Are your kids cravin’ some animal love? Maybe they’d enjoy visiting a cute koala or a slithering snake. They’ll find crocodiles, birds, lions, reptiles, and farm animals closer to Lake Macquarie than you may think. What an awesome way to learn, and get up close and personal with our native animals. Discover 7 animal encounters near Lake Macquarie, all of which are roughly within 1 hour’s drive.
Australian Reptile Park
Open: 9 am – 5 pm every day
Location: Somersby, on the Pacific Highway, Central Coast.
Website: Australian Reptile Park
This park has been around for a long time, but boy has it changed. Did you know that the Australian Reptile Park is the only zoo in Australia that collects venom milk so we can create anti-venoms? Yup. They have their very own milking program which has been around for over 50 years. If you were bitten by a snake or funnel web in Australia, the anti-venom they would use to save your life is made from this milking program.
- Visit the free-range kangaroo area
- Be a part of Snappy Hour
- Meet Hugo, the giant Galapagos tortoise
- Have you met Elvis? They say he’s NSW’s crankiest crocodile!
- Visit The Lost World of Reptiles & Spiders
- Discover how the park is helping save the Tasmanian devil
- You can even get a photo taken with a python or cuddly koala.
- Every child loves the adventure playground, cafe, picnic area, and free BBQs.
- Kids to Keepers Program
Blackbutt Reserve
Open: You can enter the park from 7 am – 7 pm with wildlife exhibits open from 10 am – 4:30 pm daily.
Location: Carnley Ave, Kotara
Website: Blackbutt Reserve
If you’re after something with less structure and more nature, Blackbutt Reserve offers an environment that’s immersed in nature. Enjoy one of their nature trails, spacious wildlife exhibits, and awesome playgrounds, or relax in their gorgeous picnic areas.
Find a diverse range of animals at Blackbutt, including:
- Birds
- Mammals
- Reptiles
- Amphibians
Feed the emus with seeds and grain. Book a private reptile encounter or a critters encounter for a group or kids’ party. Make sure you catch the feeding times to see the animals when they’re most active.
Blackbutt Reserve also has two awesome playgrounds. The main playground, Carnley Adventure Playground, and the other playground is Richley Reserve Mega Adventure Playground. Situated away from the animals and surrounded by gorgeous natural settings, this playground is perfect for your explorer.
Hunter Valley Wildlife Park
Open: 9 am – 4 pm
Location: Lomas Lane, Nulkaba (near Cessnock)
Website: Hunter Valley Wildlife Park.
Located in the heart of the Hunter Valley, there are plenty of opportunities to meet a range of animals, especially if you choose an animal encounter.
These include:
- Black & White Ruffed Lemur
- Meerkats
- Marmosets
- Emperor Tamarin.
- Boggle the Binturong
Hunter Valley Wildlife Park has a wide range of animals, including birds, mammals, and reptiles, but not just from Australia. You’ll also see animals from Africa like lions, and cheetahs, as well as animals from South America like the Blue & Gold Macaw, and Maned wolf. At Hunter Valley Wildlife Park, they also have very friendly farm animals. You can purchase food on entry to feed the farm animals and kangaroos.
Hunter Wetlands Centre
Open: 9 am – 4 pm daily, closed on some public holidays
Location: 1 Wetlands Place, Shortland
Website: Hunter Wetlands Centre
Did you know that the Hunter Wetlands is the longest-running community-owned wetlands centre in Australia? The centre is renowned for its birdlife but there is so much more to explore, especially as the seasons change.
Activities at the wetlands:
- Animal house & reptile encounter
- Birdwatching
- Dipnetting (bucket & net)
- Canoeing
- Walking & bike trails
- Fairy door trail & totem pole counting
- Playground
- Bush tucker garden
- Cafe & shop
- Native plant sales
- Accessibility paths and parking
Irukandji Shark & Ray Encounters
Open: 9 am – 5 pm daily, closed Christmas Day
Location: 2 Jessie Rd, Anna Bay
Website: Irukandji Shark & Ray Encounters
Irukandji is a unique, interactive aquarium in Anna Bay. Visitors to the centre can experience ocean life in an exciting new way. A visit to the centre will bring you up close and personal with sharks, rays, and the wonderful world underwater.
Experiences include:
- Shallow encounters
- Shark encounters
- Tropical snorkel
- Zebra shark feeding
- Tawny Nurse shark feeding
Oakvale Wildlife Park
Open: 10 am – 5 pm every day
Location: 3 Oakvale Drive, Salt Ash
Website: Oakvale Wildlife Park
100% Australian-owned and set on 25 acres, Oakvale Wildlife Park remains a family-owned and operated park for over 40 years. You’ll find a range of animals at the park including reptiles, birds, mammals, and farm animals to meet and spend time with.
Daily activities:
- Bottle feed the baby farm animals and milk a cow
- Tractor-trailer ride
- Reptile show
- Koala talk
- Tasmanian Devil talk
- Cassowary talk
If you would like to experience an animal encounter Oakvale Wildlife Park has a selection of encounters to choose from. These include birds, koalas, meerkats, reptiles, ring-tailed lemurs, and nocturnal encounters.
Bring the kids swimmers because their Splash Park is amazing and perfect to break up the animal visits. You’ll also love the cafe.
Walkabout Wildlife Park
Open: 9.30 am – 5 pm
Location: 1 Darkinjung Road, cnr Peats Ridge Road, Calga
Website: Walkabout Wildlife Park
This is not a zoo. You can’t feed the kangaroos here. Walkabout Park is a place where everyone can learn to understand why and how to save animal homes, food, and wildlife corridors. You can step into the world of their animals and go walkabout.
Some of the animals are free-range and can’t wait to hang out with people.
- Emu’s
- Eastern Grey Kangaroos
- Red Kangaroos
- Wallaroos
- Parma Wallabies
- Red-necked Pademelons
You could also see Cunningham Skinks, Long-necked Turtles, Goannas, and other Monitor Lizards, Diamond Pythons, and other snakes.
In the enclosure or camps, you’ll see animals like Koalas, Dingos, Flying Fox, Hairy-nose Wambat, and a wide variety of native birds.
The thing that sets this park apart from most animal encounters is not only the way you meet the animals, it’s the rich Aboriginal history of the land and culture.
Out & about with kids
We’ve reviewed playgrounds, parks, family walks, and fun things to do in Lake Mac. Check out our digital magazine each season, and explore our region.
