David Fleay Wildlife Park: Hours, Animals and Visiting Tips

David Fleay Wildlife Park is a small, heritage-listed wildlife park at West Burleigh on the Gold Coast, run by the Queensland Government. It sits beside Tallebudgera Creek and is a good place to see native animals such as koalas, kangaroos, crocodiles and dingoes in bush and wetland settings, without the crowds of the big theme parks.

The park was started by naturalist David Fleay, who bred a platypus in captivity at his earlier sanctuary in Victoria. Today it is a quieter, slower day out than most Gold Coast attractions, with ranger-led presentations included in the entry price.

What you can see at David Fleay Wildlife Park

The park shows native Australian animals in enclosures built to look like their natural habitat. The Queensland Government lists koalas, emus, brolgas, dingoes, kangaroos, dunnarts, bilbies and crocodiles among them, and the park is one of the few places where you can see the bridled nailtail wallaby, a species once thought extinct.

A boardwalk through the wetlands is where you can learn the difference between freshwater and saltwater crocodiles. The park also runs an animal hospital for sick, injured and orphaned wildlife, though that area is not part of the visitor walk.

Ranger talks and shows

Presentations run through the day and are included in entry. They have included kangaroo feeding, a talk about cassowaries, a tour of the nocturnal house and the Fleay’s In Flight show, where native birds fly over the audience. The timetable changes, so check the activity guide on the day.

Nocturnal house and cafe

The nocturnal house keeps animals that are active at night, including bilbies, in dim light so you can watch them during the day. Queensland Parks has shown the nocturnal house as closed for annual maintenance, so confirm it is open before you plan your visit around it.

There is a cafe near the entry with drinks, snacks and light meals. You can also bring a picnic and use the picnic area. Check the park’s website for the cafe’s current status before you go.

History of the park

David Fleay chose the Tallebudgera Creek site in 1951 and bought the land in 1952, and the park welcomed its first visitors on Easter Sunday 1952. Fleay believed animals should be kept in surroundings close to their natural environment, an idea that was ahead of its time and shapes the enclosures you walk past today.

The park was renamed in his honour in 1997 and was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 23 February 2001. It is managed today by the Queensland Government, and its work includes breeding threatened native animals and public education about protecting wildlife.

Tallebudgera Creek mangrove boardwalk

A walking track along the mangrove-lined Tallebudgera Creek starts near the park. The first stretch of the track suits prams and wheelchairs, so it is an easy add-on if the children still have energy after the animals.

Planning your visit

• Opening hours: 9 am to 4 pm every day except Christmas Day and the morning of Anzac Day (check the website before you go).
• Tickets: Book online through the Queensland Parks booking page or buy at reception. Prices are updated each year, so check the current price there.
• How long: Allow a couple of hours to walk the park and catch a talk or two.
• What to bring: A hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, a water bottle and a camera.
• Accessibility: Most of the park suits wheelchairs, prams and people who find walking difficult. Paths are a mix of concrete, bitumen and raised timber boardwalk. Accessible toilets are at the cafe and there are accessible parking spaces.

Getting to David Fleay Wildlife Park and parking

The park is on Loman Lane, West Burleigh, entered from the corner of Loman Lane and West Burleigh Road. It is about 70 minutes by car from Brisbane CBD, without traffic.

There is a free car park on site. For buses and trains, use the Translink journey planner with the park’s address, as services change.

Nearby

• Burleigh Heads Beach – a beach swim and the headland walks a short drive away.
• Gold Coast Regional Botanical Gardens – a free garden day out in Benowa.
• Evandale Parklands – a playground and lakeside walk at Surfers Paradise.
• More animal days out: zoos and wildlife parks and the Gold Coast guide.
• Currumbin Sanctuary – A not-for-profit wildlife park on the southern Gold Coast with koalas, kangaroos, daily shows, miniature trains and free lorikeet feeding, about 75 minutes by car from the Brisbane CBD.
• Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary – Brisbane’s riverside koala sanctuary at Fig Tree Pocket, about 13 km from the CBD, with over 100 koalas, kangaroo feeding, free daily shows and a river cruise option.

Quick answers