Hunter Valley Wildlife Park

Families' Pick 2026 · Newcastle: picked by the Funtivities team as a standout for families in Newcastle.

Last updated October 2026

Hunter Valley zoo near Cessnock with lions, giraffes, meerkats and walk-through areas where kids hand-feed kangaroos. Open daily 9am-4pm.

Hunter Valley Wildlife Park in Nulkaba, five minutes from Cessnock, cares for more than 200 animals, including lions, giraffes, meerkats, alligators, lemurs and Australian natives. Families can hand-feed kangaroos, wallabies, deer and camels and walk through the lorikeet aviary and other walk-through areas; a bag of feed is $7.50. Keeper talks and paid encounters (meerkats, giraffe feeding, lions and more, with age limits) run through the day. Kids aged 3 to 12 can do the Wildlife Adventure Trail for $19.99, collecting stamps for a showbag prize. As of October 2026, entry is $29 for children 3 to 15 and $49 for adults, under 3s are free, and family tickets start from $70; online bookings save 10%. The park is open 9am to 4pm daily, with last ticket sales at 3pm. Wheelchairs and walkers can be borrowed free (book ahead). There is a cafe by the lake, picnic tables, grass for kids to play on and a free car park. Children 15 and under get free entry on their birthday.

Facts checked against the venue's own website on 17 October 2026.