Your Ultimate Guide to Meeting Australian Wildlife (Without Leaving the City)

Discover, Learn, and Connect with Australia’s Native Wildlife

Jessica B

Published Date: 3/11/25

Your Gateway to Australia's Wildlife 

Dreaming of meeting Australia's iconic wildlife without venturing deep into the bush? Paradise Country on the Gold Coast offers an immersive experience where families, tourists, and schools can connect with native Australian animals in a naturalistic setting. From cuddly koalas to hopping kangaroos, this wildlife park brings the magic of Australia's fauna right to the city. 

A koala sits on a tree branch surrounded by lush green leaves and sunlight, looking off to the side in a natural, outdoor setting.
A child kneels beside a kangaroo in a grassy area, with more people and kangaroos in the background.

Meet the Stars of Paradise Country

Koalas: The Eucalyptus Enthusiasts 

Koalas are a must-see at Paradise Country. These iconic marsupials spend most of their time resting in the forks of eucalyptus trees, eating eucalyptus leaves, and sleeping. Visitors can learn about these endangered species through wildlife presentations, or for a more exclusive and close-up experience,  a Koala Encounter* or Koala Breakfast**. When purchasing a Koala Breakfast, a portion of proceeds will be donated to the Save a Mate Conservation Campaign, that helps preserve Australian wildlife through conservation, education, and research. 

 

*Paid Experience 

** Only runs Saturday and Sunday. Book ahead to guarantee this experience. 

 

Kangaroos & Wallabies: Hopping into Your Heart 

Get up close to kangaroos and wallabies at Paradise Country. These gentle creatures roam freely in the wildlife walkabout, allowing visitors to observe their natural behaviors. The park has three different species: the Eastern Grey Kangaroo, the Red Kangaroo and the Red-Necked Wallaby that reside in the wildlife walkabout. You can meet them up close in a relaxed and gentle space.    

Dingoes: One of Australia’s Top Predators 

Discover the role of dingoes in Australia’s wild history and watch as they roam and play in their specially designed habitat. Paradise Country visitors can learn all about dingoes during wildlife presentations and can also meet the dingoes during Dingo Photo's*. 

 

*Paid Experience 

 

Tasmanian Devils: The World’s Largest Surviving Carnivorous Marsupial  

Discover the Tasmanian Devil at Paradise Country in the wildlife walkthrough. Known for their keen senses and nocturnal habitats, these carnivores spend their days resting and sunbaking or spending time in the nocturnal habitat. Learn more about these fascinating animals in wildlife presentations. 

 

Save a Mate Headquarters: A brand-new immersive experience 

Discover the sights and sounds of native Australia, this new space invites you to get up close with fascinating reptiles while learning about conservation and education. Save a Mate Headquarters is packed with interactive signage and hands on learning moments. Get up close with the reptiles during a snake photo or learn all about them during a wildlife presentation. 

A family of four, two adults and two children, walk hand in hand outside a rustic building labeled "Save a Mate Headquarters" on a sunny day, surrounded by greenery.
Children sit at tables in a spacious, warmly lit room with wooden walls, colorful stools, and educational displays. Several people stand near the entrance, and a gorilla statue sits beside some plants.

Wildlife Encounters 

 

Meet Australian wildlife through daily educational and interactive encounters. 

 

Koala Encounter*: Enjoy an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience and meet koalas up close in their habitats. Enjoy the precious interaction as you get to feed the koala’s their favourite food, all while capturing precious moments.  Take home a souvenir photo of your experience to remember your day forever.

 

Koala Photos:  Take a photo with one of Australia’s most famous native animals. This is your chance to meet a koala and take home a memory.  

 

Snake Photos: Meet a scaley friend up close and create a unique experience for you and give you a photo you will treasure forever. 

 

Dingo Photos: Meet one of the most iconic native canines, the dingo. Capture the moment in a stunning portrait or an action shot and make memories you’ll cherish forever.  

 

*Paid Experience 

Zoo keeper and young girl interacting with a koala perched on a tree branch, surrounded by eucalyptus leaves, during an animal encounter experience.
A woman and two children sit on a log outdoors, smiling and petting two dingo puppies, with trees and a fence in the background.

Farmyard Fun 

Experience authentic Aussie farm fun where you can meet guinea pigs and goats who are full of personality in the Farmyard Nursery. 

Watch the Stockman Show and discover what it takes to crack a whip, throw a boomerang, milk a cow, and watch as working dogs round up sheep. 

Head to the Stock Horse Arena and Billy Tea Show to learn all about making the perfect cup of bush tea and watch as an Australian stock horse demonstrates their speed and skill as they maneuver around and over farming obstacles. 

Make your child’s day with a pony ride* at the Pony Arena. 

*Subject to availability, available for purchase on the day at the wildlife photo centre.  

Crowd gathered at Paradise Country watching an outdoor Australian farm show with a presenter in a cowboy hat demonstrating by a campfire setup.
Stockman in cowboy hat riding a brown horse during an arena show at Australian Outback Spectacular, with cheering crowd behind the fence
A young girl sits on a hay bale, petting three white goats at a farm with a barn and fencing visible in the background.
Two children with helmets ride ponies, each led by an adult in blue shirts and hats, walking on grass with trees and a fence in the background.

Make it the Ultimate Wildlife Experience

Stay overnight at Paradise Country Farmstay and wake to the sounds of Australian nature. Choose from a camp and van site or opt for glamping with an eco-tent. Stays include entry into Paradise Country and  exclusive experiences like: 

Sunrise Activities: Wake up and learn what it takes to live on the farm. Take part in sheep and goat feeding, collecting eggs from the friendly farm chickens, or help milk the cows. 

Sunset Activities: Get up close to our farm animals and be taken on a Twilight Tour* with one of our keepers around Paradise Country. 

*Wildlife Twilight Tours run on a Friday and Saturday and every day during QLD school holidays   

Two children are kneeling on grass, petting and feeding a kangaroo in an outdoor enclosure.
A young girl and a woman collect eggs from a chicken coop, with the girl reaching inside while the woman holds a basket.
An adult and a child sit next to a cow in a fenced area; the child is reaching out to milk the cow's udder, while the adult observes and smiles.
A woman and child sit by a bunk bed inside a tent, holding a stuffed animal, while two people sit at a table on the deck outside, surrounded by trees.

A Wildlife Adventure Awaits  

Experiencing native Australian animals has never been easier or more magical. Paradise Country on the Gold Coast provides an unforgettable opportunity to connect with koalas, kangaroos, and more wildlife without leaving the city. Whether you're a local resident or a visitor, a trip to Paradise Country promises a day filled with wonder and discovery. 

Smiling child patting a kangaroo at a wildlife park in Australia, surrounded by trees and natural bushland.

Your Ultimate Guide to Meeting Australian Wildlife (Without Leaving the City)