Cleland Wildlife Park Self Guided Tour from Adelaide

Cleland puts close encounters with South Australian wildlife within easy reach of Adelaide. You can hand-feed kangaroos and wallabies, see koalas up close and follow self-guided trails across 86 acres, with more than 130 animal species to look for.

I like two things in particular: animal food is included, so you can feed some of the park’s residents, and the Adelaide Hills drive adds a scenic start and finish to the day. One consideration: the tour is only partly guided, and its shared hotel pickup has limited coverage, so check your pickup point and plan for the independent park time.

At a glance

1 / 4

• Koalas up close: The entry fee includes the koala close-up experience. Holding a koala is an optional extra with an additional charge.
• Food for animal encounters: A bag of animal food is supplied for feeding kangaroos, wallabies and, as described in the tour details, koalas.
• A large park to explore: Self-discovery trails cross 86 acres (35 hectares), with more than 130 species, including kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, birds, emus and pelicans.
• A partly guided visit: A guide accompanies the group during the first half. After that, you explore the park at your own pace.
• Transfers and entry included: The package includes return transport in an air-conditioned minivan, park admission, snacks, bottled water and a 10% gift-shop voucher.
• Check the price and pickup: The supplied starting figures are US$87.05 and $100.15. Confirm the final currency and price at checkout, and make sure your hotel is on the pickup list.

👉 See our pick of the 5 Best Shopping Tours In Adelaide

A Hills drive before the animal encounters

The outing starts in Adelaide and heads into the Adelaide Hills toward Cleland Wildlife Park. The drive is part of the appeal: you get a change of pace and views around Mount Lofty on the way out, without having to arrange a car or navigate there yourself.

The package is sold as a half-day tour, but the listed schedule runs from a 10:00 departure to a 15:30 return to Adelaide. Selected hotel pickups take place around 09:40 to 09:50, so it is sensible to treat this as a substantial morning and afternoon outing rather than a quick park stop.

The minivan is air-conditioned, and round-trip transportation is included. That makes the tour especially practical if you are staying in central Adelaide and do not want to rent a car for a single wildlife visit. Hotel pickup is available only at certain hotels. If yours is not covered, you can meet at the pureSA office, 111 Franklin Street, Adelaide, and should arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled 10:00 departure.

One transport caution is worth taking seriously. A reported vehicle breakdown led to an abrupt cancellation, leaving a family to arrange its own transport and admission and then wait for a response about a refund. That is not a reason to assume the same will happen to you, but it is a reminder to keep your booking details and the operator’s contact information handy. If transport is central to your plans, confirm pickup arrangements before the day.

Following Cleland’s trails at your own pace

Cleland covers 86 acres, or 35 hectares, and the visit is built around walking its self-discovery trails. You receive a park map, which helps you choose where to go and how long to spend at each area. The tour does not promise a detailed guided walk through every section, so you should be comfortable making your own way once the guided portion ends.

That split can work well. A guide is with the group for the first half, providing an introduction before you set off independently. Later, you can linger at an animal encounter that interests you or move on when you are ready. The trade-off is that visitors who want continuous commentary or a tightly managed group route may find the self-guided time less satisfying.

The park has more than 130 species, with familiar Australian animals such as kangaroos, wallabies and koalas among the main draws. Birds are part of the mix, too. Pelicans and emus are specifically mentioned as possible sights around the wetland area, which offers a different feel from the close-up encounters with mammals.

The park map and open-ended trails are useful, but wear comfortable walking shoes. A hat and sunglasses are recommended, and in winter, bring an umbrella or rain jacket. Dress for the day’s weather rather than assuming the Hills will match conditions in central Adelaide.

Feeding kangaroos and getting close to koalas

The animal food is one of the package’s more tangible inclusions. You get a bag to feed kangaroos and wallabies, making the visit more hands-on than simply watching animals from a path. The supplied details also describe feeding koalas, but follow the park’s instructions about which animals may be fed and how much.

Koalas are a major reason many people choose Cleland. The admission fee includes a koala close-up experience, so you do not need to pay extra just to take part in that included encounter. An additional koala hold experience is available for an extra fee. If holding a koala matters to you, check the cost and availability before you book rather than assuming it comes with entry.

This distinction helps set expectations. Getting close to a koala is included; holding one is not. The tour is therefore a good fit if you want a chance to see a koala at close range, but you should budget separately if you have your heart set on the additional hold experience.

The animal encounters are likely to be the most memorable part for children and first-time visitors to Australia. The minimum age is four, and children under 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult. Children aged 16 and older are charged the adult rate, so check the age categories when comparing prices for a family.

What the schedule means for your day

On tour days, pickup from selected central Adelaide hotels is scheduled between 09:40 and 09:50. It is a shared transfer, so the vehicle may arrive early or late. Be in the hotel lobby ten minutes before your selected pickup time, and enter your hotel name and address when booking.

The minivan departs the pureSA office at 10:00. If you are meeting there instead of using hotel pickup, arrive 15 minutes early. The office is at 111 Franklin Street; buses G40, W90 and W91 stop at F1 Morphett Street, a short walk away. Late arrivals and no-shows are not refundable, so allow a little extra time.

At the park, you have the guided introduction followed by time on the self-discovery trails. The schedule gives a 15:30 return to Adelaide and hotel drop-off. That timing offers several hours at Cleland, though your exact time for each trail or animal encounter depends on the group and the way you choose to explore.

The tour operates Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Wednesday is not listed as an operating day. If you are planning around another Hills outing, note that this trip focuses on Cleland and its wildlife rather than combining the park with Hahndorf or a winery visit.

Is the price good value?

The published price information gives two different starting figures: US$87.05 for the package and $100.15 in the summary, without a currency specified for the latter. Treat either as an indicative starting point, and confirm the amount, currency and final inclusions at checkout.

Value depends on what you would otherwise need to organize. This package combines park entry, return transport, a bag of animal food, a map, snacks, bottled water and a 10% gift-shop voucher. If you are staying in central Adelaide and would otherwise pay for transport as well as admission, bundling those basics can make the day simpler and may offer good value.

The optional koala hold is not included, and meals and other beverages are also excluded. A cafe at the park has been noted as a place to stop for coffee or a meal, but you should budget separately for anything beyond the included snacks and water. Personal expenses and tips are not included either.

For a straightforward comparison, add up the park admission and transport you would pay independently, then compare that with the confirmed tour price. The gift-shop voucher is a small extra, not a reason by itself to book. The main value is having the ride and entry arranged, plus the supplied food for animal encounters.

Who will enjoy this visit most?

I would consider this tour for families with children aged four and up, wildlife fans and visitors without a rental car. Feeding kangaroos and wallabies gives the day an active element, while the koala close-up offers an encounter that is difficult to replicate on a city sightseeing walk.

It also suits people who like a little structure but want time to wander. The guide’s presence during the first half provides some orientation, while the independent portion lets you set your own pace. If you prefer a guide beside you throughout, ask the operator what the guided portion covers before booking.

It may be less suitable if you want a completely flexible departure, need pickup from a hotel outside the covered list, or prefer not to walk. The park experience is trail-based, and the schedule includes a fixed return time. Anyone with certain medical conditions, including high blood pressure or epilepsy, is advised not to take part.

Should you book the Cleland tour?

Book it if your priority is a relatively easy wildlife day from Adelaide, especially if you want to feed kangaroos, see koalas up close and avoid arranging your own transport. The included entry, animal food and hotel transfers make the package practical, while the Hills drive adds variety to the day.

Before paying, confirm the final price and currency, check that your hotel is eligible for pickup, and decide whether the included koala close-up is enough or you want to pay extra for a hold experience. If you are happy to explore independently after the first guided portion, Cleland offers a rewarding outing. If you need a fully guided visit or cannot absorb the cost of making alternate arrangements if transport fails, compare other options first.

FAQ

How long does the tour take?

The listed schedule departs Adelaide at 10:00 and returns around 15:30. Selected hotel pickup is scheduled between 09:40 and 09:50.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes, pickup and drop-off are included for selected central Adelaide hotels. If your hotel is not covered, meet at the pureSA office at 111 Franklin Street.

Is the koala hold included in the entry fee?

No. The entry fee includes a koala close-up experience. An additional koala hold experience is available for an extra fee.

What is included in the tour price?

The package includes park entry, return transport in an air-conditioned minivan, a self-guided walking tour, a park map, a bag of animal food, snacks, bottled water and a 10% gift-shop voucher.

Which days does the tour operate?

It operates Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Wednesday is not listed.

What should I wear and bring?

Wear comfortable walking shoes, a hat and sunglasses. In winter, an umbrella or rain jacket is recommended, and you should dress for the day’s weather.