillsborough National Park as the sun rises and sets.
Get top tips for viewing Aussie wildlife
Roos on islands
Kangaroos aren’t just found on Australia’s mainland. As you’d expect, there are loads on the eponymous Kangaroo Island, a short journey from Adelaide. In fact, there are so many roos here that hire vehicles are prohibited from driving at dawn and dusk, when wildlife emerges to graze on roadsides. Meanwhile, the largest marsupial on Tasmania’s Maria Island – and the second largest marsupial in the world – is the forester kangaroo. Look out for it in grassy forests and woodlands.
Check out Australia's most beautiful islands
Roos on the plains
![Kangaroos in Mungo National Park © Destination NSW Kangaroos in Mungo National Park © Destination NSW](https://www.australia.com/content/australia/en_nz/things-to-do/wildlife/where-to-see-wild-kangaroos/_jcr_content/mainParsys/imagewithcaption_1262143838/LargeImageTile/largeImageSrc.adapt.740.medium.jpg)
Wilpena Pound Resort, Flinders Ranges, South Australia © Tourism Australia
Perhaps most of all, kangaroos love flat, grassy plains and wide open spaces. The Australian National Botanic Gardens in Canberra is a great inner-city option for spotting kangaroos. Early morning is when the eastern greys are out and about. Just outside the city, hundreds of roos roam at Namadgi National Park. Three species of kangaroo can be found within the rugged landscape of South Australia’s Flinders Ranges – the red kangaroo, western grey kangaroo and euro, while communities of roos laze beside one of the world’s tallest tree forests in Pemberton, in Western Australia’s southwest.
Read our kangaroo fun facts
Roos in trees
![A tree kangaroo in a tree in the Atherton Tablelands © FNQ Nature Tours A tree kangaroo in a tree in the Atherton Tablelands © FNQ Nature Tours](https://www.australia.com/content/australia/en_nz/things-to-do/wildlife/where-to-see-wild-kangaroos/_jcr_content/mainParsys/imagewithcaption_1220646847/LargeImageTile/largeImageSrc.adapt.740.medium.jpg)
Tree Kangaroo, FNQ Nature Tours, Atherton Tablelands, Queensland © FNQ Nature Tours
Queensland’s elusive tree kangaroos are one of the trickier kangaroo species to see. Hidden among the leafy canopy of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest, Australia’s two species look more like huge possums, with blackish-brown fur and super-long tails. These rare nocturnal creatures don’t move around much during the day, so your best bet for spotting one is to go on a night wildlife walk. Otherwise, head to Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas for a closer look.
Plan a trip to the Daintree
Roos in vineyards
![Kangaroo in between the vineyard rows in the Barossa Valley © South Australian Tourism Commission Kangaroo in between the vineyard rows in the Barossa Valley © South Australian Tourism Commission](https://www.australia.com/content/australia/en_nz/things-to-do/wildlife/where-to-see-wild-kangaroos/_jcr_content/mainParsys/imagewithcaption_1359211391/LargeImageTile/largeImageSrc.adapt.740.medium.jpg)
Barossa Valley, South Australia © South Australian Tourism Commission
It’s not uncommon to spot a kangaroo between the vineyard rows in any of Australia’s wine regions. There are loads in Western Australia’s Margaret River, while several wine tours in the Hunter Valley combine tastings with roo sightings. South Australia’s Barossa Valley and Canberra’s vineyards are both great for spotting wildlife between sips.
Explore Australia's wine regions
Roos on golf courses
![Kangaroos on the green at Noosa Golf Club in Tewantin © Noosa Golf Club Kangaroos on the green at Noosa Golf Club in Tewantin © Noosa Golf Club](https://www.australia.com/content/australia/en_nz/things-to-do/wildlife/where-to-see-wild-kangaroos/_jcr_content/mainParsys/imagewithcaption_144024619/LargeImageTile/largeImageSrc.adapt.740.medium.jpg)
Noosa Golf Club, Tewantin, Queensland © Noosa Golf Club
Top tip
Keep your distance from wild kangaroos and never feed them. Learn more about experiencing Aussie wildlife responsibly.
Drawn to the well-watered grass, kangaroo sightings are practically guaranteed on Australia's golf courses. Noosa Golf Club, Anglesea Golf Club and the Federal Golf Club are all strong roo magnets. In New South Wales, some golf clubs even offer kangaroo-spotting tours in a golf buggy, such as Hunter Valley Golf & Country Club and Nelson Bay Golf Club.