Things to Do at Featherdale Wildlife Park in Sydney

If you’re looking to get up close and personal with native Australian animals, Featherdale Wildlife Park is the perfect destination. Sydney, Australia, is known for its iconic landmarks and beautiful beaches, but it’s also home to some of the most unique wildlife in the world.

Follow our simple tips for enhancing your Featherdale Wildlife Park experience, and save some cash in the process.

Maximizing your visit

You can meet kangaroos, koalas, and even a Tasmanian devil. If you plan on visiting the park and want to make the most of your trip, then take advantage of the penguin and koala encounter.

Animal encounters at Featherdale Wildlife Park

The park offers animal encounters if you want to get up close and personal with some animals. You can have a close encounter with a koala and other animals such as kangaroos and penguins. These encounters are an excellent way to get to know the animals and learn more about them.

The personal encounter with the koalas and penguins gave us a newfound appreciation for these incredible creatures, and the informative discussions with the handlers enlightened me about their challenges. If you want an up-close experience with koalas while in Sydney, I highly recommend Featherdale Wildlife Park.

Type of Sydney wildlife encounters

Koala encounters are $150 plus $100 for an additional person. Minimum age is 10 years old. An adult must accompany anyone 10 to 15 years old.

• penguin encounter
• koala encounter
• wombat encounter
• quokka encounter

How to Prepare

Before the penguin encounter, wear comfortable and appropriate clothing and shoes. You may also want to bring some sunscreen and bug spray. Cameras are allowed; you will want to take many pictures of these cute creatures in their habitat. A knowledgeable wildlife guide will take you through the encounter, so listen carefully to instructions and ask questions if you need clarification.

Penguin encounter

Most visitors to Featherdale Park are eager to check out the penguin encounter. This up-close and personal experience allows vacationers to come in contact with various penguins, including the popular Fairy Penguin. You can get within a few feet of these adorable creatures and watch them play, swim, and shuffle around their habitat.

The penguins are well cared for, and the knowledgeable staff will answer any questions. You feed the penguins with small fish. It’s amazing how many fish the penguins will eat. You will have to fend off some of the more invasive birds that also try to eat the fish.

The Penguin Encounter is undoubtedly one of the most popular attractions at the park. Getting up close and personal with these delightful creatures is an excellent opportunity. Remember to plan your visit, wear comfortable clothing, and listen carefully to instructions.

Koala encounter

A fascinating aspect of the encounter was learning about the various issues koalas face in Australia, including habitat loss and disease. Hearing the zookeeper’s passion for their work and the measures being taken to protect koalas was heartening.

The koala encounter at Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park was also worth it. You do not hold koalas, but you can get close to them. You also get to feed them with native eucalyptus leaves. Koalas feed only on these plants as they have gut flora that assists in the safe digestion of eucalyptus toxins.

Feeding the kangaroos and wallabies

Feeding kangaroos and wallabies is relatively cheap other than the food you purchase at the entrance to the park. The best place to feed the kangaroos is towards the end of the park. There are more kangaroos and wallabies in this section, and feeding these animals was also one of my favorite experiences at Featherdale.

Discount opportunities

Purchase tickets online

You can purchase tickets to Featherdale Wildlife Park on their website or at the entrance. If you buy online, you get a 10% discount. The ticket prices depend on the visitor’s age and the tour type.

They also offer annual passes for those who want to visit the park regularly. While you probably don’t need travel insurance for just visiting the park, if you are coming from outside of Australia it’s always a good idea to buy travel insurance.

• Ticket prices range from $25-$40 (AUD) for daily admission
• Annual passes are $120 (plus $60 per additional person) for access to three parks

What is Featherdale Wildlife Park?

Featherdale Wildlife Park is in Western Sydney, just 40 minutes from Darling Harbour. The park is home to over 2,000 animals, including over 60 threatened native Australian species, such as kangaroos, koalas, and wallabies, as well as different species of birds, reptiles, and marsupials.

Where is the park?

Featherdale Wildlife Park is located in Western Sydney. For a comprehensive list of other activities and adventures to do in Australia, read our Australia travel guide. Address: 217 Kildare Road, Doonside, NSW 2767 Australia

How to get there?

There are several ways to get to Featherdale Wildlife Park. If you’re coming from Sydney town center, you can take the train to Blacktown and then take the 729 bus to the park. You can also hire a car or take a taxi/Uber directly to the park.

Traveling in Sydney by public transport is easy and the cheapest way to travel. Our family was already in Sydney in preparation for a 14-day cruise from Sydney to Australia. For other activities to do nearby, visit our page on best things to do in Sydney.

What do you see at the park?

Featherdale Wildlife Park is a great place to see and interact with Australia and Sydney wildlife. You can meet kangaroos and wallabies and even have a close encounter with a koala. 

Other animals you will see include wombats, echidnas, Tasmanian devils, saltwater crocodiles, and different species of birds and reptiles. The park offers animal encounters and keeper talks so that you can learn more about the animals and their habitats.

Feeding the wildlife in Sydney at Featherdale Park

You can feed kangaroos, pademelons, and wallabies when Featherdale Wildlife Park is open. Cups of food are $4 (AUD) each. There are three areas to walk through where you’ll find kangaroos, wallabies, and pademelons to feed.

Essential facts about Featherdale Wildlife Park

Featherdale Wildlife Park is not just a place to see wildlife in Sydney; it’s also a place that prioritizes conservation. The park is home to many endangered species, and they have programs in place to help protect them and their habitats. Some animals in the park have been rescued and cannot be released back into the wild.

Conservation efforts at Featherdale Wildlife Park

Featherdale Wildlife Park takes its conservation efforts seriously. They have a breeding program for endangered species, essential to their survival. 

The park also supports various conservation programs and researches different animal species. The park educates visitors about the significance of conservation and how they can help to protect animals.

Restaurants at Featherdale Wildlife Park

A café is inside the park, so you don’t have to worry about getting hungry during your visit. The food options include various choices, from snacks to full meals. You can also bring your food and picnic at designated areas throughout the park. The Featherdale Treehouse Café is located at the top of the park and serves hot food, as well as snacks and drinks.

History of Featherdale Wildlife Park

Featherdale Wildlife Park was established in 1972 by Bruce Kubbere, a passionate wildlife conservationist. Initially, it was just a small collection of birds and animals, but it has since grown into one of Australia’s most popular wildlife parks. Today, the park is owned and managed by Elanor Investors Group (since 2013).

Things to know before you go to Featherdale Wildlife Park

Before you visit, it’s essential to know that the park is open every day of the year except for Christmas Day. The hours of operation are from 9 AM to 4 PM. It’s also important to note that the park is accessible to people with disabilities.

Insider tips and advice when visiting the park

If you’re planning to visit Featherdale Wildlife Park, there are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Wear comfortable footwear and clothing since you will walk and stand for an extended period.
2. Bring sunscreen and a ball cap since it can get hot during the day.
3. Bring a camera to capture all your favorite moments.
4. Bring a bottle of water with you

Other zoos and wildlife in Sydney

There are a total of three zoos in Sydney and another five animal parks. The Sydney Zoo is my favorite zoos in Australia. Zoo ticket are easy to purchase online or in person.

Zoos in Sydney

1. Sydney Australia Zoo
2. Taronga Zoo Sydney
3. Wild Life Sydney Zoo

Taronga vs Sydney Zoo

Both zoos are great with Taronga being the largest. Sydney zoo takes 1.5 to 2 hours to walk through and Taronga can take up to a full day.

Other Animal Parks

1. Oakvale Wildlife Park
2. Sea Life Sydney Aquarium
3. Symbio Wildlife Park
4. Australian Reptile Park
5. Koala Park Sanctuary Sydney

Places near Sydney with wild animals also found at Featherdale

A lot of the animals in Featherdale you can find close to Sydney.

Wildlife in the Blue Mountains

Here’s a list of some of the endemic animals to Australia found in the Blue Mountains.

• kangaroos
• koalas
• dingo
• bats
• cockatoos
• laughing kookaburra
• lyrebird

Animals in Sydney Harbour

The Sydney Harbour is home to several endemic species.

• penguins
• frogs
• brushtail possum

Featherdale Wildlife Park is great for animal lovers and wildlife conservation enthusiasts. With its unique collection of native Australian animals, animal encounters, and conservation efforts, it’s a great way to spend a day in Sydney. Take a break from the beaches and head to Featherdale Wildlife Park for a day with endemic Australian animals?