EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE VISITING BIRDLAND ANIMAL PARK IN BATEMANS BAY

If you’re looking for a great activity while visiting my beautiful hometown, you’ll love the very enjoyable Birdland Animal Park in Batemans Bay. Spread across eight acres of bushland, it’s a fun place to visit, not just for the kids but also for animal lovers of all ages. You’ll meet beautiful native Australian birds and wildlife, as well as some injured animals that the Park cares for. They recuperate here at the sanctuary and aim to try and release them back into the wild where possible.

Before your visit to Birdland, it’s good to know that the park is quite old, which means it does look a little rough around the edges, and some of the facilities are pretty outdated, but don’t let this put you off. My family and I have been visiting regularly since 2019, and we love it! The staff here are very friendly, and they genuinely care about the bird’s and animal’s welfare. Despite being a tad on the pricy side, your money will go straight back into the park to help provide great care for the animals.

So let’s head for a walk around Birdland, and you’ll know what to expect when you visit.

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PEACOCKS

As soon as you enter the Park, you’re likely to bump into one of the many free-roaming peacocks that call this place home. However, I doubt you’ll be too surprised as you’ll almost certainly hear their squawking first.

The entrance fee is around $26.00 per adult, and kids under three are free of charge. There are cheaper rates too for kids over four. As my family lives in the area, we decided to purchase a yearly pass, as they are much better value for money! It’s a great idea while you’re here to purchase a bag of animal feed too, which is just a few dollars, and if you’re brave enough, you can let the peacocks and other animals eat it out of your hand. Don’t forget to book your steam train tickets while you’re here if that’s something you’re going to be doing, but more on that later.

NATIVE WILDLIFE

Inside the Park is an array of Australian birds, including Gullahs, Lorikeets, Cockatoo’s, and Kookaburras, who enjoy laughing at you as you walk past them. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of these feathered friends as they like to spitefully sit outside my bedroom window at 5 AM every morning and laugh very loudly with a very inconvenient wake-up call! Grrrrr…

It is not just birds that you’ll find at Birdland. You’ll see plenty of other animals too, such as Kangaroos, Wallabies, and Alpacas. The first time we visited here in February 2019, we arrived early one morning to find the Alpacas running around their enclosure and acting strangely. As we didn’t know what was happening, we just assumed they were playing with each other, so we didn’t give it another thought as we headed over to the Wombat Talk, which was just about to start.

NEW ARRIVALS

Afterward, a staff member told us that a baby Alpaca had just been born minutes earlier. We quickly ran back to the enclosure just in time to see the little guy take his first steps! It was the cutest thing we’d ever seen. He kept very close to his Mamma’s side, and it was so touching to see her doting on him. All of the other Alpacas were so adorable, and you could tell they were so excited to welcome the little one to the herd. I’ve been back since, and he’s not such a little boy anymore, but he is still a cutie.

It’s worth mentioning that there’s also an Emu who lives in this enclosure and now thinks he’s an Alpaca. He’s also very protective of his adoptive brothers and sisters. So much so that one afternoon, I brought my daughter to the Park, and we were busy snapping pictures of some of the babies when out of nowhere, the Emu swooped in and tried to eat my phone! My daughter Aria screamed with laughter, and for the next six months, all I heard was, “Hey, Mummy. Do you remember the time that Emu tried to eat your phone?” That crazy kid!

CHOO-CHOO!

There’s a great little steam train that leaves from the makeshift station at the front of the Park every hour. It’s very popular with families and young kids, and in the school holidays, the queue to ride it can be a bit of a wait. It costs around $5.00 AUS each to ride the train, and it will take you right around most of the Park, even passing through a little tunnel. Now I’m not going to lie, I don’t do dark places in Australia, as there’s always the risk of possibly coming into contact with a dirty, ugly spider! So every time we go through the tunnel, this is all I can think about. Also, for the three seconds in which we are in complete darkness, Aria is scared to death, and tries to jump out of the moving train! However, holding onto each other for dear life has always got us through.

KEEPER TALKS

Just beyond the train station lies a small outdoor arena, where animal talks are given daily at 11 AM and 2 PM. They are really good fun but also informative. My favourite is the wombat talk, where we’re introduced to the beautiful Molly, one of the Parks young wombats. She just loves running around with the guests, and you can go up and pat her. Just bear in mind that she may charge at you and knock you over, so be careful. They’re strong little marsupials for their size! However, she’s never done anything like this while I’ve been there.

They also do a snake presentation. We went one weekday morning a while back, and it was super quiet, and so I thought I’d ask if they’d let me hold the snake, which they did, and it was so cool – apart from when it started slithering towards my face, so I quickly gave it back. However, with covid looking like it’s going to be around for a while, I doubt they will allow this at the moment, but it was still a pretty cool experience.

FEED THE ROO’S

Make sure to check out the walk-through wallaby and Kangaroo area at the back of the Park. The best part is that you can wander into the enclosure and hand-feed them, so try not to be tempted to use the whole bag of feed before you get here. If you have never fed a Kangeroo before, be sure to hold your palm down flat and keep the rest of the food out of reach, otherwise, they’ll be sure to snatch it off you. Don’t be surprised if they grip hold of your hand while you feed them. This is normal and also a little endearing too. Hopefully, you’ll be lucky enough to see a baby poke its head out of Mum’s pouch.

They had a beautiful koala who lived here called Boris, but unfortunately, he passed away from old age in 2019. I am not sure if there will ever be any more Koalas at Birdland again as apparently, they are very costly to keep due to the amount of leaves they eat. He was such a gorgeous boy, and I am so happy I got to see him.

55 Beach Road, Batemans Bay, NSW 2536 | www.birdlandanimalpark.com.au

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO VISIT BIRDLAND?

The ticket prices per person are as follows:

Adult – $26.00

Seniors with Card – $24.00

Kids ages 2-15 – $14.00

Kids under two years of age – Free

Family ticket (2 Adults and 2 children) – $72.00

If you’re a regular visitor to Birdland Animal Park in Batemans Bay, the Annual Passes are way better value for money. For an adult, it’s only $60.00 for an entire year, and for kids aged 2-15, they’re just $30.00 annually. This means you can visit as many times as you want over the next 12-month period.

You can purchase animal feed for an additional $2-3 per bag, which only enhances your experience while in the park, which is something my family and I do often.

Don’t forget to purchase your train tickets at the gate if you want to ride it. They usually run every hour and cost around $5.00 per person, which is a great way to explore the park.  

WHAT ARE THE OPENING TIMES?

The park is open every day from 9:30 AM to 4 PM. Check their Facebook page for updates on changes to opening times or closures.

WHAT FACILITIES ARE IN THE PARK?

There is a small shop here which sells some souvenirs and a few simple snacks. In the center of the park, you’ll find the toilets, a kid’s playground, and a BBQ area with picnic tables that looked a bit run-down the last time we were there, so maybe bring a picnic rug.

IS THERE ANYTHING I NEED TO TAKE WITH ME?

Yes! Insect repellent! When visiting Birdland, it’s important to remember that where there’s water, there’s mosquitoes. And lots of them! I was eaten alive the first time I visited here, as it was in the middle of summer on a swelteringly hot day. However, I have also visited in the winter, where there wasn’t a single mozzy insight. I recommend you take insect repellent with you to avoid being bitten. In case you forget yours, they do sell insect repellant at the shop here.

IS THE PARK WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE, AND CAN I EASILY PUSH A PRAM AROUND?

Yes, but it will require a bit of effort as some of the paths are overgrown with thick tree roots, making the tracks a little rough. I have pushed a pram around here many times, so I know it can be done. A wheelchair might be a bit more of a challenge, but again it could be done, but the paths aren’t very smooth.

IS THERE A CAFÉ?

No, but there is only a small shop where you can purchase a limited selection of snacks. There used to be the most fantastic café next door called Tribe, one of my favorite places to eat in Batemans Bay. However, in March 2022, they decided to close, which I’m super sad about. I’m telling you this because most people will think it’s still there and either plan to eat here before or after visiting Birdland. But sadly, this amazing place is no more. The closest cafés now are in Batehaven.

ARE THERE THINGS TO DO NEARBY?

Yes, there are a few things to do nearby. You’ll find a skatepark less than a 5-minutes walk away and the local library too. In the opposite direction, you have the small town of Batehaven, which has a few shops, bars, cafes and restaurants. A popular spot with families and myself is the awesome Corrigans Inclusive Playground. No matter your ability, all children can play here, which is fantastic. Directly opposite the park is Corrigans Beach, which is often busy at the weekend with dog walkers and families.

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Thanks for reading my post on the Birdland Animal Park in Batemans Bay. It’s a great spot to wander around and check out native Australia Birds, as well as many other beautiful creatures unique to this country. Despite its humble look, this park is a great place to visit, as you can tell all the animals here are loved and well cared for by the keepers and volunteers who work here. That’s why I love the keeper talks, too, where you can get up close to the animals and learn more about them and how they ended up here.  

So whether you’re admiring the stunning red-tailed black cockatoos, feeding the roo’s in the walk-in enclosure, or talking to little Harry the Long-Billed Corella next to the play area, it’s a must for any animal lover!

Have you visited the Birdland before? Will you be paying it a visit on your next trip to Batemans Bay? Let me know in the comments section below.

Ready to book your tours in Batemans Bay? Check out Region X, an awesome local tour company for tours of our beautiful area. Click here.

Still looking for more inspiration for your trip to Batemans Bay? Check out my other posts on fun Sculpture Walk and the great Heritage Museum which are both located in the town center.