Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo
4.5(4.5K)google
4.3(176)yelp
WildlifeFamilyKidsInteractive
Overview
Kentucky Down Under is an Australia-themed animal park located in Horse Cave, Kentucky, United States.
Practical Info
Every day9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Suggested Duration3-5 hours
Best TimeMay through September brings excellent weather and the full suite of outdoor Australian wildlife encounters running fully. Slipping through the gates precisely at 9:00 AM opening time on a weekday morning is highly recommended; the red kangaroos and emus at the Outback Walkabout are highly energetic for their morning treats under a cool sun, ensuring optimal close-up photos.
Getting TherePerfectly positioned at 3700 L and N Turnpike Rd, Horse Cave. Driven access is exceptionally fast and simple as the site anchors Interstate 65; speed south from Louisville to Exit 58, navigate onto US Highway 31W South, and travel for 1 mile. The Australian-themed adventure park operates an enormous, free private paved lot wrapping around the gift shop.
Travel Tips
- The general admission cave tour requires traversing 144 steep, wet, grated metal stairs; strollers, high heels, and unstrapped sandals are barred from entry at the Mammoth Onyx cave mouth due to slip liabilities.
- Entering the free-roaming Outback zone mandates an absolute ban on external food, non-approved feeds, umbrellas, and selfie sticks; guests must strictly adhere to handlers' physical contact guidelines to prevent citations.
- The Land of Lorries free-flight aviary features birds landing directly on visitors; remove all loose jewelry, hanging earrings, and bright clothing metallic pins prior to entry to prevent animal ingestion or structural loss.
Reviews
Positive
- An absolute blast; this Australian-themed park lets you walk right inside an open paddock to pet and hand-feed free-roaming kangaroos with amazing hands-on fun.
- Fantastic value for money as general admission includes a fully guided tour of the spectacular, lit Mammout Onyx Cave hidden directly beneath the zoo grounds.
- The live sheepdog herding shows and interactive rainbow lorikeet feeding stations create immense joy and memorable experiences for young children.
- Highly accessible location right off I-65 with an expansive, well-paved parking lot, supported by clean, modern public restrooms and baby changing stations.
Heads up
- The base admission tickets are slightly expensive, and small add-on retail costs like cups of special animal feed or on-site golf cart rentals carry heavy markups.
- The entire property rolls across a very steep hillside, requiring long, strenuous uphill walks under the direct sun, which can completely exhaust families.
- On busy holiday afternoons, the free-roaming kangaroos can become overfed and lazy from large crowds, choosing to sleep in shady corners and ignoring guests.
- The central concession hub experiences chaotic, slow lines during peak lunch hours, offering a limited selection of greasy theme-park fast food.