Adelaide: Cleland Wildlife Park & Mt Lofty Day Trip with Pickup

Walk among kangaroos and koalas then gaze out over Adelaide from Mount Lofty summit

You’ll feed kangaroos by hand at Cleland Wildlife Park, watch sleepy koalas up close, and hear stories from local keepers who know every animal by name. After wandering bush trails and spotting emus or maybe even a potoroo, you’ll finish with panoramic views from Mount Lofty Summit—wind in your face, Adelaide at your feet.

What’s included

Your day includes convenient hotel pickup or meeting point transfer from Adelaide by air-conditioned minivan (with plenty of window space), entry fees to Cleland Wildlife Park plus a map in your language of choice. You’ll get animal food for feeding sessions with kangaroos and wallabies—and enjoy a koala ‘close-up’ experience if weather allows—before heading up to Mount Lofty Summit for those open-sky views over Adelaide.

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Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Visit Cleland Wildlife Park and Mt Lofty

• Travel to Cleland Wildlife Park
• Explore park and see native animals
• Hand-feed kangaroos, wallabies, potoroos
• Attend interactive keeper talks
• Visit Ocean to Outback interpretive centre
• Leave park around 2pm
• Stop at Mount Lofty Summit viewpoint
• Enjoy panoramic views of Adelaide

The Experience

The first thing I noticed at Cleland Wildlife Park wasn’t the animals—it was the eucalyptus smell, sharp and sweet in the air as we stepped off the minivan. Our guide, Ben (who grew up around here), handed us little brown bags of animal food and grinned like he knew what was coming. I’d seen kangaroos before, but never this close—one just hopped right up to me and nuzzled my hand for snacks. Their fur’s rougher than you’d expect. And wallabies? Softer, but they move fast if you hesitate. We wandered along the trails, trying to spot potoroos (tiny things, like furry tennis balls) while a group of kids nearby squealed over an emu strutting by like it owned the place.

Ben pointed out a koala snoozing in a gum tree—classic. The keeper talk started just as I tried to snap a photo; she explained how they only eat certain leaves and sleep most of the day because their food barely gives them energy. Someone asked if you can cuddle them—apparently not when it’s too hot for their comfort, which made sense once you felt that midday sun. The Ocean to Outback centre was cooler inside; I didn’t expect to see nocturnal critters awake under soft red lights. There’s something oddly calming about watching a bandicoot shuffle around while people whisper so they don’t scare it.

After a few hours (and way too many photos—I regret nothing), we piled back into the van and headed up to Mount Lofty Summit. The view hit me harder than I thought: all of Adelaide stretched out below, sunlight glinting off rooftops and the Gulf St Vincent shimmering in the distance. It was windy enough to mess up your hair but nobody cared; everyone just stood there quietly for a minute or two. I still think about that view sometimes when city life gets loud.

Top questions

How long is the Cleland Wildlife Park tour from Adelaide?

The tour spends about 3 hours at Cleland Wildlife Park plus travel time from Adelaide and includes a stop at Mount Lofty Summit.

Is hotel pickup included for this day trip?

Yes, hotel pickup from Adelaide city hotels is available for this tour.

Can you feed animals at Cleland Wildlife Park?

Yes, animal food is provided so you can hand-feed kangaroos, wallabies, and potoroos during your visit.

Are there guided talks or experiences included?

Yes, interactive keeper talks are part of the experience where you can learn more about native animals.

What animals can you see at Cleland Wildlife Park?

You can see over 130 species including kangaroos, koalas, emus, dingoes, Tasmanian devils, wallabies, potoroos and more.

Is there a koala encounter on this tour?

A koala 'close-up' experience is included but may be cancelled on very hot days for animal welfare reasons.

How high is Mount Lofty Summit?

The summit is approximately 710 meters high—the highest point in the Adelaide Hills—with panoramic views over Adelaide.

Are park maps available in different languages?

Yes, park maps are available in English, French, Chinese, German, Italian or Japanese.