Recently Viewed
Kuranda Koala Gardens Entry Ticket: Explore Nocturnal Australian Marsupials, Lizards and Crocodiles
3.9
69 Ratings
Kuranda
See the north’s only nocturnal exhibit for night-loving marsupials. See Bilbies, visit our pioneering history exhibits. See Lizards and Crocodiles, Quokkas, and Wombats and most of all see Koalas. Join in the 2.30pm Marsupial presentation.
Duration:
1 hour
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
- Kuranda Koala Gardens - Kuranda Koala Gardens is a unique wildlife experience to see Koalas, also Quokka’s a small macropod, Wallabies, Wombats, Aussie Reptiles. Take a step back into history with the Pioneer display. Enjoy the Nocturnal wonders for night-loving marsupials. See the first Bilbies in North Queensland and the Squirrel and Mahogany Gliders.
Kuranda Koala Gardens is a part of the The North Queensland Wildlife Trust, established in 2004 by the Freeman Family developed to find a mechanism for visitors to make an active contribution to conservation through aiding in the rehabilitation of sick and injured wildlife and the restoration of significant wildlife habitats within the local area. Other attractions include Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures and Cairns Tropical Zoo.
What's Included
- Meet kangaroos and wallabies
- 2:30 PM Marsupial presentation
- See Koalas up close
- Includes General Admission to Kuranda Koala Gardens
Location
Kuranda Heritage Markets
Rob Veivers Drive
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
3.9
(69 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Deborah_l
Jan 25, 2024
Koala experience. - This was so much fun. The exhibits were very well done. Everything was well looked after and clean. Even the kangaroos were moving about. The nocturnal animals were a nice surprise. I was happy to pay extra to be able to get my picture taken with one of the koalas.
Review provided by Viator
Gayle_b
Sep 16, 2023
Well worth the travel and price! - This experience is interactive with lots of educational posters. The staff are amazing and we could get an up close look at so many animals that are a wonderful example of God’s creative genius. I would highly recommend this encounter to anyone looking to experience Australia’s unique biodiversity. ( The koala holding is an extra charge, and made my experience all the more memorable.)
Review provided by Viator
Q4001ugjackb
Jul 24, 2024
Amazing Expirience - Kuranda koala park is good but even tho how it is like a zoo is even better but the only letdown is the time of my skyrail so i had to pat the koala not hold. 22nd Monday July 2024
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Waggatraveller
May 19, 2024
Pleasant visit - The Kuranda koala Gardens while small and rather dated, had a fair range of Australian wildlife for visitors to enjoy. A highlight is the opportunity to have your photograph taken while cuddling a koala. It should be noted that the staff really respect the koalas, and ensure that they are not stressed or upset by being handled by visitors. Overall I would recommend this attraction in Kuranda, although it is rather pricey for what you get.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cafou34
Aug 26, 2023
For the photo with koala! - Small park in Kuranda. We observe animals of the Australian fauna there. Especially worth the visit for the photo with Koala. Different types of photos: alone with several people or not. Reservation required!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Oponz
Aug 19, 2023
Not for us! - This place was not for us.
Watching the koala holding was not a nice experience, with a little koala being passed from person to person for about 20 minutes. She was then put into an enclosure and then before she had even settled she was taken by a keeper to do another round of photo's (seem to be every half hour). It was the same koala which does not seem to meet guidelines. It is not allowed in most states. Sad to see.
People also ask - Is it OK to hold a koala?
No. In the Australian State of New South Wales, as with most other States, it is illegal for any zoo or sanctuary to allow a visitor to hold a koala. Only trained accredited rangers are allowed to hold a koala. This is a sensible law as it protects koalas from being stressed because a human wants to give it a hug.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
I2944znmartinb
Jul 29, 2024
We regret buying tickets - I was just in the koala gardens. Being able to hold and touch a koala is heavily advertised. It costs AUD 21 per entry. 36 AUD for entrance fee and to hold a koala. Luckily we only paid for the entrance fee because this was the saddest sight I have ever seen of a koala and other animals in a zoo. Long queues to have a flash photo taken with an animal that usually sleeps during the day.
We find this very sad, unethical and predatory of Australian animals in captivity. We regret paying money at all and supporting their industry.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
49tiffanye
Jul 1, 2024
Animal Exploitation - The animals are kept in very small enclosures that are not natural habitat conditions. The wombat, a nocturnal animal, had no natural burrows, just concrete and metal tubes and was trying to nap in a concrete tunnel facing the crowds. The koalas had sticks to sit on at shoulder high level close to the crowds, with a few leaf-bearing branches propped nearby to eat, but no actual trees to climb or forage in. All the animals looked depressed. We have been to several animal sanctuaries during our trip to Australia where the animals were provided large spaces with natural environments, and the primary aim was providing for the animals' welfare, the secondary aim to educate the public about the animals. The aim here is to cater to the tourist whim of holding a koala and profiting off of these animals. My whole family just felt depressed after visiting this unethical operation.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lisa_s
Jan 18, 2024
Disappointing - I assumed that we would be able to hold a koala and get a photo. It was an additional $25-$30. U would not choose this experience
Review provided by Viator
122ashnac
Jan 1, 2024
worst experience holding koala - this was a horrible experience
I booked holding a koala at 1:30 in the lineup was they had 50 people in line for the same time
It was totally disrespectful no value for peoples time
But what was the saddest thing is that the koala bear seemed sad and the animal
keepers were rude
One Ashley yelled at me because a couple ahead of me asked me to use their camera to take a picture
She was also rude to my daughter, because the koala bear wasn’t coming to her
The people they are mean and just trying to make money off you
I paid $40 to get my two dollars to hold a koala, and they made a big deal saying only one could hold them
And they said hurry up, even though the bear was not coming to my daughter
It was a rudest most insensitive, moneymaking experience I’ve ever been to
I highly recommend do not go there
But mostly, I felt so sorry for the koala bear
Review provided by Tripadvisor
More activities from this operator
