Where the Wild Things Are

The World guides you to the most immersive experiences where wildlife thrives Down Under.

Close out 2025 and start the new year Down Under! With ample time in each port of call, Residents have endless opportunities to see all the highlights and dig deeper into the cultural nuances that make Australia such a coveted destination. Those sailing The World will have the opportunity to experience the facets of this wondrous country as we travel from the Top End, along the eastern coastline, and onto the unique island state of Tasmania. Explore the Great Barrier Reef through a scientific lens, learn about Indigenous traditions with a knowledgeable guide, tee off at a renowned golf course, and drive winding roads into celebrated wine regions. And, of course, Australia’s iconic animals take center stage everywhere you go.

As the gateway to two UNESCO World Heritage sites, Port Douglas has always been the first stop for outdoor enthusiasts in search of wildlife in their natural habitats. At Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas on the edge of the wetlands, birdcall greets the morning, and an aerial walkway showcases the open savannah where iconic Aussie creatures reside. From breakfast with the birds to a feeding frenzy with saltwater crocodiles (salties), dedicated keepers reveal sanctuary life from behind the scenes.

On a different day, grab the chance to go from Port Douglas to Daintree National Park, an expansive stretch of one of the world’s oldest and most biodiverse rainforests. Learn the living traditions of the Kuku Yalanji people, the traditional keepers of the land, as you keep an eye out for wild creatures like the magnificent cassowaries, kookaburras, and platypuses of the Wet Tropics.

Close to Townsville in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, the golden beaches of Magnetic Island are ripe for exploration. Take a tour alongside conservationist Tim Bee, whose veterinarian wife, Dr. Ali Bee, founded the island’s private koala sanctuary. (You might recognize them from Netflix’s “Izzy’s Koala World.”) Go behind the scenes of the koala hospital, which is not normally accessible to the public, and greet koalas that will soon be released back into the wild. If you’re lucky, you’ll also spot koalas and rock wallabies that are already roaming the island.

Just south of Townsville, Billabong Sanctuary is another gem where local wildlife is nurtured. Snap a selfie with a koala, hand-feed a kangaroo, and meet a meerkat. If pythons, lizards, and crocodiles are more your style, those encounters are just as rewarding.

On the northwest shores of Tasmania lives an endearing colony of little blue penguins (also known as fairy penguins). Between September and March, the Burnie Little Fairy Penguin colony opens at dusk, inviting spectators to a viewing platform as these tiny waddlers make their way from feasting in the water back into their burrows, where they’ll settle in for the night.

Out in the bush of the Tasman Peninsula is one of Australia’s most vital conservation programs. Arrive at Unzoo from Hobart to track one of the last healthy populations of Tasmanian devils on the planet. As part of this ongoing research, you’ll have the opportunity to review images captured from high-tech night-vision cameras designed to track signs of disease or injury.

Transformed by the Irwin family from a reptile park to one of the leading wildlife conservation facilities in the world, the Australia Zoo is an unmissable experience. Take a tour to see more than a hundred different species. (Steve Irwin’s favorites were the crocodile, tiger, and cheetah!) Everything is cared for here, from small, spiky echidnas to lumbering Sumatran elephants. If you consider viewing koalas the main attraction, stay closer to Brisbane to see the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary – hundreds of these cuddly creatures reside there, along with dingos, sheepdogs, raptors, and reptiles.

While living aboard The World means you’ll check off numerous countries in a single voyage, these are the in-depth moments and joyful interactions that make the journey so memorable.