Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park

Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park

Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park
4.5
About
Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park is Sydney's ultimate hands-on wildlife experience. We are the only place in Sydney where you can pat a Koala! We are located just 45 minutes drive from Sydney and en-route to the world famous Blue Mountains. With over 2,000 mammals, birds and reptiles, our comprehensive collection of Australian species awaits your visit. You can meet a Koala, feed the Kangaroos and Wallabies, and loads more! There's a Cafe on site with an abundance of great food and beverage choices for the whole family, and a HUGE retail store for you to find the ultimate keepsake from your trip to Featherdale! We also offer FREE WIFI to visitors throughout the main facilities in the park. There is FREE onsite vehicle parking and we're easily accessible by public transportation. Simply catch a train to Blacktown and board Bus #729 to Featherdale.
Duration: 2-3 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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  • Vanessa C
    76 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Penguin Encounter
    To celebrate my 50th birthday, I booked a penguin encounter for my husband and myself. It was an excellent experience, with a very knowledgeable staff member talking to us. The penguins are just adorable, and feeding them was a highlight. Highly recommend. A lovely, laid back park.
    Hi! You made our day with your very kind words and 5-star review. We are so pleased that you enjoyed your penguin encounter - aren't they the best?? We are also thrilled that you chose to celebrate such a wonderful milestone birthday with us! Many happy returns for your birthday!
    Written 7 October 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 4 October 2023
  • mariah f
    1 contribution
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great Time!
    I really enjoyed my time at the park. They have a large variety of animals to see and feed! They had informative shows. The gift shop had great selection and really affordable prices. I went a bit early/close to opening and many animals were sleeping. My only advice would be to go a little later in the day to get more active animals!
    Hi 143mariahf, Thank you so much for your very kind review. We are delighted that you had a lovely day at our park and we hope you will come and visit us again soon.
    Written 29 October 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 23 October 2023
  • netherburn1972
    20 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Five star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Absolutely brilliant wee park. Up close to all the wonderful Australian wildlife. The park rangers were knowledgeable and friendly. Everything you need for a great day out. Would definitely recommend the Koala encounter it was first class. Brilliant weather, brilliant park, brilliant staff what more could you ask.
    Hi Netherburn1972, Wow! What an excellent review! We are just thrilled that you enjoyed your day at our park! Thank you so much for your very kind words and for taking the time to visit our park. We hope to welcome you again soon!
    Written 29 October 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 24 October 2023
  • Natasha Corr
    Penrith, Australia3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Featherdale!
    Featherdale is gorgeous as it always has been- have been coming here almost yearly for now 20 of my 24 years and it’s still one of my favourite places full of fond memories. The park is absolutely beautiful and the staff do an excellent job of keeping it looking immaculate. I’ve seen reviews of people saying some enclosures are empty but I don’t think people understand that a-lot of Australian animals are nocturnal and sleep most of the day which is nature and can’t be changed for the public’s viewing hours(lol). The multiple bird, kangaroo and reptile enclosures were beaming with activity. The interactive enclosures where you can feed the kangaroos are so fun! The farm yard was a bit quieter than I remember but there were still some friendly goats wanting pats and food. 10/10 great day, thanks for your consistency and for being such a happy relaxing place featherdale! We will be back over and over again!
    Hi tashcorr, We are so touched by your beautiful sentiment and fabulous 5-star rating. Our team strives so hard to make Featherdale a beautiful park that people will enjoy coming back to again and again. So, your words melt our hearts. We look forward to seeing you again soon!
    Written 4 November 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 29 October 2023
  • Syeikh E
    5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Enjoyable family experience
    Went there with a family of 9 on a weekday by car. Took the koala experience. We enjoyed ourselves very much despite the initial rainy weather. We were freezing as we didn’t anticipate the weather but all was good in the end. Lots of interactions with the kangaroos and we even get to feed the quokkas.
    Hi syeikhe2023 Thank you for your lovely review and for your fabulous 5-star rating. We are so pleased that, despite the weather, you and your family enjoyed your day at our park interacting with our beautiful animals. We hope to welcome you again one day - and, hopefully, the weather will show us her prettiest face!
    Written 4 November 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 30 October 2023
  • AndyJohn74
    Sydney, Australia5,409 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A nice day out for the family.
    We took the little man to see some native animals of Australia. This small wildlife park is situated in suburban Blacktown, however, is still fairly sizeable. Plenty of enclosures, with lots of variety of animals. There is a place to get a feed and the food was pretty good. There is a nice little petting zoo for the children with goats, shoe, two small cows, geese, rabbits and Guinea pigs. Next to this is an enclosure where visitors can feed the kangaroos. If there was a bit of constructive criticism, it would be the place could do with some modernisation. This would make some of the caged enclosures more roomy for the animals.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 19 November 2023
  • flo220
    New York City, New York359 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great place to see Australian animals
    One of our favorite places on our trip. The chance to pet a koala (and be photographed with it ) and feed wallabies and kangaroos was the most fun. We saw joeys in their mom's pouches and all sorts of animals that are from Australia. Don't miss it.
    Hi Flo, thank you for your lovely review and a fabulous 5-star rating. We are so pleased that enjoy your day at our park. We hope to see you again soon.
    Written 9 December 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 6 December 2023
  • Craig R
    New Hampshire62 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing Experience with animals!
    We loved our experience at Featherdale! We highly recommend arriving early at 8am when the park opens as it's not crowded and you get intimate time with the animals. After 9am the park gets busier and tour groups start arriving, so the 8-9am window is key to avoid crowds. The kangaroos and wallabies aren’t caged so you can pet and feed them up close. This is an extremely hands on wildlife park. There’s also a bunch of koalas around the park for you to encounter and many birds and owls are around too. The staff are extremely friendly and animals are well cared for. If staying in Sydney without a car, it's relatively easy to get to via public transit. You can take an inexpensive 30 minute train ride paired with a 20 minute walk. We highly recommend visiting the Featherdale Wildlife Park!
    Hi 494craigr, What a lovely review. We are delighted you had a lovely day at our park and enjoyed the experience with our animals. We hope to welcome you again soon!
    Written 9 December 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 6 December 2023
  • marfak
    Half Moon Bay, California1,409 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Loved This Place!
    I can't say enough about this place. It is beautifully done with a huge number of Australian species of marsupials, mammals, reptiles, and birds. We could have spent hours there. And you can feed and pet the wallabies and pademons! Highly, highly recommended.
    Thank you, Marfak, for an amazing rating and review! We are very pleased to hear that you had such a wonderful experience on your visit to Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park, especially enjoying our large collection of Australian wildlife and the many interactions that can be experienced at the park. Your High Recommendation is greatly appreciated by all of our teams and we hope to see you again on many future visits to come :-)
    Written 4 January 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 24 December 2023
  • Amy K
    Palm Coast, Florida9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Exceeded our expectations, it’s a must do!
    Absolutely amazing experience! As an animal lover this totally exceeded my expectations! From feeding Kangaroos and wallaby’s, to having a personal experience taking selfie’s with the Quokkas and feeding little penguins. I dragged my husband along and he totally enjoyed all of it. He even held a snake! All of the animal handlers were so knowledgeable and you could tell they love their jobs. If you’re visiting Australia this is a must see. Book your personal experiences in advance as there is only a few a day.
    Thank you for your fantastic review and kind words! We are so glad to hear your experience exceeded expectations and are looking forward to having you visit us again soon!
    Written 21 January 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 20 January 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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prajnk
Carlingford, Australia12 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Family
Booked tickets online to visit the place with my 2 year old on her birthday and staff outside was very rude asking me to stand in a que while some of them asked to come to counter straight away since we bought ticket online .Also they seemed to be quite annoyed arrogant in responding any queries. I would not prefer to visit this wildlife park again. One time visit is ok if you haven't seen any aus native animals. Booking online is better option as dint feel it was value for money.
Written 2 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Georgia
2 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2021 • Family
Went on Easter Monday, that was a mistake. Lined up in the sun for 45 minutes to get in. No social distancing at all.

Waited another 45 minutes in the cafe line of 30-40 people to be served by one server with two helpers just standing behind them. Would have been better to open up another register maybe. Food - horrible.

If we would return it would be with a packed lunch and not during school holidays or a weekend.

Park in need of an update, anything interesting to encounter costs extra so there’s no value in your overpriced entry ticket.
Written 5 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sew
Auckland, New Zealand322 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019 • Friends
Should have read the reviews first before visiting this place (part of our Blue Mountain day tour), and I would have noticed how the negative reviews were hardly responded or addressed.

There was quite a variety of native animals here even though the place was not huge / big compared to the Sydney Zoo. We walked around and do enjoyed watching and feeding some of the animals.

However , what peeved us most is the staff’s attitude and rudeness . One of the staff at the koala’s enclosure stood there with this rude and bored look . Tried asking her a couple of questions but got no response . Yes we are Asians and speak perfectly good English (probably much better than her since she didn’t speak at all besides giving us THAT LOOK ).

Would we recommend this place ? Absolutely not, especially if you are not Caucasian.
Written 6 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review, your comments help us to continually improve our guest experience. All negative comments are referred to our management team for review and we take the matters up privately with our guests. We are proud of our collection of 2000 making us home to the worlds largest collection of Australian wildlife, we are the only place in Sydney that allows Koala patting in addition to a variety of up close experiences. It would not have been our intention to come across abrupt in our customer service as we pride ourselves on sharing the Australian culture will all our guests near or far. We have raised your concerns with management for review.
Written 17 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

TheJimmyco
Tempe, AZ730 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2019
We took the train (T1) to Blacktown Station (direction Emu or Richmond) for 45 minutes and then a short 10-minute bus ride to the zoo. The bus stops right in front, hard to miss. Most of the animals here are rescues that cannot be sent back to the wild. We were able to pet a kangaroo, see koala bears but not touch (we weren't koalafied). A fun day meeting the wildlife. Some of the staff didn't care to be there, otherwise a home run.
Written 11 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you TheJimmyCo for a perfect score! We are so happy to hear that you had a fun day at Featherdale enjoying our large collection of Australian Wildlife. Yes, there are excellent the public transport connections from the Sydney CBD and we are pleased that you found your way to our park so easily. We look forward to seeing you again in the future :)
Written 24 May 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Matthew V
5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
What an amazing experience, I was along to capture this experience for work then chose to go back as a visitor with my wife. Such great information from the keepers and a close up experience with the koalas in residence at the park.

The best experience money can buy in Sydney, well worth the 30 minutes with these beautiful animals. Thank you Featherdale.
Written 19 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cheers Matthew for your wonderful score and review. We are delighted to hear that you had such an amazing experience at your Koala Kindy Encounter, getting up close to our mum & bub koalas and enjoying the keeper talks! We also look forward to seeing the images that you have captured! We thank you for visiting Featherdale and we hope to see you again in the future :)
Written 3 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Iris P
5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023 • Solo
What I loved the most: was not a full house..you get to enjoy and take pictures without waiting for a long time..very peaceful. I did feed the Penguins and it was worth the cost..you get a lot of time to feed them and take pictures..you also get a professional picture. I took the train from Sydney and it was easy..less than an hour.. from the train station you take a bus..leaves you in front of the zoo. Save the tour company charge and pay to feed an animal.
Written 20 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi C3466TJirisp Thank you for your 5 star rating and your kind words about our park. Aren't our little penguins the sweetest? We are so pleased that you enjoyed your time with these fascinating little creatures - we love them to bits. Thank you, again, for visiting our park. We hope to welcome you again one day!
Written 23 July 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Josh P
Reno, NV957 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Family
This is the first stop of our tour that includes the Blue Mountains. It was fascinating to see the different wildlife up close and personal. Enjoyed the variety of animals and birds. It is very different from Taronga Zoo with this one offering a more personal experience in its more intimate setting.
Written 7 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Many thanks Josh for your amazing score and review. We are delighted that you enjoyed the diverse range of Australian wildlife in our collection, and the ability to get up close and personal! We truly hope to see you again in the future for more up close interactions!
Written 12 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

nih806
Frankfurt, Germany6 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Friends
We visited the park as part of our tour to the Blue Mountains and were truly looking forward to learning about Australian wildlife. However, we were very deeply disappointed and shocked by the condition of both the animals and the entire premises. Birds are kept in cages which are much too small, animal faeces are all over the places and the Koalas are totally commercialized and are forced to take pictures with long lines of tourists who obviously don’t understand that animals are not a cuddly toy. The “wildlife park“ is indeed a terrible too trying to maximize revenue which obviously is not used for the animals‘ sake. The place completely misses on its education purpose and fails to teach children how to correctly behave towards animals. At the exit before the huge souvenir shop (more revenue!), the place ridiculously presents its‘ awards for being a major tourist attraction and a great event venue - but no awards about educational quality or the correct keeping of the animals. That explains the true purpose of this facility. Don’t go!!!
Written 2 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review, though your comments do concern us. The wellbeing of the animals in our care is our paramount priority at Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park. As a member of the Zoo & Aquarium Association (ZAA) we have received a score of 100% on animal welfare reflecting the hard work and dedication of our team who go above and beyond to meet the emotional and physical needs of the animals. Further to this, as a ZAA member, we must adhere by their guidelines for our enclosures, aviaries and areas where animals inhabit the park. These guidelines include size, ratio, and other requirements. As for Personal Koala Encounters, only a tiny percentage of our Koala Colony participates in this experience, and it is only the Koalas whom are comfortable and healthy to take part in which we have as guests in the Koala Encounter area. Our Koalas sleep as needed within the Encounter, are given ample breaks and are routinely put back into their enclosures for their own me-time. We thank you for your understanding and hope to see you again in the future. If you have further comments, we would love for you to email them through to social@featherdale.com.au
Written 10 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Raintree_Thailand
Bangkok, Thailand4,443 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Couples
We were brought to Featherdale as part of our tour package to the Blue Mountains. If we were booking again, we would look for a tour that skips the stop at Featherdale. While the place reportedly began as a center for treating injured animals, it seems to have evolved into just another money churner. From the moment visitors arrive (entry fee, selling kibbles to feed the animals) to inside (koala "encounter", crappy restaurant and snack bar), to the exit (big souvenir shop), it seems the place is mainly geared to squeeze out money from visitors. I realize maintaining animals is expensive, but this is not the way to do get needed revenue.

They do indeed have a lot of animals, but most of the cages are small, with little mobility for the animals. Also, there are lots of encouragement to feed the animals (with purchased feed, of course), which to my knowledge is not recommended or healthy care of animals. The direct interaction (petting and handling of the animals) is not generally recommended for wild species. I came away more disappointed and sad for the treatment of the animals than anything. Not the best of experiences.
Written 8 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We regret to hear that your recent visit to Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park did not meet your expectations. To address your concerns, we have passed all audits over the last 50 years with the Department of Primary Industry without blemish. We are proud members of the Zoological Association of Australasia and voluntarily undergo a through a rigorous assessment process every two years that solely looks at true animal welfare to ensure we always maintain the highest standards. We strictly monitor the availability of animal feed each day to adhere to animal welfare guidelines. Moreover, our kangaroos and wallabies in our walk-in enclosures have ample access to refuge areas that are not accessible to the public. Regarding our Café facilities, while we don't have a full restaurant on-site, we offer a thoughtfully selected menu encompassing a wide range of delicious food and recently have been awarded 5 stars from the NSW Food Authority. Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park is integral for the conservation of species across the globe. Although this may not have been evident to you on your recent visit, should you decide to visit us again, we hope you will be able to appreciate the hard work and effort that goes into the running one of Sydney’s most prominent wildlife institutions.
Written 13 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Amazingkoalas
Spain890 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Couples
On our tour to the Blue Mountains we chose to end with a visit to the zoo, and it was one of the best experiences we had on our trip.
At the zoo you can see many of Australia's native species, kangaroos, wombats, emus, cockatoos, Tasmanian devils, penguins, dingoes, etc. and for us, the stars of the zoo, the koalas. We pay to take a photo with one of them, there they recover those who have suffered an accident or health problem, and thanks to zoos like this, perhaps koalas can have the opportunity to not become extinct.
You can also feed some of the animals such as kangaroos, which roam freely there.
It is well worth the visit and we would repeat without hesitation.
Google
Written 20 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your kind words and fantastic review! We are so glad to hear that you had an amazing time visiting all of our wonderful Australian native animals ad hope to have you visit us again in the near future.
Written 24 February 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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FEATHERDALE SYDNEY WILDLIFE PARK (2024) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos) - Tripadvisor

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