No other country offers up the distinctively quirky array of wildlife in Australia. There are tons of native animals in Australia, and many of these animals are found in Australia alone.

A trip Down Under offers your only chance to see these unusual Australian animals in the wild, so these unique animal experiences are likely a once-in-a-lifetime thing.

Australian wildlife is so far removed from the fauna you’ll find elsewhere in the world because they have evolved differently than animals from other places.

Aussie animals are also diverse because the continent is home to so many different habitats, including vast deserts, the world’s oldest rainforest, and the world’s largest coral reef.

Wild Australian animals range from cute and cuddly (see: Koalas, Quokkas, and Wombats), to downright terrifying (see: Saltwater Crocodiles and Tasmanian Devils), to just plain weird (see: the Platypus).

AUSTRALIAN WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS GUIDE

1. Koalas (Raymond Island)
2. Echidna (Kangaroo Island)
3. Humpback Whales (Hervey Bay)
4. Crocodiles (Kakadu)
5. Platypus (Far North Queensland)
6. Sea Lions (Eyre Peninsula)
7. Whale Sharks (Ningaloo)
8. Red Kangaroos (Murray River)
9. Wombats (Maria Island)
10. Red Crabs (Christmas Island)