Cleland Wildlife Park

Summer activities

A day with Australia's wonderful animals awaits. Before arriving at the wildlife park, you will take a short stop at Mount Lofty Summit to enjoy the magnificent panorama over Adelaide. At approximately 710m, the summit is the highest point in the Adelaide Hills with uninterrupted views to the Gulf St. Vincent and as far as the eye can see north and south. The Cleland Wildlife Park is set in 35 hectares of natural bush and provides a unique open space environment with very few enclosures. It is home to over 130 species of native animals and is one of only a few places in the world where you can hold a koala. Cleland Wildlife Park is well known for its management and care in the health and wellbeing of the animals. As you explore the park and follow the self-guided discovery trails, find an abundance of native wildlife and walk among the free roaming animals in their natural environment. Explore the lively wetlands where the pelicans, cormorants and water birds live. See kangaroos, emus, dingoes, wallabies, Tasmanian devils and many more! Get up close to Australia’s iconic Koala! Your entry fee includes the ‘close-up’ experience where you can meet, touch and photograph one of the park’s cutest inhabitants while listening to the keepers who care for them. For an additional fee (no pre-booking), you have a unique opportunity to hold a koala and have a professional photo taken at the same time. Engaging with the park’s friendliest inhabitants provides a truly immersive experience. The best way to get up close to the kangaroos, wallabies and potoroos is by hand feeding them with the animal food provided. Don’t forget to save some for the emus and waterfowl as you make your way around the park. The Ocean to Outback Interpretive Centre provides an opportunity to learn about South Australia’s diverse ecosystems whilst viewing the nocturnal animals, small mammals and reptiles – you may even choose the reptile hold experience!

At the beginning of this 4-hour activity you’ll be picked up in central Adelaide and transferred to the summit of Mount Lofty. At 710 meters, it is the highest point in the Mount Lofty Ranges and offers stunning views of Adelaide, the Adelaide Hills, and the plains below. From here it’s downhill all the way back to Adelaide! It’s just a short ride though Cleland Conservation park to your first stop of the day, at Cleland Wildlife Park. You’ll have a chance to explore at your leisure and feed or pet kangaroos, wallabies, emus and many other native animals. You may even have the chance to pet a koala! Enjoy morning tea while relaxing in the natural surroundings. On leaving the wildlife park, you can enjoy the best part of the whole trip, which is the ride through Cleland Conservation Park. It’s all downhill with a mix of some fun rough sections, other nice flat sections, and some fast bits! You’ll definitely see wild koalas as you ride through this stunning place. After approximately 10 km you’ll arrive in the suburbs of Adelaide, and enjoy a final spin along some quiet backstreets, past some lovely houses and suburban parks. When you reach Victoria Park you’ll have a great view of the summit of Mount Lofty, where you started out 3 hours and 18 km ago!