This species is found in a variety of habitats including suburban gardens in towns and cities. Its preferred habitat is heath and forested areas near open, grassy feeding sites (Dickman and Stodart 2008). It is a nocturnal, solitary animal that spends the day in a nest (Dickman and Stodart 2008). Females can give birth to up to five young (usually 2 or 3), and may produce litters in quick succession (Dickman and Stodart 2008). The species is generally poorly studied.

The Long-nosed Bandicoot is endemic to Australia, where it is widely distributed in the east from just south of Cooktown to Wilsons Promontory. An isolated population also occurs well north of Cooktown, on upper Cape York Peninsula in the McIlwraith Range and Iron Range regions (G. Gordon pers. comm). The elevational range of this species is sea level to 1,400 m asl, but it is most abundant below 1,000 m.

It is present in several protected areas. There is an urgent need for habitat maintenance across the range of the species.