Where Can I Pat a Koala in Sydney?

If you want to pat a koala in Sydney, the best place is Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary (about an hour north of the city), or Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park in Western Sydney. You can also head to the Australian Reptile Park on the Central Coast, about an hour north of Sydney, where you’ll find one of the largest collections of koalas around.

Short version? Skip the buses, pat the koala, meet the neighbours.

Why Koala Encounters Are Special

Koalas are Australia’s furriest celebrities. For most visitors, patting one is a bucket-list moment. In New South Wales, you can’t hold a koala (that’s Queensland’s party trick), but you can give one a gentle pat under supervision.

And yes, their fur’s soft — not fake-toy fluffy, more like a cosy fleece blanket that’s been toughened up for life in the gum trees. Warm, dense, and way nicer than you’d expect from an animal that spends 20 hours a day snoozing.

My pick - the friendly koalas at Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary.

Best Places to Pat a Koala Near Sydney

Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary (Calga)

• About an hour north of Sydney.

• Koala pats plus a bush setting where kangaroos and emus wander past like it’s their driveway.

• Fewer crowds, more nature, fewer selfie sticks.

• Koala pats are free for guests my tour, you get to spend about 10 minutes with one
  

Australian Reptile Park (Somersby)

• Also about an hour north of Sydney.

• Home to a large number of koalas.

• The park has plenty more to see too: Tasmanian devils, wombats, dingoes, and even a crocodile show. • Busier and more touristy than Walkabout, but still a solid option if you’re heading up the Central Coast.

Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park (Doonside)

• About 40 minutes west of the city.

• Huge variety of native animals, koala pat for a minute or two and a photo (AUD$35). Can be very crowded.

• You can also hand-feed kangaroos — they’ll mug you for food quicker than a seagull at Bondi.
  

Why Choose my Private Tour for Your Koala Encounter

Big bus tours? Sure, if you like queues, megaphones, and rushed selfies.

On our private tours, it’s different:

• No crowds — we slip in before the chaos.

• More animals, less stress — after your koala pat, we’ll find kangaroos sitting in the bush, not just behind a fence.

• Local yarns — like the time I nearly stepped on a red-bellied black snake at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair. (Yes, even Sydney’s poshest tourist spot has bite.)
  

Tips for Your Koala Encounter

• Best time: mornings, when the koalas are awake for their five-minute shift.

• Accessibility: both Walkabout and Featherdale are wheelchair-friendly.

• Photography: staff will grab your photo at Featherdale for a fee, but I take free professional shots and send you the images at the end of the day.

• What not to do: don’t pick gum leaves off the ground for them. Koalas are fussier eaters than toddlers at dinnertime.

FAQ

Can you hold a koala in Sydney? No. In NSW, you can’t hold koalas — just a pat. It’s safer for them and for you.

Where is the best place to pat a koala in Sydney? Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary is the top pick.

Is it safe to pat a koala? Yes. Encounters are supervised by staff who know what they’re doing — and the koalas are used to adoring fans.

How much does it cost to pat a koala? Included in your tour with me when we visit Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary and the Australian Reptile Park, around AUD $35 for adults at Featherdale for a very brief pat.

Make It More Than Just a Pat

Patting a koala is just the start. On our Nature & Wildlife: Australia in One Day – Private Tour, you’ll also:

• Sit with kangaroos in the Australian bush.

• Spot wombats, wallabies, and maybe even a shy echidna.

• Wander hidden trails no bus tour finds.
  

Plan Your Wildlife Adventure Today — and go home with more than just a fuzzy photo.