Symbio Wildlife Gardens

South Coast NSW

LoginSave

Friendly kangaroos are the highlight at this private zoo, 34km north of Wollongong. Native animals such as emus, echidnas and koalas (plus imported animals like lemurs and monkeys) are cared for by zoo staff who adore them. Regular talks by the keepers aim to educate visitors about native fauna. Say yes to a $2 bag of roo food.

Supervised visitors are allowed to get close to koalas for a photo ($20), though the grumpy marsupials tend to climb high when they aren't in the mood. There's a miniature playground with water jets for kids to cool off in.

It's handily close to the freeway; take the Helensburgh/Stanwell Park exit.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Bondi Beach, New South Wales, Australia

    Bondi Beach

    27.92 MILES

    Definitively Sydney, Bondi is one of the world’s great beaches. It’s the closest ocean beach to the city centre (8km away), has consistently good (though…

  • 500px Photo ID: 90468683 - The worlds most famous Bridge on the worlds most famous Harbour..Sydney Harbour. ..This makes for a perfect backdrop for the New Years Eve Fireworks

    Sydney Harbour Bridge

    27.91 MILES

    Sydneysiders love their giant 'coathanger', which opened in 1932. The best way to experience this majestic structure is on foot. Stairs and lifts ascend…

  • Sumatran Tiger

    Taronga Zoo Sydney

    29.41 MILES

    A 12-minute ferry ride from Circular Quay, this forested harbour hillside is full of kangaroos, koalas and similarly hirsute Australians, plus numerous…

  • The Art Gallery of New South Wales is located in The Domain in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is the most important public gallery in Sydney and the fourth largest in Australia.; Shutterstock ID 106370831; Your name (First / Last): Josh Vogel; Project no. or GL code: 56530; Network activity no. or Cost Centre: Online-Design; Product or Project: 65050/7529/Josh Vogel/LP.com Destination Galleries

    Art Gallery of NSW

    27.19 MILES

    With its neoclassical Greek frontage and modern rear, this much-loved institution plays a prominent and gregarious role in Sydney society. Blockbuster…

  • Young boy looking at sharks and bannerfish in tank at in Sydney Aquarium, Darling Harbour, New South Wales (NSW), Australia. CJWH

    Sydney Sea Life Aquarium

    26.67 MILES

    As well as regular tanks, this impressive complex has large pools that you can walk through – safely enclosed in Perspex tunnels – as an intimidating…

  • SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 20, 2010: A splendid replica of James Cook's HMS Endeavour, moored alongside the Australian National Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour, Sydney. ; Shutterstock ID 203274241; Your name (First / Last): Josh Vogel; Project no. or GL code: 56530; Network activity no. or Cost Centre: Online-Design; Product or Project: 65050/7529/Josh Vogel/LP.com Destination Galleries

    Australian National Maritime Museum

    26.59 MILES

    Beneath a soaring roof, the Maritime Museum sails through Australia’s inextricable relationship with the sea. Exhibitions range from Indigenous canoes to…

  • coastal view with era beach, royal national park, nsw

    Royal National Park

    8.45 MILES

    The 15,091-hectare Royal National Park was established in 1879, making it the oldest national park in the world after Yellowstone in the USA. Stretching…

  • aerial view of royal botanic gardens, sydney

    Royal Botanic Garden

    27.54 MILES

    Southeast of the Opera House, this garden was established in 1816 and features plant life from around the world. Within the gardens are hothouses with…

View more attractions

Nearby South Coast NSW attractions

1. Sri Venkateswara Temple

0.63 MILES

Bone-white and richly decorated with sculptures of Hindu deities, Helensburgh's temple is a rewarding detour on the drive between Wollongong and Royal…

2. Figure Eight Pools

4.07 MILES

This eight-shaped pool on a rock shelf near Burning Palms Beach is an Instagram favourite. However it is imperative to pay attention to conditions: tides…

3. Garie Beach

6.12 MILES

Three kilometres down a turn-off from the main road, this excellent surf beach is a picturesque spot. Like all of the Royal National Park surf beaches,…

4. Royal National Park

8.45 MILES

The 15,091-hectare Royal National Park was established in 1879, making it the oldest national park in the world after Yellowstone in the USA. Stretching…

5. Wattamolla Beach

9.6 MILES

About halfway along the coast, Wattamolla Beach is one of the favourite picnic spots in the park and gets pretty busy in summer. It has the great…

6. Bellambi Point

11.56 MILES

Eight kilometres north of Wollongong, this fine-sand headland – formerly a tool site and burial ground, with a large shell midden – was legally recognised…

8. Bundeena

13.35 MILES

The town of Bundeena, on the southern shore of Port Hacking opposite Sydney’s southern suburb of Cronulla, is surrounded by the Royal National Park and…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting: 
    {
  "url": "australia/new-south-wales/wollongong/attractions/symbio-wildlife-gardens/a/poi-sig/481720/362311",
  "destination": "South-Coast-NSW",
  "continent": "Australia-&-Pacific",
  "country": "Australia",
  "region": "South-Coast-NSW",
  "position": "superzone"
}