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)

Discover Kuranda Koala Gardens in Kuranda, Queensland for an authentic Australian wildlife adventure. Get up close with koalas, quokkas, kangaroos, and more, guided by locals who love to share Aussie animal stories.

  • 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 up to five people
  • A nocturnal house with bilbies, bettongs and gliders
  • Freshwater crocodiles, snakes, owls and blue tongues alongside the marsupials
  • Walking distance from Birdworld and the Butterfly Sanctuary, with combo tickets

What’s included

  • 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.

You can pat one for a souvenir photo, not hold it. It's an optional extra on top of entry, and a single photo covers two to five people, so a family shares one rather than paying each. Availability is limited and conditions apply, so ask on arrival.

Kuranda Koala Gardens is open daily from 9:30am to 4:00pm, every day except Christmas Day.

Kuranda sits about 25km northwest of Cairns, roughly an hour by road up the range. Most people don't drive it though. The Kuranda Scenic Railway and the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway both run up from Cairns and the journey is half the reason to go, so taking one each way is the usual move. Birdworld is inside the Kuranda Heritage Markets on Rob Veivers Drive, a short walk from both the railway station and the Skyrail terminal. Have a look at the Kuranda Scenic Rail and Skyrail day trip from Cairns if you want both legs and the transfers sorted in one booking.

Koalas, quokkas, wombats, kangaroos and wallabies, plus freshwater crocodiles, snakes, turtles, frogs, owls, bearded dragons and blue tongues. The nocturnal house has bilbies, bettongs and gliders. The quokkas are the unusual ones, since they're normally a Rottnest Island species.

General entry is A$24 for adults and A$12 for children, with a family rate of A$60 (2 adults and 2 children). Infants enter free. Souvenir koala and python photos are available for an extra charge.

It's a boutique wildlife park, so most visitors spend around 45 minutes to an hour. Entry is self-paced, so you're welcome to take your time enjoying the animals.

Yes, and they're worth doing if you're in the village anyway. Friends in the Rainforest covers Koala Gardens and Birdworld at $43 adult and $21.50 child. Koalas & Butterflies is $46 and $25.50. The Kuranda Wildlife Experience covers all three at $66 and $35.50. All three attractions are within a short walk of each other.

Read more? Here’s the full description.

The quokkas are the surprise Kuranda Koala Gardens is a small park inside the Heritage Markets, and the koalas are only half the story. There are quokkas here, and quokkas normally live on Rottnest Island off Perth, so running into a few of them in Far North Queensland is not what you expect walking through the gate. What's actually in there Koalas, wombats, kangaroos and wallabies, plus freshwater crocodiles, bearded dragons, blue tongues, snakes, turtles, frogs and owls. The nocturnal house holds bilbies, bettongs and gliders, which are the animals most visitors to Australia never lay eyes on, because they sleep through the entire time anyone is awake to look. Patting a koala Kuranda Koala Gardens runs souvenir koala photos as an optional extra on top of entry. You pat rather than hold, and one photo covers two to five people, so a family goes in together rather than paying per person. Availability is limited and conditions apply, so ask at the gate instead of counting on it. Python photos work the same way. What it costs Adults $24, children $12, and a family ticket covering two adults and two children is $60. Infants are free. If you're doing Birdworld next door as well, the combined Friends in the Rainforest ticket runs $43 adult and $21.50 child, which comes in under paying both gates separately. How long to allow Most people are through in 45 minutes to an hour. It is self paced with no time limit, and it sits a short walk from Birdworld and the Butterfly Sanctuary if you're stringing the village together into one morning. Explore the Kuranda tours that get you up the range, then check availability for the day you're heading up.

Additional info by the operator.

Kuranda Koala Gardens is inside the Kuranda Heritage Markets on Rob Veivers Drive, about an hour from Cairns by road, Skyrail or the Kuranda Scenic Railway. Open daily from 9.30am to 4pm, closed Christmas Day. Adults are $24, children $12, and a family ticket covering two adults and two children is $60, with infants free. Souvenir koala and python photos are an optional extra with limited availability, so ask on arrival rather than counting on it. Combined tickets with Birdworld and the Kuranda Butterfly Sanctuary are available if you're visiting more than one attraction in the village.