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You can’t help but smile when you see a wombat. They’ve got those solid, round little bodies and that funny waddle that looks like they couldn’t care less about what’s going on around them. I don’t know why, but watching them always makes me slow down for a moment. There’s something oddly peaceful about it.
We’ve spent a lot of time in the bush, and the wombats we remember best are in Tasmania: one that walked straight up to us on the boardwalk at Cradle Mountain, and a mum and her baby on Maria Island. Those two places come from our own trips; the others in this guide come from research.
The short answer: Maria Island is the easiest place to see wild wombats, and dawn and dusk are the best times to look. Here’s where to go, when to go and how to watch them without disturbing them.
There are three species of wombat, and all of them are found only in Australia. Where you can see one depends on which species you’re after.
This is the wombat most travellers meet, and the one you’ll find at every numbered place in this guide. It lives across south-eastern Australia, in Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales, and on Flinders Island in Bass Strait. It’s the largest of the three, with coarse brown or grey fur and a broad, bare nose.
Smaller, with a furry nose and softer, lighter fur, the southern hairy-nosed wombat is built for drier country. It’s found in scattered populations across southern South Australia, including the Murraylands, Yorke Peninsula and Gawler Ranges, with smaller populations in south-eastern Western Australia and the far south-west of New South Wales. It’s also South Australia’s faunal emblem.
One thing to clear up: despite what you might read online, there are no wild wombats on Kangaroo Island. The only ones you’ll see there are in a wildlife park. If you’re in South Australia, Brookfield Conservation Park on the mainland is the place to try (see Other places you might see wombats, below).
The rarest of the three, and critically endangered. By 1982, only 35 were left, all in Epping Forest National Park in central Queensland. Years of conservation work have made a real difference: the 2022 count estimated about 400, and a second colony was set up in 2009 at the Richard Underwood Nature Refuge near St George, in southern Queensland. Epping Forest is a scientific national park that isn’t open to the public, and neither colony is set up for visitors, so this is one wombat you won’t see on your travels.
Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park is one of the best-known places to see wombats in Tasmania, and it’s where we had our closest encounter.
We were there between Christmas and New Year, on a rainy, overcast day, which is probably why the wombats were out and about in the middle of the day rather than waiting for dusk. We only saw them at Ronny Creek, but that was enough. One wombat walked right up to us on the boardwalk, completely unbothered by the people stopping to watch it.
Wombats get used to people where lots of walkers pass by, but they’re still wild. Give them room and let them decide how close they come.
If you’re planning to walk while you’re there, my guide to hiking Cradle Mountain in Tasmania covers the tracks, and the Australian Walking Track Grading System explains what the track grades mean.
If you want the best chance of seeing wombats in the wild, Maria Island, off Tasmania’s east coast, is hard to beat. There’s no vehicle access, so the island is explored on foot or by bike, and the wombats are used to people walking past.
We visited on a day tour and saw wombats along the walking trails. We spent quite some time quietly watching a mother wombat with her baby. The little one would fall behind every few steps, then scurry to catch up to its mum, a small ball of fur waddling at full speed. It was such a simple, heartwarming moment.
The wombats on Maria Island haven’t always been there. They’re Flinders Island wombats, introduced to the island for conservation.
Easy as they are to see, they’re still wild animals. Parks Tasmania asks visitors to keep at least 2 metres from all wildlife, so no pats and no selfies with your arm around one.
Wilsons Promontory, at the southern tip of mainland Australia, is about 220 km south-east of Melbourne, around three hours’ drive. Parks Victoria lists wombats among the wildlife visitors meet at the Prom, and Tidal River, the park’s main visitor hub, is the place to start.
Wombats usually come out to graze around dusk, so a slow walk around Tidal River late in the day, towards Norman Beach or along the Lilly Pilly Gully walks, gives you a good chance of seeing one.
Parts of the park close from time to time (for example, for deer control), so check the Parks Victoria park alerts before you go.
Kangaroo Valley is around two hours’ drive south of Sydney, and the Bendeela Recreation Area, about seven kilometres along Bendeela Road, is well known for wombats wandering through the campground at dawn and dusk. It’s managed by WaterNSW rather than National Parks, and campers need a booking.
WaterNSW asks visitors to stay at least five metres from wombats, not to feed, chase or touch them, and to drive slowly, because wombats often cross the campground at dawn and dusk.
Mange has been a problem for the wombats here. A treatment program run with the University of Tasmania finished in early 2023, and WaterNSW reported that only about 4% of the wombats it observed still showed signs of it.
Blue Mountains, New South Wales. Wombats live in parts of the Greater Blue Mountains (NSW National Parks says they sometimes wander into the Boyd River campground in Kanangra-Boyd National Park), but they’re much harder to spot than in Tasmania. We’ve been to the Blue Mountains and didn’t see any.
Narawntapu National Park, Tasmania. Narawntapu, on Tasmania’s north coast, used to be one of the most reliable places to see wombats. A mange outbreak from 2006 changed that: the population fell by 94% between 2010 and 2016, and Tasmania’s wildlife department says wombats are still there, but in very low numbers. It’s a lovely park, but don’t go expecting wombats.
Brookfield Conservation Park, South Australia. About 130 km north-east of Adelaide near Blanchetown, Brookfield was set up to protect southern hairy-nosed wombats. Go early in the morning, when they come out to graze. The public section is open from 7.00 am until sunset, but the park closes on set days through the year for pest control, so check the Parks SA page before you go.
Wombats are mostly nocturnal and are at their busiest around dawn and dusk, so early mornings and late afternoons give you the best chance. On cool or overcast days, they’ll often graze in daylight, especially in Tasmania. Our Cradle Mountain wombats were out in the middle of a rainy summer’s day.
You can see wombats all year. The cooler months tend to bring more daytime sightings. If you’re still deciding when to travel, our guide to the best time to visit Australia covers the seasons.
During my time on the board of an animal welfare organisation that ran the largest animal hospital in the southern hemisphere, where about half the patients were wildlife, I learned just how much our choices as travellers affect native animals. A few simple habits make a big difference.
Keep your distance. The rules vary: Parks Tasmania asks for at least 2 metres on Maria Island, and WaterNSW asks for 5 metres at Bendeela. Use your camera’s zoom rather than moving closer.
Never feed them. Human food can make wombats sick and changes how they forage.
Slow down at dawn and dusk. Wombats are most active in low light and often wander onto roads. They’re solid animals, so a collision is bad for the wombat and your car. If you find an injured wombat, contact the local wildlife rescue.
Stay on the tracks. Wombat burrows can be long, with several entrances, and walking off the track can damage them.
Know what mange looks like. Sarcoptic mange causes fur loss and sores, and it can kill a wombat. If you see a wombat that looks unwell, note where it was and take a photo if you can. In Tasmania, report it to NRE Tas Wildlife Services on 03 6165 4305; elsewhere, contact the local wildlife rescue. Don’t try to treat it yourself: treatment needs a permit.
No. There are no wild wombats on Kangaroo Island; the only ones on the island are in a wildlife park. If you’re in South Australia and want to see southern hairy-nosed wombats, try Brookfield Conservation Park near Blanchetown, about 130 km north-east of Adelaide, early in the morning when they come out to graze. The park closes on set days through the year for pest control, so check the Parks SA page before you go. And if it was Kangaroo Valley you were thinking of, that’s in New South Wales, and it’s a great place to see common wombats (see above).
Wombats are generally shy and would rather avoid you. They’re strong animals with powerful claws, though, and they can move surprisingly fast in a short burst, so never corner one or try to touch it.
No. As cute as they are, wombats are wild animals and should never be touched or fed. The best way to enjoy them is from a respectful distance, letting them behave naturally.
Cube-shaped poo is really unusual in the animal world. Researchers found the cubes form inside the intestine, where the gut wall has stiffer and more flexible sections. As the poo dries out and the muscles contract, it forms those corners. Wombats leave their droppings on rocks and logs to mark their territory, and the shape means they don’t roll away. Australian Geographic has the full story.
If Cradle Mountain is on your list and the forecast looks grey, go anyway. Our wombats were out in the rain, wandering the Ronny Creek boardwalk like they owned it.
Hi, I’m Lisa Bundesen - the voice behind The Middle Age Wanderer. I’m a retired chartered accountant turned passionate traveller and photographer. Alongside my husband Darren (and with our two fur babies waiting at home in Australia), we explore the world one adventure at a time.
I’ve travelled to over 35 countries, and I created this blog to inspire fellow travellers in their 50s, 60s, and beyond to embrace adventure. Whether it’s hiking ancient trails, diving into new cultures, or sipping wine in scenic places, I believe life after 50 is the perfect time to explore more.
Here, you’ll find honest travel advice, destination guides, and real stories to help you travel smarter and with more confidence - because age is not a barrier, it’s an invitation.
Hi, I’m Lisa, a 50+ retired chartered accountant. My husband, Darren, and I explore the world every opportunity we get. Staying fit is key to our adventures, from hiking the Inca Trail to scuba diving. We call Australia home but travel overseas often, always eager to discover new cultures, bustling cities, cuisines, nature and wildlife.
We would love you to join us on our journeys and hope that our adventures give you encouragement to explore this amazing world.
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