Great Otway National Park

🇦🇺 Australia

🐨 Koalas Doze in Roadside Manna Gums
🌍 #166 Global · 3.6 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #13 in Oceania #18 in Temperate Forest
Australia, Australia 636 spp. recorded

Great Otway National Park is a protected temperate forest stretching along Victoria’s rugged coastline and dense interior hills. Towering eucalyptus trees, cool fern gullies, and cascading waterfalls define this southern Australian landscape, separating it from the drier national parks nearby through its deep, moisture-rich woodland habitats.

-38.591° S   143.743° E

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Koala ★
VU Endemic

Koala

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Phascolarctos cinereus

60–70% · Likely
Cool-temperate Water Skink ★
LC Endemic

Cool-temperate Water Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Eulamprus tympanum

30–40% · Possible
Pobblebonk ★
LC Endemic

Pobblebonk

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Limnodynastes dumerilii

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Superb Fairywren
LC Endemic

Superb Fairywren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Malurus cyaneus

80–90% · Very likely
Australian Magpie
LC

Australian Magpie

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gymnorhina tibicen

70–80% · Very likely
Red Wattlebird
LC Endemic

Red Wattlebird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anthochaera carunculata

70–80% · Very likely
Crimson Rosella
LC Endemic

Crimson Rosella

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Platycercus elegans

70–80% · Very likely
Grey Fantail
LC

Grey Fantail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Rhipidura albiscapa

60–70% · Likely
Welcome Swallow
LC

Welcome Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hirundo neoxena

60–70% · Likely
Brown Thornbill
LC Endemic

Brown Thornbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Acanthiza pusilla

60–70% · Likely
New Holland Honeyeater
LC Endemic

New Holland Honeyeater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phylidonyris novaehollandiae

60–70% · Likely
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
LC

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cacatua galerita

50–60% · Likely
Gray Shrikethrush
LC

Gray Shrikethrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Colluricincla harmonica

50–60% · Likely
Pied Currawong
LC Endemic

Pied Currawong

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Strepera graculina

50–60% · Likely
White-browed Scrubwren
LC Endemic

White-browed Scrubwren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sericornis frontalis

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Koala ★
VU Endemic

Koala

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Phascolarctos cinereus

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Eastern Grey Kangaroo
LC Endemic

Eastern Grey Kangaroo

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Macropus giganteus

50–60% · Likely
Short-beaked Echidna
LC

Short-beaked Echidna

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tachyglossus aculeatus

30–40% · Possible
Swamp Wallaby
LC Endemic

Swamp Wallaby

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Wallabia bicolor

30–40% · Possible
Common Ringtail Possum
LC Endemic

Common Ringtail Possum

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Pseudocheirus peregrinus

20–30% · Possible
Common Brushtail
LC Endemic

Common Brushtail

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Trichosurus vulpecula

20–30% · With luck
Red-necked Wallaby
LC Endemic

Red-necked Wallaby

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Notamacropus rufogriseus

10–20% · With luck
Yellow-bellied Glider
VU Endemic

Yellow-bellied Glider

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Petaurus australis

10–20% · With luck
Australian Swamp Rat
LC Endemic

Australian Swamp Rat

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Rattus lutreolus

10–20% · With luck
Duck-billed Platypus
NT Endemic

Duck-billed Platypus

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ornithorhynchus anatinus

10–20% · With luck
Grey-headed Flying-fox
VU Endemic

Grey-headed Flying-fox

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Pteropus poliocephalus

10–20% · With luck
Afro-Australian Fur Seal
LC

Afro-Australian Fur Seal

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Arctocephalus pusillus

10–20% · With luck
Fallow Deer
LC

Fallow Deer

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Dama dama

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Superb Fairywren
LC Endemic

Superb Fairywren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Malurus cyaneus

80–90% · Very likely
Australian Magpie
LC

Australian Magpie

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gymnorhina tibicen

70–80% · Very likely
Red Wattlebird
LC Endemic

Red Wattlebird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anthochaera carunculata

70–80% · Very likely
Crimson Rosella
LC Endemic

Crimson Rosella

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Platycercus elegans

70–80% · Very likely
Grey Fantail
LC

Grey Fantail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Rhipidura albiscapa

60–70% · Likely
Welcome Swallow
LC

Welcome Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hirundo neoxena

60–70% · Likely
Brown Thornbill
LC Endemic

Brown Thornbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Acanthiza pusilla

60–70% · Likely
New Holland Honeyeater
LC Endemic

New Holland Honeyeater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phylidonyris novaehollandiae

60–70% · Likely
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
LC

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cacatua galerita

50–60% · Likely
Gray Shrikethrush
LC

Gray Shrikethrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Colluricincla harmonica

50–60% · Likely
Pied Currawong
LC Endemic

Pied Currawong

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Strepera graculina

50–60% · Likely
White-browed Scrubwren
LC Endemic

White-browed Scrubwren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sericornis frontalis

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Cool-temperate Water Skink ★
LC Endemic

Cool-temperate Water Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Eulamprus tympanum

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Eastern Tiger Snake
LC Endemic

Eastern Tiger Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Notechis scutatus

30–40% · Possible
Pale-flecked Garden Sunskink
LC Endemic

Pale-flecked Garden Sunskink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Lampropholis guichenoti

20–30% · Possible
Blotched Bluetongue
LC Endemic

Blotched Bluetongue

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Tiliqua nigrolutea

20–30% · Possible
Jacky Lashtail
LC Endemic

Jacky Lashtail

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Amphibolurus muricatus

10–20% · With luck
Lowlands Copperhead
LC Endemic

Lowlands Copperhead

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Austrelaps superbus

10–20% · With luck
McCoy's Skink
LC Endemic

McCoy's Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Anepischetosia maccoyi

10–20% · With luck
White-lipped Snake
LC Endemic

White-lipped Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Drysdalia coronoides

10–20% · With luck
Common Bluetongue
LC Endemic

Common Bluetongue

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Tiliqua scincoides

5–10% · With luck
Southern Weasel Skink
LC Endemic

Southern Weasel Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Saproscincus mustelinus

5–10% · With luck
White's Rock-skink
LC

White's Rock-skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Liopholis whitii

5–10% · With luck
Entrecasteaux's Skink
LC Endemic

Entrecasteaux's Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Pseudemoia entrecasteauxii

5–10% · With luck
Trunk-climbing Cool-skink
LC Endemic

Trunk-climbing Cool-skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Pseudemoia spenceri

5–10% · With luck

⭐ Iconic Species

Pobblebonk ★
LC Endemic

Pobblebonk

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Limnodynastes dumerilii

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Common Eastern Froglet
LC Endemic

Common Eastern Froglet

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Crinia signifera

10–20% · With luck
Striped Marsh Frog
LC Endemic

Striped Marsh Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Limnodynastes peronii

10–20% · With luck
Spotted Grass Frog
LC Endemic

Spotted Grass Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Limnodynastes tasmaniensis

<5% · Rare
Southern Smooth Froglet
LC Endemic

Southern Smooth Froglet

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Geocrinia laevis

Insufficient data
Southern Toadlet
LC Endemic

Southern Toadlet

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Pseudophryne semimarmorata

Insufficient data
Southern Bell Frog

Southern Bell Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Ranoidea raniformis

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦌

Koala Breeding Season

Aug

Koalas become more active and vocal as they enter breeding season, making them easier to spot in eucalyptus canopies.

Koala
VU Endemic

Koala

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Phascolarctos cinereus

60–70% · Likely
🦎

Eastern Tiger Snake Emergence

JanFebMarOctNovDec

After winter dormancy or summer rains, Eastern Tiger Snakes emerge to hunt, often basking on warm tracks or near water sources.

Eastern Tiger Snake
LC Endemic

Eastern Tiger Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Notechis scutatus

30–40% · Possible
🐸

Pobblebonk Chorus

MayAugSepOctNov

Male Pobblebonks gather in wetlands to call in unison after rain, creating a distinctive, loud chorus that echoes through the forest.

Pobblebonk
LC Endemic

Pobblebonk

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Limnodynastes dumerilii

10–20% · With luck

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
Koala
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
Cool-temperate Water Skink
40–50
40–50
30–40
20–30
10–20
<5
<5
20–30
30–40
40–50
40–50
30–40
Pobblebonk
5–10
5–10
10–20
10–20
10–20
10–20
<5
10–20
20–30
10–20
10–20
<5
Superb Fairywren
80–90
90–100
80–90
80–90
90–100
90–100
80–90
90–100
80–90
80–90
80–90
90–100
Australian Magpie
60–70
60–70
80–90
70–80
80–90
70–80
80–90
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
Red Wattlebird
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
80–90
60–70
70–80
80–90
70–80
Crimson Rosella
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
Grey Fantail
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
Welcome Swallow
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
Brown Thornbill
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
New Holland Honeyeater
50–60
50–60
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
Gray Shrikethrush
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
70–80
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
Pied Currawong
40–50
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
White-browed Scrubwren
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
60–70
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
Animal Events
🦌 Koala Breeding Season
🦎 Eastern Tiger Snake Emergence
🐸 Pobblebonk Chorus

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Good
🐨 Koalas Doze in Roadside Manna Gums

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Excellent

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
4.7 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
447
🐒 Mammals
116
🦎 Reptiles
58
🐸 Amphibians
15
636 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
58 Threatened 263 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Very good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
3.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
67%
📊
Coverage (149 species at ≥5% of 636 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
23%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (11 bird, 1 mammal)
46% Global avg
20%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
101
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
12
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
20

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Great Otway National Park?

The most likely sightings are Superb Fairywren (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), Australian Magpie (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Red Wattlebird (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Crimson Rosella (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Koala (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers) — among 636 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Great Otway National Park for wildlife?

August has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see Koala in Great Otway National Park?

Yes — about 69% of wildlife watchers report a Koala sighting in Great Otway National Park, based on 696 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Cool-temperate Water Skink in Great Otway National Park?

Yes — about 33% of wildlife watchers report a Cool-temperate Water Skink sighting in Great Otway National Park, based on 154 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Pobblebonk in Great Otway National Park?

It's possible but not guaranteed: about 13% of wildlife watchers report a Pobblebonk sighting in Great Otway National Park, based on 35 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data. Sightings take luck and time in the field.

⚖️

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