In Australia, koalas are considered one of the national symbols. So, it’s no surprise that people want to cuddle them when they visit Perth.
While koalas aren’t native to Western Australia, they are a popular attraction at many of the state’s zoos and animal sanctuaries. If you’re interested in seeing a koala up close, there are a few different options available to you.
Looking for a place to get up close and personal with a koala in Perth, there are a few places you can go.
Cohunu Koala Park
Cohunu Koala Park is located on fourteen hectares of natural Australian bushland just 40 minutes from the city of Perth in Byford, and has over 25 koalas in its colony. Cohunu Koala Park is one of Western Australia’s only wildlife parks that allows you to pick up and cuddle one of their loveable, furry friends. If you would like to cuddle a koala, sessions are $40 per person and are available every day between 10am and 4pm. Visitors wishing to take part in the koala holding need to be 140cm tall.
At Cohunu Koala Park you can also hand feed many of the free-roaming animals throughout the park, see dingoes, kangaroos, deer and emus, plus take a ride on the Cohunu Park Railway train.
Cohuna Koala Park is located at 68 Nettleton Road, Byford.
Find out more by visiting cohunu.com.au
Read the Buggybuddys review of Cohunu Koala Park
Caversham Wildlife Park
The Caversham Wildlife Park. located at Whiteman Park in the Swan Valley, is a great place to see and hold a koala. The park offers daily koala holding sessions where you can get up close and personal with these cute and cuddly marsupials.
Tickets are $35 per person, and you can purchase them at the souvenir shop. Sessions take place at 12pm and 3pm daily. Places are limited and it is advised to book your space early as the sessions are usually sold out by midday. Visitors wishing to take part in the koala holding need to be 150cm tall.
If you’re not interested in holding a koala, you can have your photo taken with one resident koalas in the koala enclosure for no additional fee.
The entry fee to Caversham Wildlife also includes hand-feeding kangaroos, meeting the koalas, getting photos with your favourite Aussie animals, including wallabies, dingos and wombats. Plus don’t miss the interactive farm animal show.
Caversham Wildlife Park is located at 233 Drumpellier Drive, Whiteman Park
Find out more by visiting www.cavershamwildlife.com.au
Read the Buggybuddys review of Caversham Wildlife Park
Adventure World
At Adventure World, you can come face-to-face with one of Australia’s most beloved animals with their Koala Experience. The experience starts with a visit to the koala enclosure, where guests can encounter the koalas up close and learn about their habitat and diet from their keeper. Guests are given the exclusive experience of interacting with, petting and taking photos with the Adventure World Koala family but holding a koala is not permitted.
The cost of the experience is $25 per person or $79 for a family of four and includes a professionally printed photograph in a souvenir frame. Bookings can be made online in advance or on the day at guest services.
Find Adventure World at 351 Progress Drive, Bibra Lake
Find out more by visiting adventureworld.net.au/pricing/koala-experience/
Read the Buggybuddys review of Adventure World
Places you can see Koalas in Perth
There are also a couple of places in Perth where you can see Koalas but not interact with them.
Yanchep National Park
Yanchep National Park is one of the best places to see koalas in Perth. The park has a dedicated koala boardwalk where you can take in the sights and sounds of these fascinating creatures while getting some great photo opportunities.
The boardwalk is free to enter and is open during park hours, which are typically from sunrise to sunset.
Yanchep National Park is located just 45 minutes north of Perth, making it the perfect day trip for animal lovers. In addition to the Koala Boardwalk, the park also offers a variety of other attractions, including walking trails, caves, picnic areas, and a chance to see kangaroos in the wild.
Find Yanchep National Park at
Find out more by visiting exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au/park/yanchep-national-park
Read the Buggybuddys review of Yanchep National Park
Perth Zoo
The Perth Zoo is home to a number of different animals, including koalas. Visitors can view the animals from elevated walkways or take part in a behind-the-scenes tour. The zoo also offers educational programs about the animals and their habitats.
Perth Zoo is home to several koalas, which are native to Australia. Visitors can learn about the different species of koala and their ecology while getting an up-close experience with these friendly animals.
The Koalas are located in Perth Zoo’s Australian Bushwalk are. This 1.5 kilometre self-guided tour lets visitors see koalas in their natural habitat while learning about other Australian animals. The zoo has a number of different Australian animals on display, including koalas, kangaroos, and wallabies. You can also learn about the zoo’s conservation efforts for these animals.
Find Perth Zoo at 20 Labouchere Road, South Perth
Find out more by visiting perthzoo.wa.gov.au
Read the Buggybuddys review of Perth Zoo
In conclusion, if you want to hold a koala in Perth, you can either go to Cohunu Koala Park or Caversham Wildlife Park. Both of these options will allow you to have an up-close and personal experience with one of Australia’s most beloved animals.
Find more wildlife parks in Perth
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After spending 11 years in London working in the television industry for the BBC, Jennie McNichol made the move to Perth in 2010. As the Co-Founder and Editor of Buggybuddys, she has been able to use her experience and passion for helping families to create a trusted online resource for parents across Perth.
Jennie is the proud mother of two daughters, aged 14 & 12 and is a big advocate of the family-friendly lifestyle that Perth has to offer.