Australian wildlife parks and zoos offer the easiest way to see koalas, kangaroos, wombats and saltwater crocodiles up close. They vary widely. Some are large zoos with exotic species, such as Melbourne Zoo. Others focus on native animals, including Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane and Healesville Sanctuary in the Yarra Valley. Many parks let visitors hand-feed kangaroos, and most run ranger talks and animal encounters. These guides cover ticket prices, opening hours, parking and accessibility across six Australian states and territories. They also give a realistic sense of what to expect, from compact and charming to extensive and packed with animal encounters.
New South Wales: Sydney, the Hunter Valley and Port Stephens
New South Wales offers wildlife parks in and around Sydney, plus regional sanctuaries in the Hunter Valley and at Port Stephens.
- Symbio Wildlife Park, Helensburgh: visitor guide with prices and times — a wildlife park in the Illawarra region, south of Sydney.
- Calmsley Hill City Farm, Sydney: hours, prices, parking and visitor tips — a city farm within reach of central Sydney.
- Taronga Zoo visitor guide: How to get to Sydney’s top zoo, how much it costs and which creatures you’ll see.
- Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary, Calga: guide with prices, times and visitor tips — a wildlife sanctuary on the Central Coast, north of Sydney.
- Australian Reptile Park visitor guide: Crocs, venom extraction and more near Gosford on the Central Coast.
- Hunter Valley Wildlife Park, Nulkaba: a first-time visitor’s guide — a wildlife park in the Hunter Valley wine region.
- Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary: guide with ticket prices, hours and how to book — a koala sanctuary on the Port Stephens coast, with advice on what to see.
- Port Stephens Animal Adventures: guide with ticket prices, hours and how to book — a good rainy-day option, including the cost of swimming with a crocodile.
- Oakvale Wildlife Park visitor guide: What to expect at this family-friendly Port Stephens attraction.
Queensland: Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Far North Queensland
Queensland has the most guides here, from the world’s oldest koala sanctuary in Brisbane to a cluster of rainforest attractions around Kuranda.
- Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Brisbane: practical guide with hours, prices and accessibility — the world’s oldest koala sanctuary, opened in 1927.
- Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Gold Coast: ticket prices, opening hours and tips — known for its wild lorikeet feeding, a tradition dating back to 1947.
- David Fleay Wildlife Park, Gold Coast: ticket prices, opening hours and tips — named after the biologist who first bred a platypus in captivity.
- Cairns Koalas and Creatures visitor guide: What to expect in this all-weather wildlife attraction at the Pier.
- Birdworld Kuranda: ticket prices, hours and tips — a bird-focused attraction in the Kuranda rainforest village.
- Kuranda Koala Gardens: ticket prices, hours and tips — a small wildlife park in Kuranda centred on koalas.
- Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, Kuranda: ticket prices, hours and tips — billed as Australia’s largest butterfly flight aviary.
- Rainforestation Nature Park, Kuranda: ticket prices, hours and tips — combines a koala and wildlife park with an Army Duck tour and an Aboriginal cultural experience.
- Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas: guide with ticket prices, hours and how to book — a wildlife park near the Daintree, with details of experiences and show times.
Victoria: Melbourne, the Yarra Valley and Ballarat
Victoria’s wildlife parks range from Australia’s oldest zoo in Melbourne to open-range and bushland sanctuaries within reach of the city.
- Melbourne Zoo: visitor guide with hours, prices, parking and practical tips — Australia’s oldest zoo, opened in 1862, with animals from Australia and around the world, in Melbourne.
- Werribee Open Range Zoo: practical guide with hours, prices and visitor tips — herbivores roaming an open-range setting near Melbourne.
- Healesville Sanctuary, Yarra Valley: opening hours, ticket prices and parking — a bushland sanctuary focused on Australian wildlife.
- Moonlit Sanctuary, Mornington Peninsula: ticket prices, hours and how to book — the Mornington Peninsula’s top wildlife attraction.
- Ballarat Wildlife Park, Victoria: a visitor guide — a wildlife park in the gold-rush city of Ballarat.
South Australia: Adelaide and the Adelaide Hills
Adelaide has a historic city zoo and two wildlife parks in the nearby Adelaide Hills.
- Adelaide Zoo: opening hours, ticket prices and parking — Australia’s second-oldest zoo, opened in 1883, in Adelaide.
- Cleland Wildlife Park, Adelaide Hills: opening hours, ticket prices and parking — a native wildlife park in the Adelaide Hills.
- Gorge Wildlife Park, Adelaide Hills: a guide for first-time visitors — a second hills-based wildlife park, within reach of Adelaide.
Western Australia and the Northern Territory
Each has one guide so far: a Swan Valley wildlife park near Perth and a crocodile encounter in Darwin.
- Caversham Wildlife Park, Swan Valley: prices, times, parking and visitor tips — a wildlife park in the Swan Valley wine region near Perth.
- Crocosaurus Cove visitor guide: See giant crocs in the centre of Darwin at this unusual wildlife attraction.
- Cage of Death, Crocosaurus Cove, Darwin: face to face with a saltwater crocodile — a transparent cage that puts visitors in the same pool as a saltwater crocodile.
- Territory Wildlife Park visitor guide: Ticket prices, opening hours and what to see at this Berry Springs tourist favourite.
Planning your visit
Parks outside city centres are usually easiest with a hire car. There are exceptions. Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary can be reached by bus from central Brisbane, and Kuranda is a short walk from the Skyrail cableway and Kuranda Scenic Railway terminals.
Rules on koala encounters differ by state. Holding koalas is illegal in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, so visitors there can only see koalas without handling them. Several parks schedule feeding sessions and shows at fixed times, so check each guide before arriving.
Frequently asked questions
Where can you hold a koala in Australia?
Holding koalas is illegal in several states, including New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. Some venues in Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia have offered holds, but practices are changing. Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane ended its koala-holding experience in July 2024, replacing it with close-up encounters. Check each park’s guide for its current policy.
What is the oldest zoo in Australia?
Melbourne Zoo is Australia’s oldest zoo, opened in 1862. Adelaide Zoo is the second oldest, opened in 1883. Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, opened in 1927, is recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest koala sanctuary.
Which Australian wildlife parks focus on native animals?
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and Healesville Sanctuary concentrate on Australian wildlife, and Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is known for one of the largest collections of Australian native species. Larger zoos such as Melbourne Zoo hold animals from Australia and around the world.