Snorkelling at Hardy Reef

Fish over the hard corals at Hardy Reef

Giant clam at Hardy Reef

shallow parts of hardy reef

Grouper at Hardy Reef

Grouper at Hardy Reef

Ibis at Sydney’s Royal Botanical Garden

School of fish at Hardy Reef

Baby koala giving his friend a massage at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Anchovies at Hardy Reef

Cockatoo seen at Hamilton Island marina

Cockatoo and the crows happily to live side by side at Hamilton Island

Cockatoos seen flying above Sydney’s Royal Botanical Garden

Fruit bats at Sydney’s Roral Botanical Garden

Sea gull seen flying off Hydeaway Bay

Tortoise at Cedar Creek Fall near Arlie Beach

A pair of sea gulls at Arlie Beach

Stunning colorful Lorikeet near Gold Coast

The colorful Lorikeet near Gold Coast

This male kangaroo doesn’t want to be disturbed @ Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Baby kangaroo in his mother’s pouch @ Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Cameleon under the bushes outside the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

In Australia, it is very easy to get close and encounter Australia’s “wildlife”. During my vacation down under in 2012, I had an opportunity to see and get up close with koalas and kangaroos at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary which is only 45 minutes by bus from the city of Brisbane. Near the coast there are very high chance to come across with seabirds and the pretty colorful lorikeet. We even had three wild kangaroos crossing right infront of our car when we were at Hydeaway Bay Whitsundays. Luckily we were on sightseeing mode and was driving very slowly.  At the Sydney Royal Botanical Garden, you can see cockatoos and the fruit bats in abundance. And don’t be surprised if the cameleon is lurking under the bushes to say hello. The sight of underwater world at the Hardy Reef will surely make the trip to the Great Barrier Reef worth every single penny. Swimming among the school of fishes, seeing the nemo, giant clams and colorful corals will stay in my memory for a very long time.