New friends in the Sunshine Coast

A journey is also made of unforeseen events and changes in direction, but it is thanks to these situations that you learn, grow, and get involved with your resources and decisions, that no one else can make for you. Resources you didn't even think you had.

During these months away from the blog, I’ve been lucky enough to experience some of the most incredible moments of my life, and now I’m ready to share them with you.

Last November, after living in Melbourne for three months, I moved to the tropical state of Queensland, in a coastal region called the Sunshine Coast.

More precisely, I’m in Caloundra, a small city by the ocean, a popular vacation spot and famous for its numerous beaches. The tropical climate of this area encourages the development of a rich biodiversity of both animals and plants.

I love walking and exploring new places on foot, slowly, taking a good look around. My passion leads me to seek out green and natural areas, such as parks, reserves, or beaches.

In front of one of Caloundra's most well-known beaches, called Happy Valley, lies Bribie Island, which can be easily reached during low tide.

One afternoon, I ventured there, and I couldn't believe what I was seeing: kangaroos!

Wild kangaroos were feeding on plants and flowers on the beach just a few meters away from me! It was such a thrilling moment, especially because I hadn't planned for it or even considered it.

To be accurate, I'm talking about eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus), the second-largest kangaroo and the second-largest living marsupials, topped only by the red kangaroos.

Adult males can exceed 130 cm in height and weigh up to 60 kg, while smaller females remain around 80 cm tall and weigh 40 kg.

As their name suggests, their fur is soft and grey, although the shade may vary slightly depending on the geographical region. They are distributed along the entire eastern coast of Australia, from northern Queensland down to Tasmania.

They have adapted to many different environments, including forests, grass plains, and subalpine areas, and it's not uncommon to encounter them near urban zones.

At first, I thought it was a random encounter, but returning in the following days at the same time, I realized that late afternoon was the perfect time to see them.

Kangaroos are crepuscular animals, meaning they are mainly active at dawn and dusk, while they remain hidden in bushlands and shaded areas during the hottest hours of the day. If I had gone there at 12pm, I wouldn't have seen them.

These herbivorous animals live in small groups or mobs (in my case, there were five individuals), and it's easy to spot them grazing together in grassy areas.

During the breeding season, males stage the famous fights you can see in many videos, aiming to attract the attention of females and earn the right to mate. These are true demonstrations of strength—intense battles where they kick each other with their muscular hind legs while balancing on their strong tails, which literally act as an additional limb.

After a gestation period of about 37 days, the young, called joeys, are born underdeveloped and hairless. They continue growing in their mother's pouch for the next nine months and become fully independent after 18 months.

Someone I talked about my close encounter with kangaroos asked me if they were dangerous. The answer is always "it depends." It depends on the circumstances, your and other people’s behaviour.

It's important to keep a safe distance. Despite their cute and peaceful appearance, they are still wild animals, unpredictable and incredibly fast (capable of hopping at speeds of up to 60 km/h!).

Avoid loud noises and move slowly and steadily, as sudden, fast movements could scare them and provoke a reaction.

It's absolutely essential not to feed wild animals. Getting them comfortable to being close to and interacting with humans increases the danger for both them and us.

By following these simple rules, you can fully enjoy experiences like the one I had, without any risk.

Seeing kangaroos on the beach at sunset is a combination that's hard to beat. It has earned its place in my Top 3 experiences since arriving in Australia, along with the penguin parade (don't know what I'm talking about? You can read the article by clicking here).

I am very grateful to be able to experience all of this and to share it with you, these are moments and feelings I will never forget.

Thank you for reading me, let me know what you think in the comments and share it with your friends. Stay tuned for more Australian stories like this.