Maru Koala & Animal Park

Maru Koala & Animal Park A small family owned and operated tourist attraction, including an Animal Park, Pirate Pete's Mini-golf and the Homestead Bistro.
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Founded, owned and operated by the Heffer family, at Maru we personally ensure you get the most out of your visit. Pat a koala and hand feed and pat the kangaroos and wallabies, rare albinos and meet the wombats, dingoes and other delightful creatures at the Animal Park. Enjoy hourly koala tours where the Keeper will introduce you to our koala family inside their enclosure. Take advantage of the o

pportunity to get a photograph up close with one of our Koalas! Learn about our Wildlife Shelter and enjoy frequent talks given by our animal keepers that help you learn about the animals as you interact with them. There are plenty of photo opportunities to ensure that you have souvenirs to share your experience with family and friends. Enjoy the Wildlife show in our covered auditorium. There’s more to Maru than animals! Set sail for 18 holes of adventure at Pirate Pete’s Mini-golf, officially opened in June 2008. Putt your way around the thirty meter Pirate Ship, encounter life size Pirate figurines and enter the gold mine under the five meter thunderous waterfall. Only fifteen minutes from Phillip Island, Maru is a great day out, where you can also enjoy a meal or a snack in our licensed Homestead Bistro whilst the kids enjoy the outdoor play area.

Spring has sprung here at Maru! 🌿🌸Spring brings many changes across Victoria; blooming wildflowers, warmer weather, baby...
03/09/2026

Spring has sprung here at Maru! 🌿🌸

Spring brings many changes across Victoria; blooming wildflowers, warmer weather, baby animals and the emergence of reptiles from brumation!!🐍☀️

Unlike mammals, reptiles are ectotherms, meaning they rely on their external environment to regulate their body temperature and important bodily processes. When temperatures drop, reptiles have less energy available for these processes, so to survive the colder months many reptiles enter brumation; a natural, hibernation-like state where their metabolism slows down, allowing them to conserve energy until warmer weather returns.

Luckily Rocky the Rough Scaled Python lives in a temperature-controlled habitat that allows him to stay warm and active all year round! 💚🐍 Though he does enjoy basking out in the spring sun! ☀️

WE ARE HIRING AT MARU!!! We are searching for an enthusiastic and passionate candidate to join our growing business and ...
02/09/2026

WE ARE HIRING AT MARU!!!

We are searching for an enthusiastic and passionate candidate to join our growing business and friendly team in our supportive workplace.

Positions available;
- Part-time Mandarin speaking customer service and Hospitality Assistant with a minimum of 50 hours per fortnight available.

- Casual Assistant Cook

If your passionate about food and want to work in a unique wildlife park setting, we’d love to hear from you!!

For more information or to apply please contact us via [email protected]
Please share with anyone who may be interested

Psst... Father's Day is around the corner, have you booked?We’re stoked to be partnering with local legends Phillip Isla...
31/08/2026

Psst... Father's Day is around the corner, have you booked?

We’re stoked to be partnering with local legends Phillip Island Brewing Co. 🍺

Their Koala Pale Ale is cold, smooth and tasty, with subtle hoppy dryness, spicy citrus aromas, a nutty malt finish and a few tropical fruit notes thrown in for good measure. Basically, a pretty perfect match for a plate of ribs.

So here’s Dad’s Father’s Day plan: ribs, beer and mini golf. 🍖🍺⛳

Every dad who pre-books and dines with us for lunch this Father’s Day will receive 1 FREE Phillip Island Brewing Co. Koala Pale Ale. Plus free mini golf and park entry. And don't forget the inaugural Father's Day Mini Golf Tournament.

Because socks are fine. But ribs, beer and mini golf? Better.

Book your lunch at Maru now.

Tasting notes based on the Koala Pale Ale information provided by Phillip Island Brewing Co.

WE ARE HIRING AT MARU!!! We are searching for an enthusiastic and passionate candidate to join our growing business and ...
27/08/2026

WE ARE HIRING AT MARU!!!

We are searching for an enthusiastic and passionate candidate to join our growing business and friendly team in our supportive workplace.

Positions available;
- Part-time Mandarin speaking customer service and Hospitality Assistant with a minimum of 50 hours per fortnight available.
- Casual Assistant Cook

If your passionate about food and want to work in a unique wildlife park setting, we’d love to hear from you!!

For more information or to apply please contact us via [email protected]

Please share with anyone who may be interested.

24/08/2026

🐾 Meet Grier — Senior Keeper at Maru!

Behind every animal at Maru is a team of passionate people dedicated to their care, wellbeing and conservation. Today, we’re introducing you to one of those people.

Grier’s journey into wildlife keeping came from a lifelong love of Australian native animals and a desire to help others appreciate just how unique they are. With Australia having one of the highest mammal extinction rates in the world, Grier believes keepers have an important role to play — not only in caring for animals, but in inspiring others to protect them too.

Before joining the Maru team, Grier worked as a dog trainer and animal rehabilitation assistant, helping animals recover, rebuild confidence and get moving again. These skills now help him build trust, create enrichment opportunities and support the wellbeing of the animals in his care.

His favourite part of being a keeper? Getting to know each animal as an individual — discovering what motivates them, how they think, and watching their personalities shine.

Grier has a special bond with Hobart the Tasmanian Devil and Molly the Dingo (but we won’t tell the others 🤫). From training sessions and enrichment ideas to the less glamorous parts of the job — like counting koala poo 💩 — every day as a keeper brings something different.

Next time you visit Maru, you might see Grier working with the animals behind the scenes, helping them learn, explore and thrive. 💚

Address

1650 Bass Highway Grantville
Melbourne, VIC
3984

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 5pm
Thursday 9:30am - 5pm
Friday 9:30am - 5pm
Saturday 9:30am - 5pm
Sunday 9:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+61356788548

Website

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