Animal Encounters

Get up close and personal with our animal encounters

With the largest colony of koalas, and the only place in Victoria to hand-feed a tiger, our animal encounters are not to be missed!

Book online (below) to avoid missing out OR upon arrival at the Park.

Our encounters do book out, so we recommend booking in advance. Encounters are weather dependent and subject to change.

Please note, a valid admission ticket is required to enter the Park. Animal Encounter bookings do not include admission.

$10 from every tiger encounter will go to the Big Cat Alliance tiger conservation program. We also plant one gum tree for every koala encounter purchased, through our ‘Branching Out for Koalas‘ program.

Buy Animal Encounter Tickets

Wombat

10:00 am

or

3:00 pm

$50.00

1 - 2 guests
12 years and over

$80.00

up to 3 guests
12 years and over

Koala

11:30 am

or

1:30 pm

$55.00

1 - 2 guests
No age limit

$85.00

Up to 4 guests
No age limit

Cassowary

11:00 am

$50.00

1 - 2 guests
9 years and over

$80.00

Up to 4 guests
9 years and over

Tree Kangaroo

11:00 am

$50.00

2 guests

12 years and over

Tiger

For Times & Bookings call (03) 5333 5933

$99.00

1 guest
15 years and over

Lizard

2:30 pm

$40.00

1 - 2 guests

No age limit

Giant Tortoise

12:00 pm

$50.00

1 - 2 guests

$80.00

Up to 4 guests

Snake

2:30 pm

$50.00

1 - 2 guests

$80.00

Up to 4 guests

Echidna

For Times & Bookings call (03) 5333 5933

$50.00

1 guest
12 years and over

$80.00

2 guests
12 years and over

Meerkat

12:15 pm

$95.00

1 - 2 guests
9 years and over

$125.00

Up to 3 guests
9 years and over

Quokka

10:30 am

or

3:00 pm

$50.00

1 or 2 guests

Gift Vouchers

Animal encounter vouchers do not include a guaranteed booking. Please call on the morning of your visit to book a slot for your encounter, or book at the gift shop on arrival. Animal encounters are subject to availability and daily animal checks. Entry to the park is additional, and is not included in the price of an animal encounter.

Terms & Conditions

All animal encounters are subject to availability and may change at short notice.
Entry to the park is additional, and is not included in the price of an animal encounter.
The Meerkat encounter does not include a professional photograph.
One digital photo is included with the encounter.
Printed photos are available to collect from the gift shop 60 minutes after the encounter.
Bookings are essential for all encounters.
All photos are weather dependent.
There are limited spaces throughout the day to ensure the welfare of the animals.
At least one paying adult must accompany children at all times.
Participants must meet at the arranged meeting point five minutes prior to scheduled time.
Participants agree to follow the instructions of the handlers/photographer at all time.
All animal contact is at the discretion of Park staff.

Tree Kangaroo

11:00am

Meet Kombai, the Goodfellow’s Tree Kangaroo!

During your visit to Ballarat Wildlife Park, don't miss the chance to encounter our charming tree kangaroo up close! This unique experience allows you to interact with these fascinating and agile creatures, providing an unforgettable adventure.

Join us for the tree kangaroo encounter daily at 11 AM. This delightful experience is at $50.00 (2 guests 12 and over), and will be captured with a digital photo (a printed copy of your photo available for $10.00 each). Don’t miss this opportunity to create a special memory with our amazing tree kangaroo, Kombai!

Cassowary

11:00am

During your visit to Ballarat Wildlife Park, don't miss the thrilling opportunity to hand-feed one of our magnificent cassowaries! This once-in-a-lifetime experience allows you to get up close and personal with these majestic and fascinating birds, to hand-feed with their favourite, delicious fresh fruit! Join us for the cassowary encounter daily at 11AM. This exhilarating experience starts at $50.00, and will be captured with a digital photo (a printed copy of your photo available for $10.00 each). Don’t miss this chance to create an extraordinary memory with our amazing cassowaries!

Koala

11:30am and 1:30pm

While visiting the Park, why not take the time to get up close and personal with one of our Koalas. During a Koala experience you may pat the Koala, and get nice and close. However, due to Victorian Laws you are unable to hold or carry the Koala. If temperatures are 30+ degrees photos may be cancelled or re-scheduled, as we cannot be handling the Koalas at such high temperatures. The scheduled times for the koala experience is at 11:30am & 1:30pm. Koala experiences are from $55.00 and will be captured with a digital photo (a printed copy of your photo available for $10.00 each)

Giant Tortoise

12:00pm

While visiting the Park, why not take the time to have your picture taken with Hugo the Giant Tortoise who is over 45 years old! During winter the tortoise experience can be canceled due to the colder weather. The scheduled time for the Tortoise experience is 12pm. Giant Tortoise experiences are from $50.00 and will be captured with a digital photo (a printed copy of your photo available for $10.00 each)

Meerkat

12:15pm

Meet the Meerkats!

During your visit to Ballarat Wildlife Park, don't miss the opportunity to have an unforgettable encounter with our playful meerkats! These curious and social creatures are always a delight, offering a unique and interactive experience for all ages. Join us for the meerkat encounter daily at 12.15 PM. This engaging experience is from $95.00 (for 2 guests 9 and over), and you can capture the moment with a selfie on your own device. Get ready to make some furry new friends and create lasting memories with our adorable meerkats!

Snake

2:30pm

While visiting the Park, why not take the opportunity to have a photo taken of you with a Snake around your shoulders. The experiences are often taken with our Boa Constrictor or our Coastal Carpet Python. During the winter Snake photos can be cancelled, as we do not bring the Snakes out in the cold. The scheduled time for the snake experience is at 2.30pm. Snake experiences are from $50.00 and will be captured with a digital photo (a printed copy of your photo available for $10.00 each)

Tiger

Hand Feed a Tiger!

During your visit to Ballarat Wildlife Park, take advantage of the thrilling opportunity to hand-feed one of our majestic tigers! This once-in-a-lifetime experience allows you to get up close and personal with these powerful and beautiful animals, making for an unforgettable adventure. This exhilarating experience is $99.00 per person (with $10 from each encounter going to Tiger Conservation), and you can capture the moment with be captured with a digital photo (a printed copy of your photo available for $10.00 each). Don’t miss this chance to create an extraordinary memory with our magnificent tigers!