I’m always on the lookout for spots close to home where you can see wildlife without along drive. I visited Victoria Gardens back in 2017 and had a great result with Quenda then — so last week I took my son Liam back to see if he could get some photos.
We spent a good while searching without much luck — scanning the ground, checking the vegetation, the usual routine. Nothing. Then Liam called out: he’d spotted a Quenda (a species of bandicoot — Isoodon fusciventer) foraging right next to the interpretive sign explaining that Quenda live in the area. Of all the places to find one. We both had a good laugh about that.
I managed to get a shot of Liam photographing it — him in his beloved cow hat, camera raised, the Quenda going about its business, and the sign right there in the frame. It’s one of those photos that just comes together. Once we found the first one, more appeared — brilliant views of multiple animals completely unbothered by us.
Liam has been getting into photography lately and he made the most of it, getting some great shots of his own. He’s entered the below into a youth photography competition (WA Snapshot) — I’ll let the photo speak for itself below. I am very proud. There is a people’s award category so I will share once we get the chance.
Victoria Gardens is an easy recommendation for anyone in Perth. It’s right on the river, free to visit, and you don’t need any special gear other than a torch. Head down around dusk, keep your eyes low and ears keen near the denser vegetation — or just look for the sign!
Finding Quenda at Victoria Gardens
- Best time: dusk into evening
- Look near: dense low vegetation in the gardens
- Bring: a torch (red light is less disruptive) and patience
- Parking: free along Riverside Drive
- Bonus tip: find the Quenda interpretive sign — they clearly like it there
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Wildlife Watching in Australia 
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