Wildlife & Nature
Koalas, kangaroos and botanic gardens
The best wildlife & nature in Adelaide Hills
Hand-feed kangaroos, meet koalas and platypus, and explore cool-climate botanic gardens that blaze with colour each autumn.
The Adelaide Hills is one of the easiest places in Australia to get close to native wildlife, with open-range parks, fenced sanctuaries and conservation reserves all within a short drive of the city. The cool, forested ranges are home to wild koalas, kangaroos, echidnas and an abundance of birdlife, and several parks let you walk right among the animals.
The headline experience is Cleland Wildlife Park on the slopes of Mount Lofty, where free-roaming kangaroos and emus wander the paths and you can book to hold a koala. Near Mylor, Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary has brought platypus, bettongs and bandicoots back from the brink behind a feral-proof fence. For gardens and gentler nature, the Mount Lofty Botanic Garden dazzles with rhododendrons and autumn colour.
Koalas turn up in the gums on many bushwalks, especially around Aldgate, so keep your eyes on the canopy. Dawn and dusk are the best times to spot animals on the move.
Browse wildlife & nature by area
35 places
Newman's Nursery Ruins
Romantic glasshouse ruins from a pioneering nursery
Romantic glasshouse ruins from a pioneering nursery
Piccadilly Valley
A misty, green valley of vines and market gardens
A misty, green valley of vines and market gardens
Scott Creek Conservation Park
The Hills' richest pocket of native bushland
The Hills' richest pocket of native bushland
Sinclair's Gully
Bushland cellar door and revegetated gully at Norton Summit
A small family cellar door set in a revegetated bushland gully near Norton Summit, pouring sparkling and cool-climate wines with native woodland and birdlife on the doorstep.
South Para Reservoir Reserve
A once-locked reservoir near Kersbrook now open for kayaking, shoreline fishing and almost nine kilometres of peninsula trails.
Stangate House and Garden
$A camellia-rich heritage garden in Aldgate
A historic Aldgate house and garden renowned for its camellias and cool-climate plantings, opened to visitors by the National Trust.
The Big Rocking Horse
$Climb one of Australia's great Big Things
A towering 18-metre rocking horse you can climb, beside a toy factory and a free-roaming wildlife park - a classic Hills family stop.
Totness Recreation Park
Open woodland walking on the edge of Mount Barker
Open woodland walking on the edge of Mount Barker
Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary
$$A fenced sanctuary near Mylor where platypus, bettongs and bandicoots have been brought back from the brink.
Warren Conservation Park
Steep, wild walking country between Kersbrook and Williamstown, where the Heysen Trail climbs through stringybark forest.
Woorabinda Bushland Reserves
A lake and 34 hectares of bushland hidden a short stroll from Stirling's main street.
Wildlife & Nature in Adelaide Hills - frequently asked questions
What is the Adelaide Hills known for when it comes to wildlife and nature?
The cool, forested Mount Lofty Ranges are one of the easiest places in Australia to get close to native animals, with wild koalas, western grey kangaroos, echidnas and abundant birdlife living right on Adelaide's doorstep. The region is best known for Cleland Wildlife Park, where you can hand-feed kangaroos and meet koalas, and for cool-climate gardens like the Mount Lofty Botanic Garden that blaze with red, orange and gold each autumn.
Where can I hold a koala or see a platypus in the Adelaide Hills?
Cleland Wildlife Park at Crafers, about 20 minutes from the city, is one of only a few places in the world where you can hold a koala, with kangaroos and wallabies roaming freely among visitors across more than 130 native species. To spot the elusive platypus, head to Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary at Mylor, the only place on mainland South Australia where you may see one in the wild on a guided tour.
Do I need to book, and what does it cost to visit the wildlife parks?
Cleland Wildlife Park is open daily and you can usually buy general entry on arrival, but the koala 'hold' photo experience costs extra and must be pre-booked directly with the park. Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary runs guided tours and animal encounters that are best booked in advance, while many of the region's nature spots, including the Mount Lofty Botanic Garden, Mount Lofty Summit and the national parks, are free to enter.
When is the best time of year to visit for nature and gardens?
Autumn, roughly from mid-March to late May and into June, is the standout season, when the cool-climate plants at the Mount Lofty Botanic Garden turn brilliant shades of scarlet, yellow and bronze. The Hills can be cooler and wetter than the Adelaide plains year-round, so bring layers and a waterproof, and visit gardens early on a weekday morning to beat the crowds.
Are the wildlife and nature spots family and dog friendly?
Many parks are great for families and dogs, though the wildlife parks are not. Belair National Park, South Australia's oldest national park, welcomes dogs on lead and has a pram-friendly loop and adventure playground, while Morialta allows dogs in a designated recreation zone with its popular nature playground. Dogs are not permitted at Cleland Wildlife Park or Cleland Conservation Park, with only assistance animals allowed.