Featherdale Wildlife Park

About this activity

Imagine watching your child kneel down and hold out a handful of food, and a kangaroo — a real, full-grown kangaroo — hops right up and eats from their palm. That moment is on offer every single day at Featherdale Wildlife Park in Doonside, and it never gets old no matter how many times you experience it.

Featherdale is home to over 1,700 animals across 260 species, with the emphasis firmly on hands-on encounters rather than distant viewing. Unlike larger, more commercial wildlife parks, Featherdale keeps things intimate and accessible — koalas are close enough to photograph properly, wombats waddle past at ground level, and the keepers are genuinely passionate about sharing what they know. It is consistently voted one of Sydney's best family days out, and the train connection from the city makes it surprisingly easy to reach.

Families can look forward to:

• Hand-feeding kangaroos and wallabies straight from your palm — an unforgettable experience for young children
• Getting genuinely close to koalas, wombats and Tasmanian devils in naturalistic, uncrowded settings
• Walk-through aviaries with native Australian birds swooping overhead
• Reptile encounters including snakes and lizards handled by experienced keepers
• Daily keeper talks and feeding presentations throughout the park
• Easy access by train — Blacktown station, then a short bus or taxi ride
• Open daily 9am–5pm — a full day out from a morning start