Caversham Wildlife Park — Attraction in Whiteman

Our visit to Caversham Wildlife Park was truly memorable and exceeded all expectations. Located within the peaceful surrounds of Whiteman Park, the wildlife park offers a rich and immersive experience with Australia’s native animals. As a group of four adults, we spent nearly five hours exploring and never once felt rushed—there’s a wonderful balance of activities, encounters, and space to simply enjoy the surroundings.

From the moment we arrived, the staff stood out as a major highlight. Friendly, professional, and clearly passionate, they were more than happy to share their knowledge and stories, which added so much depth to the experience.

A real standout was the koala experience, which must be booked on arrival and is extremely limited. We arrived just after opening and were lucky enough to get spots, but by 11am, all bookings had already sold out. While this might be frustrating for later arrivals, it’s actually very reassuring—it shows the park’s strong commitment to animal welfare over volume. The experience is carefully managed to prevent stress to the koalas, and there's even a minimum height restriction in place to ensure safe and respectful handling.

Another personal favourite was the walk-through kangaroo enclosure. Feeding and gently interacting with these iconic animals in such a relaxed, open setting was unforgettable. So long as you follow the simple rules, you’ll have a magical time—and no shortage of photo opportunities.

Though not a huge park in size, Caversham offers an impressive variety of animals and hands-on experiences. The grounds are clean and well laid out, with plenty of signage and staff on hand to help. There's also a sheltered undercover picnic area, which is great for taking a break or enjoying a packed lunch, whatever the weather.

Quick Tips for Visiting Caversham Wildlife Park:

Arrive early – especially if you want to book the koala experience, as spots can sell out by mid-morning.

Koala experience – a minimum height restriction applies for those wishing to hold a koala, so check before booking for younger visitors.

Undercover picnic area – bring your own food and enjoy a break, rain or shine.

Not a massive park, but there’s plenty packed in – allow 3–5 hours to make the most of it.

Respect the animals – follow staff guidance and signage for a smooth and enjoyable experience.

Bring a camera – there are plenty of beautiful, photo-worthy moments to capture.

Caversham Wildlife Park is a shining example of how thoughtful tourism and genuine care for wildlife can coexist. Whether you're a visitor from overseas or a local looking for a rewarding day out, it’s a place absolutely worth...

Enthusiastic 5-stars! Great for families with kids, but also wonderful for grown ups who like getting up close with some of Australia's most iconic wildlife. Warning - this place gets busy. Go early in the day. Cash, credit cards and probably e-wallet payments accepted. Entry fee covers parking. Food & non-alcoholic beverages available on site, along with a gift store.

Buying tickets in advance is probably a good idea, particularly in the summer months (Nov-Jan) when locals are free. It was pretty busy on a weekday in July, but there was no wait to get in and I was able to see and do everything I wanted.

I was impressed with the openness of the place. Meaning, you can get up close with some of the wildlife without excessive attention or hovering by staff. It's obvious the animals are curated for their friendliness and high tolerance to small humans with loud voices who ignore the no shouting and no running rules.

You can feed the kangaroos (food is provided at no extra charge). Pet them gently. Hang out with them until they get bored with you and lope or hop off to the restricted areas where they go to rest without people on them. There were lots of kangaroos of varying ages and sizes. No really big ones. Some really cute young 'uns.

If creepy crawlies are more your thing they have a reptile/insect building you can wander through. More than a few massive enclosures for special birds. Separate areas for wallabys and some other wildlife.

And of course, koalas.

Get in line early to meet the koalas - you'll get the daily times when you enter. Usually three or so a day and very popular so get there early. But be prepared. It's not a show like you might expect with viewing from a distance. Instead, all the members of your visiting party are invited to a semi-enclosed space with a handler and a real live koala bear peacefully munching away on eucalyptus leaves. You can get up close them and stroke their lower backs gently (incredibly soft!). All the while your handler is clicking away like mad taking photos on your mobile for you. He must have taken 30 or more. One of them is bound to be good. When you're satisfied you move on through a back door and the next party is brought up. Very efficient. Staff is friendly, bears are oblivious, pictures are priceless.

Staff everywhere is friendly. The gift shop has a good selection of souvenirs both of the park specifically as well as Australia/Perth in general. Variety of price points as well, but nothing too exotically priced.

Allow yourself at least three hours. You...

If you’re ever in Perth, make sure you carve out a day for Caversham Wildlife Park. It’s located in Whiteman Park and is truly a gem for anyone who loves animals and a bit of adventure.

First off, getting there is part of the experience! You can drive, but if you don’t have a car, don’t fret. Public transport from Perth is quite straightforward. You can catch a bus directly, or take the Midland train line and switch to a bus at Bassendean. Just a heads-up, though the closest bus stop is about 2 kilometers from the park. If you’re not up for a walk, ride-sharing services like Didi or Uber are good alternatives. On a normal day, expect to pay around AUD 10, but be prepared for surge pricing. On my last trip, it rained, and the ride back to Perth cost me AUD 30 just for 2km away from the Park to the closest bus station.

Once you’re in, it’s all about the animals. When you get your ticket, they hand you a schedule for all the shows and feeding times. The main attractions are Meet the Koalas, Meet the Wombats & Friends, Feeding the Kangaroos, and the Farm Show.

Meeting the koalas is an absolute must. They’re super popular, and everyone wants a photo. Luckily, there are six koalas, so the line moves quickly. You can snap photos with them three times a day—9:00-9:30 AM, 11:30 AM-12:00 PM, and 3:30-4:00 PM. Trust me, it’s worth the wait.

The kangaroo feeding is another highlight. These friendly critters are more than happy to munch on snacks right from your hand. And the wombats! These chunky guys are surprisingly adorable up close.

The Farm Show. It’s quite the spectacle, opening with a majestic horse, followed by a sheepdog herding demonstration, sheep shearing, cowboy whip-cracking, and ending with a hands-on cow milking session. Super engaging and informative!

There are also some separate attractions like Molly’s Farm and the reptile house. The penguin feeding is fun too, although it’s viewed through glass, so you don’t get as up close and personal as with the other animals.

All in all, Caversham Wildlife Park is a blast! It’s educational, fun, and a fantastic way to spend a day. Perfect for snapping some Insta-worthy photos and making memories that’ll last a lifetime. If you’re in WA, don’t skip this place....