Australia · WILDLIFE & ZOO EXPERIENCES

The 15 Best Wildlife Experiences in Australia

178 tours  ·  from $15

Koalas you can stand next to, kangaroos that come to you and a penguin parade on a fixed nightly schedule. These 15 are priced and timed, with a note on which include a photo and which sell it at the gate.

From Melbourne: Great Ocean Road, 12 Apostles, Wildlife Tour - Melbourne pickup and the long ride south
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From Melbourne: Great Ocean Road, 12 Apostles, Wildlife Tour

1.Great Ocean Road, 12 Apostles, Wildlife Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 6,020 reviews · 13h 30m · from $94Our pick

This full-day trip follows the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne in an air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking guide such as Warren or Theo. You’ll see wild koalas and parrots, walk through tall forest, stop at Torquay, Apollo Bay, Gibson Steps, the 12 Apostles, and Loch Ard Gorge.

“Warren was such an amazing guide he really made the experience and I’m so glad that he was the one to show us the great ocean road! He was so funny yet so informative. Such a brilliant day out!”

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Penguin Parade, & Wildlife Encounters Eco Tour from Melbourne - The late morning pickup and ride from Melbourne
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Penguin Parade, & Wildlife Encounters Eco Tour from Melbourne

2.Penguin Parade, & Wildlife Encounters Eco Tour from Melbourne

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,774 reviews · from $118Top rated

Spend about 12 hours with Go West Tours exploring Brighton Beach, Moonlit Sanctuary, Cape Woolamai, Cowes, the Nobbies, and Phillip Island’s Penguin Parade. Guides such as Cloe, Jools, Sherif, and Bob are known for lively wildlife commentary. Bring warm layers, snacks, and patience for the late finish.

“We had a great time! We didn't want to drive ourselves, but were worried the experience would be too touristy or dull, happily, it was quite the opposite! Cloe was wonderful! She entertained us with lots of interesting history and wildlife tidbits, talked just the right amount and was very relaxed, even when we came up to the wire on time. Highly recommend this tour and if you can manage one with Cloe as your guide, do it!”

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Blue Mountains Small-Group Tour from Sydney with Scenic World,Sydney Zoo & Ferry - Echo Point and the Three Sisters
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Blue Mountains Small-Group Tour from Sydney with Scenic World,Sydney Zoo & Ferry

3.Blue Mountains Small-Group Tour from Sydney with Scenic World,Sydney Zoo & Ferry

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,709 reviews · from $161

Start at 6:45 am with a small group of up to 20, visit Echo Point and Scenic World, stop for lunch in a Blue Mountains village, then explore Sydney Zoo before returning by ferry to Circular Quay. Guides such as Scott, Phil, Rod, and Leonard are known for lively storytelling.

“Guide was great and it was an entertaining experience. Don't like being forced to give extra verbage.”

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Melbourne Great Ocean Rd Reverse Tour London Bridge Wildlife - London Bridge: a useful extra stop
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Melbourne Great Ocean Rd Reverse Tour London Bridge Wildlife

4.Melbourne Great Ocean Rd Reverse Tour London Bridge Wildlife

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 2,252 reviews · 12 - 13 hours · from $46

Spend 12 to 13 hours exploring the Great Ocean Road by coach, mid-size bus, or Mercedes-Benz van. The reverse route reaches London Bridge, Loch Ard Gorge, and the Twelve Apostles before the crowds, with chances to see koalas, kangaroos, and parrots. Guides such as David Hsu, Philip, William, and Daniel add local stories and practical help.

“what an absolutely amazing day. my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. David Hsu, our tour guide, is such a genuinely nice guy. He kept everyone entertained throughout the day with his very interesting talks about the history of Australia and the sights you will see on the journey. He made sure everyone new the pick-up times and ensure everyone's safety throughout. David Hsu uses headsets for his tour which are fantastic. Very clear, easy to use and, should you need a bit if quite on the coach ride, can be turned off and you will not be disturbed. We saw some amazing sights and would we couldn't recommend this…”

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Blue Mountains Adventure: Scenic World, Zoo & Koala Photo - Glenbrook gives you a practical start
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Blue Mountains Adventure: Scenic World, Zoo & Koala Photo

5.Blue Mountains Adventure: Scenic World, Zoo & Koala Photo

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 2,062 reviews · 10h 30m · from $144

Spend 10.5 hours exploring Echo Point, Scenic World, Katoomba Cascades, Leura, and Sydney Zoo. Three Scenic World rides, a digital koala photo, central Sydney pickup, and a ferry to Circular Quay are included. Guides such as Ronnie, Piotr, Adrian, and Chris are praised for their local insight.

“Ronnie was a great guide. She was funny and had a good attitude. She shared a lot of interesting information with us about the area and the places we toured. We saw so much in a day. The best thing about the zoo was seeing the cute koala bears and getting our picture taken with one. The Blue Mountains we’re beautiful and had a lot of interesting history. We saw an old coal mine and rode on the steepest railroad in the world. We did a sky tram for panoramic views of the valley.”

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From Melbourne: Penguin Parade, Koalas & Kangaroos - Brighton Beach Boxes and Melbourne views
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From Melbourne: Penguin Parade, Koalas & Kangaroos

6.Penguin Parade, Koalas & Kangaroos

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,932 reviews · 12 hours · from $112

Spend 12 hours with Wine Hop And Coastal Tours visiting Brighton Beach, Moonlit Sanctuary, Nobbies Boardwalk, and Phillip Island. Guides such as Dirk, Simon, Matt, Charlie, and Toni lead small-group trips with wildlife encounters, coastal stops, and a late penguin viewing.

“The diver late about 30min that make us feel nervous. But he was charming and make tourists fun. So I will give him a A but not A +”

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Solar Whisper Daintree River Crocodile and Wildlife Cruise - One hour on the Daintree River
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Solar Whisper Daintree River Crocodile and Wildlife Cruise

7.Solar Whisper Daintree River Crocodile and Wildlife Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,663 reviews · from $25

Cruise the Daintree River near the ferry on Solar Whisper, a quiet solar-electric boat carrying up to 24 people. Your guide, often Mark or Dave, points out named crocodiles, birds, frogs, snakes, crabs, and fish, with tea and coffee included.

“Made a last minute booking for family to spend an afternoon in Port Douglas. The trip was just as described, perfect relaxing ride around the Daintree River. Even though it was in warm November and we were warned that the crocs may bRead more”

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Sydney: Taronga Zoo Tickets - Getting there from Circular Quay
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Sydney: Taronga Zoo Tickets

8.Taronga Zoo Tickets

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,551 reviews · 1 day · from $38

Take a one-day pass to Taronga Zoo, reached in about 12 minutes by ferry from Circular Quay. Follow nine trails through Australian, African, rainforest, reptile, seal, and bird exhibits. Keeper talks and presentations are included, while food, transport, parking, and close-up animal encounters cost extra.

“Fantastic place to visit so many animals. The food was pretty pricey though”

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From Brisbane: Australia Zoo Transfer and Entry Ticket - A brief look at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital
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From Brisbane: Australia Zoo Transfer and Entry Ticket

9.Australia Zoo Transfer and Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,539 reviews · 9 hours · from $126

Travel from selected Brisbane CBD hotels to Australia Zoo with an English-speaking driver such as Steve or Bruce. Your $126 ticket includes transport, entry, a brief Wildlife Hospital visit, and about six hours to see crocs, koalas, kangaroos, tigers, and live shows at your own pace.

“Great day, Steve was a entertaining guide. Lots of knowledge and pointed out lots of interesting facts on the way. Highly recommend”

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Brisbane River Cruise with entry to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary - Starting at Southbank at 9:00am
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Brisbane River Cruise with entry to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

10.Brisbane River Cruise with entry to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,522 reviews · from $82

Meet at Southbank’s Cultural Centre pontoon at 9:00am for a narrated Brisbane River cruise to Lone Pine. You’ll have three hours to see koalas, kangaroos, platypus, birds, reptiles, and animal shows before cruising back. Food is available onboard, but koala-touch bookings cost extra.

“This is a lovely way to get to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, with an hour long river cruise to a bespoke dock at the entry. The cruise includes commentary to describe the history and landmarks of the river. They have an onboard cafe to order a limited selection of hot foods and a variety of snacks and drinks. The best part of the cruise was the captain of the boat, who was so calm and kind. The sanctuary has been around for a long time and has a variety of animals in addition to the koalas, all set in a natural open area. We really enjoyed the raptor show…”

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From Sydney: Blue Mountains, Scenic World, Zoo, & Ferry Ride - The early ride west from Sydney
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From Sydney: Blue Mountains, Scenic World, Zoo, & Ferry Ride

11.Blue Mountains, Scenic World, Zoo, & Ferry Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,484 reviews · 10 hours · from $139

Join Diamond Tours for a 10-hour small-group trip from Sydney to the Blue Mountains. Ride Scenic World’s Skyway, Railway, and Cableway, visit Sydney Zoo, stop for lunch in a mountain village, and return by ferry. Guides such as Scotty, Phil, Lloyd, Rod, and Brian are known for lively local commentary.

“Great trip taking in so much in the day! Phil was a great guide, super friendly and knowledgeable. Only downside is the bus used is very cramped for tall people, not a comfortable ride.”

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Blue Mountains: Three Sisters, Scenic World and Wildlife park - The Three Sisters and the big Blue Mountains view
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Blue Mountains: Three Sisters, Scenic World and Wildlife park

12.Three Sisters, Scenic World and Wildlife park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,481 reviews · from $182

Spend about 9.5 hours escaping Sydney for the Blue Mountains, with Scenic World’s three rides, rainforest walks, the Three Sisters, lunch, and a wildlife park. Small-group transport carries up to 21 people, with guides such as Sean, Ella, Luke, and Mick leading the day.

“This was an amazing not to miss experience. Stunning views and great tour guide. Definitely recommend it!”

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Brisbane River Cruise and Koala Sanctuary Visit - Reaching Lone Pine from Southbank
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Brisbane River Cruise and Koala Sanctuary Visit

13.Brisbane River Cruise and Koala Sanctuary Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,397 reviews · 5h 30m · from $81

Take the MV Mirimar II from Southbank to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary with live commentary from the captain and crew. You get three hours to see more than 130 koalas, feed kangaroos and wallabies, visit Platypus House, and catch wildlife shows before cruising back to Brisbane.

“We loved the boat ride and commentary down the Brisbane river. The captain and crew were amazing so helpful and knowledgeable. We will recommend this trip to friends and family.”

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From Melbourne: Penguin Parade and Koalas Tour - Koalas on the reserve’s treetop boardwalk
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From Melbourne: Penguin Parade and Koalas Tour

14.Penguin Parade and Koalas Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,287 reviews · from $115

Ride from Melbourne to Phillip Island with an English-speaking guide such as Fiona, Peter, or Graham. Visit the Koala Conservation Reserve, Woolamai Beach, and The Nobbies before watching little penguins return from the sea. Penguin Plus seating gives you a closer view, while an audio app offers 10 extra languages.

“We had a fabulous day out with Graham our tour guide. The highlight of the trip was seeing all the penquins on the beach then walking along the boardwalk watching them all go to their nests.”

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Kangaroo Island Quad Bike (ATV) Tours - Getting started at Vivonne Bay
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Kangaroo Island Quad Bike (ATV) Tours

15.Kangaroo Island Quad Bike (ATV) Tours

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,236 reviews · from $141

Ride your own ATV through Kangaroo Island’s bush, beaches and rough tracks from Vivonne Bay. Guides such as Fox, Juan, Dave and Jordan provide safety training, local wildlife facts and steady support. Choose an itinerary suited to your ability, with small groups capped at six.

“I was greeted by my instructor who was extremely kind, encouraging and informative. I was given my kit and caught how to use the bikes. We then went on the tour around the beautiful island, saw Kangaroos and he told me information about the island.”

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