Where To See Wild Kangaroos in Melbourne Via Public Bus
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How To See Wild Kangaroos Close To Melbourne: (Jump To)
While traveling in Australia I was obsessed with encountering animals in the wild. I managed to see a wild koala during our Great Ocean Road day trip (read all about it here). We waited for hours on the pier at St. Kilda to see wild penguins. (here) I’m like 60% positive we saw a wombat while cutting through a park on the way back from the bars, though looking back it may have just been an Australia-sized rat.
The animal star of the country, the kangaroo, had evaded us. With just two days left in our trip, I was losing all hope of an encounter. So I turned to Google: “Where to see wild kangaroos, Melbourne.” Blog after blog had me renting a car and heading far outside of the city for a mere chance of seeing one.
We didn’t rent a car during our visit, planning to stay within reach of Melbourne and Sydney’s public transportation system. Sigh… Google: “Where to see wild kangaroos via bus, Melbourne.”
Bus Directions To See Kangaroos
To see wild kangaroos without a car, take Melbourne's public bus to Westerfolds Park It’s one of the easiest answers to where to see kangaroos in Melbourne without booking a tour or renting a car.
The search turned up Westerfolds Park, (Map: Google Maps) where reportedly there is a small mob of kangaroos living in the park. The reviewers said it would be impossible to visit the park without seeing a kangaroo. “Impossible.”
So we hopped (kangaroo pun) onto the 905 City bus from near our central Melbourne hotel and settled in for the 35-minute ride getting off the bus at the Fitzsimons Lane/Porter St stop (Map: Google Maps). From there we walked about 5 minutes to the entrance of Westerfolds Park.
Seeing Kangaroo in Westerfolds Park
Westerfolds Park is a large, quiet green space where kangaroos roam freely near the trails—go early or late in the day for the best chance. If you're asking where can I see kangaroos or want the best place to see kangaroos in Melbourne using only public transit, this is it.
The park fills the inside of a horseshoe bend in the Yarra River surrounded on three sides by the river and capped off by a busy four-lane divided road. If kangaroos are there, they’re trapped inside, I thought.
We followed a paved road that ended in a circle. From there a series of trails cut in every direction across the park. We picked the longest trail that follows the shape of the river but is inland from the riverbank.
A few feet in we heard some rustling in the leaves. This was my moment. Camera up and … nope, just some sort of cockatoo. I stopped being excited by cockatoo days ago.
The park is a mostly wide-open field with a few patches of trees. The grass is dead on the top turning a golden color with new green grass growing at the plant bottoms. The river isn’t visible, but I assume it’s just beyond the tall trees on the edges of the field.
More rustling. This time It’s a Magpie. Eye roll.
We encounter a few locals in the park, they mostly jog by us with headphones in. I try to catch their eyes, but they have no interest in helping me on my roo hunt.
We’re now about thirty minutes into our walk. I’m writing my negative review slamming the park and its lack of kangaroos in my head when we encounter more rustling. Under the shade of a patch of trees, a pair of tall ears poke up. It’s a kangaroo!
We slowly continue along the path, rounding the bend. It’s not just one, but a group of three. Amazing.
We stand there for a long time watching the animals, feeling a sense of accomplishment, and possibly relief. We continue on the path, seeing many more kangaroos along the way.
The entire walk takes us about an hour, looping back to the main road on the other side of the park. In the end, we had walked about two miles (3 km) inside and around the park.
There are quite a few trails in the park and along the river to explore. Check out the trail maps on AllTrails if you’re interested.
We Did It!
You don’t need to leave the metro area to find kangaroos in Melbourne—just time your visit right and head to the right park. For anyone wondering where to see kangaroos in Australia on a budget, Melbourne's outer suburbs offer a rare no-entry-fee option.
After a worthy afternoon adventure, we were back onto the bus for the return ride to the city. I was thrilled that we were able to see so many kangaroos in the wild for the price of a bus ticket. My final animal mission was accomplished. Leaving me wondering; I wonder where can I see a platypus.
Check out how to see wild penguins while in Melbourne too!
