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Natural Attractions |
 The Wattle - acacia decurrens BACK TO NATURE. One of the main attractions of visiting, or living in, the Highlands is the wealth of natural beauty in the area. Surrounded by thousands of acres of largely untouched natural bushland and rugged country, there are many places to visit and see the Australian countryside. There are bushwalks, lookouts, picnic and camping areas, and plenty of places where you can go horseriding, exploring, rockclimbing, on Adventure Holidays, or even underground to some spectacular caves at Wombeyan. FLORA If you can't come here and see for yourself, we have added some beautiful pages of the unique native Australian flora to be found in the Highlands. Go and have a look. |
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| FAUNA The first thing the visitor notices is the large number of colourful native birds - parrots, cockatoos, magpies, kookaburras - and if you are lucky, the wedge-tail eagle, bower bird, and lyre-bird. Of the famous Australian marsupials, the possum is the easiest to find as it is happy to live close to habitation (some would say too happy!). Kangaroos and wallabies can often be seen on the edge of farmland and in the bush; wombats in burrows near creek beds, and unfortunately, on the roadsides (take care driving at night!) Koalas are private creatures, and have been spotted recently in the Morton National Park near Bundanoon, but your best chance of seeing one would be to go to a zoo - as you should to see the monotremes, the Platypus and Echidna. (You may, however, see the platypus in the river near Berrima if you are lucky enough to know one of the locals.) Emus can be seen close up at the ostrich and emu farm at Joadja, near Berrima. |
Of the many colourful (but poisonous) snakes, you can rest assured that you are not likely to encounter these unless you wander carelessly through the bush during summer. You are more likely to see the friendly goanna (a large lizard), even in people's gardens. If, however, you would like to peer at these reptiles from a distance, visit the Australian Reptile Centre webpage in Canberra. Some of the more cuddly Australian animals can be seen at the Koala Page. Go there and meet the kangaroos and koalas, and hear the kookaburra laugh!
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