Plan your next family trip around Kentucky Down Under, an incredible and very hands-on animal park only a little over an hour away from Louisville. Kids and adults alike will love interacting with these amazing creatures, all of which originate from Australia. There’s so much to explore in this unique park, and you’ll be sure to spend a long day making memories and new friends.
Kentucky Down Under is just over an hour south of downtown Louisville.
This is an excellent day trip to take from Louisville and it's a blast for children to experience get up close to these animals and have an educational experience. Admission for adults is $26 and admission for children is $16. The park offers discounts for students, active duty military, seniors, and kids 3 and under can enter for free.
It's located on a gorgeous property!
This is the beautiful sight you see at one of the lookout points There are a few hills on this large property, but there are golf carts available to accommodate those who need assistance getting around.
Get up close and personal with these amazing Australian animals.
Kentucky Down Under is the only animal park around with a focus on kangaroos that you can pet, feed, and interact with.
The park first opened to the public in 1990 by Bill and Judy Austin, a couple who met in New Zealand and eventually moved back to Bill's hometown Horse Cave Kentucky. They began by adding American Bison to the fields around Onyx Cave, where they would give tours. Judy added her Australian touch when they added kangaroos and changed the name of the park from Mammoth Onyx Cave to Kentucky Down Under.
You'll learn about other exotic animals as well.
Although the park is named Kentucky Down Under and has a focus on kangaroos, there are plenty of other amazing animals from across the globe. Pictured above is a serval cat, which is a wild cat found in Africa.
There are also several amazing animals native to North America.
The park began by bringing American Bison to the mix.
Now, they include other interesting animals native to America, such as the American Alligator pictured above. A trained handler will show onlookers these reptiles and provide interesting information about the cool creatures.
Take a tour through Onyx Cave.
Your ticket price includes a tour of Mammoth Onyx Cave. You'll love learning about this mysterious underground environment.
Kangaroos are very curious!
You'll learn that kangaroos are curious creatures and definitely won't be afraid to come up to you. Take the chance to offer a treat or pet them (if the animal is willing, of course).
Don't forget to take a selfie with a kangaroo while you're there.
It looks like this kangaroo is posing perfectly for the camera! He's more photogenic than me most of the time. These animals are used to human interaction, especially picture taking, so you can get some amazing shots with your family and friends in this park.
You can also meet a rare albino kangaroo.
This little guy is an adorable addition to the Kentucky Down Under family.
Get covered in Lorikeets.
You'll receive a cup of nectar in Land of the Lorikeets to feed the birds. Careful! These birds might consider you a personal perch, like in the above photo. They love their feeding time!
Make fiends to the coolest creatures around!
At the end of the day, you'll feel so sad to leave these unique and amazing animals, but don't forget that you can come back any time to visit! These cool kangaroos will be waiting for you to return at any time.
Have you ever visited Kentucky Down Under? Let us know about it in the comments below or on Facebook! Check out this article about another unique dinosaur-themed park in Kentucky that’s only 7 minutes away from Kentucky Down Under. You can hit both parks for a fully packed day of fun!
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