How to See Kangaroos at Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Park in Gold Coast

This was my first trip to the Gold Coast, and in Australia in general.

While it wasn’t a must, I wanted to see native wildlife.

I didn’t want to visit any paid, possibly unethical sites, and came across the Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Park, where wild kangaroos, wallabies, local birds, and sometimes koalas were sighted.

Kangaroos on grass area at Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Park - Gold Coast Australia

Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Park is apparently the best place to see kangaroos in the Gold Coast!

I wasn’t too sure how to get to Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Park, but decided to go for it.

I visited in August so the weather was not too cold.

Here are my tips for visiting and seeing wildlife at Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Park.

Table of Contents

What is the Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Park?

The Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Park is a protected area of more than 1200 hectares located in the suburb of Coombabah in northern Gold Coast.

The Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Area includes wildlife, marshlands and mangroves, as well as walking and biking trails.

A wooden boardwalk curving through a forest in Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Park, Gold Coast, Australia. The tall, slender trees reach up towards the blue sky, with sunlight casting long shadows across the path. The boardwalk passes over a small wetland area, adding to the natural, immersive feel of the trail.

Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Park Hours

The park is open to the public from 6am to 6pm.

Entrance to the park is free.

Gates will close at 6pm, and visitors are advised to be extra mindful of the time as you don’t want to get locked in. I also didn’t see any park rangers around.

However, if you do find yourself locked in, there is a number posted at the gate to contact for after-hour emergencies: 1800-637-000 (Assuming you have a local sim card!)

How to Get to Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Park

Entrance Gate to Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Park

There is no specific address listed on Google Maps or none I could find online, but if you put in Coombabah Lake Conservation Park, you can use that Google Map pinpoint as the end address.

However, there is also a second gate entrance and exit closer to the Arundel section of the park. There is no address, but it is adjacent to residential homes near Tee Trees Boulevard, Arundel.

From there you do walk a short trail up to the main park area.

By Car

For reference, the Coombabah Lake Conservation Park is a 12km ride from Surfer’s Paradise, and will take 20-40 minutes.

There is plenty of free parking.

By Public Transit

The park is a short walk from drop-off points if taking public transit. If you are taking public transit from Surfer’s Paradise, you have to take both train and bus.

By Train

The nearest train station is Helensvale Station. Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Park is then a 15-minute walk away.

By Bus

The nearest bus stop is bus #719. Get off at Pine Ridge Rd at Coombabah High School. The park is around a 10-minute walk away.

By Walking

I personally walked from Harbour Town Premium Outlets after eating there, and the park was a nice 25-minute walk away.

It was kind of surprising to see a park with wildlife tucked away in the middle of the suburbs!

Best Time to See Kangaroos at Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Park

Dozens of kangaroos eating on a large grass area in Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Park

I am a complete newbie and had to do research, but apparently the best time to go see kangaroos is very early in the morning or in the afternoon when it’s meal time for kangaroos and wallabies.

I went at 3pm, and I saw dozens and dozens of them.

It was so surreal seeing so many kangaroos and wallabies so close for the first time.

I’m aware that kangaroos may be volatile though and just want to be left alone, so I kept a distance and just zoomed in on my phone.

Where to See Kangaroos at Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Park

A group of kangaroos grazing and hopping across an open grassy area at Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Park in Gold Coast, Australia. The central kangaroo is captured mid-hop, with its powerful legs extended as it moves across the field. In the background, more kangaroos can be seen grazing near the edge of a wooded area, with tall trees and underbrush creating a natural setting. The scene is bathed in warm sunlight, highlighting the vibrant outdoor environment.

The first kangaroo or wallaby (I’m still learning on how to differentiate what I saw!) was right when I walked past the main gate in the backyard walking up to the main area. I was so excited and shocked to see them near someone’s backyard.

Most of the kangaroos and wallabies you’ll see will be the open field across from the main parking lots.

They will either be chilling in the grass, eating, or staring at passer-bys who get a bit too close.

The third area I saw kangaroos and wallabies was far into the wider parts of the forest walking trails, though not as many as in the main area.