Oakvale Wildlife Park

Oakvale Wildlife Park sits on Oakvale Drive at Salt Ash, near Port Stephens and a short drive from Newcastle. A family-friendly wildlife park, it's built a strong following for its hands-on approach — the chance to get close to and interact with a wide range of native and farmyard animals in a relaxed, spacious setting.

The appeal is that interactive, family-focused experience: hand-feeding kangaroos, meeting koalas, and getting up close to a variety of animals, making it a great day out for kids and a lovely addition to a Port Stephens holiday. The open, walk-around setting lets families explore at their own pace.

With a 4.6 rating from more than 2,200 reviews, it's clearly a hit with families. Admission, opening hours, animal encounters and feeding times vary, and it's a sizeable park that takes time to explore, so it's worth checking current details before you go — and allowing a good few hours, especially if you're visiting with kids who'll want to meet and feed as many animals as they can.