Zoos & Wildlife in Australia
Australia is home to some of the world's finest zoos and wildlife sanctuaries, where kids can get up close with native animals like koalas, kangaroos and platypus alongside exotic species from every continent. Many offer behind-the-scenes experiences, keeper talks, and interactive animal encounters that make the visit truly memorable. Find the best family-friendly zoos with our honest ratings and visitor tips.
Big-name zoos with keeper talks, or small parks where kids feed kangaroos
The 77 places on this page split into two broad camps. The first is the large zoo you plan a whole day around. Taronga Zoo Sydney in Mosman, which Time Out calls one of the most beautiful zoos on the planet, is our pick for Sydney families with children under 10: reviewers keep mentioning the harbour views and pram access, and the Sky Safari lets you start at the top and walk downhill. Australia Zoo at Beerwah, Time Out's best for families, is built around its croc show and keepers, but seats fill fast on weekends. If your kids want something closer to a safari, Werribee Open Range Zoo runs a bus through open-range enclosures and lets children in free with an adult ticket, though the site is walking-heavy. Monarto Safari Park, which Time Out describes as the world's largest open-range safari park, uses a bus format that suits all mobility levels.
The second camp is the smaller sanctuary where contact matters more than variety. Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary has a free-roam kangaroo paddock that works for toddlers and grandparents, plus a sheepdog show reviewers call a surprise highlight. Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary adds a wildlife hospital viewing area, and Tourism Australia notes its long history as a lorikeet feeding site. Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park is flat and compact enough to cover in two to three hours. Cleland Wildlife Park, Time Out's best wildlife park, and Healesville Sanctuary, with its Flight Arena show, are both single-circuit visits of a few hours.
A few outliers: Penguin Parade at Summerlands is a cold late-evening wait that reviewers say suits ages 6 and up, Sydney Zoo has child-height enclosures so under-10s see without being lifted, and Adelaide Zoo is a walkable panda-first day for ages 3 to 10.
Koala photo, cuddle and patting sessions sell out at nearly every park listed here, so book them online before you leave home and buy the kangaroo feed bag at the gate on the way in.
Checked against the listings on 27 September 2026.
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Zoos & Wildlife across Australia
Showing 24 of 77 activities

The Funky Farm (Bookings Only)
π Hastings, VIC
Small-group farm encounters on the Mornington Peninsula β bookings essential.

Edgarβs Mission
π Lancefield, VIC
Farm sanctuary near Melbourne where rescued animals are the stars.

Burnarlook Llamas and Hazelnuts
π Gembrook, VIC
Private llama farm with hazelnut picking and bush walks in Gembrook.

WARRNAMBOOL WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS, GREAT OCEAN ROAD
π Cudgee, VIC
Feed kangaroos, meet koalas, and handle reptiles near the Great Ocean Road.

Penguin Protectors Warrnambool: The Middle Island Project Education Program
π Warrnambool, VIC
Guided coastal walk to meet Warrnambool's penguin colony and their Maremma

Reptile Encounters
π Burwood, VIC
Hands-on reptile encounters with snakes, lizards and turtles at your event.

Dingo Discovery Sanctuary, Research and Education Centre
π Toolern Vale, VIC
Meet wild dingoes and cubs at this research sanctuary in Toolern Vale.

Wildlife Wonders
π Apollo Bay, VIC
Guided Otways bushland walk with koalas, wallabies, and native wildlife.

Willuna Sanctuary
π Chiltern, VIC
Overnight animal sanctuary on 63 acres near Chiltern with 200+ rescued animals.

Kanyana Wildlife
π Lesmurdie, WA
Perth Hills wildlife rehab centre with school holiday keeper workshops for kids.

BAIRNSLEY Highland Cattle
π Gisborne, VIC
Up-close Highland cattle encounters on a scenic farm just outside Gisborne.

Cleland Wildlife Park
π Crafers, SA
Pat koalas, feed kangaroos and emus in natural-habitat enclosures in the

Little Sherwood Drouin Petting Zoo & Cottages
π Drouin West, VIC
Hands-on petting zoo with goats, highland cows, alpacas, and a huge playground.

The Briars Wildlife Sanctuary
π Mount Martha, VIC
Fenced wildlife sanctuary with wetlands walk and native animal encounters.

Australia Zoo
π Beerwah, QLD
World-class wildlife zoo with crocodile shows and hands-on animal encounters.

Great Ocean Road Wildlife Park
π Gellibrand Lower, VIC
Hand-feed kangaroos, pat wombats, and meet dingoes on the Great Ocean Road.

Gorge Wildlife Park
π Cudlee Creek, SA
Hand-feed roos and cuddle koalas across 15 acres of Adelaide Hills wildlife.

Hartley's Crocodile Adventures
π Wangetti, QLD
Crocodile attack shows, lagoon boat rides, and native wildlife just north of

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
π Brighton, TAS
Hand-feed kangaroos and meet Tasmanian devils at this conservation sanctuary.

National Zoo & Aquarium
π Weston, ACT
Zoo-aquarium combo with lions, tigers, sharks, and an exceptional themed

Billabong Sanctuary
π Nome, QLD
Native wildlife encounters every 30 minutes β koalas, crocs, and meerkats.

Blackbutt Nature Reserve
π Kotara, NSW
Free native wildlife reserve with close koala and kangaroo encounters in

Australian Reptile Park
π Somersby, NSW
Award-winning reptile park with venom milking, komodo dragons, and kangaroo
Billabong Zoo
π Port Macquarie, NSW
Compact 10-acre zoo with koalas, cheetahs, and hands-on feeding experiences.
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