Australia Guides
Best places to see kangaroos in Australia
By Alba Juan ·
You can pat and hand-feed kangaroos in wildlife parks across the country. Cleland Wildlife Park, near Adelaide, is the best of them. If you cannot get to South Australia, Cave Beach and the Australian Reptile Park in New South Wales, and Currumbin and Wildlife Habitat in Queensland, are the other places worth the drive.
Ticket prices below are what the parks charged in July 2024. They move. Check the park before you go. In the wild, do not feed kangaroos human food. Males can be aggressive.
1. Cleland Wildlife Park, South Australia
A visit to Cleland Wildlife Park did not disappoint. These must be the friendliest kangaroos in Australia.
The park is in the Adelaide Hills, about 20 minutes by car from the Adelaide CBD. Buses from the city stop at the front gate. There are koalas and a lot of other animals, but the kangaroos are the reason to go.
In July 2024, adult entry was AU$32.30. A bag of kangaroo food was $5 extra. Two bags was the right amount. The kangaroo area is huge, with three species: red kangaroos, Kangaroo Island kangaroos, and western grey kangaroos. They will take food from your hand, and most of them will stand for a pat.
It is the closest you will get, at a price that still feels fair. Cleland Wildlife Park lists the current ticket.
2. Cave Beach campground, New South Wales
Cave Beach is in Booderee National Park, on Jervis Bay. If you are in Sydney, the bay is a proper road trip: beaches, bush, and kangaroos and wallabies that walk up to the cars.
Almost as soon as we got out, they came hopping over. Most were happy to be patted, and close photos were easy. There is no wildlife-park ticket for this. Check Parks Australia for any park entry or camping fee before you drive in.
Pack a picnic and eat it in the bush, with the kangaroos around you. But do not feed them your food. Human food can harm kangaroos.
3. Australian Reptile Park, New South Wales
The Australian Reptile Park is at Somersby, about an hour north of Sydney. It is the easy hand-feeding option if you are not driving to Adelaide.
Food was about AU$5 at the kiosk. The eastern greys and Kangaroo Island kangaroos are used to people, and one will be eating from your hand quickly. In July 2024, adult entry was AU$54.99 at the gate, or $47.99 bought online.
The ticket also covers koalas, dingoes, and the reptiles the park is named for: crocodiles, alligators, snakes and lizards. The park’s site has the current price.
4. Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Queensland
If you are on the Gold Coast and you like animals, Currumbin is the stop. It has been open since 1947. Kangaroos, koalas, wombats, crocodiles, native birds, and more.
The kangaroos are in a big paddock, hopping or lying in the sun. Hand-feeding means buying a cup of food at the kiosk. In 2024 that cup was AU$4. They were not hungry the day we went. It was still a good hour.
The staff know the animals, and there are keeper talks through the day. An adult day pass was AU$64.95 in July 2024. Currumbin sells the current pass.
Go in the morning, then swim. Coolangatta, Snapper Rocks and Burleigh are close. They are on the list of the best beaches in Australia.
5. Wildlife Habitat, Port Douglas
Wildlife Habitat has one of Queensland’s largest collections of kangaroos and wallabies, on about two hectares in Port Douglas. You can hand-feed them and get close for a photo. They are used to people.
Koalas, crocodiles, snakes and birds fill the rest of the park. The animal you will not see in the southern parks is the Lumholtz’s tree-kangaroo, a rare rainforest kangaroo from Tropical North Queensland.
Adult entry was AU$46 in July 2024. The park is a few minutes’ drive from the centre of Port Douglas, and shuttle buses run from the usual stops if you do not have a car. Wildlife Habitat has tickets and times.
Questions about seeing kangaroos
Where is the best place to pat and feed kangaroos in Australia?
Cleland Wildlife Park, in the Adelaide Hills about 20 minutes from the city, is the one to choose if you want friendly kangaroos that will take food from your hand. The park has red kangaroos, Kangaroo Island kangaroos and western grey kangaroos. If you cannot get to South Australia, try the Australian Reptile Park north of Sydney, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary on the Gold Coast, or Wildlife Habitat in Port Douglas.
Can you see kangaroos for free?
At Cave Beach Campground in Booderee National Park, Jervis Bay, the kangaroos and wallabies come up to the cars and there is no wildlife-park ticket. Check Parks Australia for any park entry or camping fee. Do not feed them human food. A picnic for yourself is fine.
Is it safe to approach a kangaroo?
In a wildlife park, follow the keepers and use only the food the park sells. In the wild, males can be aggressive, especially large reds. Do not chase them, corner them, or offer sandwiches. If one stands tall or growls, back off.
A place that should be on this list, or one that should come off: enquire@aussietalk.com.
About the author
Alba Juan
Born and raised in Catalonia, Spain, Alba now lives in Sydney, Australia. She has a Bachelor of Business Administration and is undertaking further study in Digital Transformation. Alba has travelled through North America, Europe, Asia, and across Australia. In her spare time her favourite activities include visiting Sydney’s weekend markets, sailing, and exploring the national parks that surround Sydney.