Maru Koala and Animal Park (Grantville)
Founded, owned and operated by the Heffer family, at Maru we personally ensure you get the most out of your visit. Hand feed and pat the kangaroos and wallabies, rare albinos, koalas, wombats, Tasmanian Devils, dingoes, a crocodile 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 opportunity 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.
There's more to Maru than animals! Set sail for 18 holes of adventure at Pirate Pete's Mini-golf. Putt your way around the thirty meter Pirate Ship (now removed), encounter life size Pirate figurines and enter the gold mine under the five meter thunderous waterfall.
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Children's Parties
At Maru we host Children's Parties that can be Koala or Pirate themed.
The party will run from 11am to 1pm as follows:
11am -Meet at shop where a special Party table is set up and waiting for you. Head to the Animal Park to meet and feed the animals
12pm - Lunch provided at the shop, followed by ice-cream. At the end of lunch the table is cleared (by 1pm at the latest). The children head off to enjoy the mini-golf at their leisure
Your party includes the following:
- Entry to the Animal Park (normal cost $9.00 per child)
- Park feed to give the animals (normal cost $1.00)
- Entry to Pirate Pete's Mini-golf (normal cost $9.00 per child)
- Two hours catered party time 11am to 1pm
- Maru Party invitations for the birthday child to use to invite their guests
- Party Goods per child - Party Hat, Balloon
- Group 6x8' Party photo (normal cost $15.00)
- Party Food, drink, Chuppa-chup, ice-cream
- Free tea/coffee
- Free entry to the Animal Park and Mini-golf
Not included: Birthday cake & lollie bags
Opening Hours:
Opening Times
Cost:
Entrance Prices for Park and Mini-golf
Prices for Children's Parties
Review:
The setting is a bit like a ramshackle old farm which is quaint in a way. It does have a big advantage that everything is quite compact and the kids don't have to walk far to see the animals. Another aspect which the kids loved is the ability to feed and pat the kangaroos. It is necessary to pay extra ($10) to have a "close encounter" with the other animals. There is a big range of animals present and the staff are very friendly and helpful.
There are plenty of shaded (in a shelter) and unshaded tables with peacocks wandering around at the front of the entrance area.
The Pirate Pete mini-golf course can be played independently of a visit to the Animal Park or on a combined entrance. The Pirate themed golf course set around a huge Pirate Ship (update- the ship sank on rocks and is no longer there) is the most interesting outdoor course we have visited. Each person gets a different coloured ball (reduces family arguments compared to every one having a white ball) and there are a good range of different sized clubs which you can select from. Hole #1 was short but hard and the reviewer (who refuses to be named) took 14 shots to get the ball in the hole. Thankfully the remainder of the holes were challenging enough but not overly difficult. The surface of the course was generally in good condition but there were areas of poor surface which didn't really affect the fun and adds to the experience. There were plenty of obstacles on the fairways including tree branches, rocks, spades, horse shoes, old boots and lots more. There are a few really interesting holes including the "Dunny Hole" - make sure you get in the crack shot area rather than the crap shot area and there is a good chance you will get a hole in one courtesy of a conveyor over the top of a pirate's hut - does that mean you have to buy the drinks (rum of course) at the 19th hole? You have to enter a dark and scary mine to complete hole #14.
Update on 31/3/22: Years of weathering have made the pirate ship unsafe and beyond repair so it is being dismantled.
Photos:
Location
1650 Bass Highway, Grantville 3984 Map
✆ (03) 5678 8548
Email Enquiry
Web Links
→ www.marukoalapark.com.au
→ Maru Koala & Animal Park on Facebook
