Outback Kangaroo Farm

Last week our homeschool group took a field trip to the Outback Kangaroo Farm.  The weather didn't look too promising but the rain mostly held off except a brief little sprinkle.  We were prepared with our rain boots (definitely a must at this farm).  To be honest, I have mixed feelings about this place.  I love that this place gave my children some very unique opportunities (more on that later), but the farm is looking a bit run-down.

There is a little picnic area that we had arranged to eat at before our tour.   As we waited for our tour to begin the kids could check out the lemurs and some very beautiful birds.

At the beginning of the tour, the kids have a dance-off to see who would feed the lemurs.  A few were chosen and were able to feed them through the cage.  The lady owner then gave a great explanation about lemurs and had them leaping all around while she fed them a banana.  It was really cute!  Next, we were turned over to her husband who took us to see a huge tortoise and then the kangaroos.  He warned us that he had a loud voice and would use it if they kids ran or talked too loudly. We were let into the pen and the kids were able to feed the kangaroos bread and touch them.  They were very sweet animals.  Next, the kids were able to feed the mini donkeys.  There was a cute little baby one.  We then went by a pony that was tied up and was told that he bites.  The owner asked the pony if he would bite and he shook his head, yes.  We were again warned to keep our distance when we went past him to the the emus and ostrich.  He told the kids some interesting facts about these birds while he fed them. Our last stop out in the barnyard was into the llama and alpaca pen where you could feed a llama with a pellet between your lips.  The llama would "kiss" you while he took the pellet out of your mouth.  To end the tour, 5 kids were permitted into the gift shop at a time to take turns holding a baby wallaby.  Okay, now who has held a baby kangaroo...not an experience too many people have!!

So I totally understand that a ton of kids probably go through this place in a day and they need to keep the tour moving along to be done in time for the next one, but I just felt like they were going through the motions and seemed a bit rushed.  I hate to give this place a bad review because I really think it is such a neat opportunity for your kids but at the same time I would caution you in expecting a zoo-like experience.  It is nothing like a zoo, but rather a working farm.  It would be like going to someone's dairy farm and they took you out in the pens to see their cows. I'm thankful we went and I'm glad they have opened their farm to us.

Price: Group rate: $6 per person
Reg. rate: depends on age: $7-8