Featherdale Wildlife Park
Cuddle up to a koala, hand-feed a kangaroo, wallaby or emu, and let Sydney Charter Bus Australia do the driving.
Featherdale Wildlife Park at Doonside in Western Sydney is one of the country’s best-loved wildlife experiences and the single largest hands-on collection of Australian native animals near the city. Home to more than 2,000 animals across over 260 species, all set among native trees and plants on a flat, easy-walking 7-acre site, Featherdale lets you come face to face with koalas, kangaroos, wombats, dingoes, crocodiles, penguins, Tasmanian devils and more, all in one place. Sydney Charter Bus Australia runs private transport to Featherdale seven days a week, dropping your group at the gates and collecting you when you are done, so nobody has to drive, navigate or find a park.
Featherdale Wildlife Park sits right on the route to the Blue Mountains, which makes it the perfect first or last stop on a Blue Mountains day tour, or a destination in its own right with a direct there-and-back transfer from the pickup point of your choice.
From poultry farm to national treasure
Featherdale’s story is a genuine slice of Sydney history. The land was bought by Charles and Marjorie Wigg in 1953 as a humble poultry farm. In 1972 their son-in-law, Bruce Kubbere, opened it to the public as a native plant nursery with wildlife displays, and the animals quickly became the main attraction.
In 1975 the park nearly disappeared, when the land was rezoned for public housing. The decision was famously reversed by then Premier Sir Robert Askin, and Featherdale was saved. More than 50 years on, over 11.5 million people have walked through its gates, and it has grown into one of the finest privately owned wildlife parks in Australia, still family-friendly in feel and receiving no government funding.
Featherdale at a glance
| Opened to the public | 1972 (on a 1953 poultry farm) |
| Location | 217 Kildare Road, Doonside NSW 2767, near Blacktown, about 40 km west of the Sydney CBD |
| Size | Around 7 acres (3.29 hectares), flat and fully paved |
| Animals | More than 2,000 individual animals across over 260 species |
| Claim to fame | The largest collection of koalas in New South Wales, and a leader in koala care |
| Accreditation | Accredited by the Zoo and Aquarium Association Australasia (ZAA) |
| Sister parks | Part of a group with Mogo Wildlife Park and Hunter Valley Wildlife Park |
The animals you will meet
Featherdale is all about getting close. Rather than viewing animals at a distance, you walk among free-roaming kangaroos and wallabies you can hand-feed, and stand alongside koalas for a photo and a gentle pat. The collection spans Australia’s mammals, birds, reptiles, monotremes, marsupials and penguins.
| Group | Some of the residents |
|---|---|
| Marsupials | Koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, wombats and Tasmanian devils |
| Monotremes | Short-beaked echidnas |
| Other mammals | Dingoes and native rodents |
| Birds | Emus, cassowaries, cockatoos, parrots, owls and one of the largest native bird collections in the country |
| Reptiles | Crocodiles, pythons, goannas and lizards |
| Penguins | Little penguins, with keeper feeding sessions |
Animal encounters and experiences
Beyond general admission, Featherdale offers close-up keeper experiences that can be booked directly with the park. These are popular and often limited each day, so book ahead.
- Koala Kindy. Step into the koala enclosure with a keeper for a truly close encounter.
- Little penguin feeding. Hand-feed the park’s little penguins alongside a keeper.
- Quokka meet and greet. Say hello to one of the world’s most photogenic animals.
- Zookeeper for a Day. A behind-the-scenes program getting hands-on with the keepers.
- School programs. Dedicated packages for children’s parties and curriculum-linked education adventures.
Ticket prices as of September 2026
Featherdale sets and updates its own admission prices. The figures below are the general gate prices current as at September 2026. You can save 10% by booking online in advance, and children under 3 enter free.
| Visitor type | Gate price |
|---|---|
| Adult (16+ years) | $49 |
| Child (3 to 15 years) | $29 |
| Infant (0 to 2 years) | Free |
| Concession (with valid ID) | $40 |
| Seniors (60+) | Discounted rate with valid ID |
Prices are set by Featherdale and are subject to change. Always confirm current prices, encounters and any online discount on the official Featherdale website before you travel.
(Featherdale Wildlife Park: General Admission, Sep 2026)
Opening hours
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Every day of the year | 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Christmas Day | 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM (last entry 1:00 PM) |
Featherdale is open 365 days a year, and we can run your transport to suit, whatever the day.
Facilities on site
| ✅ Treehouse Café, barista coffee and hot food | ✅ Souvenir and gift shop |
| ✅ Three shady picnic areas | ✅ BBQ areas |
| ✅ Free WiFi | ✅ Baby change facilities throughout |
| ✅ Accessible bathrooms and paths | ✅ Free parking, plus overflow car park |
Accessibility. The whole park is a flat, smoothly paved 7-acre block, which makes it easy for prams, wheelchairs and walkers. Wheelchairs and walkers can be arranged with advance notice, and a support worker travelling with a Companion Card holder is admitted free.
Conservation, breeding and research
Featherdale is far more than a day out. Conservation, breeding and education sit at the heart of what it does. The park runs an extensive captive breeding program, and its carefully paired animals are sought after by zoos and wildlife parks around the world. It works with leading Australian universities on research into some of the country’s most vulnerable species, including quoll breeding and predator studies, koala genome and echidna research, yellow-footed rock wallaby genetics and wombat health. Every visit helps fund that work.
One of Sydney’s most-loved attractions
Featherdale’s popularity has grown steadily for decades. It has been recognised at the Australian Tourism Awards and named a Best NSW Major Tourist Attraction, and it has welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, along with a long list of famous guests over the years, from Hollywood stars to musicians, all drawn by the chance to meet a koala. The chart below shows how visitor numbers have climbed.
(Featherdale Annual Visitors: A Growing Attraction)
Getting there with Sydney Charter Bus Australia
Featherdale is about 40 minutes from the Sydney CBD, and travelling by charter bus takes the hassle out of the day. We pick up from the location of your choice, drop your group at the entrance, and collect you at an agreed time, with free on-site parking meaning no queues and no circling for a space. Because Featherdale sits on the way to the Blue Mountains, it slots neatly into a full day out.
- Direct return transfer. A there-and-back service to Featherdale for families, groups and schools.
- Blue Mountains combination. Add Featherdale as a one-hour stop on the way to or from the Blue Mountains.
- School excursions. A curriculum favourite, with our WWCC certified drivers. See school excursion bus hire.
Our fleet runs from 12-seat minibuses to 62-seat coaches, all air-conditioned and seatbelted. We are a Transport for NSW accredited direct operator holding Bus Operator Accreditation No. 39461, so you deal with us and never a broker. Browse our fleet or explore more day tours and outings.
Featherdale Wildlife Park FAQs
Can I hold a koala?
No. Holding a koala is not permitted in NSW unless you are a qualified keeper. You can, however, stand right beside one for a photo and a gentle pat.
Can we touch and pat the koalas?
Yes. You can get up close and touch the koalas at the koala boardwalk, and Featherdale holds the largest koala collection in the state.
How long should we allow at Featherdale?
On a Blue Mountains tour, about an hour is usually scheduled in. If Featherdale is your main destination, the park recommends around two hours to see everything and enjoy the encounters.
Where is Featherdale?
At 217 Kildare Road, Doonside NSW 2767, near Blacktown, about 40 km and roughly 40 minutes west of the Sydney CBD.
What are the opening hours?
Open every day from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with reduced hours of 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Christmas Day (last entry 1:00 PM).
Can we have lunch at Featherdale?
Yes. There is the Treehouse Café with hot food, sandwiches, ice cream, tea, coffee and cold drinks, plus three shady picnic areas and BBQ areas.
Can we bring our own food and picnic?
Yes. The shady picnic areas cannot be booked and are first-come, first-served. No alcohol or smoking is permitted anywhere in the park.
Is there WiFi?
Yes, free WiFi is available. Sign up on entry.
Is smoking allowed?
No. Smoking is only permitted in the designated area near the car park exit. Keep your admission pass for re-entry.
Is the park suitable for wheelchairs and prams?
Yes. Featherdale is a flat, fully paved site. Wheelchairs and walkers can be arranged in advance, and a Companion Card holder’s support worker is admitted free.
Is there parking for our bus?
Yes. There is free on-site parking and an overflow car park, and we drop your group at the entrance and collect you at the agreed time.
Book your bus to Featherdale Wildlife Park
Take the driving and parking out of your Featherdale day and let everyone enjoy the animals. Contact us today for a free quote on bus hire in Sydney, and we will get your group there and home in comfort.