Where to Have a Koala Encounter in Australia

Australia is famous for its unique wildlife, and nothing says “Down Under” quite like a koala encounter. From cuddly photo moments to immersive bushland experiences, these iconic marsupials can be found across the country in wildlife parks and sanctuaries. Whether you’re a family, a wildlife lover, or simply chasing that perfect Aussie memory, here’s your guide to the best places to meet koalas in every state.

1. Taronga Zoo Sydney, NSW

📍 Bradleys Head Rd, Mosman NSW 2088

What to expect:

One of Australia’s most iconic zoos with stunning views over Sydney Harbour, Taronga offers a Koala Encounter where you get up close with these sleepy icons and learn about their lives from experienced keepers. While you can’t physically hold the koalas (NSW regulations prohibit full cuddling), you can see them up close and take photos during the session.

Koala experience details:

Price: ~$15 AUD per person for the standard koala encounter.
Time: Daily sessions usually in the late morning (about 11:00 am–12:55 pm).
Duration: ~5 minutes per session.

✨ Pro Tip: Arrive early to secure your spot, tickets are limited and go fast! There’s also a more in-depth Wild Australia Experience tour available that includes koala viewing and behind-the-scenes zoo access for a more immersive wildlife adventure.

Image: Taronga Zoo, Mosman, Destination NSW

2. Koala Park Sanctuary Sydney, NSW

📍 84 Castle Hill Rd, West Pennant Hills NSW 2125

What to expect:

A classic, Aussie wildlife park just a short drive from Sydney’s CBD, Koala Park Sanctuary gives visitors a chance to see, pat, and photograph koalas in a relaxed, bushland setting.

Koala experience details:

Price: General admission prices vary; the park is family-friendly and has free daily animal presentations.
Time: Several sessions throughout the day (e.g., ~10:20 am, ~11:45 am, ~2:00 pm, ~3:00 pm).
Duration: ~25 minutes per session.

✨ Pro Tip: Great for families and those who want a relaxed wildlife experience without the crowds of bigger zoos. Friendly atmosphere, multiple opportunities to interact with koalas and other native animals like kangaroos, wombats and emus.

Image: Koala Sanctuary Port Stephens, One Mile, Destination NSW

3. Australian Reptile Park, NSW

📍 Pacific Highway, Somersby NSW 2250

What to expect:

This popular wildlife park lets you meet and pat koalas during dedicated encounters, led by experienced keepers, perfect for animal lovers! This hand-on experience meeting some of the friendliest koalas in NSW is a great learning opportunity about their behaviour and conservation.

Koala experience details:

Price: ~$90 AUD (does not include general park admission).
Time: Typically, around 10:30 am, 1:00 pm, and 2:30 pm daily.
Duration: ~20 minutes.

✨ Pro Tip: Pair your koala encounter with a walk through the rest of the park, you can also meet kangaroos, reptiles and other Aussie wildlife.

Image: Australian Reptile Park, Destination NSW

4. Australia Zoo, QLD

📍 1638 Steve Irwin Wy, Beerwah QLD 4519

What to expect:

Australia Zoo is one of Queensland’s most famous wildlife attractions, offering an unforgettable opportunity to get up close with koalas in a world-class conservation-focused setting. Learn about koala care, habitat protection and conservation efforts from passionate wildlife keepers.

Koala experience details:

Price: ~$30–$35 AUD for a koala photo experience (zoo entry required)
Time: Available daily at scheduled times
Duration: Short encounter with professional photo

✨ Pro Tip: Combine your koala experience with a full day at the zoo, don’t miss the wildlife shows and wide-open habitats that make Australia Zoo so special.

Image: Australia Zoo, Tourism and Event Queensland

5. Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, QLD

📍 28 Tomewin St, Currumbin QLD 4223

What to expect:

Set among lush rainforest, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary offers an iconic Australian wildlife experience. You can get close to koalas, learn about their habits and conservation, and capture the moment with a professional photo in a relaxed, natural environment.

Koala experience details:

Price: ~$29–$35 AUD for a koala photo (park entry required)
Time: Available daily at designated times
Duration: Brief encounter for photos

✨ Pro Tip: Visit early in the day and allow time to explore the sanctuary’s free-roaming kangaroos, bird shows and beautiful walking trails.

Image: Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Tourism and Events Queensland

6. Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, QLD

📍 708 Jesmond Rd, Fig Tree Pocket QLD 4069

What to expect:

As the world’s oldest and largest koala sanctuary, Lone Pine is one of the best places in Australia to see koalas up close. While holding koalas is no longer permitted, visitors can enjoy close encounters, educational talks and photo opportunities in a peaceful bushland setting.

Koala experience details:

Price: Included with general admission (photo experiences available for an additional cost)
Time: Koala encounters and keeper talks run daily
Duration: Varies depending on session

✨ Pro Tip: Lone Pine is perfect for a half-day trip from Brisbane and pairs beautifully with a riverside picnic or city exploration afterwards.

Image: Koala at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Tourism and Events Queensland

7. Billabong Sanctuary, QLD

📍 2 Muntalunga Dr, Nome QLD 4816

What to expect:

Billabong Sanctuary is one of North Queensland’s most beloved wildlife parks, set in 11 ha of tropical bushland where you can meet a huge variety of Australian animals -from kangaroos and wombats to crocodiles and koalas. It’s one of the few places in Australia where you can hold a koala and take a professional souvenir photo, making it a standout experience for animal lovers and families alike.

Koala experience details:

Price: Daily entry ~ $52 AUD for adults, ~$35 AUD for children (4–16 yrs), extra for koala photos (~$35 AUD for one animal photo)
Time: Souvenir photo sessions typically 10:15–11:00 am & 2:45 pm
Duration: Short koala photo experience during the session (souvenir photos include printed image + digital copy)

✨ Pro Tip: Book your koala photo when you arrive, sessions sell out fast, especially in peak tourism seasons. If holding a koala isn’t possible in the afternoon, you can still pose beside one or take a pat photo on a branch with the afternoon sessions.

Image: Billabong Sanctuary, Tourism and Events Queensland

8. Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park, VIC

📍 550 Tyabb-Tooradin Rd, Pearcedale VIC 3912

What to expect:

Moonlit Sanctuary offers a unique chance to meet koalas in a natural bushland setting, just an hour from Melbourne. Known for its strong focus on conservation and education, the sanctuary provides close-up koala encounters led by passionate keepers who share fascinating insights into koala behaviour and habitat protection.

Koala experience details:

Price: ~$30–$40 AUD for a koala encounter photo (sanctuary entry required)
Time: Available daily at scheduled times
Duration: Short, guided encounter

✨ Pro Tip: Combine your koala encounter with a twilight visit to see nocturnal animals become active, a truly special experience unique to Moonlit Sanctuary.

Image: Moonlit Sanctuary, Mornington Peninsula, Visit Victoria

9. Healesville Sanctuary, VIC

📍 Glen Eadie Ave, Healesville VIC 3777

What to expect:

Set in the heart of the Yarra Valley, Healesville Sanctuary showcases Australian wildlife in spacious, natural enclosures. Koala encounters here focus on education and conservation, offering an up-close look at these iconic marsupials while learning about the sanctuary’s important rescue and rehabilitation work.

Koala experience details:

Price: Included with general admission (optional koala photo experience available for an additional fee, ~$30 AUD)
Time: Daily keeper talks and scheduled photo sessions
Duration: Short encounter during presentation or photo session

✨ Pro Tip: Make a day of it by pairing your visit with a winery lunch or scenic drive through the Yarra Valley, it’s one of Victoria’s most beautiful regions.

Image: Healesville Sanctuary, Zoos Victoria

10. Caversham Wildlife Park, WA

📍 Whiteman Park, Whiteman Drive East, Whiteman WA 6068

What to expect:

Caversham Wildlife Park is one of Western Australia’s most popular places to see Australian wildlife up close. Set within Whiteman Park, it offers the chance to meet and pat koalas during scheduled encounters, guided by knowledgeable keepers who share insights into koala care and conservation.

Koala experience details:

Price: Included with general park admission (approx. ~$30 AUD for adults)
Time: Daily scheduled koala encounters
Duration: Short, guided interaction

✨ Pro Tip: Arrive early to catch animal feeding times and enjoy the open spaces of Whiteman Park, perfect for a relaxed half-day visit.

Image: Caversham Wildlife Park, Swan Valley, Tourism Western Australia

11. Perth Zoo, WA

📍 20 Labouchere Rd, South Perth WA 6151

What to expect:

Located just minutes from Perth’s CBD, Perth Zoo offers an immersive wildlife experience with a strong focus on conservation. While koala holding is not permitted, visitors can enjoy close-up koala viewing sessions and keeper talks that highlight the zoo’s important work in protecting native species.

Koala experience details:

Price: Included with general zoo admission (approx. ~$38 AUD for adults)
Time: Daily keeper talks at scheduled times
Duration: Varies depending on presentation

✨ Pro Tip: Take the ferry from Elizabeth Quay to South Perth for a scenic arrival, then enjoy riverside views after your zoo visit.

12. Cleland Wildlife Park, SA

📍 365 Mount Lofty Summit Rd, Crafers SA 5152

What to expect:

Cleland Wildlife Park offers an immersive bushland experience just outside Adelaide. Visitors can see koalas up close in naturalistic enclosures, enjoy educational talks, and wander among free-roaming kangaroos, emus, and other native animals - a perfect family-friendly wildlife day out.

Koala experience details:

Price: Included with general park admission (~$25 AUD adults, ~$15 AUD children)
Time: Keeper talks and koala viewing throughout the day
Duration: Short encounter

✨ Pro Tip: Visit in the morning when koalas are most active, and take the scenic walking trails around the park for a full bushland experience.

Image: Cleland Wildlife Park, South Australian Tourism Commission

13. Adelaide Zoo, SA

📍 Frome Rd, Adelaide SA

What to expect:

Adelaide Zoo is home to a small but charming koala colony. Visitors can enjoy close-up koala viewing during daily keeper talks, learning about their behaviours, diet, and conservation efforts, all in the heart of Adelaide.

Koala experience details:

Price: Included with general zoo admission (~$36 AUD adults, ~$18 AUD children)
Time: Daily keeper talks at scheduled times
Duration: Short, guided viewing session

✨ Pro Tip: Pair your koala visit with a stroll through the giant panda exhibit or the zoo’s botanic gardens for a full day of wildlife and nature in the city.

Image: Adelaide Zoo, Tourism Australia / South Australia Tourism Commission

How to Care for Koalas & Be a Respectful Visitor

Koalas may look cuddly, but they are sensitive animals that need plenty of rest and minimal stress. Always follow keeper instructions during encounters, keep noise levels low, and avoid sudden movements. If touching or holding a koala isn’t permitted, respect these rules - they are in place to protect the animal’s wellbeing.

Choose wildlife parks and sanctuaries that prioritise conservation and ethical care, and never attempt to approach or touch koalas in the wild. By being respectful visitors, we help ensure these iconic animals can be protected for future generations.

✨ Pro Tip: Australia is home to some of the world’s most iconic wildlife, and there’s nothing quite like a close encounter with a koala to make your trip unforgettable. So, book your koala encounters in advance where possible, and pair your visit with other native wildlife experiences nearby (from kangaroos and wombats to unique birdlife) to make the most of your trip.