A starlit tour of some of WA’s cutest nocturnal animals

Just a two-hour drive from Perth, the Dryandra Woodland is a biodiversity hotspot located in the western Wheatbelt that was given national park status in 2022, making it the first national park in this region.

Importantly, it is also the last remaining woodland in the western Wheatbelt.

Many threatened native wildlife species call the Dryandra Woodland home, including numbats, woylies, western brush wallabies and chuditch, as well as quenda. To protect them, a predator-proof sanctuary, the Barna Mia wildlife sanctuary, is also part of the park.

Wildlife tourism has long been encouraged in the area to raise awareness of the threats to the resident native animals, while also providing visitors with the unique experience of being able to see so many cherished native animals in their natural surroundings.

There are a number of tours on offer that take you through the woodlands, including Quokka Adventure Tours, who offer a night tour that includes a picnic dinner in the forest.

You’ll start with a short bushwalk before sitting down for dinner, then head out to the sanctuary once the sun has gone down, to see all the nocturnal wildlife come to life. You’ll finish the night with some sound bathing, listening to the soothing sounds of a large celestial gong while taking in the incredible blanket of stars overhead.

If you’d like to see more of the rest of the park by day, there is a network of scenic trails for both walking and driving through the area.

Dryandra Woodlands also has two campgrounds, with sites for caravans, campervans and tents. Both include a camp kitchen, barbeques and picnic tables. There is also a day-use area, plus accommodation in wooden cottages at Lions Dryandra Woodland Village.

To find out more about the park, visit the Parks and Wildlife Service and for more about the tour with Quokka Adventures, visit Quokka Adventure Tours.