Featherdale Wildlife Park Sydney: Quokka Feeding & Open Run 2026

Featherdale Wildlife Park Sydney: Your Guide to an Open Run

My Experience Feeding Quokkas

Words/Photos ©HiCouple

Dreaming of Meeting a Quokka in Sydney?

For many, a bucket list item and even the main reason for a Sydney trip is to meet a quokka, right?

While the most famous place to find quokkas in Australia is in the Perth region on the west coast, there's a much easier way to meet them right near Sydney.

That's right, by visiting Featherdale Wildlife Park!

Featherdale is only about an hour's drive from downtown Sydney, making it super accessible. Plus, you can actually feed the animals yourself, which makes for a truly magical experience.

However, to ensure you get to meet the quokkas, it's highly recommended to do an 'open run' – arriving right when the park opens. Today, I'll share my top tips for an open run at Featherdale Wildlife Park and my personal experience of feeding quokkas early in the morning!

Two Ways to Do an Open Run at Featherdale Wildlife Park

First, let me explain the two main ways to ensure an open run experience at Featherdale Wildlife Park.

📍 The first method is to book your Featherdale Wildlife Park admission tickets and round-trip transportation separately.

You can check and book your Featherdale Wildlife Park tickets using the link below:

>> Book Featherdale Wildlife Park Tickets Here <<

📍 The second method is to join a Blue Mountains tour that includes an early morning visit (open run) to Featherdale Wildlife Park.

These tours typically gather around 7:30 AM, head straight to Featherdale for an open run, and then spend the afternoon exploring various scenic spots in the Blue Mountains. It’s a perfect full-day itinerary!

Book Blue Mountains Tour Including Featherdale Open Run

Must-See Animals at Featherdale Wildlife Park

While quokkas are undoubtedly the stars of Featherdale, there are other incredible animals you absolutely shouldn't miss.

Beyond the quokkas, here are three other amazing animal friends you absolutely need to meet during your visit:

1. Koalas

Our first friend is the adorable koala.

Koalas are charming creatures known for clinging to trees, and here you can even stroke their backs and take a commemorative photo with them. Their fur is incredibly fluffy and soft; just petting them will bring you so much joy!

However, be aware that meeting and interacting with the koalas at Featherdale costs an additional ~$22 (based on a standard price of 32 AUD). You can, of course, observe them from a distance for free!

2. Kangaroos

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Our second friend is the kangaroo.

When you think of Australia, kangaroos are probably the first animals that come to mind. And true to form, Featherdale Wildlife Park is home to a great many kangaroos.

You can even feed the kangaroos directly! They are quite gentle when they eat, making it a perfect opportunity to snap some memorable photos. The kangaroos at Featherdale are known for being very docile, so even young children can enjoy this feeding experience!

3. Wallabies

And finally, our third friend is the wallaby.

While perhaps not as famous as kangaroos to international visitors, wallabies make up a significant population at Featherdale Wildlife Park and are surprisingly adorable! Wallabies look similar to kangaroos but are smaller and just as cute as quokkas. They are also incredibly gentle when taking food, making it even easier to get some great photos with them!

My Open Run Experience: Feeding the Quokkas!

I've introduced you to three charming animals, but let's be honest, the most popular animal at Featherdale is undoubtedly the quokka.

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If you're visiting Featherdale with an open run strategy, you should head straight to the quokka enclosure with your animal feed. Why? Because quokkas tend to stay inside their shelters once they're full, so they're most active and hungry in the morning!

So, even if you spot wallabies or kangaroos on your way, I highly recommend prioritizing the quokkas first. While it's hard to give exact directions, if you pass the wallabies and wombats, you'll eventually see a small enclosure where you can find the quokkas.

When I visited, there were two quokkas in this enclosure, and since it was an open run, there were no crowds, allowing us to feed them to our hearts' content. The quokkas approached us with bright, clear eyes, taking the food we offered through the fence with their tiny paws – it was absolutely precious!

Quokkas are small, making them a bit tricky to photograph, but if one person keeps feeding them while another takes pictures, you can usually capture some great souvenir shots. After you've had your fill of feeding the quokkas, you can then use any remaining food to feed the wallabies and kangaroos I mentioned earlier!

So, keep these Featherdale open run tips and recommended animal-meeting order in mind, and get ready to meet some incredibly cute Australian animal friends!

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