The wild side awaits: Guide to Caversham Wildlife Park

When city life starts to feel like boxing a kangaroo, why not slow things down and take a break in the wild? How? One answer is to visit Perth’s Caversham Wildlife Park.

With laidback surroundings, revitalizing farm activities, and rare animals you won’t see in your backyard, this spot has a reputation for dusting away the cobwebs.

We experienced this firsthand on our visit, and we’re sharing the details of our wild trip below!

Things to Know

Address: Whiteman Park, Whiteman Drive East, Whiteman

Contact Details: (08) 9248 1984

Operating Hours: Daily – 9 am to 4:30 pm

Distance from the Perth CBD: 31 mins (21.4 km)

Pricing:

Adults – $35.00
Kids (3 to 14 years) – $15
Students (In-date WA Student Card must be presented) – $26
Seniors (In-date WA Aged Pension Card or Seniors Card must be presented) – $26

Website

How to Get to Caversham Wildlife Park

By Train and Bus: Take the Midland Railway Line towards Midland Station and get off at Bassendean.

At Bassendean, catch the buses heading toward Henley Brook Station. Then, get off at Youle-Dean Rd and decide whether to walk for about 28 minutes or ride a taxi to reach the park.

By Taxi: Taxi fare to Caversham Wildlife Park varies depending on the time of day.

Tariff 1 – 6 am to 5:59 pm
Flagfall	Distance Rate	Booking Fee	Waiting Time
$5.10	2.04/km	$1.80	$58/hr
Tariff 2 – 6 pm to 5:59 am (including all day Saturday and Sunday)
Flagfall	Distance Rate	Booking Fee	Waiting Time
$7.30	2.04/km	$1.80	$58/hr
Ultra Peak (12 am to 02:59 am on Friday and Saturday only)
Flagfall	Distance Rate	Booking Fee	Waiting Time
$7.30 + $4.30	2.04/km	$1.80	$58/hr

By Car: Parking is available at Caversham Wildlife Park. If there’s no space left, the nearest option is Car Park 8.

Things to Do at Caversham Wildlife Park

Watch farm animals steal the show

From cavershamwildlifepark

The park’s farm show is a breath of fresh air, especially if you’ve been cooped up in the city for quite some time. Spectacles like shearing sheep, milking cows, and cracking a stock whip are rarely seen in the Perth CBD.

Our favorite part is when the dogs mustered the sheep. It was both cute and impressive to see the sheep obediently following the dogs’ commands.

Adding to the charm, the volunteers made us a part of the show. They let us bottle feed lambs and make tea using a billycan (aka “swinging a billy”).

Meet and hold koalas

From cavershamwildlifepark

Cheeky and cuddly koalas are the main reasons we booked a trip to Caversham Wildlife Park. When we met the furballs, we knew we made the right call.

The koalas are chill around people, so the only thing we worried about was getting hugged. There were also plenty of friendly volunteers letting us know which ones were up for a pet or a hold.

In addition, the fee for meeting and taking snaps is included in the gate admission; holding them required us to shell out 35 bucks per head, though, We also had to be quick as the slots are limited, and almost every visitor wants a piece of the cuddlers.

Give treats to kangaroos

From cavershamwildlifepark

The kangaroo enclosure at the park was also a total blast. First off, the expansive, green area gave the roos plenty of room to leap and play.

But, of course, the highlight was feeding them. The team didn’t have to pay any extra cash for kangaroo snacks, and those little cuties definitely appreciated the free grub (who doesn’t like free food, anyway?).

We also enjoyed the perk of taking photos with our personal cameras at no additional cost, so our teammates went wild with the clicks. You might do the same, especially with the lovely trees enveloping the Insta-worthy enclosure.

Explore an interactive farm yard

From cavershamwildlifepark

Molly’s Farm, a fan-favorite area of the park, gave us ample room to play and a chance to meet all sorts of animals. The show-stealers were the meek ponies, sheep, and does!

On top of that, the interactive farm has designated viewing zones where larger animals wander without worry. We saw several water buffalos, ostriches, horses, and llamas—all seemingly game for “distanced” photo ops.

There was also a hatchery and nursery, both of which are a hit among kids and animal lovers.

Feed penguins

From cavershamwildlifepark

Our adventure at Caversham Wildlife Park wouldn’t feel right if we didn’t swing by the Australian little penguin enclosure.

These flightless cuties are among the park’s most charming residents, with their short, stubby beaks and round heads that give them a cartoonish look. Even the way they waddle and swim is cute!

Just remember to be an early bird if you want to feed them, as their munching time starts precisely at 12 pm.

Meet slithery and scaly reptiles

From cavershamwildlifepark

Home to over 150 reptiles, the park is a hotbed for the daring—our team included.

We kicked off by touring the Reptile House, an indoor facility with smaller creatures, like the northern blue-tongue lizards and a couple of pythons.

But dropping by the outdoor area is the right move if you’re into the bigger bunch of this scaly group. There, we mostly saw freshwater crocs, lace monitors, and perenties—all looking badass and fascinating at the same time.

See rare birds

From cavershamwildlifepark

It’s safe to say that birdwatchers are bound to have a great time, too. Why? The wildlife park is a haven for all types of birds, from flightless and flying to hunters and prey.

During our visit, we bumped into southern cassowaries, blue-winged kookaburras, and black swans. Tawny frogmouths and wedge-tailed eagles are said to frequent the park, too, but we unfortunately didn’t spot any.

It’s all good, though, as we encountered some gang gang cockatoos. The males are especially stunning, flaunting a gray body with a vibrant red head and crest, while the females sport a lovely gray with a hint of pink.

Spot mammals and marsupials

From cavershamwildlifepark

The park’s mammal sections are often jam-packed. It’s not hard to see why, as these areas teem with eye-catching and interesting creatures, like dingoes, short-beaked echidnas, water buffalos, and European red foxes.

However, it’s the marsupial zones that truly hook crowds. Over 15 species reside here, with bettongs, potoroos, quokkas, koalas, sugar gliders, and wombats as the crowd-pleasers.

For us, though, the must-see is the spotted-tailed quoll, mainland Australia’s biggest carnivorous marsupial. Fierce and cute, this nocturnal hunter is definitely worth the trip and snaps—just don’t go near it!

Adopt an animal

From cavershamwildlifepark

Since the park receives no government funding, guests can adopt animals, from reptiles and marsupials to mammals and birds.

Just remember that adopting means “symbolically” supporting the park and its animal care efforts rather than physically taking the animal home. The good news is you’ll still receive recognition and benefits for adopting, such as an adoption certificate or park passes.

Have a picnic

From whatsgrowinginmygarden

For those in a picnicking mood, you can either bring your own bites or grab some from the kiosk. The menu isn’t that extensive, but you can still fill your belly and quench your thirst with light snacks and hot/cold refreshments.

Score some souvenirs

From cavershamwildlifepark

We wrapped up our visit by browsing through the park’s souvenir shop, which had a wide selection of merchandise. To no one’s surprise, the items are inspired by wildlife and nature.

Posters, paintings, stickers, and t-shirts are the common finds, but our teammates opted to bring home various mugs and tote bags.