Animal Activities and Petting Zoos in Sydney & Beyond
- Family
Kids

Big, small, furry, scaly, slimy, sweet and scary... whichever way you like your animals, the many sanctuaries, zoos, petting farms and animal activities in Sydney make getting out of the house and up close to these beautiful critters easy.
Make some furry friends and discover some fascinating new places with our pick of the top nine animal activities and petting zoos in Sydney!
Animal Activities and Petting Zoos in Sydney
1. The Australian Reptile Park

The Australian Reptile Park has a HUGE crocodile enclosure, roving kangaroos, a lost world of reptiles and a spider world, plus wombats, giant turtles, koalas and more.
It is a great large space perfect for kids to run around and explore in. The picnic tables in the sun are very inviting, and the playground is almost as huge as the crocodile enclosure and lots of fun. It's worth the drive from Sydney for a great day out!
Location: Pacific Hwy, Somersby
2. Golden Ridge Animal Farm

Get up close and personal with the cutest farm animals and meet baby chickens, ducklings and rabbits at Golden Ridge Animal Farm.
Enter their 'Open Paddock' for a hands-on and interactive farm experience where you can go in with the baby lambs and goats for some up-close interaction and even bottle-feed your little furry friends.
Location: 686 Old Northern Rd, Dural
3. Sydney Zoo

The newest animal-filled wonderland in Sydney is the ginormous Sydney Zoo, a wonder for little eyes and animal lovers.
The kids will feel like they're embarking on a real African safari as they visit roaring lions and elephants, or they can get up close with some Asian animals like tigers - whichever animals tickle their fancy, they're sure to find them among the 100 exotic and native species and five themed precincts!
Location: 700 Great Western Highway, Bungarribee
4. SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium

For a big adventure, the SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium in Darling Harbour is excellent, and right now, you can get up close with the Great Barrier Reef in the aquarium's new exhibit. You'll see beautiful dugongs, huge sharks, massive sawfish, mysterious stingrays, jellyfish, penguins, seahorses, thousands of tropical fish and much, much more.
Location: Darling Harbour - 1-5 Wheat Rd, Sydney
5. WILDLIFE Sydney Zoo

If you venture into the Darling Harbour aquarium, it’s worth combining it with a trip to the neighbouring Wildlife Sydney Zoo.
There are a lot of Australian animals to see, and it is a well-designed space that is easy to navigate. The butterfly enclosure is a special place, and they offer a unique Koala Photo Experience on the beautiful open-air rooftop.
Location: Darling Harbour - 1-5 Wheat Rd, Sydney
6. Calmsley Hill City Farm

If you love cute, furry, fluffy animals and want to pat them, make your way out to this farm!
Calmsley Hill City Farm always have new arrivals, including rabbits, chicks, lambs, geese, calves, and piglets and you can get up close and personal at this friendly farmyard.
There are also lots of big animals you can visit too, including horses, camels, cows (you can milk them!) and kangaroos.
Location: 31 Darling St, Abbotsbury
7. Symbio Wildlife Park

If you love kangaroos, you're going to love meeting the many (many!) friendly ones at Symbio Wildlife Park.
Koalas, kangaroos, wombats, possums, cheetahs, lemurs, red pandas, meerkats, monkeys, and so many more call Symbio Wildlife Park their home, and you can visit them any day you like!
Symbio Wildlife Park is located in Helensburgh on 14 acres of beautiful farmlands, which includes adorable animal petting stations and even a huge water splash park!
Location: 7-11 Lawrence Hargrave Dr, Helensburgh
More Animal Experiences in Sydney
Where to go Horse Riding in Sydney
Sydney's Best Dog Cafes
Whale Watching in Sydney & Surrounds
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