🇦🇺🦘Maru koala and animals park

#MarchGoodPlaces2025 ### **Maru Koala and Animal Park in-depth guide** **——Australia’s niche animal interaction paradise, koala hugs + super cute kangaroos feeding** — ## **🦘 Park highlights** ### **1. Close encounter with koalas (one of the few parks in Australia where you can hug koalas!)** - **Kuaala Hugging Experience**: Additional fee required (approximately AU$30), including professional photo taking, limited to koalas weighing less than 15kg. - **Best time**: 10am or 2pm (when the koalas are awake). ### **2. Close-up of Australia’s unique animals** - **Kangaroo Free Zone**: Get free feed and feed grey kangaroos and wallabies by hand, they are super docile! - **Other celebrity animals**: ✔️ Tasmanian Devil ✔️Dingo (Dingo, Australian Dingo) ✔️ Colorful parrots (you can stand on your shoulders and take photos) ### **3. Family-friendly facilities** - **Farm Area**: Children can pet sheep and guinea pigs. - **Mini Train** (free): It is a relaxing way to travel around the park. — ## **📍 Geographic location and transportation** - **Address**: 1650 Bass Hwy, Grantville VIC 3984 (about 1.5 hours drive from Melbourne) - **Self-driving**: Enter the park name in the navigation, free parking lot. - **No direct bus**, it is recommended to join a tour group or charter a bus (some Melbourne day tours include this attraction). — ## **🎫 Tickets and opening hours** - **Tickets**: Adults AU$32, children (4-14 years old) AU$16, family ticket (2 adults and 2 children) AU$85. - **Opening hours**: 10:00-17:00 (last entry at 16:00), open all year round. - **Official website booking**: Enjoy a 5% discount if you purchase tickets in advance. You need to make an appointment on site to hold a koala. — ## **⚠️ Things to note when playing** 1. **Prohibited Conduct**: - Use the selfie stick close to animals (may scare them) - Feeding non-designated feeds (such as human snacks) without permission 2. **Dressing Tips**: - Anti-slip shoes (there are many gravel roads in the park) - Wear a hat and apply sunscreen (there is no shade in open air areas) 3. **Food**: - The café in the park provides light meals (burgers are about AU$12). It is recommended to bring your own kettle. — ## **📸 Must-visit experience** 1. **Koala hug photo**: The staff will guide the pose, remember to smile! 2. **Kangaroo selfie**: They will actively come closer to eat food from the palm of your hand, so you can capture the cute moment. 3. **Parrot Interaction**: Colorful parrots land on your arms or shoulders, the colors are amazing. — ## **🚗 Visit nearby attractions** - **Phillip Island** (40 minutes’ drive): Watch the little penguins return to their nests. A day trip is recommended. - **Churchill Island Traditional Farm**: Experience Australian farming and pastoral life. — ### **🎯 Suitable for people** - **Parent-child family**: There are many interactive activities, and children love it. - **Animal lovers**: More pristine than a big city zoo. - **Self-driving tourists**: Suitable for a stopover on the Melbourne-Phillip Island route. **Summary**: Maru Park wins with **high interactivity + low commercialization**. Although it is not as big as a large zoo, the experience of being able to hold a koala and feed a kangaroo in person is unique! It is recommended to reserve 2-3 hours to avoid the high temperature period at noon.