Wildlife in Adelaide
Wombat at the Adelaide Zoo
Adelaide is the perfect place to spend some quality time with nature’s finest creatures. With almost 10 zoos and wildlife sanctuaries within an hour’s drive of the city center, you’ll be sure to see a broader range of animals than you could have believed possible. Here’s a guide to help you make the most out each of these exciting opportunities.
The centerpiece of Adelaide’s wildlife is the Adelaide Zoo. Over 3,400 animals roam the grounds of an 8 hectare landscaped paradise. The zoo centers its efforts on the super continent of Gondwana. If you haven’t heard of it, there’s no need to feel embarrassed: it hasn’t existed for millions of years! In those days, South America, India, Africa, and Australia were all joined together. Concurrently, the different geographical regions vary greatly in location, but are incredibly similar in terms of diversity.
For an experience that is uniquely Australian, the Parndana Wildlife Park is dedicated to animals native to the Continent. You’re sure to find the ubiquitous kangaroo (and feeding is encouraged), but the fun doesn’t stop there. There’s lots of different species on exhibit, including wallabies, wombats, emus, and koalas. All in all, an afternoon spent wandering through Parndana is a relaxing way to get back to nature.
About 20 minutes outside of Adelaide in the Adelaide Hills, Cleland Wildlife Park is another great wildlife destination. The Park is set up as an open range animal sanctuary, so you never know what kind of creature is going to pop its head around the next turn! One of the best ways to enjoy this park is through a nocturnal tour, led by knowledgeable scientists and researchers. This is a great chance to see the animals of Australia in a manner unlike any you’ve imagined before. Make sure to book in advance, as this popular tour fills up early.
Up north in Port Adelaide, you’ll find the Seahorse Farm, devoted to the study of (you guessed it!) the seahorse. These fascinating creatures have enjoyed endangered species status in Australia since 1998, and their stocks are still diminishing in the wild. That’s why the research and breeding work going on at the Seahorse Farm is particularly important.
One final option is probably too far out of the way for most visitors, but still deserves a mention just in case you find yourself with an extra few days on your vacation. Almost 800 kilometres northwest of Adelaide, the Baird Bay Ocean Eco Experience offers a unique chance to interact with marine animals. You’ll be able to swim freely in the ocean with a pack of dolphins. Though its quite a distance from Adelaide, this can be one of those life changing experiences that you’ll never forget, so if you have the opportunity, go for it.
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