Cleland Wildlife Park is one of the most friendly, trusting, caring, clean, awesome park/zoo I have ever experienced. They are widely known for their koalas, but Cleland is also home to over 130 species of native South Australian animals, many that are endangered, like the Tasmanian Devil.
What separates Cleland from other animals parks is the rare opportunity for the visitors to get up close and personal with the animals. By up close, I mean, you and the animals are one with each other. There are some animals behind fences, like the Dingo, Tasmanian Devil, Wombat and a few other smaller and endangered species, but the animals that we've come to know and love about Australia, like the Kangaroo, are all around the park just waiting for a scratch on the belly or a handful of food (that they sell upon arrival).
What separates Cleland from other animals parks is the rare opportunity for the visitors to get up close and personal with the animals. By up close, I mean, you and the animals are one with each other. There are some animals behind fences, like the Dingo, Tasmanian Devil, Wombat and a few other smaller and endangered species, but the animals that we've come to know and love about Australia, like the Kangaroo, are all around the park just waiting for a scratch on the belly or a handful of food (that they sell upon arrival).
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Kangaroos and Wallabies welcomed a friendly touch and snack from all visitors and didn't seemed phased by the many kids running around. Oh, did I mention that this is their Spring Break? The park was crawling with families and this is a good opportunity to say that I was pleasantly surprised at the display of restraint and manners from kids of all ages. They weren't chasing or terrorizing the animals or screaming or even taunting them. These kids were respecting the animals! Having volunteered at the National Zoo for years, I can honestly say, that the word respect doesn't come to mind when dealing with children at our National Zoo, or many of the American zoo's and parks.
The park puts a lot of trust in the visitors and from what I saw, I can see why.
Along with kangaroos, visitors are also afforded the chance to get close with a koala.
The park puts a lot of trust in the visitors and from what I saw, I can see why.
Along with kangaroos, visitors are also afforded the chance to get close with a koala.
Bo with Koala! Getting a chance to see a koala was in itself a great opportunity, but to pet one??? That was the icing on the cake! If you've never touched a koala you are in for a surprise. Their fur is so dense and thick, much like you'd expect on the back of a sheep. Their eyes are itty bitty and that nose!!! Put them all together and you've got an animal that is quite unique. Koalas are all over, in fact in some places of the U.S. we have signs that warn us of deer crossing, or even duck crossing. Along the highways here, they are warned about koala crossing. Roger, our host of the B&B we are staying, said he hoped our first siting of a koala wasn't going to be on the road...as in .....road kill.
In addition to the four legged critters, there are also a variety of birds. Most are free to come and go while others are located in an aviary which gives you a chance to finally see some of the birds that I've been wanting to see appear at our feeders here at the Amble B&B. I wouldn't expect a duck to waddle up, but you never know, ducks seem to be everywhere around here!
In addition to the four legged critters, there are also a variety of birds. Most are free to come and go while others are located in an aviary which gives you a chance to finally see some of the birds that I've been wanting to see appear at our feeders here at the Amble B&B. I wouldn't expect a duck to waddle up, but you never know, ducks seem to be everywhere around here!
 Emu  kookaburra - sitting in a tree in the park, not fenced in. So lucky to see him! |  Rainbow Lorikeet  Budgerigar - Parakeet |
Getting to the park was a bit hair raising for me. I'm still trying to get used to the car being driven on the left side of the road. Richard, my husband, has been great about taking the wheel and doing a pretty good job, (yes, there have been some 'oops' moments, but he's getting this whole thing down). As for me? Well, driving to the park is up a 'Hill' aka, smallish mountain. The roads are quite narrow and windy. I, of course am sitting on the left side with the mountain side thinking that we are going to scrape the sides. It looks like we are driving so close to the left side, but in reality, we aren't as close as I think we are. It really unnerves me. Coming down it appears we will plummet to our death right over the edge, because again, it's that whole left side hugging the edge thing. I don't like it, not one little bit. I digress, the park is in the mountains with a natural setting and each animal has a habitat that resembles their own. It's not free, but then, many things in life are not free and they do have to feed these guys. The fee is $22 per adult but well worth it, where else will you be able to see the likes of an endangered Tasmanian Devil, Dingo ,Echidna, nursing Kangaroos or Wombat?
It was a memorable day!
It was a memorable day!
 Dingo  Tasmanian Devil |  Wombat  Echidna |
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