Want to see Australian animals up close in Sydney? Whether you’re planning a fun family outing, introducing your kids to native wildlife, or entertaining visitors from overseas, a trip to a local wildlife park is the perfect choice. To make it easier, we’ve put together a list of the best wildlife parks near the North Shore for an unforgettable day out!
Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park offers a unique experience where most animals roam freely across 80 acres of native bushland.
Visitors can spot emus, kangaroos, wallaroos, wallabies, koalas, dingoes, wombats, Tasmanian devils, quolls, cockatoos, kookaburras, pythons, and lizards, all living in their natural habitat.
The park features a café with pre-made sandwiches, hot pies, and fish & chips, plus a coin-operated coffee machine for fresh brews. Snacks, cold drinks, and ice cream are available at the gift shop. Picnic tables and BBQ facilities are also provided (booking required).
Nestled in 10 acres of eucalyptus forest in Sydney’s Hills District, Koala Park Sanctuary is home to multiple koala families and a diverse range of Australian wildlife, including kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, dingoes, penguins, emus, echidnas, and more. Established in the 1920s, the sanctuary provides a safe haven for koalas to live and breed while allowing visitors to experience Australia’s unique animals up close.
Featherdale Wildlife Park offers a close-up experience with kangaroos, wallabies, emus, and koalas, along with one of Australia’s largest collections of native wildlife and birdlife. The park features a café, picnic area with BBQs, and baby-changing facilities. Located about 30-40 minutes from Chatswood, Gordon, or Wahroonga, it’s a great spot for a family day out!
Just 35 minutes up the M1, the Australian Reptile Park offers hands-on wildlife experiences, exciting shows, and close encounters with kangaroos, koalas, Tasmanian devils, dingoes, and Hugo, a 165kg Galapagos tortoise. Don’t miss Elvis, Australia’s crankiest crocodile, and the alligator lagoon!
The pram-friendly park features a nature walk, adventure playground, picnic areas, and free BBQs—perfect for a family day out. A café is also available for snacks and meals.
We recently visited and had an amazing day! Check out our review.
Located halfway between Sydney and Wollongong, Symbio Wildlife Park spans 16 acres of bush parkland, offering hands-on encounters with fascinating animals. Visitors can enjoy behind-the-scenes experiences with koalas, dingoes, meerkats, red pandas, and monkeys, along with seeing kangaroos, emus, wombats, reptiles, and even Sumatran tigers. Perfect for an up-close wildlife adventure!
Explore Central Gardens and discover a variety of native Australian animals in a beautiful natural setting. This scenic park features waterfalls, shaded playgrounds, a walking track, picnic areas, electric BBQs, a kiosk, and exciting animal enclosures with an aviary. It’s the perfect spot for a family outing, picnic, or outdoor celebration!
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