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David Fleay Wildlife Park Gold Coast

4.3

Google reviews (839 total)

Google reviews for David Fleay Wildlife Park

4.3 Write a review

  • 3 Thushini Goonewardene
    4 months ago

    It was quite inspiring to learn about the life and work of Dr. David Fleay. The park itself is a lovely place. However, it is not that well maintained, perhaps due to lack of funding. I watched 2 shows, the birds show and the crocodile show. They were well conducted, and the volunteers were quite knowledgeable on their respective subjects. It is a nice place to go for a walk. However, there isn't much to see. There is a cafe close to the entrance, but with rather limited vegetarian/ vegan options. Tickets can be purchased at the entrance. There is a free car park which is wheelchair accessible.

  • 5 Jo Almadi
    3 months ago

    My family visited January 11,2023. We love seeing animals and this wild life park cares about the animals. It is small but very interactive. The staff are willing to answer any questions and provide back stories about the animals. It was a very enjoyable visit.

  • 3 Angus Webb
    4 months ago

    This felt like a work in progress. It is a lovely setting among the bush, and within the park it feels pretty "natural". But, not many animals to see, and large parts were "coming soon" or "under construction". It has great potential though.

  • 5 Kerri Hendry
    a week ago

    We held our daughter's 18th birthday party in the lawn garden. It was a perfect spot with views of some animals and shade in the afternoon. The staff went above and beyond to make sure this was a special day. They even ran back and forth with the ice cream cake trying to keep it all in one piece. All our guests loved the food and a wonderful day was had by all. I would thoroughly recommend David Fleay Wildlife Park for any event.

  • 3 Julia Lee
    a month ago

    3 stars means it's ok..my stars are for the Cafe staff which are excellent, the Cafe food which was delicious and the platypus..I was quite disappointed with the actual park..Lots of empty spaces and not enough animals..There was only 1 of most animals like the 1 poor dingo that paced back and forth,the 1 alligator, and the 1 emu..Couldn't even see the tree kangaroo..Supposedly there were 2 koalas but I didn't see them.The reptile hut was closed..I'm just happy I saw the platypus and bilby or I would of been really disappointed..It's just not good enough..A few wallaby's but where were the kangaroos..There is a free zoo in Ipswich and that's got more animals..Very disappointed ..

  • 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.

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

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.