Updated in October 2026, this Oakvale Wildlife Park guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking, accessibility and what to see.
Oakvale Wildlife Park is a hands-on wildlife park on 25 acres at Salt Ash in Port Stephens, New South Wales. You can feed free-roaming kangaroos, bottle-feed baby farm animals and cool off at the Splash Bay water park. You can book through Tiqets before you travel. As of October 2026, an adult ticket costs $43 and a child ticket (ages 3 to 16) costs $29. Tickets stay valid for 12 months from the date of purchase, and last entry is at 16:00.
Quick facts for Oakvale Wildlife Park
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 3 Oakvale Drive, Salt Ash, New South Wales 2318 |
| Opening hours | Daily 10:00 to 17:00. Last entry 16:00. Closed Christmas Day |
| Splash Bay and Koala Country | Close at 16:45 |
| Adult | $43 |
| Concession | $39 |
| Child (3 to 16) | $29 |
| Infant (2 and under) | Free |
| Ticket validity | 12 months from purchase, single use |
| Parking | Free, including for coaches and caravans |
| Typical visit | Two to five hours |
| Phone | +61 2 4982 6222 |
Why book Oakvale Wildlife Park tickets?
- 🦘 Feed the kangaroos and quokkas: General entry lets you hand-feed free-roaming animals.
- 🍼 Bottle-feed baby farm animals: Feeding sessions run at 11:00 and 14:00 every day.
- 💦 Splash Bay is included: The water park and shaded playgrounds cost nothing extra with entry.
- 🚜 A free tractor-trailer ride: A guided ride around the park runs at 11:30 and 14:30.
- 🎟️ A 12-month ticket: Your ticket stays valid for a year, so you can choose your day.
Ticket prices for Oakvale Wildlife Park – and how to book
All prices are in Australian dollars. A 1.4% card surcharge and a 20-cent transaction fee apply at online checkout.
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | $43 |
| Concession | $39 |
| Child (3 to 16) | $29 |
| Infant (2 and under) | Free |
| Wild Sand Adventure Package (adult) | $76.95 |
| Wild Sand Adventure Package (child) | $58.90 |
| Wildlife Encounter (20 minutes) | Price |
|---|---|
| Bird Encounter | $90 |
| Farm Encounter | $90 |
| Koala Encounter | $90 |
| Reptile Encounter | $90 |
| Meerkat Encounter | $100 |
| Ring-Tailed Lemur Encounter | $115 |
| Red Panda Encounter | $130 |
General entry includes full-day access, bottle feeding of baby farm animals, keeper talks, the tractor-trailer ride, Splash Bay, shaded playgrounds and free barbecues. Encounters are separate tickets. The Wild Sand Adventure Package is a combo that adds a sand adventure with a local tour operator. Picnic tables cost $25 each to pre-book. Tickets are valid for one use only and are not refundable. You can book through Tiqets for an entry ticket.
Opening hours for Oakvale Wildlife Park
The park opens every day from 10:00 to 17:00, except Christmas Day. Weekday and weekend hours are the same. Severe weather can close the park for the safety of guests and animals.
| Item | Time |
|---|---|
| Park opening hours | Daily 10:00 to 17:00 |
| Last entry | 16:00 |
| Koala Country and Splash Bay | 10:00 to 16:45 |
| Reptile Ravine | 10:00 to 16:30 |
| Christmas Day | Closed |
| Daily program | Time |
|---|---|
| Farmyard feeding and cow milking | 11:00 and 14:00 |
| Free tractor-trailer tour | 11:30 and 14:30 |
| Reptile talk | 12:00 |
| Koala talk | 12:30 |
| Tasmanian devil talk | 14:30 |
| Cassowary talk | 15:00 |
How to get to Oakvale Wildlife Park
The park is at 3 Oakvale Drive in Salt Ash, a short drive from Newcastle and Port Stephens. By car, head north on Nelson Bay Road and turn right onto Oakvale Drive at the Salt Ash roundabout. There is no direct public transport from Sydney to Port Stephens.
5 top experiences to book in Port Stephens
- 🐬 Meet the resident bottlenose dolphins on a sailing cruise with a 99% spotting success rate.
- 🏍️ Go quad biking across the Saharan landscape of the Worimi Sand Dunes.
- 🐋 Spot whales and dolphins on a three hour wildlife cruise.
- 🏄 In an unlimited sandboarding session, whizz down the giant dunes.
- 🚙 Search for pipis and drive along the sand in a 4WD beach adventure.
Parking at Oakvale Wildlife Park
Parking is free. A large car park has space for coaches, caravans, boats and campers. Three designated accessible parking bays are at the entrance.
How long to spend at Oakvale Wildlife Park
Allow two to five hours, depending on how many shows you join and how long you stay at Splash Bay. A quick walk around takes just over an hour, but the daily program runs from 11:00 to 15:00. Families often stay most of the day in summer.
Accessibility at Oakvale Wildlife Park
The park has no steps or sloped pathways, and the main path suits prams and wheelchairs with sturdy wheels. A free wheelchair is available. The tractor-trailer ride helps older visitors and visitors with limited mobility travel around the park.
Accessible toilets are in the Splash Bay Water Park and next to Reptile Ravine. Visitors with a Companion Card can bring a carer for free.
What to see at Oakvale Wildlife Park
The kangaroo and quokka area. Free-roaming kangaroos and quokkas let you feed them by hand. It is one of the park’s most popular hands-on experiences.
The farmyard feeding. Visitors bottle-feed baby lambs and goats and watch cow milking at set times. The farm animals also include sheep, rabbits and ostriches.
Koala Country. This koala breeding and education centre holds a daily keeper talk. You can learn about koalas and feel what it is like to pat one.
Reptile Ravine. Lizards, snakes and other reptiles live here. The reptile talk runs at 12:00 each day.
The Tasmanian devils and the cassowary. Keeper talks introduce the Tasmanian devil and one of Australia’s largest birds, the cassowary. The talks run in the afternoon.
Lemur Island. Ring-tailed lemurs live on an island in the centre of the park. A lemur encounter lets you visit the island.
Splash Bay. This water park has a huge bucket of water that tips over the kids every few minutes. A playground is beside it.
The tractor-trailer ride. A guided tractor ride takes you around the park and introduces the animals.
Practical visitor tips for Oakvale Wildlife Park
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Book ahead | You can buy at the gate, but book tickets in advance to plan your day. |
| Arrive at 10:00 | Animals are most active in the morning, and the first shows start at 11:00. |
| Pack swimmers and a towel | Splash Bay is included in your ticket, and it is a highlight in summer. |
| Use the free barbecues | Free barbecue facilities and picnic tables are available. Pre-book a picnic table for $25. |
| Book encounters ahead | Wildlife encounters are separate tickets with limited places. |
Frequently asked questions about Oakvale Wildlife Park
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What are the opening hours? | Daily from 10:00 to 17:00, with last entry at 16:00. The park is closed on Christmas Day. |
| How much does a ticket cost? | An adult ticket costs $43, a child ticket (3 to 16) costs $29 and a concession ticket costs $39. Infants are free. |
| Is Splash Bay included? | Yes. Splash Bay Water Park is included with general admission. |
| Is parking free? | Yes. Parking is free, with space for coaches, caravans and campers. |
| Do I need to book in advance? | You can buy at the gate, but advance booking is recommended for school holidays and for encounters. |
Things to do near Oakvale Wildlife Park
Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters: An interactive shark and ray aquarium at Anna Bay in Port Stephens.
Port Stephens Animal Adventures: An indoor wildlife attraction with sharks, rays and crocodiles at Bobs Farm.
Fighter World: A military aviation museum at Williamtown in Port Stephens.
Birubi Beach: A surf beach at Anna Bay at the edge of the Stockton Bight sand dunes with camel rides.
Worimi Conservation Lands: A huge coastal dune system known for sandboarding and 4WD tours at Stockton Bight.
Alternatives to Oakvale Wildlife Park
Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary: A koala conservation centre with a canopy walk at One Mile in Port Stephens.
Australian Reptile Park: A reptile and wildlife park at Somersby on the Central Coast.
Hunter Valley Wildlife Park: A small zoo at Nulkaba in the Hunter Valley.
Blackbutt Reserve: A bushland reserve with native animals in Newcastle.
Featherdale Wildlife Park: A wildlife park with koalas and kangaroos in Doonside in western Sydney.
More New South Wales travel
Other New South Wales travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Planning a visit to the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour.
- Bago Maze visitor guide: What to expect at Australia’s largest hedge maze.
- Mid-North Coast beach guides: Burgess Beach in Forster.
- What to expect at the Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary on the Central Coast.
- Guides to Sydney’s beaches: Avalon Beach, Bilgola Beach, Milk Beach, Queenscliff Beach, Shark Beach, Yarra Bay Beach.
