Four amazing places to adore koalas in Australia

Koalas are, without a doubt, one of Australia’s most iconic animals. Surveys suggest that up to 75% of international visitors hope to see one during their trip, making koalas a top “must-see” attraction.  However, the way travellers choose to encounter these beloved marsupials is changing rapidly. Visitor expectations have shifted significantly, with most people now content to observe koalas in their natural habitat or in spacious, ethical enclosures. Opportunities to hold or cuddle koalas are strictly regulated, prohibited in most states, and are gradually being phased out by leading wildlife parks due to animal welfare concerns. Many eco-conscious travellers now prefer to see wildlife in ethical, natural settings such as Kangaroo Island in South Australia, rather than in captive exhibits. In this article, I share four fantastic places I visited in Australia, from wildlife parks to sanctuaries, where I saw koalas up close.

Fascinating koala facts

Koalas are well-known Australian marsupials often mistaken for bears, but they are actually more closely related to wombats. They spend most of their time sleeping in eucalyptus trees to conserve energy, as their diet is difficult to digest and low in nutrients. Koalas have unique features that help them survive, including two opposable thumbs on each front paw and fingerprints that are distinct to each individual. The name “koala” comes from the Dharug Aboriginal word gula, meaning “no drink”, as they mainly get their hydration from eucalyptus leaves. Koalas have specialised cartilage at the base of their spine, which provides added comfort while resting in trees. Despite their cute appearance, male koalas can produce loud grunting calls that can be heard from a distance. Newborn joeys are born blind, deaf, and hairless, relying on their sense of smell to find their mother’s pouch.

Understanding koala encounter regulations

Australia has strict animal welfare laws, which vary depending on the state or territory you are in. In Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), it is illegal for members of the public to hold a koala. Wildlife parks and sanctuaries in these regions are not permitted to allow visitors to lift, carry, or cuddle koalas, due to the stress and potential harm this can cause the animals.  You can still see koalas at close range; instead of holding them, you will experience supervised, low-contact encounters. This may include standing beside a koala for a photo, watching koalas feed, or quietly observing them in their enclosure while a trained keeper shares insights into their behaviour. Holding koalas is only permitted in Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia, where it is strictly regulated in licensed wildlife parks. In South Australia, licensed parks such as Gorge Wildlife Park allow supervised holding, though handling is tightly controlled to prevent the animals from becoming distressed.

My Koala Adventures: Four Top Places

1. Meet koalas at Taronga Zoo, Sydney

Taronga Zoo Sydney cares for a dynamic population of koalas as part of its dedicated conservation and breeding programmes. While it does not provide an exact count of its koala colony, you can typically see around 10 to 15 koalas at any given time. Learn about these unique animals from passionate koala keepers, including how they sleep for up to 20 hours a day, are selective eaters, and how we can help reduce the threats they face in the wild. For the safety and comfort of these furry friends, visitors are not permitted to touch or hold the koalas. However, you can get close to these amazing animals, with keepers ensuring they remain undisturbed. Encounter sessions take place daily between 11:00 am and 12:55 pm and last approximately five minutes. There is an additional cost for this experience, separate from the zoo entry fee. Bookings can be made at the Top Plaza Retail Shop from 9:00 am on the day, or by purchasing tickets through Taronga’s free app. 

My personal experience: I did not book a paid koala encounter at the zoo. For general viewing, there were not many koalas visible, and they were quite far from visitors. I travelled to the zoo by ferry, which was a lovely way to arrive and see the amazing Sydney skyline on the way.

Location: Taronga Zoo Sydney is located on Bradleys Head Road in Mosman, right on Sydney Harbour, and is easily accessible from Sydney CBD by ferry, car, or bus.

2. Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park

Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park houses the largest collection of koalas in New South Wales, with around 50 individuals spread across spacious habitats. It is the only place in Sydney where visitors are permitted to pat a koala. You can see koalas all day in the expansive walk-through Koala Sanctuary and surrounding habitats, without waiting in long queues.

For an additional fee, you can get up close to a koala, feel its fur, and have a professional photographer capture a souvenir photo for groups of up to six people. A portion of the proceeds goes to the Australian Wildlife Parks Foundation. For a more exclusive experience (starting from $200), you can enter the enclosures with keepers, hand-feed the koalas eucalyptus leaves, and interact closely with a mother and her joey. While general viewing is included with standard park admission, guided encounters and photo packages are best booked in advance via the official website.

My personal experience: I saw many koalas up close, and the park photographer took a photo of our family with a koala for a fee. I was also allowed to touch it gently. Interestingly, the tree the koala was sitting on could be rotated easily, allowing the photographer to position it for the best shot without disturbing the animal.

Location: 217 Kildare Road, Doonside, Sydney, NSW (approximately a 45-minute drive from Sydney CBD). Open daily from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, except on Christmas Day.

3. Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary on Kangaroo Island, South Australia

The Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, a privately owned area spanning 2,000 hectares (5,000 acres), is situated between Kelly Hill Caves Conservation Park and Flinders Chase National Park on Kangaroo Island. Known for its population of healthy wild koalas, the sanctuary was devastated by a bushfire that began on 3 January 2020. Despite the loss of many buildings and habitats, the sanctuary has shown remarkable resilience, with more than 40 wild koalas still living in the area. The sanctuary offers guided tours, including a koala walk and a bushfire ecology tour, to educate visitors about the ecosystem and its response to bushfires. Tours run at 10:30 am and 2:30 pm on most days. Visitors are advised to book tours in advance.

My personal experience: This was the only time on this trip that I saw koalas in the wild, thanks to our knowledgeable guide who spotted them in about five different places. One of them was making an unexpectedly loud noise.

Location: Kangaroo Island, South Australia.

4. Koala holding at Gorge Wildlife Park, South Australia

Gorge Wildlife Park is home to many favourite Australian animals, such as koalas, wombats, dingoes, and Tasmanian devils. Pick up some food at the entrance before heading to the walk-through enclosures, where you can stroll among and feed friendly kangaroos and wallabies, including albino individuals, who will eat straight from your hand.

You can also have a cuddly encounter with one of their koalas. This is an experience you do not want to miss, and Gorge Wildlife Park is one of the few places in South Australia where you can actually hold a koala. Koala holding sessions run daily at 11:30 am and 2:30 pm when visitors are present. At these times, you can hold or pat a koala, take your own photographs, or learn about these fascinating animals from friendly keepers. Koala patting is free of charge, while there is a fee to hold a koala. It is at the keeper’s discretion to determine whether a visitor is suitable to hold a koala. Booking the experience in advance is essential. Please note that koala holding is not available when the forecast temperature in Adelaide is 32°C or above.

My personal experience: My travel companion was eager to hold a koala, and this was the perfect place to do so. We booked a holding session in advance on their website. There was quite a long queue of people interested in holding koalas. Two keepers were in charge, and everything was smoothly organised; the koalas did not seem particularly disturbed. Everyone was happy.

Location: Approximately 25 kilometres (about a 40-minute drive) from Adelaide CBD, located on Gorge Road/Tourist Drive 58.

You do not have to hold a koala to love one

While you may not be able to hold a koala in many places in Australia, you can still walk away with something even more special: a respectful, meaningful connection that prioritises the animal’s well-being. Whether you are a local or a visitor, it is an experience that stays with you and helps protect one of Australia’s most beloved species for generations to come.

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What did you think? Do you adore koalas? I would love to hear from you, so please add your comment below.

Author: Anita Sane

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