There’s more to the bush than meets the eye, and the best introduction to outback Queensland wildlife is to take a guided tour at Cobbold Gorge. You’ll walk the land, experience nature, discover wildlife and learn heaps. When you take the time to look and listen, you’ll be rewarded, because the open savannah, riverine environment, sandstone escarpment and dams around Cobbold Gorge are magnets to some of the best outback Queensland wildlife.
You might spot a ‘freshie’ (crocodile) on your Cobbold Gorge Tour, because there’s a large and healthy population of Johnstone River Freshwater Crocodiles living in the gorge (which is why they’re featured in our logo). In addition, the waterway of the gorge is home to turtles and many fish species, including Archerfish, Banded Grunter, Eel-tailed Catfish, Sleepy Cod and Black Bream. Other aquatic species include freshwater Prawns and Redclaw Yabbies.
Amphibians are less plentiful in the predominately dry Gulf Savannah. Even so – five species of native frog inhabit the Cobbold Gorge area, including Green Tree Frogs, Red Tree Frogs and Ornate Burrowing Frogs, as well as (unfortunately) the introduced Cane Toad.
One of the great things about going ‘bush’ is the incredible wildlife you might see, and visiting or staying with us at Cobbold Village is no exception. If you keep your eyes peeled, there’s plenty of outback Queensland wildlife that live here. Around 20 species of our country’s amazing mammals have been recorded in the area, including Koalas, Short-beaked Echidnas, Brushtail Possums, Red Kangaroos and Swamp Wallabies, while the most commonly seen are Grey Kangaroos and Wallaroos. Hopefully you’ll spot a few of them while you’re here!
Taking in the surrounding landscape as you drive in and out of Cobbold Village from Forsayth – you’ll probably notice the large, tombstone-like mounds which are a dominant feature of the Gulf Savannah landscape. They’re home to the most common insect species of them all, the Termite. These guys are essential for the savannah ecology, but the mounds do make for a great photo opp, surrounded by golden grasses with our big blue sky background – so stop the car and get out for a closer look while taking care not to damage their ‘house’ as you’re posing.
And of course, be ‘bush smart’ – don’t venture too far off the beaten track without taking appropriate precautions and ensure you’re wearing covered shoes, as the Gulf Savannah is also home to several rugged reptiles. Some of the creatures often spotted sunning themselves in the winter months include Skinks, Geckos, Monitors and snakes – the deadliest species are the Northern Death Adder and Eastern Brown Snake, while the Orange-naped Snake, Black-headed Python, Keelback and Tree Snake are harmless.
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