Cleland Wildlife Park attraction opens innovative $2.6 million koala loft

A $2.6 million state-of-the-art koala loft has opened at Cleland Wildlife Park which benefits both the animals and the tens of thousands of visitors to the premier tourism attraction located in the Adelaide Hills.

The loft further enhances the park’s reputation for best practice in conservation and animal welfare while providing visitors with an exceptional educational experience year-round by having the option of hosting koala experiences in an indoor air-conditioned space.

It provides the koalas with the option to sit out in the sunshine or undercover, protected from the elements. There are also dedicated quiet areas where the koalas can enjoy some alone time.

The loft also allows the koalas to remain in a single location, eliminating the need to transport them between display areas across the park.

There will continue to be a range of koala experiences available at the new facility, including the opportunity to meet a koala face to face while it is sitting on a perch being able to get right up close.

Access inside the loft is restricted to koala experiences only, but the public will still be able to view koalas in their enclosures around the external perimeter.

Cleland Wildlife Park General Manager Kelly Bramhill advised “Cleland Wildlife Park plays an important role in creating a sustainable and responsible environment where everyone can connect with nature and wildlife.

“At Cleland, we are thrilled to officially open this incredible facility, which will allow our staff to continue ensuring that our beloved koalas are happy and comfortable each and every day of the year.

“The new koala loft, which has been designed to fit in well with the native surroundings and aesthetic of the park, is a fantastic facility for both Cleland’s koalas and the people that visit them.”

26 of the site’s koalas have been gradually moved in over the last few months to ensure they adapted well to their new home.

Cleland Wildlife Park was established in 1967 and for more than 50 years has been much loved by visitors as a site to experience native wildlife. Koalas have been a constant over this period.

Almost 130,000 people visited the park in 2024 and it is one of the state’s largest nature-based tourism providers.

Nature-based tourism contributed about $2.1 billion to the South Australian economy in the 2023-24 financial year.

Images. Credit: Cleland Wildlife Park