David Fleay Wildlife Park Gold Coast

4.4

Google reviews (696 total)

Google reviews for David Fleay Wildlife Park

4.4 Write a review

  • 5 Clark Kent (Tank)
    5 months ago

    Thoroughly enjoyable 2 hours, got lots of great photos. Cafe and toilet fit out is superb, park based around a number of water features. Parking is excellent, big parking sites. (large vehicle owner) mangrove walk is impressive structure. The walk around the outside of park along river is pleasant and private.

  • 5 J B
    5 months ago

    My husband and I had a great time looking around, we went in the afternoon and it was so nice and quiet! the bird and cassowary shows we were there for were great and we even got the chance to feed the male cassowary. The staff were lovely and were more than happy to tell us anything we wished to know about the animals. I specifically went to see Wally the platypus and was so happy that he seemed to enjoy putting on a show for everyone who came to see him. Unfortunately the kangaroo section was closed but hopefully we will be able to see them next time

  • 5 Catherine Little
    8 months ago

    Visited this beautiful little park today and was very pleasantly surprised. The grounds were beautiful, the park very well maintained and all the staff that we interacted with (rangers, ground staff and cafe workers) were super friendly and helpful. We particularly enjoyed the croc talk and cassowary talks presented by one of the lovely rangers (Kayla I think her name was), it was obvious that all the staff really were passionate about the animals in their care. Additionally, many of the animals seemed to be exhibiting lots of natural behaviours, but maybe we were just lucky with this! We also enjoyed walking through the mangroves adjacent to the park. We spend about 3.5 hours here.

  • 5 Brendon Knight
    11 months ago

    Awesome day out with the kids. Park is looking great, visited 11am-2pm not many people there, not sure why as the kids absolutely loved this place, new cafe recently opened, limited menu so far but was told will be expanding soon. Park is not too big so kids don't get tired walking around all day, but plenty to see.

  • 4 Sabrina Lizzi
    7 months ago

    Took me and my partner one hour to explore the whole place with no talks or shows, stopped at each enclosure at a leisurely pace. We entered at 2.30pm, finished at 3.30 and did another half lap. A lot of work needs to be done due to flooding but still a great outing and saw more animals on the way back because of the timing I reckon and how quiet it was. A worthwhile relaxing experience for people who have busy lifestyles. Animals are very cute especially the Bilby and hopping mice in my opinion! 😆 Dingoes were howling waiting to be walked so that was awesome. happy to have supported at a difficult time 💚

  • More info and reviews

Park open 9am to 4pm, seven days a week

Our wildlife and Park Rangers look forward to welcoming you to the park. As part of our COVID-safe plan, we have implemented some changes—please ensure you review all information before you visit.

Virtual tour—MyRanger app

Discover the beauty and diversity of David Fleay Wildlife Park through the virtual ranger guided tours. Get up close and personal with some of the park’s unique animals through the Augmented Reality experiences. It’s like having a personal ranger in the palm of your hand.

Be inspired: 5 things you didn’t know you could do at David Fleay Wildlife Park

Tucked away in the heart of Burleigh Heads is David Fleay Wildlife Park—a park unlike any other. Cute and quirky critters—tick! Wildlife shows—tick! But what makes Fleay’s different? Here are our top 5 things you didn’t know you could do at Fleay’s. Photo credit: Steve Browne © Queensland Government

Be inspired: 8 family-friendly walks around the Gold Coast

Calling nature enthusiasts of all ages! If you’re looking for nature therapy the whole family can enjoy, there’s no better place than Queensland’s biggest playground—Queensland National Parks! Photo credit: Anna Osetroff © Queensland Government

Join the Park Rangers at David Fleay Wildlife Park to learn more about Queensland’s unique wildlife! Photo credit: Maxime Coquard © Queensland Government

Spotlight on Wally

Wally the platypus

Wally the platypus

Photo credit: Wade Gilbert, Queensland Government

Wally the platpus being weighed in a basket on a scale.

Wally being weighed during his weekly check-up at David Fleay Wildlife Park.

Photo credit: Jacqui Seal, Queensland Government

Photo credit: Nikki Sparks, Queensland Government

The David Fleay Wildlife Park is now home to a young male platypus called Wally. In January 2014, a member of the public found Wally injured and underweight—now in his new home he is growing stronger everyday.

Wally's story

Wally was found injured and underweight by a member of the public near Mount Warning in northern New South Wales back in January. Weighing in at less than 200 grams, he needed some intensive care from our rangers in the form of four-hourly feeds of crayfish, insects and worms. Now he weighs over 700 grams, but he will never grow strong enough to be released back into the wild. Wally’s new home is the park’s nocturnal house.

The legacy of Dr David Fleay is being carried on because Wally is part of the wide range of educational programs offered by David Fleay Wildlife Park that encourages community awareness and appreciation of our native wildlife.

He looks cuddly now but rangers caring for Wally won’t be getting too many cuddles in the future. Wally is a male platypus, which means as gets older the venomous spurs on his hind legs will develop as he matures. While the venom hasn’t caused any known human fatalities, people who have been spurred reported prolonged periods of extreme pain. That is why Wally is being handled less and why it is a good reason never to pick up a platypus in the wild!

Wally won’t be spending all of his time in the nocturnal display tank. Once he has eaten his fill, he is free to venture out of the water and behind the display tank into a specially designed burrow system with grass-lined nesting chambers to rest. So, if at first you can’t spot him, make sure you come back a little later to see if he is up and about.

Learn more about platypus.

  • There are currently no park alerts for this park.

View all park alerts