Maru Koala and Animal Park

Wildlife park on the way to the island where visitors hand-feed kangaroos and meet koalas up close.

Family-run wildlife park on the Bass Highway at Grantville, fifteen minutes before the bridge — koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, dingoes, emus and crocodiles, with keeper talks and hands-on feeding through the day. Pirate Pete's 18-hole themed mini golf and the Homestead Bistro round it out.

Entry ($33 adult, $18 child, $95 family of four) includes the mini golf free. Paid encounters run from $35 to meet a koala, snake or lizard up to $75 for the koala feeding experience, with most at $55.

Book entry and experiences online through their FareHarbor system. Last entry is an hour before closing, and the park is closed Christmas Day.