Can I touch the dingoes during the experience?

Touching is only permitted if the dingo approaches and consents, under keeper supervision to ensure safety.

Is prior booking required for the Dingo Experience?

Yes, due to limited spots (eight per session), booking ahead is highly recommended.

Are children allowed to participate?

Children aged six and over may join but must be accompanied by a paying adult.

What happens if bad weather occurs during my session?

Sessions may be canceled for animal welfare and visitor safety; refunds or alternative experiences are offered.

Is the Dingo Experience included with general park admission?

No, the experience is an additional booking on top of regular park entry.

Are cameras allowed inside the habitat?

Yes, visitors are encouraged to photograph their interactions using their own devices.

Dingo Experience at Maru Koala and Animal Park, Victoria

Just off the Bass Highway in Grantville, Victoria, Maru Koala and Animal Park offers a rare opportunity to step inside the world of the Australian dingo. The Dingo Experience is not your average wildlife viewing; this hands-on encounter invites up to eight participants at a time to enter the dingoes’ habitat alongside knowledgeable keepers. Visitors learn about this often misunderstood wild dog’s behavior, conservation challenges, and ongoing efforts to protect the species. The park provides a close-up, respectful interaction in an environment designed for the animals’ comfort and autonomy.

Participants move cautiously into the spacious outdoor enclosure, where dingoes roam with freedom and curiosity. Some approach visitors, inviting gentle touch under strict supervision, while others keep their distance, allowing guests to observe their natural behavior. Each dingo has a unique personality and story shared by the keepers, adding layers of insight to the visit. The experience runs daily around noon and lasts about 15 to 20 minutes, making it a manageable addition to your day trip along Victoria’s scenic coastline.

Maru Koala and Animal Park plays a vital role in regional wildlife education and conservation, especially given the dingo’s fragile status amidst habitat loss and hybridization pressures. The park fosters a connection between visitors and native fauna, encouraging stewardship in an accessible, engaging format. The careful cap on group sizes ensures a personalized and meaningful experience—a sharp contrast to crowded viewing areas elsewhere.

Ideal for adventurers aged six and up, this encounter requires no special skills but rewards openness to wildlife and conservation stories. With ample photo opportunities and keeper-led discussions, it’s a compelling stop for families, wildlife enthusiasts, and travelers eager to understand Australia’s wild heart beyond the usual tourist routes.

About Maru Koala and Animal Park

Maru Koala and Animal Park in Grantville, Victoria, is a wildlife park offering hands-on animal encounters, keeper-led experiences, and family attractions. The park features a range of wildlife interactions including koalas, quokkas, gliders, cassowaries, pythons, shingleback and blue-tongue lizards, echidnas and dingoes. Visitors can book focused experiences such as Meet a Koala, Koala Feeding Experience, Quokka Experience (limited to four participants daily), Glider Experience, Cassowary Experience and Meet a Snake or Meet a Lizard sessions.

Maru also hosts specialist activities and events: an Animal Enrichment Workshop for teenagers that includes a catered lunch and supervised creation of enrichment items; Maru Birthday Party packages with exclusive park access and mini-golf; and general admission options like Maru Entry Ticket and Maru Entry Voucher. Pirate Pete's Mini-Golf and the Homestead Bistro are on-site, and the Koala Feeding Experience includes a complimentary scone and drink at the Homestead Bistro.

Keeper-led sessions take place in dedicated viewing or private areas, offering close observation of animal training and behaviour under staff supervision. The park emphasises education and conservation messaging through guided encounters with keepers. All visitor experiences are scheduled and require booking to manage animal welfare and participant numbers. Maru Koala and Animal Park serves visitors to Gippsland and wider Victoria seeking authentic Australian wildlife encounters in a controlled, keeper-supervised setting. Many experiences include photography opportunities, with the Meet a Koala offering unlimited photos during the session. The Cassowary Experience takes place in a private keeper area and can include close observation and possible hand-feeding safely.