Where To See Quokkas In Sydney? (3 Best Places)
Is it possible to see quokkas when visiting Sydney? This article shows you the best places in Sydney where you can see Australia's cutest animals live. We also show you the best quokka selfie spots. Where can you see quokkas in Sydney?
There are three zoos in Sydney where quokkas live. You can see quokkas at Wild Life Sydney Zoo, Taronga Zoo Sydney and Featherdale Wildlife Park. We describe which of these three places is worth a visit.
Sydney is 3900 kilometres (2400 mi) and 41 hours drive from the natural habitat of quokkas. Unfortunately, quokkas only inhabit small areas in Western Australia in the wild. If you want to see quokkas in the wild, with awesome selfie spots, read this article.
If Perth in Western Australia is too far away for you, there are three zoos or wildlife parks in Sydney where you can experience quokkas.
Where do quokkas live in Sydney?
Quokkas live in Sydney exclusively in zoos and wildlife parks.
In Sydney, you can choose between Wild Life Sydney Zoo, Taronga Zoo, and Featherdale Wildlife Park to see quokkas.
However, each of these three places is totally different with different advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, we would like to offer you some help in deciding so that you can experience Quokkas as close as possible!
Wild Life Sydney Zoo
If you want to see the most famous animals of Australia in a short time, the Wild Life Sydney Zoo is the right place. Within 1 - 2 hours you can see animals like crocodiles, wombats, kangaroos, koalas and of course quokkas.
This zoo offers an introduction to the local wildlife of the Australian continent. I recommend a visit if you are only in Sydney or Australia for a few days and want to see the most important animals as quickly as possible.
Another advantage is that you get comparatively close to the animals which is not the case in the larger zoos.
Quokkas at Wild Life Sydney Zoo
Sydney's Wild Life Zoo in the city centre has a male quokka named "Davey" since 2014.
With a bit of luck, a keeper will show you the quokka as shown in the photo. That means you can get very close to the animal! However, you are not allowed to touch or feed the Quokka.
You'll find "Davey" the Quokka in the "Kangaroo Walkabout".
Where is Wild Life Sydney Zoo located?
Wild Life Sydney Zoo is located right in downtown Sydney at Darling Harbour.
The zoo can be reached on foot within 30 minutes from the opera house, and the ferry stops almost at the front door.
I combined my visit with a walk to "Chinese Garden of Friendship" which is only a 15 minute walk away. However, right next to the zoo there is the wax figure exhibition "Madame Tussauds" as well as "SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium".
If you also want to see marine and freshwater animals, you can buy a combo ticket and save money. There are combo tickets for Wild Life Sydney, Madame Tussauds, Sea Life Sydney and The Sydney Tower Eye.
I recommend this zoo even in bad weather as most of the attractions are inside.
Taronga Zoo Sydney
Taronga Zoo Sydney is a classic zoo with a beautiful view over the Sydney skyline. Spread over 69 acres, there are over 2600 animals with more than 250 species. Taronga is the place to see exotic giraffes with the Sydney skyline in the background. Due to the size, you should plan about a day for a visit to Taronga Zoo.
Quokkas at Taronga Zoo
Taronga Zoo is home to several quokkas, some of which females also carry a young (joey) in their pouch.
The quokkas are easy to see in their enclosure. However, Taronga is not really suitable to take a selfie with the animals. The distance to the animals can be quite large and you can't really get close. You have to remember that Taronga is a zoo. The animals have a relatively large area to live in peace.
Taronga is therefore not a good quokka selfie place. But there are many Quokkas to see, maybe you will see a Joey with its head out of its mother's pouch.
If you are interested in kangaroos you can also see them at Taronga Zoo.
Why Taronga Zoo?
The beautiful view and the large number of animals from all over the world make Taronga a special experience.
There are of course many animals that can be seen in other zoos around the world. However, Taronga is one of the few zoos where quokkas live. Quokkas are only one of the many interesting animals at Taronga.
Already the drive to the zoo is a special experience. I recommend to take the ferry and enjoy the view over the bay with the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The ferry goes from Circular Quay within a few minutes to Taronga Zoo Wharf. From there you can take the gondola that goes directly over the zoo to the upper entrance. Meanwhile, you can already watch the first animals in the zoo from above.
I would also recommend Taronga for adults, you will definitely enjoy the special journey, the beautiful view, and the great variety of species.
Featherdale Wildlife Park
Featherdale is much more interactive than Taronga Zoo and Wild Life Sydney. Basically, at Featherdale you will find the best opportunities to get close to the animals. Unfortunately, some encounters have to be booked and paid extra.
There are many animals native to Australia to see such as koalas, kangaroos, dingoes, wombats and of course quokkas.
Quokkas at Featherdale Wildlife Park
Featherdale is my favorite quokka selfie spot in Sydney!
If you want to get really close to quokkas, Featherdale is the best choice. You can book the "Quokka Encounter" which is offered twice a day at noon.
At the Quokka Encounter you get to feed a quokka, sit next to the animal, and of course take numerous pictures with you and the quokka. You have about 30 minutes to spend together with the quokka.
However, this encounter is limited to only two people who must be at least 10 years old. The personal meeting with the quokka costs at the time of writing AU$ 150 per person which is quite expensive in my opinion.
Personally, this experience is too expensive for me, but due to the exclusivity (only 2 people!) and duration, it may be worth it for real quokka fans.
Why go to Featherdale Wildlife Park?
The zoo has a pleasant size. It is not too big and not too small.
Featherdale Wildlife Park is located outside the city centre in Doonside, but is only around 1 - 1.5 hours from the city centre by public transport. There is also plenty of free parking.
I recommend to plan at least 2 hours for the visit. Those who book an "Animal Encounter" should plan about 3 - 4 hours for the stay.
Featherdale is especially recommended with children and a good opportunity to get really close to many Australian animals. Interesting is also the possibility to get really close to kangaroos.
My recommendation for Quokkas in Sydney
Standing next to these little animals is a wonderful experience. Here I have summarized again which place in Sydney I recommend to see quokkas:
- Taronga Zoo is a classic zoo with animals from all over the world. You should plan about a whole day for the visit. Quokkas are one of the many animals in the zoo, but you won't get close to them. Both children and adults will have an exciting day at Taronga.
- Wild Life Sydney Zoo: For visitors with little time in Sydney or in bad weather, Wild Life Sydney Zoo near Darling Harbour is a great choice. Located in the city centre near the main tourist areas, this zoo gives you a good and quick overview of Australia's wildlife. Plan about 1,5 - 2 hours for your visit. A big advantage is that you can get relatively close to the animals at Wild Life Sydney at no extra charge.
- Featherdale Wildlife Park is a bit further from the city center but highly recommended especially for visiting with kids. Featherdale is the best place to get as close to animals as possible. I also found Featherdale to be the best place to take a quokka selfie. However, the additional bookable animal encounters are relatively expensive.
With kids, I would visit both Taronga Zoo and Featherdale Wildlife Park. They are simply two different attractions. The visit to Wild Life Sydney Zoo is much more interesting for short stays in Sydney, or together with the adjacent attractions like Madame Tussauds and Sea Life Sydney. It’s also my recommendation in case of bad weather.
If you actually want to see quokkas up close you should go to Wild Life Sydney Zoo or Featherdale Wildlife Park.
I hope you've made a decision. Which zoo did you like best? Feel free to write me about your experience at marc@luckykangaroos.com
Have a good time in Sydney!
