Meeting a Numbat and other wildlife in the Dryandra National Park, Western Australia

 Hi everyone, I hope you and yours are doing well. I feel a bit snowed under at the moment with too many projects on the go, and an art market coming up at the end of November. I know that sounds a long way away, but I need to get myself organised, and get some new work completed before then. 

However, today I want to introduce you to the Numbat and other wildlife that live in the Dryandra Woodland National Park in Western Australia. 

Can you see him? Look carefully. As we walked along scanning the bush, we suddenly had a glimpse of something small fast running through the bush. It was our first day in Dryandra - could it possibly be? We could see where he had stopped, sitting on a log, so little by little we wallked slowly forward through the bush, using the trees to shield us from view. As we got closer the black and white stripes and the brush tail were obvious. A numbat! 

We have visited Dryandra a numerous times over the years and I have blogged about it several times before - you can see a complete list of posts further down this post. 

Located about 170 kilometres south east of Perth (about two and a half hours drive), and about the same distance from where we live in the south west, Dryandra is a easy place to visit for the weekend. We can leave home in the morning and be there and set up by lunch time. 

Comprising of 17 blocks of woodland totaling 28,000ha, Dryandra is the largest area of remnant vegetation in the western wheatbelt. It is a valuable conservation area, home to over 850 plant species, 25 mammal, 100 bird and 50 reptile species. 

In 1970, Dryandra was saved from bauxite mining by Dr Vincent Seventy.  Dryandra became a National Park in January 2022. 

There are three campgrounds at Dryandra suitable for tents, camper vans, and caravans - one at Congelin and two at Gnaala Mia, peacefully situated in bushland in the west of the park. These are easily accessed off the York Williams Road north of Williams. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire ring. There is a camp kitchen, and long drop toilets. 

There are also cottages for rent on the eastern side of the park. Here is a map. 

We have visited to Dryandra twice in the last month or so. Once in the first week of August for a long weekend with my photography group, the Photography Group of Bunbury, and wildlife photographer Alex Cearns, and then again in the first weekend of September with friends who have been travelling through Western Australia from Queensland, who we met on our Kimberley Cruise in 2025. 

We camped at Gnaala Mia campground. Gnaala Mia is an indigenous Noongar word meaning "our home". We enjoy the quiet bush setting of Gnaala Mia, and have had nocturnal animals come into our camp in the evening.  

There are eight walk trails ranging from 1km to 12.5 km, and a 23km drive trail, that features 5 pull-over bays with information boards and revealing the different natural features of Dryandra. 

These walks are a great way to experience the wildlife of Dryandra which is a haven for animals. The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions undertakes the Western Shield baiting project to reduce the impact of feral cats and foxes on the native wildlife.

Below you can see, clockwise from top left - echidna (spiny ant eater), Mala, joey (young) kangaroo, Rufus Tree Creeper, Bilby, Painted Button Quail, Purple Crowned Lorikeet, Bobtail Lizard, and in the centre the Numbat. 

We considered ourselves very lucky to see the endangered Numbat marsupial (Myrmecobius fasciatus), as in all the times we have visited Dryandra, this is only the second time we have seen a numbat. The local Noongar indigenous name is noombat. 

Historically, numbats occurred right across southern Australia with populations in Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, and the Northern Territory, in a wide range of habitats, from mulga woodlands and spinifex sandplains to eucalypt woodlands and forests. 

However the numbat has since disappeared across much of their previous range due to habitat destruction and the introduction of cats and foxes. This is where the Western Shield baiting program and the breeding program at the Perth Zoo which  re-introduces juvenile numbats into the wild, are so important to the survival of this tiny creature. The numbat has recently been reclassified from "endangered" to "near threatened" and is estimated to now have a wild population of 2,000 to 3,000 after crashing to 300 in the late 1970s. However there is still a long way to go. Numbat news July 2026 at Numbat.org

The adult numbat has a body length of 20 to 29 centimeters (8 to 11.5 inches) with a bushy tail adding another 12 to 21 centimeters (4.5 to 8 inches), making the total combined length roughly 35-45 centimeters.  It holds it's tail up in the air when running. 

Numbats are only active during the day. In the colder months they are usually only active between 10am to 4pm. In hotter months between 8am-12 noon, then an afternoon siesta and more activity 3-7pm. They stay in their log or burrow on cold, wet and windy days. Numbats exclusively eat termites, eating up to 20,000 a day - that's a lot of termites! The Numbat has a long, slender sticky tongue (approx. 10–11 cm long) that it uses to dip into narrow cavities in logs, leaf litter and into small holes in the ground to collect termites.

Because they are active during the day, they also may be taken by birds of prey and reptiles.  

I found this website from Project Numbat which has lots of great information - Numbat.  Also more information at Australian Geographic. 

We felt very lucky to see two numbats while bushwalking in Dryandra plus another four dashing across the road - too quick for us! 

There is a 3km walk trail around the Gnaala Mia campground. It takes about 1 to 1 1/2 hours depending on how often you stop to take photos! There are a wide range of wildflowers along the trail, plus the opportunity to spot numbats, echidnas, birds and reptiles. As well as seeing two numbats, we enjoyed seeing two echidnas. 

The Short-beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) is a native Australian mammal and one of only two egg-laying mammals - monotremes. The other one is the platypus.  

Echidnas feed on ants and termites. They have big claws which they use for digging and pushing aside rocks and branches and digging to get to the ants. If you approach they will often hunker down into a spiny ball. They have a waddling type walk. Echidnas can grow up to 40 cm and 7 kg. Our Queensland friends said the echidnas in Queensland were smaller than the one we saw at Dryandra. 

I have blogged about echidna's before here - Meeting an Echidna in the Dryandra Woodland - 2023

Here is some information from Bush Heritage Australia about echidnas. 

You will most likely see kangaroos at Dryandra. If you don't see them bushwalking, you only need to go to the big grassed area near the cottages where they seem to hang out. 

The usual kangaroo found in Dryandra is the Western grey kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus), also known locally by its Noongar name, Yongka.

In the photos below, top left is a joey kangaroo, below which is a mother with a joey looking out of her pouch, and across the bottom is a big boomer (male kangaroo), lounging but taking an interest in us. You don't want to mess with these fellows. 

Like all marsupials, kangaroos have pouches where the joeys are reared, drinking milk from mammary glands. Females have one young annually, however they're able to keep extra embryos in a dormant state (embryonic diapause) until the first joey leaves the pouch, or until conditions are better. They can have a joey at foot, one in the pouch, and another in diapause all at the same time. More info at Bush heritage Australia

In the evening at Dryandra you can book a noctural experience at the Barna Mia Nocturnal Animal Sanctuary (fees apply). 

Barna Mia is a native animal sanctuary where threatened noctural animals can be seen in a natural habitat. Using special red-filtered spotlights at the feeding stations in the 4ha enclosures you will hopefully see marsupials such as the bilby, boodie, woylie, quenda, marla and possum. And at the same time learn what Barna Mia and Dryandra is doing to preserve these unique creatures. I have blogged about them before - Meeting a Bilby in the Dryandra Woodland - 2016

Tour duration is about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Advance bookings are required. (see more info below). During the tour the areas were lit with a special red-filtered spotlight that doesn't disturb the animals. I have converted the images to black and white. 

Clockwise below from top left - Marla (Rufous hare-foot wallaby), Quenda (Southern Brown Bandicoot) Ring-tail Possum with baby on her back, Woylie (Brush-tailed Bettong), Bilby, and another Quenda. 

Below is another photo of the Bilby (Macrotis lagotis) and a Mala which I took on a previous visit. The bilby has very long ears It spends its daylight hours deep in a burrow and emerges after dusk to feed on insects, grubs, seeds, fungi and bulbs. The female has a rear-opening pouch. Bilbies constantly turnover soil, improving soil health by mixing through organic matter and bringing deep soils and their nutrients to the surface.

There is some interesting information here from the World Wildlife Fund for Nature - WWF-The Bilby. Bilbies in the wild are hanging on in small isolated populations, and it is feared they will become extinct. They are threatened by cats, foxes, other preditors, land clearing and fire. When we were in Queensland in 2023 we went to the Charleville Bilby Centre and learnt about what they are doing to help save the Bilby. I have just read that it was National Bilby Day on 13 September. Save the Bilby Fund

The Mala (Rufous Hare Wallaby) is a herbivore, which is now extinct on the mainland. This species survives only on some offshore islands off the Western Australian coast and in predator-proof enclosures such as Barna Mia. 

If you are lucky, you may have some nocturnal animals come into your camp. In the evenings we had woylie's bouncing around under the caravan, and around our camp. They are used to people, but please don't feed them. The Woylie top right (below) has a baby in her pouch. She was very friendly. 

The Woylie, also known as the Brush Tailed Bettong (Bettongia penicillata), feeds on underground fungi, tubers, seeds and insections. It builds a nest of woven grass and bark beneath low thick vegetation. 

This small nocturnal marsupial is considered an important ‘ecosystem engineer’ because its digging and foraging helps turn over topsoil, cycling nutrients and improving aeration and water infiltration into the soil.  Australian Wildlife Conservancy - Woylie

The spotted one is a Chuditch - Western Quoll.  Chuditch's are nocturnal, solitary and are Australia's largest endemic carnivore. They are not born with spots, which develop as they grow. The spots help break up the animal's outline, making it more difficult for predators and prey to see them. They have excellent sight and hearing. During the day they rest in hollow logs and burrows. They can range several kilometres from their burrow. 

Australian Wildlife Conservancy- Chuditch

Another little animal we saw when we were bushwalking was the Yellow footed Antechinus (Antechinus flavipes leucogaster) - indigenous name is Mardo. This is a mouse like, tiny, furry carniverous marsupial weighing about 20-75 grams. They live in hollow logs and tree hollows and eat insects, small lizards, spiders, nectar, and fruit. They are very quick and you need to have very observant eyes to spot one. 

More information at  Re-wild Perth and Wild Life Watching Australia

Dryandra has 50 reptile species including snakes, though we didn't see any. However we did see a Bobtail Shingleback Lizard (2 top photos below, with slightly different colourations), and a Burtons Legless Lizard. At first glance you might think the Burtons is a snake. It has cleverly discarded its limbs to enable it to move quickly and silently. 

The birds we could hear seemed to be way up high in the trees, too high up for us to photograph. But we managed to snap a few. Below clockwise from top left -  Painted Button Quail, Pink and Grey Galah, Rufous Tree Creeper, Grey Currawong (that wanted to join us for breakfast every morning), Boobook Owl (which we saw at Barna Mia), and Purple Crowned Lorikeet (sitting in a hollow tree trunk, preparing to nest we think). 

The Rufous Tree Creeper 

That's about it from me for now. Next time we will take a walk through the Dryandra Woodland to look at wildflowers. We'll go bushwalking, drive the Darwinia Drive to explore the various vegetation types, marvel at the diversity of wildflowers, and hunt for tiny wild orchids. 

Where is it: Dryandra is located about 170 kilometres south east of Perth, about two and a half hours drive.

Camping: There are two options on the west side of the park off the York Williams Road. Both offer options for tenting, camper vans and trailers, and caravans. There are two loops at Gnaala Mia with 35 marked campsites which all have fire rings, and picnic table. There are long drop toilets and a covered camp kitchen. 

At Congelin campground there are 8 caravan bays, and space for group camping and tenting. 

You can also book a cottage at the Lions Dryandra Woodland village. 

Fees apply for camping, however spots are not bookable. We found best time to visit is on weekdays. Please take your rubbish away with you. 

Please ring for tour times at Barna Mia as the tours are not on every day, and to make a booking for the Barna Mia Nocturnal Experience.  Please call (08) 9881 9200 between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM

More information at Explore Parks-Dryandra.

Want to read more? You might be interested in other blog posts I have written about Dryandra over the years - Please click on the links. 

Camping in the Dryandra Woodland - 2015

Banksia or Dryandra? - 2023

Meeting a Bilby in the Dryandra Woodland - 2016

Time out in the Dryandra Woodland - 2023

Walking through the Mallet Trees in the Dryandra Woodland -2023

Meeting an Echidna in the Dryandra Woodland - 2023

Dryandra Woodland in the Early Morning Light - 2012

Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you have enjoyed seeing some of the animals and birds of Dryandra and will visit next time to see the wildflowers. 

I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 
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