Exploring Australian Wildlife: Up Close with Rock Wallabies

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Written By: Jocelyn Chiu
Photos By: Brent Paterson



When it comes to Australian animals, kangaroos are probably the first creatures that come to mind. But today, I want to introduce you to another fascinating native animal—the Rock Wallaby! Although they belong to a different species from the kangaroos we’re familiar with, they are also part of the marsupial family, meaning they have a pouch for carrying their young.


If you want to get up close and personal with these adorable creatures, head to Granite Gorge Nature Park, located about 1.5 hours by car from Cairns. This nature park is famous for its stunning granite rock formations, scenic walking trails, and, of course, the Rock Wallabies. Additionally, the park offers a well-equipped camping area (with public bathrooms) and areas to observe other unique Australian birds and reptiles, making it a perfect destination for families.

A rock wallaby perches on a eucalyptus branch among granite boulders in the Australian outback.
Tourist in black jacket crouches down to feed small wallaby outdoors in nature.
A rock wallaby with a joey in its pouch rests on a rocky outcrop surrounded by eucalyptus leaves.

Granite Gorge Nature Park: Home of the Rock Wallabies

Granite Gorge Nature Park is the natural habitat of Rock Wallabies. If you visit early in the morning or on overcast days when the sun isn’t too high, you’re almost guaranteed to spot them. At the park entrance, you can purchase special wallaby feed for $2 AUD per bag, which I highly recommend. During our visit, we noticed that the Rock Wallabies here are very friendly (and quite food-motivated!). As long as you have food in your hands, you’ll likely attract several wallabies to gather around you.


We were incredibly lucky during our visit—not only did we have many Rock Wallabies sticking close to us (thanks to the handfuls of feed we had, haha), but we also spotted a few with joeys peeking out of their pouches. It was absolutely adorable! Watching them hop around and forage for food was a delight, and we couldn’t resist taking plenty of photos.


Travel Tip: Interacting with Rock Wallabies

When feeding or observing the Rock Wallabies, remember to move gently and keep your voice low to avoid startling them. While they are quite friendly, Rock Wallabies are also very agile. If they feel threatened, they’ll quickly hop away and hide in the crevices of the rocks, and you might miss the chance to see them up close!

A rock wallaby with brown fur sits perched on rocky terrain with its joey peeking out of its pouch.
A baby joey kangaroo peeks out from its mother's warm brown-colored pouch in close-up detail.
A yellow-footed rock wallaby sits on a rocky surface, showcasing its distinctive fur pattern and long tail.

Practical Information

・Address: 332 Paglietta Road, Mareeba, QLD 4880

・Opening Hours: Mon-Sun 9:00-17:00 (recommended to check the official website for the latest information)

・Admission Fee: A small entry fee is required, with prices varying depending on whether you’re staying overnight or visiting for the day.



Granite Gorge Nature Park is not only a great place to enjoy stunning natural landscapes but also an excellent spot for close encounters with wildlife. From the impressive granite formations to the adorable Rock Wallabies, this park offers an unforgettable experience. If you’re planning a trip to Cairns, be sure to add this nature park to your itinerary for a unique connection with nature. Don’t forget to bring your camera to capture those precious moments with these charming little wallabies! 📸💚

-Jocelyn Chiu

@smilelikebean

A person crouches down to interact with a small wild wallaby on a rocky terrain in a nature setting.
A small rock wallaby sits perched on a granite boulder in the Australian wilderness, looking into the distance.
A traveler interacts playfully with three wallabies on a rocky hiking path in Australia.
A small rock wallaby perches on eucalyptus branches among granite boulders in the Australian wilderness.
A rock wallaby perches on a steep granite boulder in natural habitat, displaying its long tail and brown fur.
A rock wallaby sits alert on a rocky surface in its natural habitat, with dark earthy background tones.
A small wallaby interacts with someone wearing a light blue sweater on a rocky surface outdoors.
Tourist in black jacket kneeling to interact with a friendly quokka on rocky ground at a wildlife park.

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中文

探索澳洲野生動物：與岩石小袋鼠（Rock Wallaby）的親密接觸



Written By: Jocelyn Chiu

Photos By: Brent Paterson



說到澳洲的動物，大家腦海中第一個浮現的可能是袋鼠（Kangaroo），但今天我想帶大家認識另一種同樣可愛又特別的澳洲原生動物——岩石小袋鼠（Rock Wallaby）！雖然牠們和我們熟悉的袋鼠屬於不同品種，但一樣屬於哺乳類袋鼠科動物，也就是說，牠們的腹部也有育幼袋哦！


如果你想近距離觀察這些可愛的小傢伙，那就一定要到位於凱恩斯以北約1.5小時車程的Granite Gorge Nature Park。這個自然公園以其壯觀的花崗岩岩層、豐富的自然步道以及岩石小袋鼠聞名。此外，園區內還設有設備齊全的露營區（包括公共衛浴），以及許多澳洲特有的鳥類和爬蟲類動物觀賞區，非常適合親子遊客前來探索。

A rock wallaby perches on a eucalyptus branch among granite boulders in the Australian outback.
Tourist in black jacket crouches down to feed small wallaby outdoors in nature.
A rock wallaby with a joey in its pouch rests on a rocky outcrop surrounded by eucalyptus leaves.

Granite Gorge Nature Park：岩石小袋鼠的家

Granite Gorge Nature Park是岩石小袋鼠的原始棲息地，只要在太陽還未高掛的時候（例如清晨或陰天）前往，幾乎都能看到牠們的蹤影。園區入口處有販售專門餵食岩石小袋鼠的飼料（一包2澳元），非常推薦大家購買。我們在現場觀察到，這些小袋鼠非常親人（也很貪吃），只要手中有飼料，就能吸引好幾隻岩石小袋鼠圍繞在你身邊。這次我們非常幸運，不僅有超多岩石小袋鼠黏著我們（因為我們手裡滿是飼料，哈哈），還看到幾隻育幼袋中帶著寶寶的岩石小袋鼠，真的是超級可愛！看著牠們靈活地跳躍和覓食，讓人忍不住想多拍幾張照片。


旅行小提醒：與岩石小袋鼠互動的注意事項

在餵食和觀察岩石小袋鼠時，記得動作要輕柔，盡量放低音量，以免驚嚇到牠們。岩石小袋鼠雖然親人，但動作非常敏捷，一旦受到驚嚇，牠們就會「咚咚咚」地迅速跳回岩石縫隙中躲起來，到時候可就看不到牠們啦！

A rock wallaby with brown fur sits perched on rocky terrain with its joey peeking out of its pouch.
A baby joey kangaroo peeks out from its mother's warm brown-colored pouch in close-up detail.
A yellow-footed rock wallaby sits on a rocky surface, showcasing its distinctive fur pattern and long tail.

旅遊資訊

・地址：332 Paglietta Road, Mareeba, QLD 4880

・開放時間：Mon-Sun 9:00-17:00 (建議查詢官方資訊確認最新時間)

・門票：需支付少許入園費，價格依住宿或一日遊而異


這個自然公園雖然不算是大型的旅遊景點，但卻充滿了野趣與獨特性，很適合想要探索北昆士蘭隱藏版美景的旅人！🎒


Granite Gorge Nature Park不僅是一個欣賞自然美景的好地方，更是與野生動物近距離接觸的絕佳機會。無論是壯觀的花崗岩地貌，還是可愛的岩石小袋鼠，這裡都能帶給你難忘的體驗。如果你計劃前往凱恩斯，不妨把這個自然公園列入行程，來一場與大自然的親密邂逅吧！記得帶上相機，捕捉這些可愛小袋鼠的精彩瞬間哦！📸💚

-Jocelyn Chiu

@smilelikebean

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