Get up close and personal with Australian native animals and learn about them at this incredible wildlife park. Find out some handy tips for this amazing place that is one of the top things to do in Warrnambool. This is my Warrnambool Wildlife Encounters Review.
What is Warrnambool Wildlife Encounters
First and foremost, Warrnambool Wildlife Encounters is not a zoo, it’s a real operating wildlife park! You get a chance to get up and close to some gorgeous native animals and most importantly learn more about them, and how you can look after them in the wild.
Warrnambool Wildlife Encounters is most defenitely one of the Top Things to do in Warrnambool if you are a animal lover or have children that love animals!
The park used to operate in the past, formerly known as Cudgee Wildlife Park.
It was closed for some time and recently reopened with the daughter of the original owners (Zara, she is absolutely amazing), running the small guided group tours.
The animals are extremely well looked after and many of them are rescued from the wild.
Visiting Warrnambool Wildlife Encounters
This is a fully guided experience and it runs for just under 2 hours. We opted for a 10am tour as it was a really hot day, but they did also have an option for a 12 o’ clock tour.
Depending on the time of year tours may run at different times and days. Check their website HERE for more details.
The tour is made up of 2 parts, first the close up encounters, then you get to visit the remainder of the park and feed some animals.
Close up Animals Encounters
Upon arrival you are greeted and stay in the main room at the entry, where everyone can settle in and sit down. There are a number of reptile enclosures in the main room that you can have a look at!
Zara (the wildlife park owner), will then bring out an animal at a time, tells you a bit out them, where they came from, if they are endangered, how the park acquired it and most importantly, how to best look after them which was highly informative.
Everyone gets then a chance to have a pat or hold it!
The animals that are shown vary are there are a range of reptiles and marsupials at the park, but these are some of the animals we got to pat and hold during our visit:
- Python
- Baby Kangaroo & Albino (white) Kangaroo
- Baby Wallaby
- Baby Bettong
- Baby Wombat
Animal feeding and exploring the park
After about 30-45 minutes inside, each visitor is given a bucket of feed for the animals and you head outside, there are lots of free roaming animals, the main ones are deers (who are really not shy when it comes to taking the food), kangaroos, wallabies & emus.
There is also a separate enclosure with lots of free roaming chickens and Cape Barren geese.
The Koalas are in a separate section again and you can also pat those on the tree. You will have plenty of time to wonder around.
Zara also walked us through some other enclosures, to see the eagles and the final one was of the dingos. In small groups, we all got to enter the dingle enclosure a few at a time and got to admire the beautiful animals.
This concluded the visit and you are ushered to the exit before the next tour begins.
Important Tips when visiting
- Wear some sturdy, outdoor shoes. Not your fancy runners or sandals! You are inside some of the time but you also venture outside on the fields where lots of animals are grazing around freely.
- They feed some of the animals nuts – we didn’t get given any personally as it was only the tour guide giving them to the animals. If you or children are severely allergic to nuts, this place won’t be for you!
FAQ
Where is Warrnambool Wildlife Encounters?
The park is located in Cudgee, about 20 minutes drive from Warrnambool. It’s located only 7 minutes drive to Allansford, where Cheese World is located, which is also well worth a visit.
How much does it cost to visit Warrnambool Wildlife Encounters?
Adults over 16 yrs are $35 AUD ahead, and kids over 2 years old are charged $22 AUD ahead. Children under 2 years of age are Free.
Family Passes are also available at prices starting at $110 AUD for a family of 2 adults and 2 children.
Based on the experience we had, I though the cost was fair and totally worth it. We got to really make the most of the 2 hours there and the kids absolutely loved it. It was something totally different from any other animal experience we had and it made for an unforgettable day!
Do I need to book ahead to go to Warrnambool Wildlife Encounters?
Yes! You MUST book ahead online. This is not like a zoo where you can buy a ticket at the door and go in and wonder around at your own pace. It only runs small group guided tours at set times.
Check on their website On their website HERE you can see the availability of the tours running. Make sure you look online and book ahead as they do get booked up quickly!
We went midweek outside the school holidays in summer and I had to book 3 days prior to the tour – that was the first available.
What are the opening hours for Warrnambool Wildlife Encounters?
As they only run guided tours, the opening hours may vary depending on how many tours are running. During peak times (eg. during school holidays or during the summer months) they may run 2 or more tours a day. Check their website for more details HERE.
Where to stay in Warrnambool
Warrnambool town centre and surrounds has some great options and a lot of variety of accommodation types to suit all budgets.
There are some large hotels in the Lady Bay area near the beaches, such as the Deep Blue Hotel & Resort with their own hot springs baths and Lady Bay Resort with apartment-style accommodation.
Click Here to Check Availability for Deep Blue Hotel & Spa in Warrnambool
Click Here to Check availability for Lady Bay Resort in Warrnambool
Quest Warrnambool and Warrnambool Gallery apartments are two of my favourites located right in the heart of the centre of Warrnambool. They are a short walk from Liebig Street, which has a great variety of shops, restaurants and coffee shops too.
Click Here to Check Availability for Quest Warrnambool
Click Here to Check Availability for Warrnambool Gallery Apartments
There are also many other options that include Holiday Parks, Motels and AirBnbs to suit all budgets.
To check out some great accommodation deals in Warrnambool check out Expedia and Booking.com!
Want to read more?
I hope you enjoyed reading this post on Warrnambool Wildlife Encounters Review. Check out my other posts about Warrnambool Top Eats and Top 5 Attractions in Warrnambool with Kids.
This post is NOT sponsored and is my own experience and opinion only. This post is current as of February 2023. I always recommend that you go on the direct website to check prices & opening times for the most up to date information.
