At a glance
- Opening hours
- Seven days a week, 9am to 5pm; closed on Christmas Day
- Adult ticket
- $42.00 at the entrance and $37.80 online (as of November 2026)
- Family ticket
- $110.00 at the entrance and $100.00 online, for 2 adults and up to 4 children aged 5 to 15
- Address
- 250 Fussell Street, Ballarat East, at the corner of York and Fussell Streets, with on-site parking
- Phone
- (03) 5333 5933
- Who it’s for
- Families and visitors planning a day at the park, including people also visiting Sovereign Hill, which the park says is 4 minutes away
- What to do now
- Online tickets cost less than tickets at the entrance; animal encounters cannot be booked online, and the park recommends phoning on the morning of the visit
- Last checked
- Sunday 8 November 2026, against the Ballarat Wildlife Park tickets, FAQ and home pages
- Not yet confirmed
- Public transport details (the FAQ points to a contact page we did not use), animal encounter prices, and whether parking has a fee (the park only says parking is available)
Ballarat Wildlife Park is open every day from 9am to 5pm except Christmas Day, and an adult ticket costs $37.80 online or $42.00 at the entrance, as of November 2026. The park is at 250 Fussell Street, Ballarat East. This guide is built from the park’s own tickets, FAQ and home pages, checked on Sunday 8 November 2026.
How much are tickets to Ballarat Wildlife Park?
The tickets page lists two sets of prices: at the entrance, and online. Buying online is cheaper for every ticket type.
| Ticket | At the entrance | Online |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | $42.00 | $37.80 |
| Concession | $31.00 | $27.90 |
| Child (5 to 15 years) | $21.00 | $18.90 |
| Family (2 adults and up to 4 children) | $110.00 | $100.00 |
One note on prices: the FAQ says “as of 2024” that adult tickets start from $40.00, which is older than the tickets page. The tickets page shows $42.00 and $37.80. The park accepts Companion Cards, and the card must be shown at the entrance for free entry.
A single day entry pass includes the daily animal presentations, plus access to the souvenir shop and the cafe. A valid Australian seniors, student or health care card must be shown for the concession price. If it is not, the difference is paid on the door. Children aged 14 and 15 must show a valid student card with their date of birth, or full admission may apply, and the same applies to the family pass. All children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Special offers and discount vouchers cannot be redeemed online. They are available only when you buy standard tickets at the entrance building.
What time does Ballarat Wildlife Park open?
The park is open seven days a week from 9am to 5pm, and closed only on Christmas Day. Both the tickets page and the FAQ say so, and the page footer lists Monday to Sunday, 9am to 5pm.
What time are the animal presentations?
The tickets page lists daily presentations. The weekday and weekend programs differ.
| Time | Weekdays | Weekends |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00am | Not listed | Tiger Talk |
| 12:00pm | Meerkat Presentation | Meerkat Presentation |
| 12:30pm | Penguin Presentation | Penguin Presentation |
| 1:30pm | Dingo Walk / Talk | Dingo Walk / Talk |
| 2:00pm | Reptile Presentation | Reptile Presentation |
| 2:30pm | Tiger Presentation | Tiger Presentation |
| 3:00pm | Not listed | Crocodilian Presentation |
| 3:30pm | Tasmanian Devil Presentation | Tasmanian Devil Presentation |
The park does not say on this page whether these times change in school holidays or by season.
What is there to see?
The park says it is home to over 400 species of native Australian animals, including kangaroos, koalas, wombats, cassowaries, crocodiles and Tasmanian devils. The home page puts the numbers at over 100 free-roaming kangaroos to hand-feed and more than 35 koalas, and the FAQ gives the same kangaroo count.
- The reptile house, which the park says has Victoria’s only Komodo dragons, and “Crunch” the Super-Croc, described as one of the largest crocodiles in captivity in Australia.
- Kai and Akasha, the Sumatran and Siberian tigers, in the tiger sanctuary.
- A colony of little penguins, meerkats, wombats, emus, eagles, cockatoos and parrots.
The FAQ says some animals can be difficult to see. Some are nocturnal, and koalas, wombats and tigers can sleep for long periods during the day. The park suggests allowing 2 hours at minimum, and says many guests spend most of the day.
How do animal encounters work?
Encounters are available daily and cost extra, on top of entry. The park says entry must be bought to do an encounter, and the prices are on its animal encounters page, which we did not check. Encounters include a professional photo, and the FAQ names these experiences:
- A “meet the meerkats” encounter.
- A tree kangaroo encounter, where you hand-feed the animal.
- Photo encounters with a koala, wombat, tree kangaroo, snake, giant tortoise and a tiger.
- A Junior Keeper Program for children aged 6 to 15, with bookings required.
The booking method is unusual. You cannot book an encounter online or before your visit. Keepers check each morning whether the encounters will go ahead, so the park recommends phoning on the morning of your visit on (03) 5333 5933, then paying on arrival. Bookings are also taken on arrival, there are two to four people per encounter, and encounters book out, so book early in the day. They are weather dependent and subject to change, and if one is cancelled you are offered a refund.
Where is the park, and is there parking?
The park is at 250 Fussell Street, Ballarat East, at the corner of York and Fussell Streets. It says it is 110km from Melbourne and “only 4 minutes from Sovereign Hill”, and that there is plenty of on-site parking. The park does not state a parking price on the pages we checked, so we cannot say whether it is free. The FAQ says travel details, including public transport, are on a separate contact page, which we did not use, so this guide does not give bus or train directions.
If you are combining the two attractions, our Sovereign Hill guide covers tickets, hours, free parking and the AURA night show there.
Can I bring a pet or an assistance animal?
No assistance animals are permitted in the grounds. The FAQ explains this by the free-roaming kangaroos, alpacas and emus and the dingoes walked daily through the park, and says holding space for assistance animals is very limited and subject to availability. It recommends that guests with assistance animals arrange alternative housing before visiting, and a position statement from the Zoo Aquarium Association Australia is available on request.
What about wheelchairs, prams, food and drink?
Visitors must bring their own wheelchairs, prams and walking aids, because the park does not hire them. The home page says all paths are concrete or gravel, with some uneven ground. One of the main kangaroo areas is grass or dirt. The top of the park at the entrance is flat, with paths on a gentle slope, but other areas are on an incline, and the ground can be slippery when wet. The park says all paths are accessible by wheelchair, but some visitors could find the slopes hard going, and it asks people with concerns to call first.
There is a licensed cafe serving hot and cold food, snacks and drinks. You can also bring a picnic and eat at the outdoor tables among the roaming kangaroos. There is a souvenir shop on site.
Are there memberships, vouchers and kids’ parties?
The tickets page offers a yearly membership, gift vouchers for entry tickets, animal encounters and memberships, and kids’ parties. Parties suit children up to 12, with a morning session from 9:30am to 12:00pm or an afternoon session from 1:00pm to 3:30pm on both Saturdays and Sundays. The park does not accept Melbourne Zoo memberships, and says it is an independent, privately owned, family run business. Volunteer enquiries go to volunteers@wildlifepark.com.au.
Sources
- Ballarat Wildlife Park: Tickets (prices, hours, presentation times, encounters; checked 8 November 2026)
- Ballarat Wildlife Park: FAQs (location, assistance animals, encounters, parties; checked 8 November 2026)
- Ballarat Wildlife Park: home page (what to see, accessibility; checked 8 November 2026)
Featured image: a western grey kangaroo at Ballarat Wildlife Park (photo: edwin.11 / CC BY 2.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Ballarat Wildlife Park. Prices and times can change; check the park’s pages before you go.