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.