In our continuing quest to experience Australian wildlife in its natural habitat, we’re eager for our first kangaroo sighting. We’ve heard that Cape Hillsborough National Park is a slam-dunk.
Every morning at sunrise, a mob of wallabies and kangaroos gathers on the beach to feast on mangrove seed pods, seaweed and coral sand dollars. All we need to do is arrive the night before, get up early, and voila! Up-close ‘roo encounter!
Referring to our trusty (indispensable actually) Wikicamps Australia app, we found that there’s a caravan park right there. Our campsite is literally in direct sight of the beach where all the action takes place every morning.
We’re not generally morning people, but the chance to get an iconic photo of a kangaroo on the beach at sunrise is strong motivation. The manager at the caravan park advised us to be on the beach at 6 am. Not taking any chances, we set an alarm for 5.
When the alarm went off, a look out the window revealed a group of shadowy figures barely visible on the beach, silhouetted by the faint pre-dawn light, the sun still well below the horizon over the Pacific (we’re still not used to “Pacific sunrise”).
Those figures on the beach led to what is possibly the fastest early-morning exit from bed we’ve ever had. We couldn’t wait to see what was out there. Stepping out onto the beach, the scene we’d viewed in so many photos during our research unfolded before us, like a postcard: a mob of wallabies and kangaroos feeding at the tide line. (“Mob” is the term for a group of ‘roos, also known as a troop, a court or a herd).
We know better than to approach wildlife too closely, but apparently these guys are so used to people that they do all the approaching. Even though they’re likely habituated to humans as a result of those who break the rules by feeding them (something we never do), that does lead to some remarkably close encounters as the fearless ‘roos walk right up to us.
Related Videos:
- Official Trip Announcement – We’re Going Down Under!
- Melbourne, Australia Beachfront Boondocking
- Tasmanian Devil Feeding Frenzy!
- Preparing to Drive on the Left in Dunedin, NZ
- Akaroa, NZ Waterfront Freedom Camping
- Freedom Camping on the Mohaka River near Napier, NZ
- RVgeeks Interviewed by the Legendary Pacific Coast team
- Picking Up Our Campervan. We’re On the Road in OZ!
- Snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef
- How To Hook-Up & Dump Tanks on an Australian Campervan
- Duck-Billed Platypus Hunting in Australia’s Atherton Tablelands
- Australia Campervan Tour
- Magnetic Island & Koalas In The Wild!
- The Whitsunday Islands: Float Plane to Spectacular Whitehaven Beach
mickey
Sunday 17th of April 2016
Wonderful! Amazing! Thank-you, for sharing.
Kathy Donaldson
Saturday 16th of April 2016
I am so enjoying your videos of your experiences in Aus! I especially like your hints of where to go and stay and the ins and outs of renting a caravan. Keep it up!
TheRVgeeks
Saturday 16th of April 2016
So good to hear, Kathy! Thanks for joining us. ?
Sheila Hagadone
Saturday 16th of April 2016
WONDERFUL!!!!!! Can't wait till the next OZ video! Have you eaten their "bug" (looks like lobster) and had their Vegimate (sp) yet?
TheRVgeeks
Saturday 16th of April 2016
Yes to both! Loved the Morten Bay Bugs... vegemite, not so much. ?
Bob Fotoples
Saturday 16th of April 2016
Not interested in RVing in a country I'll never see. When you get back to the states, then I'll be interested. Nothing there (OZ) helps me here(U.S.).
TheRVgeeks
Saturday 16th of April 2016
We've had so many people excited to see RVing down under, but we hope you'll re-join us when we get back to creating content that's beneficial to you.