By Parkdean Resorts on 30/08//2018
For animal lovers, there’s no better place to get close to your favourite species than a visit to one of Cornwall’s amazing wildlife parks. If you’re holidaying in the region then you’re in luck, as Cornwall is home to some of the best wildlife attractions in the UK.
From playful penguins to colourful tropical fish, there are hundreds of different animals to see on a visit to one of Cornwall’s wildlife attractions. With exciting events and feeding sessions, you can get even closer to the action, and create some amazing memories on your next family holiday.
To help you plan a wild day out for all the family, here at Parkdean Resorts we’ve unearthed the best wildlife attractions in Cornwall.
Newquay Zoo
Surrounded by 13 acres of tropical gardens, animal lovers won’t want to miss a day out at Newquay Zoo. Less than 10 minutes from Newquay Holiday Park, it’s the perfect day out for the entire family.
From lizards to red pandas, get close to over 1,000 creatures on a visit to Newquay Zoo. Visit the creepy crawlies in the Tropical House, see ferocious lions and watch the lively penguins leaping around in their pool. Then, head to the amazing African Savanna exhibit and look out from the viewing platform, where you’ll see zebras, wildebeest and antelopes roaming the plains.
Explore the Madagascan Walkthrough, home to lovebirds, mongoose and colourful parrots, then step into the dark and discover the Wildlife at Night exhibit. Here, you’ll come face to face with animals who sleep throughout the day and come to life when the sun goes down.
Daily feeding sessions and talks with the zoo keepers will give you the opportunity to ask them all sorts of questions and find out more about your favourite animals. Don’t miss Monkey Mayhem, where you can see these cheeky creatures tucking into their mid-morning snack. There’s also a children’s play area, a maze to explore and lots more exciting activities to keep the kids entertained.
Video sourced from Amanda Ferris
Porfell Wildlife Park
Home to over 250 animals, Porfell Wildlife Park is Cornwall’s largest exotic animal sanctuary. Only 20 minutes from Looe Bay Holiday Park, this amazing attraction lets you get up close to all sorts of fascinating animals.
Porfell Wildlife Park offers a home for neglected, unwanted and injured animals and lets visitors see these amazing creatures from all around the world. Learn about their natural habitats and how they’re cared for at the sanctuary, as well as finding out more about the important conservation work carried out here.
See the cute and cuddly ring-tailed lemurs and meerkats and discover more about how they live in the wild. There are also zebras, coatis and capybaras, as well as the old-aged brown lemurs who were taken into the sanctuary to enjoy a peaceful retirement. You’ll also be able to visit wallabies, porcupines and marmosets, not forgetting the magnificent lynx cat.
There’s plenty of fun for all the family on a visit to Porfell. In the authentic African Village, learn the ways of the Maasai warriors and find out all about this fascinating tribe and their relationship with animals and the natural land. Kids and adults alike will love the Children’s Farm, where you can feed rabbits and guinea pigs, and stroke adorable donkeys and goats.
Video sourced from Porfell Wildlife
Blue Reef Aquarium
Explore the hidden treasures of the ocean on a visit to Blue Reef Aquarium in Newquay. Less than 15 minutes from Crantock Beach Holiday Park, you can explore the ocean’s secrets and get close to all sorts of interesting and unique marine wildlife.
See colourful fish, giant crabs, playful seahorses and some of the mysterious creatures of the deep. Come face-to-face with tropical sharks and majestic loggerhead turtles. With over 30 displays to visit, there are hundreds of unique species to discover.
One of the highlights of a visit to the Blue Reef Aquarium is the amazing tropical ocean tank. This underwater walk takes you through a tunnel, where you’ll see lots of brightly coloured reef fish and exotic sharks swimming overhead. In the Blue Reef Nursery, you’ll see ginormous crabs and the largest species of octopus in the world.
The beautiful underwater gardens let you explore the waters of the Mediterranean, as well as tropical seas. See the fascinating living corals and watch puffer fish, eels, stingrays and starfish thriving in the warm waters.
Afterwards, uncover the secrets of the sea for yourself by visiting Towan Beach. This beautiful stretch of sand is the perfect location for rock pooling, so grab a net and see what Cornish marine life you can find.
Video sourced from Mummy Travels
Paradise Park
Only 30 minutes from Lizard Point Holiday Park, Paradise Park is surrounded by beautiful Victorian gardens and is perfect for nature and wildlife lovers. Home to hundreds of tropical birds, mammals and beautiful exotic gardens, there’s lots to enjoy.
Visit the animals at the Fun Farm, including cute pygmy goats, sheep, mini donkeys and other farmyard favourites. Take a walk on the wild side and see the cuddly red pandas, red squirrels and the adorable otters. You can also get involved with exciting events too, like the penguin talk and feed sessions. Make sure you get a picture taken with one during the photo call!
There are over 600 birds to see on a visit, with over 140 different species to discover. Enjoy the amazing free-flying bird shows and feed the friendly parrots. During the “Flight of the Rainbows”, you can buy tiny pots of nectar and feed the flurry of colourful Lorikeets swooping through the crowd. Don’t miss the exciting Eagles of Paradise displays too, where you’ll see amazing birds of prey up close and watch these clever creatures carry out their dynamic flying displays.
Kids will love the exciting Jungle Barn indoor play area, perfect in any weather. There are also acres of beautiful gardens to explore, which are full of amazing tropical plants and flowers. The Dinosaur Quiz Trail is also great for a bit of family fun, where you can explore the grounds and look out for the hidden dinosaurs and clues.
Video sourced from Paradise Park and JungleBarn
Have you visited any of Cornwall’s amazing animal attractions? We’d love to hear all about it on our Facebook and Twitter pages.