A woman in an orange top smiles at a koala sitting on a tree branch. The background is lush and green, suggesting a natural or zoo setting. | Aussie Loop
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Kuranda Koala Gardens

from A$24
45 mins
Kuranda
All ages
Free cancellation (24hr prior)

Meet koalas, quokkas, wombats and kangaroos at Kuranda Koala Gardens, a small park inside the Kuranda Heritage Markets. Step into the nocturnal house for bilbies, bettongs and gliders, and add a souvenir photo patting a koala if spots are free on the day. Entry is self paced and the gardens open 9.30am to 4pm daily.

  • A woman in an orange top smiles at a koala sitting on a tree branch. The background is lush and green, suggesting a natural or zoo setting. | Aussie Loop
  • A woman in a red dress smiles at a green parrot perched on her arm, with lush green foliage in the background, capturing the vibrant atmosphere of Kuranda Koala Gardens.
  • A koala sits on a tree branch indoors at Kuranda Koala Gardens, surrounded by eucalyptus leaves and wooden beams, with another koala visible in the background.
  • Three wallabies stand on grass at Kuranda Koala Gardens; two are touching noses in the foreground whilst the third stands upright in the background near a wooden structure.
  • A woman in an orange top smiles at a koala sitting on a tree branch. The background is lush and green, suggesting a natural or zoo setting. | Aussie Loop
  • A woman in a red dress smiles at a green parrot perched on her arm, with lush green foliage in the background, capturing the vibrant atmosphere of Kuranda Koala Gardens.
  • A koala sits on a tree branch indoors at Kuranda Koala Gardens, surrounded by eucalyptus leaves and wooden beams, with another koala visible in the background.
  • Three wallabies stand on grass at Kuranda Koala Gardens; two are touching noses in the foreground whilst the third stands upright in the background near a wooden structure.

Quick read before you book.

  • Quokkas in Queensland, a Rottnest Island species you don't expect this far east
  • Pat a koala for a souvenir photo, one shot covers two to five people
  • The only nocturnal house in the Tableland region
  • Freshwater crocodiles, snakes and lizards alongside the marsupials
  • Right in the Heritage Markets, with combo tickets for Birdworld and the Butterfly Sanctuary

What people say about this operator.

Google Reviews
4.3 Stars|3,277 reviews

What could be better?

Honestly, not much. It's a compact park, so go early to beat the crowds, and you can pop back in later on the same ticket.

Summarised by AI, verify on Google Business Profile before booking

Included in this tour.

  • General entry to Kuranda Koala Gardens
  • Access to all animal enclosures and the nocturnal house
  • Self paced visit with no time limit

Commonly asked questions.

The gardens are open every day from 9.30am to 4pm, except Christmas Day. There's no time limit once you're inside.

The gardens are inside the Heritage Markets on Rob Veivers Drive in Kuranda, about 40 minutes by road from Cairns. Many visitors arrive on Skyrail or the Kuranda Scenic Railway, and our Skyrail vs Kuranda Railway guide compares the two.

Child tickets cover ages 4 to 15, and a family ticket covers two adults and two children.

You pat a koala rather than hold it, and the souvenir photo costs extra. Each photo fits two to five people, availability is limited and conditions apply, so ask at the entrance when you arrive.

The gardens are rated wheelchair friendly. Call the team on +61 7 4093 9953 if you'd like to check access to a particular area before you visit.

Yes, Friends in the Rainforest adds Birdworld, Koalas and Butterflies adds the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, and the Kuranda Wildlife Experience covers all three. The Kuranda Explorer pass adds a Kuranda Riverboat cruise to Birdworld and the koalas.

It's a small park, so it fits easily into a morning or afternoon in the village. If you're driving up, the Kuranda Skyrail and Scenic Rail self drive tour leaves a couple of hours in Kuranda to visit.

More about this tour.

Kuranda Koala Gardens is a compact wildlife park inside the Kuranda Heritage Markets, and the koalas share the bill with a surprise: quokkas, a species most people only connect with Rottnest Island off Perth. It's run by descendants of a pioneering Kuranda family, and you can wander it at your own pace with no time limit once you're inside.Beyond the koalas you'll find wombats, kangaroos, wallabies, freshwater crocodiles, bearded dragons, blue tongue lizards and snakes. The nocturnal house, the only one in the Tableland region, holds greater bilbies, northern bettongs and gliders, animals you rarely see in the wild because they're active after dark.For an extra cost you can pat a koala for a souvenir photo, with two to five people per photo so families can step in together. Numbers are limited each day, so ask when you arrive rather than counting on it. Python photos are on offer too.Combined tickets add Birdworld Kuranda or the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, and if quokkas have you curious, read our guide to where to see quokkas. Explore the park, check availability for your Kuranda day, then book.

Additional info.

  • Inside the Kuranda Heritage Markets, 2 Rob Veivers Drive
  • Open daily 9.30am to 4pm, closed Christmas Day
  • Koala and python photos cost extra and numbers are limited