Information
Landmark: Adelaide ZooCity: Adelaide
Country: Australia
Continent: Australia
Adelaide Zoo, Adelaide, Australia, Australia
Overview
Just half an hour from Adelaide’s city center, Cleland Wildlife Park lets you wander through open bushland and get up close to kangaroos, koalas, and other native Australian wildlife.At this family-friendly park, you can wander right up to some of Australia’s most iconic animals-think koalas dozing in eucalyptus shade or kangaroos grazing nearby-in a setting that’s warm, easygoing, and full of charm.Cleland Conservation Park sits in Mount Lofty, high in the Adelaide Hills, about 22 kilometers from Adelaide’s city center.It’s an easy drive, winding past gum trees and rolling green hills.The easiest way to reach Cleland is by car, and you’ll find plenty of spots waiting in the shaded parking area by the entrance.By bus, you can hop on a public service from the Adelaide CBD that winds its way up to Mount Lofty, passing leafy suburbs along the route.By bike: If you’re up for something more active, hop on your bike and follow the Adelaide Hills paths, where the scent of eucalyptus drifts in the air, all the way to the park.So why not spend a day at Cleland Wildlife Park, where kangaroos hop right past your feet?Close Encounters with Wildlife: One of the park’s biggest draws is getting up close to beloved Australian animals-kangaroos grazing in the grass, dozing koalas, curious emus, and lively wallabies.You can feed the animals, and even scratch a goat’s coarse fur, all within a safe, well-supervised space.Tucked inside Cleland Conservation Park, the area lets visitors wander among kangaroos and eucalyptus trees, experiencing Australian wildlife in its natural bushland home.This setting gives the wildlife experience a richer, truer feel-like hearing leaves rustle as a deer steps past.Family-Friendly: Cleland’s a great spot for families, offering hands-on activities where kids can meet a kangaroo up close and discover Australia’s remarkable wildlife.The park’s guides and staff host lively talks and hands-on demos, letting visitors watch a hawk swoop after its prey while learning about animal behavior, conservation, and the surrounding environment.Top things to see and do at Cleland Wildlife Park, from hand-feeding kangaroos to spotting sleepy koalas in the gum trees.At Cleland Wildlife Park, one of the highlights is getting to hold a koala-soft fur, warm paws-while a guide stands by to help.Koalas have become an icon of Australia’s wildlife, and at Cleland you can stand just a few feet away, watching their soft grey ears twitch, all in a setting that’s safe and respectful.Koala Encounters let you get up close to these gentle animals, watch them nibble eucalyptus leaves, and discover their natural habits, the care they need, and how they flourish in the park’s well-tended home.Koala Photos: If you’re after a memorable moment, you can snap a picture with a koala, its soft fur brushing your arm as you hold a piece of Australia in your hands.Number two.Feeding kangaroos is one of the park’s highlights-you can stand in the warm sun, palm outstretched, as a gentle wallaby nibbles from your hand in the wide, open space.Kangaroos wander the park at their own pace, and you can stroll beside them, offer a handful of feed, and watch them scratch or graze-an experience that feels straight out of the Australian outback.Wallaby Close-ups: The park showcases smaller wallaby species, letting visitors hand-feed these gentle animals and watch their soft ears twitch in a safe, welcoming space.Three.The park is home to a variety of native birds, from tiny wrens flitting through the trees to towering emus-the world’s second-largest bird after the ostrich.Emu Feeding: These tall, curious birds will wander right up to you, and you can hand them seeds while watching their bright eyes dart and blink.Cleland Wildlife Park is home to a variety of native Australian birds-parrots flashing red and green, raucous cockatoos, and curious magpies-making it a haven for anyone who loves birdwatching.Number four.If you’re into reptiles, Cleland Wildlife Park’s got plenty to see, from sun-basking skinks to massive native Australian pythons.Meet some of Australia’s most famous reptiles, from the hefty perentie to a blue-tongue flashing its vivid cobalt, and the sleek, watchful eastern brown snake.At the park, you can catch lively talks on reptile behavior and how to protect them-like why a rattlesnake rattles before it strikes.Frog Pond: You’ll find a small pond alive with frogs here, giving visitors a close-up look at Australia’s diverse reptiles and amphibians.Five.At Cleland, you’ll find plenty of native mammals, from shy wallabies to the wombat-an iconic Australian marsupial that digs deep, earthy burrows.Wombat Encounters: Watch these sturdy little creatures shuffle through the dirt, then find out how they dig their burrows and nibble on tender shoots.Tasmanian Devils: The park lets visitors watch these rare, fierce little animals up close, their dark fur and sharp eyes impossible to miss.Discover why they’re endangered and see how people are working to protect them, from restoring habitats to guarding nesting sites.Number six.At Wildlife Walks and Tours Cleland, friendly guides lead you along winding paths, pointing out rare orchids and the rustle of hidden wildlife as you discover the park’s unique ecosystem.Wildlife Walks: Perfect for anyone curious about the park’s rich biodiversity, these tours let you wander shaded trails and catch glimpses of deer, bright-feathered toucans, and other wildlife along the way.Night Tours: For a change of pace, join a night tour at Cleland and watch the park’s nocturnal animals-gliders swooping low, bandicoots rustling in the bushes, and bats flickering past in the dark.Spring (September–November) is the perfect time to visit Cleland Wildlife Park, when mild breezes fill the air and kangaroo pouches brim with tiny, curious faces.Summer (December–February): It can get scorching, yet the park still draws families eager to leave the city behind and breathe in the crisp, pine-scented air of the Adelaide Hills.Autumn (March–May) brings gentle days and quiet trails, with crisp leaves underfoot and fewer crowds, making it an ideal season to explore the park and spot wildlife.Winter (June–August): It’s the calmest time at Cleland, with soft mist hanging over the trees, yet you can still spot wildlife in the peaceful hush-just dress warmly, as the air can bite.Fun fact: Cleland Wildlife Park sits inside Cleland Conservation Park, a vast stretch of more than 1,200 hectares of rugged, eucalyptus-scented bushland.Founded in 1972, it became a safe haven for Australia’s endangered and native wildlife, from shy wallabies to bright-feathered parrots.The park is home to over 130 animal species, including rare ones you might never see in the wild again, like the soft rustle of a red panda in the trees.In South Australia, Cleland’s one of the rare spots where you can cradle a sleepy koala and hand-feed kangaroos, all in a safe, close-up setting.Final thoughts-Cleland Wildlife Park gives you the rare chance to stand a breath away from a kangaroo, making it a must-see for animal lovers, families, and anyone who craves a closer look at Australia’s wild side.With its wide gum trees and chorus of kookaburras, the park’s wild landscape and rich mix of native species offer an authentic Australian wildlife experience you won’t easily find elsewhere.Whether you’re slipping a carrot to a kangaroo or holding out your hand for its soft whiskered nose,
