You can get close to wildlife and experience extraordinary animal encounters at zoos and wildlife parks across NSW. Come face to face with native animals, take a safari with exotic creatures and learn about the conservation work that’s being done.
Symbio Wildlife Park
Where: Wollongong
Distance from Sydney: 55km (approximately one hour by car)
Why visit: Symbio Wildlife Park, located just south of Sydney along the Grand Pacific Drive, is where you’ll meet meerkats, lemurs, tigers and cheetahs. You can spot Australian animals such as wombats and echidnas, hand-feed kangaroos, take a selfie with a koala or purchase a tree to help grow their koala conservation program.
Family-friendly tip: There’s a dedicated Splash Park in case you’re visiting in the warmer months and need to cool off.
Symbio Wildlife Park, Helensburgh
Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary
Where: Central Coast
Distance from Sydney: 70km (approximately one hour by car)
Why visit: Australia Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary is a short drive north of Sydney. It's the largest working wildlife sanctuary in the state and you can walk among free-ranging emus, kangaroos, possums, reptiles and more. Book an eco-cabin to stay overnight for an extra special experience. Many of the park's animals are most active at dawn and dusk so the best way to see them about is after hours. Those that stay on-site can join a ranger for a two-hour spotlight walking tour.
Family-friendly tip: Hire a private ranger for the day and gain expert insights and behind-the-scenes knowledge. The rangers will let you set the pace so if you have little ones in tow, you can opt for a leisurely tour.
Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary, Calga
Australian Reptile Park
Where: Central Coast
Distance from Sydney: 75km (approximately one hour by car)
Why visit: For one-of-a-kind wildlife encounters, head to the Australian Reptile Park. Meet a Komodo dragon named Kraken and give him a pat (or snap a picture together) under the supervision of a keeper. Every weekend you can catch Elvis, a five-metre saltwater crocodile, being fed. Or book a Venom Encounter and see the milking process of some of Australia’s most venomous spiders and snakes up close.
Family-friendly tip: A limited number of prams are available to hire for $5 a day.
Australian Reptile Park, Somersby
Hunter Valley Wildlife Park
Where: Hunter Region
Distance from Sydney: 160km (approximately two hours by car)
Why visit: Get up close and personal with more than 200 animals from Australia (and around the world) at Hunter Valley Wildlife Park. A one- to two-hour drive north, you can attend a daily show, watch monkeys being fed, touch a reptile, meet a meerkat and more. There are three walk-through habitats including a lorikeet aviary where the colourful birds aren’t afraid to land on your shoulder.
Family-friendly tip: Want to throw your wild child a birthday party to remember? The park offers a package that takes care of everything including food and clean up. Plus, there’s plenty of add-ons including reptile encounters, animal feeds and party bags.
Hunter Valley Wildlife Park, Nulkaba - Credit: hunter hunter
Copyright: AWP
Shoalhaven Zoo
Where: Shoalhaven
Distance from Sydney: 164km (approximately two hours by car)
Why visit: Set on 16 acres of native bushland and natural rock formations on the banks of the Shoalhaven River, take in the spectacular landscape while you listen for a cacophony of calls from lions and monkeys and watch out for Australian natives like koalas, cockatoos, kookaburras and crocodiles, too.
Family-friendly tip: The family-friendly shows at Shoalhaven Zoo are on daily and make for an educational and engaging way to introduce kids to new animals.
Shoalhaven Zoo, North Nowra
Oakvale Wildlife Park
Where: Port Stephens
Distance from Sydney: 190km (approximately two hours by car)
Why visit: The family-owned and -operated Oakvale Wildlife Park is home to more than 110 species across 25 acres of bushland. Arrive early for the morning feeding show where kids can bottle feed baby farm animals and cuddle a wombat, stick around for talks on reptiles and koalas, then take a lap around the park in a tractor trailer ride in the afternoon.
Family-friendly tip: Pack your swimmers for the Splash Bay Water Park which is open year-round and included in your entry ticket.
Oakvale Wildlife Park, Salt Ash - Credit: Oakvale Wildlife Park
Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary
Where: Port Stephens
Distance from Sydney: 212km (approximately two-and-a-half hours by car)
Why visit: At the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary you can see these furry friends in their natural habitat, walking through the trees on an elevated platform, and look through the large viewing window of the Koala Hospital to see sick and orphaned koalas being rehabilitated. Then spend the night at one of the stylish glamping tents.
Family-friendly tip: Kids can take part in the scavenger hunt and work to solve a mystery phrase. The interactive map is available to anyone and can be found online. Just be sure to print it out ahead of time.
Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary, One Mile
Mogo Wildlife Park
Where: South Coast
Distance from Sydney: 285km (approximately four hours by car)
Why visit: The expansive outdoor sanctuary Mogo Wildlife Park has been running a world-class breeding program for endangered animals since 1989. The park's lineup of wildlife encounters lets you meet the incredible gorillas, rhinos, lemurs, Sumatran tigers, white lions, cheetahs and more who are helping to save their species.
Family-friendly tip: BYO lunch and settle in at one of the park's many picnic areas.
Mogo Wildlife Park, Mogo
Billabong Zoo: Koala and Wildlife Park
Where: Port Macquarie
Distance from Sydney: 380km (approximately four hours by car)
Why visit: Pat, stroke, feed, hold, hear and see over 80 species of mammals, reptiles and birds at the award-winning Billabong Zoo. Kids (from bubs to teens) are catered to with a range of Keeper programs, where they’ll get a taste of what it's like to train, feed and care for some of the animals.
Family-friendly tip: Parents of kids aged two to five can stop in on the last Tuesday of every month for Story Time, a fun and interactive session of reading, singing and animal experiences.
Billabong Zoo, Port Macquarie
Port Macquarie Koala Hospital
Where: Port Macquarie
Distance from Sydney: 395km (approximately four-and-a-half hours by car)
Why visit: The Koala Hospital is the world's first hospital dedicated solely to the care and conservation of koalas. Visit the exhibit enclosures, treatment clinic, intensive care units, rehabilitation yards (many of which have trees for koalas to learn to climb as part of the rehabilitation process) and Koalaseum. For the kids who now want a koala as a pet, adopt one of the furry residents and help support its lifelong care from afar.
Family-friendly tip: Stop by Wildnets Adventure Park, a suspended playground where kids can bounce through the treetops.
Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, Port Macquarie
Taronga Western Plains Zoo
Where: Dubbo
Distance from Sydney: 400km (approximately five-and-a-half hours by car)
Why visit: The whole family will love visiting Taronga Western Plains Zoo, a sprawling open-range zoo in Dubbo that's home to over 4,000 animals from 350 species. There are native animals like koalas, kangaroos and wombats, as well as exotic species from all over the world. Animals are separated by moats, rather than fences, so you'll feel as if you are right in their habitat. Take a truck tour through the Lion Pride Lands and see African big cats up close. Walk through the immersive Wild Herds exhibit, hand feed a giraffe or let a curious meerkat crawl onto your lap. You can even spend the night among the animals at the self-contained Savannah Cabins. There’s also the Zoofari Lodge and Billabong Camp, where you can observe nocturnal activities in the native wildlife section.
Family-friendly tip: You can drive, pedal boat or bicycle through the zoo with each option catering to kids.
Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo - Credit: Rick Stevens | Taronga Western Plains Zoo
Coffs Harbour Butterfly House
Where: Coffs Harbour
Distance from Sydney: 516km (approximately five-and-a-half hours by car)
Why visit: On the Coffs Coast, the Butterfly House offers a unique experience in which you can stroll among hundreds of Australian butterflies in an indoor subtropical rainforest setting. Beyond this, get lost in the outdoor maze, stroll through the dinosaur forest (where six life-sized dinos await) and pick up a memento in the gift shop before you go.
Family-friendly tip: A thrilling, family-friendly dinosaur show is on daily for kids who want to learn more about the Mesozoic Era.
Coffs Harbour Butterfly House, Bonville
Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary
Where: Coffs Harbour
Distance from Sydney: 530km (approximately five-and-a-half hours by car)
Why visit: Swimming with dolphins and sea lions, feeding the penguins, and getting a kiss from a seal are just some of the incredible underwater wildlife experiences on offer at Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary. Want to dive deeper? The exclusive Trainer for a Day experience will take you behind the scenes of the park, learning about care, feeding, training and rehabilitation for both land and water animals.
Family-friendly tip: There’s a range of after-school programs for kids of all ages.
Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary, Coffs Harbour
Altina Wildlife Park
Where: The Riverina
Distance from Sydney: 601km (approximately six-and-a-half hours by car)
Why visit: Altina Wildlife Park is a family-run zoo with a rare lineup of animals. Go behind the scenes and see white lions, rhinos, moustached tamarins, baby servals, addax, hyenas and black and white lemurs. There are also native kangaroos and goannas. The park is near the Murrumbidgee River, a popular spot for fishing and canoeing. If you want to fit everything in without rushing, extend your visit with a night at a charming farm stay in the Riverina and experience life on the land.
Family-friendly tip: The park spans more than 500 acres of land so book a horse drawn carriage tour to make sure you don’t miss a thing. On your way out, stop in at the Education Museum to learn more about your favourite animal.
Altina Wildlife Park, Darlington Point
Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
Where: Byron Bay
Distance from Sydney: 745km (approximately seven-and-a-half hours by car)
Why visit: Learn about Australian animals at Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, a bio-park formerly known as Macadamia Castle. The sprawling park is home to more than 100 animals and you can meet the cute sugar gliders Sebastian and Samson, wise Socrates the barn owl, and plenty more creatures and critters.
Family-friendly tip: Save some time for a visit to the family-friendly playground, farmyard, ice-cream bar, mini-golf course and splash park, all located onsite.
Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, Byron Bay
FAQs
What is the biggest zoo and wildlife park in NSW?
What is the biggest zoo and wildlife park in NSW?
The biggest zoo in NSW is Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo with more than 700 acres of land and Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park is the largest working wildlife sanctuary in the state.
Which zoos and wildlife parks in NSW are best for families?
Which zoos and wildlife parks in NSW are best for families?
The best family-friendly zoos and wildlife parks in NSW include:
What are the best zoos near Sydney?
What are the best zoos near Sydney?
The best zoos and wildlife parks near Sydney that can be reached in under a 90-minute drive include Symbio Wildlife Park, Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park and Australian Reptile Park.
Which NSW zoos and wildlife parks have native Australian animals?
Which NSW zoos and wildlife parks have native Australian animals?
You can find native Australian animals at many zoos and wildlife parks in NSW including:
Symbio Wildlife Park
